Archive for Tools
August 16, 2006 at 1:42 pm
· Filed under Article, Internet, Marketing, Tools
excerpt:
“Google Inc. will offer printable discount coupons to local shoppers, in a promotional bid that aims to drive U.S. online shoppers using its Google Maps service to visit stores, the company said.
The world’s top Web search supplier is taking advantage of the marketing tool, which is traditionally used by small businesses, to entice U.S. consumers to seek out savings from local retailers such as dry cleaners, pizza delivery restaurants and auto repair shops.
Google has partnered with Valpak, the top U.S. supplier of coupon advertising, to provide more than 20,000 coupons from current Valpak advertisers when consumers search for relevant stores using its Google Maps map and local directory service…”
source: “Google Maps offers discount coupons for US stores” by Eric Auchard (Reuters, Aug.14,2006)
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July 28, 2006 at 3:08 pm
· Filed under Blogs, Free, Internet, Marketing, Tools
excerpt:
“On June 7, Reams started posting to the Mothership blog — and soon began counting down to opening. Then, on Friday, June 9, Reams announced on the blog the restaurant would be open the next morning. To his surprise, 50 customers came in for pulled pork barbecue and ribs – and their positive posts on his blog followed.
In simple terms, Reams managed to get Mothership off the ground and exceeding sales projections almost immediately without spending a penny on conventional advertising; only his blog, maintained by the free, Google-owned Blogger service, served as a sentinel for Mothership’s opening. He says he is Nashville’s only restaurateur using blogging as a method of publicity…”
source: “Businessman blogs boldly toward BBQ restaurant success” by Will York (The City Paper, Jul.24,2006)
Related links:
Free Blog Software / Hosting (About.com)
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July 18, 2006 at 9:46 am
· Filed under Internet, Marketing, Media, Tools, knowledge
Podcasts are significant because it opens access to radio shows and restaurant industry content that were only available locally. This is a new and interesting media resource for restauranteurs in a portable format. You can download the show and listen to it in the car, during lunch, or in the gym. Also, these podcasts are also marketing vehicles for restaurants and related businesses.
NRN Podcast Central (created by Nation’s Restaurant News)
“Foodservice News Delivered in Fresh New Ways”
Podcast Grill
“Where restaurant meets business – trends, expert interviews and more to make your restaurant more profitable than ever”
Pizza Radio
“Pizza Radio is your source for sound bytes from pizza experts.”
The Restaurant Guys
“Co-hosts Francis Schott and Mark Pascal—who own Stage Left Restaurant in New Brunswick, NJ—have interviewed food luminaries like Gourmet editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl and chef Charlie Palmer in between other animated discussions. Their podcasts are adaptations of three 40-minute episodes from their radioshow on WCTC-1450 AM.”
BarServ’s Raising the Bar on Service
“Raising the Bar” tackles a variety of topics relevant to the hospitality service industry and occasionally features high-profile industry guests from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The program will offer insightful ideas to empower hotel, restaurant and bar owners and managers to improve service and increase profitability.
Read the rest of this entry »
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July 17, 2006 at 11:16 am
· Filed under Internet, Low cost, Marketing, Media, Tools, Video
excerpt:
“Findley’s meat market in suburban Atlanta had always relied on newspaper ads, direct mailings and quick radio spots to reach consumers. But after discovering Spot Runner’s do-it-yourself commercial tool for small businesses, the butcher shop ran a commercial on local cable TV ahead of Easter and again before Mother’s Day.
The commercials cost Findley’s $349 and $499 and the shop spent about $2,100 in March and $1,100 in May to air the spots on ESPN, Food TV, Fox News Channel and Fox Sports.
“We found out that it was very affordable and they help you work with a small budget,” said Findley’s owner Dolores Barr.”
source: “TV ads on the cheap for small biz” by Jessica Seid (CNNMoney.com, Jul.14,2006)
“At Spot Runner we make it easy, simple and affordable for everyone to take advantage of local TV advertising. We started Spot Runner because we saw three important opportunities:
- Small and medium-sized business people want to advertise on TV but the costs of creating ads are prohibitive.
- Choosing a media plan, negotiating the price, and tracking your advertising can be time consuming and difficult.
- Great TV advertising could be made more quickly and at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising agencies.
We put these elements together and Spot Runner was born.”
link: SpotRunner.com
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May 17, 2006 at 11:10 pm
· Filed under Free, Programs, Tools
excerpt:
"There are a lot of great freeware products out there. Many are as good or even better than their commercial alternatives. This list features my personal pick of the "best of the best."
Listed below are 46 different freeware categories with my selection of the best products in each category. The list is ordered by program function rather than merit so you'll get the most out of it by browsing down this page at leisure. The pathologically impatient can consult the index below."
link: Tech Support Alert's The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities
For any restaurant owner who doesn't have a large software budget, you can probably find a free alternative program that can do the job just as well.
Freeware (or free programs) usually come with no strings attached, they are free to download and yours to use. This site is helpful in providing multiple freeware alternatives and reviews.
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May 12, 2006 at 5:53 am
· Filed under Free, Information Management, Research, Tools
Rollyo.com allows you to create a customized search engine using web sites you specify. I have created a Rollyo search engine using only restaurant industry web sites (click here). To see the usefulness of Rollyo, I just recently did a search for "outdoor dining" using google and the customized rollyo search engine.
Google search results for "outdoor dining"
Rollyo search results for "outdoor dining"
For a restaurant owner, the Rollyo search results link to much more relevant information which saves time and lets you spend more time reading then looking through search results. You can focus your sources on vendors, specific regions, or select magazines, as well as mix and match.
Go to Rollyo.com to create your own search engine and use your own sources.
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