chrisbrogan.com - Latest Comments in Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Maya — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:33:34 -0000

I have been building my local business quite well with the help of social networks

Thx for the info

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Sikiş izle — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:44:08 -0000

ohh nice

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Marieke Hensel — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:43:14 -0000

It's unfortunate that I just stumble on this blog right now. The ideas in the comments are great, and I hope they help other restaurants that are trying to keep their head above water. It's a different way of using social media for local restaurants. As web traffic does not automatically convert into filled tables or local traffic to a store.

I do think local restaurants can get a lot of value from social media. You need to have a local focus, but people naturally have a local network in place (friends, neighbours, schools, work, etc) -> these are all local connections.

And while 'everyone' in Peabody might already know that John's business exists, social media is great to keep the awareness alive and increase the number of times people come in to his place. If everyone in Peabody knows he is there, then that should be his focus: increase customer loyalty.

Newsletters, tweetups/meetups, are great ways to keep that awareness alive, but what makes people come back if they know something new is going on. Are you sharing your newest menu items? Maybe you could even have a couple of new-menu-item-testers.

If your location is holding you back in growing your business, you have to get your food to the place where your customers are: options have been mentioned: delivery, take-out, catering, or sampling.

Unfortunately good food and good service aren't the only 2 things you need to stay in business. You have to get to a healthy customer base first, and that will only work, if people know you exist. Then second step is to increase customer loyalty. And there you have it, your existing customers love you & keep coming back and new customers are walking in the door.

Keep feeding your customers with new content (new menu items? new events?) and reach out, and you will be one of the success stories.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Dexter Odonnell — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:09:59 -0000

i lovet his so much!

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Linda — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:05:55 -0000

We were going to take a drive to Gloucester this morning and thought to check your blog and see what restaurants you have raved about lately. I checked the site first and found out they have closed. Too bad that this one just closed its doors yesterday. My SIL lives in Lynn and that would have been a great place to meet. Things are tough out there and sad to see this happen.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

JohnA — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:52:08 -0000

Just another quick update, I have really been trying to follow as much advice and implement as many suggestions as possible and I tell you I do see an increase in sales. I have tried to be the perfect blend of in house amazing customer service and an active social media participant and I am starting to see the hard work pay off. I will be writing a post on the new site shortly summarizing what I have learned and will let you all know when it goes up. For all of you that are curious, check out the new site. http://www.simplygourmetbis... and especially check out the customer of the day category, the feedback and reception to that concept have been amazing. Because of all of you my nose is still above water and I thank each of you for taking your time with your suggestions and advice.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

greg — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:36:23 -0000

Social media is just a novelty for all the social media navel-gazers. As the novelty wears thin, as will eventually happen, it will be no more valuable and earth-shattering for a business than having a Web site. And we all know how much Web sites and mailing lists have saved businesses that should have otherwise failed on the market. %^/

I'd focus on so many other aspects of customer service and interacting with the community in person before I'd send it into the ground because of the short attention spans of a few novelty-hounds.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Karen Wylie — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:52:59 -0000

It's wonderful to look at all these great ideas that have been suggested, then go visit John's blog and see how many he's already trying out!

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Chris Moody — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:15:14 -0000

I'll volunteer some services if SimplyGourmet would like to move to a hosted solution. I posted on their blog, but I think a few easy changes could help their web presence match the desired perception [see suggestion here: http://simplygourmetbistroa...].

For the sake of social media and what seems to be like a good group of people, I can donate some design services to do something like that if it is of any interest.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Joi — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:58:16 -0000

To thrive on the local level, I'd say they should offer the friendliest service possible - to treat each customer as a family member. People will return again and again to a place that feels like home.

On the grand scale? They could develop a trademark cookie (or candy for that matter) and go after those of us who make up the online community. They could contact various bloggers in a wide variety of niches, and offer to send them a sample of their deliciousness (in exchange for them telling their readers about it).

Bloggers are consistent. If you send us coffee, chocolate, or cookies - we're instantly on your team! And, face it, no one makes more noise than we do.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

john andrews — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:44:23 -0000

Oh my more competition in Google for "John Andrews".

Good to see the ideas flowing forth. @chris I was in the audience at Wordcamp and enjoyed your humor. Maybe you could so some stand up at Simply Gourmet? Or maybe John can settle for running some Meetup.com events and tweetups, making sure to invite you ;-)

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Beth — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:05:47 -0000

Inbound leads, inbound leads. Go social media. It's great that you have a Facebook, but do more, invest more time not money. Twitter, blog, comment on other blogs to include inbound links. Make your brand, put yourself out there. Local Search for SMBs: Sign of the Times

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Michael Hyde — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:26:04 -0000

Here's another article related to this topic on social media helping a business owner: "...created a Facebook account and sent out e-mails to his friends about what had happened to their neighbor. His idea was to organize a mass dine out, in which people would take turns eating at Zamiri’s Marlborough restaurant. He even created a Google calendar so friends and neighbors could see who was dining at Sorrento’s each night..."

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Tina Mammoser — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:37:28 -0000

I think you've mentioned (if you haven't I'm sure you would) the importance of repeat customers and customer service in this economy. What about daily Twitter specials? A small discount or special offer, an announcement of the sandwich and/or coffee of the day. Keeping people coming will means holding on to that steady side of business. A newsletter, blog or Facebook page could have something a little less fleeting - perhaps weekly offers, "bring a friend" ideas, info about staff or a product feature.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

JohnA — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:50:41 -0000

Oh my god!!! I am speechless, so many great ideas. Just an update on things I am trying desperately to get into place. (Money is a huge factor right now as we had a nasty break in before the holidays) For now I am aggresively trying to do the things I can afford. I have started an email list and am corraling every one that I can get for a bi-weekly mailing. (Have already gotten a few bites off of that) As many of you know i started a store specific twitter page http://www.twitter.com/simp... where I am trying to push out daily specials and exclusive twitter offers. I have updated as many sites as I could find, yellow pages, yelp, facebook, etc. and I have started a blog with which I would like people to know more about my story and cuisine(there is a lot more than chris wrote about, believe me) http://www.simplygourmetbis... I truly am amazed at the outpouring over this post and I feel blessed that chris reached out and blessed that you all took a little time out of your hectic lives to give me some advice. Now I will just continue to buckle down and see if we can make this work. Namaste
j

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Penny Haynes — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:08:50 -0000

If they have Twitter, then search for other Twitterers in their local radius and subscribe to them, to build relationships locally. Also, consider helping other businesses in your area use social media - be the small business guru in your area, and create a social network in your area where local businesses and local people in general can communicate. By hosting such a site and using it as part of your marketing budget, you can create great online place where everyone in your community can come and participate, and you be front and center on the best advertising spots. Have contests for the best local video and post them online for voting.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Jean Ghalo — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:54:24 -0000

well it is nice from you chris to feature hometown super heroes and local businesses on your blog, at least your trying to help.

what I think for food business all what can be done, is held like a tweetup there bring more friends who might become regular new customers... am miles away to attend but duno if those near by can do...

good luck guys.

cheers!
Jean

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

LisaNewton — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:19:05 -0000

Social media doesn't have to be online, but social could also be just up close and personal. Why not try to work with the local high school? How about offering field trips for the younger students and cooking classes for the older ones? 1st and 2nd graders love the idea of being able to walk into a refrigerator and taking home a small goodie bag. For the older students, to off set costs, maybe charge just the cost of the food. Students get a great meal, cook it themselves, learn, plus, he gets the opportunity to reach out to their parents.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Croz from Oz — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:04:35 -0000

Hi Chris

You have answered your own question.

Where else could you get the assistance of almost a hundred people to give ideas freely to assist a total stranger.

The total secret of social media is this phenomenum of giving. In the real world people still have not adopted this strategy.

Abundance to All

Croz
PS. I have a few extra special ideas that I am prepared to sell. lol

@crozfromoz

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

David — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:23:55 -0000

A shot story. I lived across the street from a little sandwich shop for a year, and never went it... I stuck to what I knew, or what was recommended. Then one day, on a whim, I went in... guess what, best sandwich in the city. A little social media would of helped his situation... well that and some new signage... and maybe getting rid of those tacky posters in the window :)

okay, he needed an makeover, but he had a great sandwich, for a great price, and sharing that 411 is what social media is all about.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Lindsay — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:54:12 -0000

I think small businesses have a huge opportunity to use the web to succeed. So many of them miss the basics - have a website that lists your phone number and hours and an email address, reply to emails, make sure your listings are correct and on the web (google maps, yelp). I also would love it if my favorite local places would post their menu online or send me an email.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Dennis Murray — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:51:42 -0000

Engage with a local photographer to photograph some of the specialties of the place to and post results on the blog, twitpic, flickr, and Facebook fan page, the photographer's blog, and everywhere else.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Chad Schneider — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:34:55 -0000

Instead of trying to solve the problem WITH social media, I'd USE social media to solve the problem. Hosting a Twitter meetup might help, it might not, but John has an incredible opportunity to crowdsource for ideas with all of the marketing professionals reading this post that hail from all over the world. He should read through the comments, post his own comments & questions, and try to leverage the conversation to gather possible marketing solutions.

My idea - maybe he'd enjoy offering cooking classes that teach people how to use some of the delicious but uncommon ingredients he sells. The economy is definitely down, but people who used to order take-out 3 or 4 times a week can save money and eat better by cooking fine food at home. They just need help figuring out how.

Good luck to John and small business owners everywhere.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

Ron Amundson — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:47:48 -0000

I took at look at the Peabody CoC, and I see you are already running some deals there.... what about some cross pollination with other chamber businesses. Perhaps come up with a combined package deal... share advertising cost, or even co coupon with each other. Community is the solution to economic downturns, leverage the resources right next door, and who knows what can happen.

Lastly, do you have menu's at local companies in town? Perhaps a specific menu tailored for noon lunch meetings, with a special business discount 1 day a week, or free delivery w a planned route? You could also use that menu to start to build a SM following in the business community, ie see twitter for deals etc. SM though is a longer term strategy, the local community is where you can leverage short and long term results.

Re: Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

justinrfrench — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:36:34 -0000

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