Awesome Restaurant Marketing Ideas!

You've probably seen at least one reality show like this: a chef or restaurateur visits a failing eatery, usually undercover. They try the food and experience the service firsthand before revealing their identities — and their less-than-flattering opinions of the place. Then, they get to work, teaching the staff how to improve everything from their mixology skills to their menu choices to their ability to warmly welcome customers. In the end, they show a completely revamped restaurant, and the expert moves onto another place that needs help.

There's only one thing wrong, though — a lot of these "fixed" eateries fail. One study showed 60 percent of the restaurants celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay visited on his show Kitchen Nightmares have since closed. And it could all boil down to the fact that, while Ramsay and other foodies know how to make a restaurant welcoming and delicious, they don't specialize in marketing the new place. Here's what these experts get wrong.

What type of restaurant marketing will it take to get you on the map?  How about putting 21 live scorpions in his mouth for a world record?  Think of all the free marketing you will get should you be number one!

What is trunk-or-treat, why does it matter and how does it relate to restaurant marketing?

Trunk-or-treat events bring Halloween to parking lots where kids go from car to car and get candy. They're popular at schools, churches, in rural areas where homes are far apart, and in places where trick-or-treating isn't safe."

It is a perfect opportunity to connect with the community by hosting a special event. It can include decorations, lighting, free coupons, treats, celebrations, games and even a costume contest,  

Special events like trunk-or-treat are shared word of mouth (in the new world of media, they are shared via Twitter, Facebook, NextDoor.com, etc)

The email subject line from Munchery today said "Misoyaki Glazed Salmon". That gets my attention immediately. Take a peek at the bait Munchery used to get an order:
- says Mike

The origins of this dish can be traced back to island culinary mastermind Roy Yamaguchi from the legendary Roy's Asian Fusion Cuisine. A fillet of salmon is glazed with a sweet and savory misoyaki sauce, then it's topped with a traditional Hawaiian tomato vinaigrette for acidity. Quite simply, this fish is melt-in-your-mouth-good. Rice seasoned with furikake flakes and steamed baby bok choy round out this elegant meal.

Munchery has to work a little differently since there is no experience inside a restaurant. To keep you extra confident about your experience, they offer a guarantee right up front. - says Mike

Restaurant Marketing Idea #432 is:  Listen by using "search" on free magazine subscriptions for restaurant professionals and restaurant owners.

Reading online magazines can keep the juices flowing.  Put them in a bookmark on Delicious (or your browser) and once a week 'sharpen your saw' by choosing one of the resources below.

Then input every free restaurant magazine into the search tool.  You could subscribe, but remember that your time is short and isn't your inbox already full? Be selective.  An alternative is to subscribe via an RSS feed. I use Feedly to keep up with specific websites.

Restaurant marketing gurus this information about fundraising programs is for you. How can your restaurant take advantage of this traditional marketing method while also serving the community:

Have you ever been to a strange restaurant where you are so perplexed that even bad service would not keep you from sticking around to see more?

How long has your restaurant menu been in place?  How in touch are you? Is your restaurant menu old and tired?  Does it meet the real need of the guests?

The definition of "The Five Minute Bite".

A bite of food so good, so scrumptious, so amazing that the person taking the bite wants to sit and savor it for at least five minutes.  Not even the next bite from the same plate can interrupt the sheer pleasure of the flavors, texture and smell.

There are occasions when The Five Minute Bite will also cause the person eating to make loud appreciative noises, with big smiles and head nods.

The Five Minute Bite is so wondrous that it will provoke a fearful thought:

I wonder if this will only happen this one time? Will there be more?

Creating The Five Minute Bite can become part of a restaurant marketing plan.

Is it possible to take standard, ordinary food from the restaurant food vendors and create a memorable delight?

If so, people will return, become raving fans and share with the world about their experiences.