Comments for Above the Buzz - How to stand out above the white noise of your industry.

Comment on Strategically Promoting Your Restaurant with Social Media Tools by Chris

Chris — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Subba – I agree that you need to build followers, but the list building techniques that many propose to scrape emails or gather emails through surreptitious means will only alienate your guests and make them feel as if they have been spammed. We work with our clients to promote engagement via in store and online promotions to much greater success than list building. Social Media has a greater adoption at this point, and therefore a greater success rate for conversion. We are still ahead of the curve for mobile, and while it is definitely growing, the cost effectivieness is not there for many restaurant owners and operators.

Comment on Strategically Promoting Your Restaurant with Social Media Tools by Subba

Subba — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:46:50 +0000

Twitter can do wonders for businesses to reach broader audience at the click of the button. But, to be successful, you need to get the customers to follow you first! You need to try to explore every avenue to get your customers and potentials to follow you, and it may include Email Marketing. Awareness is the key.

We at Sterizon are bringing Email, Mobile and Social Media Marketing all in one single bundle right to the customers dining table. There is no better place on earth to look for customers than your own restaurant. Give every customer at your restaurant the opportunity to signup for email list or follow you, and you’ll see the results.

Comment on How one Ad/PR agency’s actions is killing three brands: Disney Pictures, AMC Theatres, & MN Parent Magazine by Chris

Chris — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:13:37 +0000

Hey David;

I won’t hate you. I am glad for any other perspectives. The great thing about a forum like this is that people can have a discussion about their experiences, observations, frustrations, opinions, and perspective. I don’t think it is the end of any of the three brands. What saddened me was the fact the the agency was oblivious as to the ramifications of disappointing their target audience. Sure Disney can get great feedback from the people that were able to get in to see the picture. What then is the value of that information knowing that another 100 plus people were affected negatively by the experience? Especially when Disney Pictures was more than likely unaware of those people?

It’s true that there is a lot of emotion behind this – “frustration”, “anger”, “bitter”ness. I tend to get that way when someone disappoints my children, when the situation could have been avoided. My calling of the TV station was not motivated by a “vendetta”, it was prompted by the frustrations of 30+ parents and their children, that weren’t even offered any tickets to see another movie, and that had taken time out of their lives to do something for their children. The situation was escalating by other parents – one of which was told that she could take her children to the other free movie they were screening, “500 Days of Summer”, which was not “G” rated. The parent in question was completely incredulous by their suggestion that she take her children to see a movie that was inapproporaite for her children. Poor customer service has in fact become a newsworthy story (right or wrong), and media outlets are looking for these situations all of the time.

As for your concerns how I would take care of your brand, our clients understand that I am as passionate and protective of their brands as I am of my own. I would hope that would be seen as a benefit. I know the clients that engage us think it is.

Please feel free to offer perspective. I’m not always right, and I love it when I can learn as well!

Thanks David!

Comment on How one Ad/PR agency’s actions is killing three brands: Disney Pictures, AMC Theatres, & MN Parent Magazine by Chris

Chris — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:42:31 +0000

We had won the passes from a contest from MN Parent Magazine, and had to go to a third party site to download passes. The passes did contain the language, but MN Parent wasn’t aware of/or communicating that fact to the 25 families that were given 4-paks of the tickets. If that was made crystal clear from the start, it would have easier as a parent to control expectations. I still think that the practice of overbooking a theater for a children’s movie, is completely wrong, and specificly counter-intuitive to promoting goodwill with Parents, Children, & Families.

Comment on How one Ad/PR agency’s actions is killing three brands: Disney Pictures, AMC Theatres, & MN Parent Magazine by Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:40:30 +0000

Whenever I receive these types of passes, there is always a disclaimer that states, “Please arrive early. This pass does not guarantee your admission.” Did yours not say this? Since overbooking theaters is common practice for free showings, I would think it’s in the best interest of the sponsor to include this language. If they had included this on your pass, would you have been less angry?