Can Social Media Save a Local Business?

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.simplygourmetbistro.com 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.

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.simplygourmetbistro.com 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.

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.simplygourmetbistro.com 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.

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.

i lovet his so much!

i lovet his so much!

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.

ohh nice