Attention Bar Owners: Why not let your patrons do some of your marketing for you?

Word of mouth advertising is one of the most underrated, albeit important types of marketing a bar can use in this economic climate.  Many Michigan bar owners underestimate and often overlook the importance of WOM marketing.  It costs nothing and can be a powerful, powerful weapon.  If a customer finds his/her way into your bar in Michigan, is treated to fantastic customer service, gets chatted up by a friendly and charming bartender, is served simple, yet delicious pub fare made with fresh ingredients and has a good time in a great atmosphere, they will tell their friends.

Unfortunately, the aforementioned points aren't the only features needed in your Michigan bar to get the most out of word of mouth advertising.  What is it about your bar that makes it stand out from the rest?  In order to get WOM marketing to be the powerful tool it can be, your bar needs to have that intangable "it" factor; i.e. something to make your customers want to talk about your establishment.  This is why out of the box thinking is so important.  You need to come up with that something REALLY special that makes your bar in Michigan noteworthy.

The "it" factor may come in the form of something as simple as really incredible artwork that will elicite conversation.  It may be a signature drink that is so incredible that customers will talk about the experience of trying it for days and weeks to come.  It could be an event or party celebrating a day not usually celebrated.  The possibilites are limitless, but whatever you choose to make your bar stand out must be so incredibly unique that patrons will simply HAVE to talk about it.  In this economy, good service, decent food and clean restrooms no longer do the trick.  Your Michigan bar has to be very different from your competition.  Figure out what is potentially unique about your establishment and make it even more unique, quirky, fun.

Don't get me wrong.  You still MUST have the great service, drink specials and quality food to back up your bar's uniqueness, but those things aren't enough anymore.  You need to figure out what gives your bar that "it" factor and let your customers do some of your marketing for you.  In this age of social networking, word of mouth advertising extends further than customers talking face-to-face.  If your bar is unique enough, your customers will not only discuss it with their close friends, but will also talk about their experiences on facebook or tweet about it on twitter or even include your Michigan bar in a blog post like the one you're reading now.  Think about the endless possibilites of word of mouth marketing from that point of view.  One customer's positive experience could potentially reach hundreds new customers very, very quickly.  And before you know it, those people will be shouting your praises from the rooftops (or their desktops) in no time at all.

Looking for other types of successful, cost-effective advertising for your Michigan restaurant or bar?  Michigan Flavor, Michigan's most comprehensive, interactive online directory of bars, restaurants and caterers may be the perfect fit for your business.  An enhanced listing on http://www.miflavor.com/ gets your establishment its own page complete with contact information, description, map and directions, photo gallery, downloadable, printable menus, specials and events listings, features and cuisine types listings, links to your website and social media sites and a customizable coupon.  The possibilities are endless.  Michigan Flavor is sure to be one of Michigan's favorite dining resources, with its mobile version up and running and google and Iphone applications in development.

www.miflavor.com

The Place to Go Before You Go Out!

Top Ten Tips for Tough Times

Do tough economic times really have to spell trouble for small businesses, specifically the restaurant industry?  Blogger Mike Clough wrote a great post called "Top Ten Tips for Tough Times".  

In this post, Mr. Clough says "Good business and financial practices are the ultimate defense against economic storms. And, they can provide the insurance you need to capitalize on new opportunities when good times return."  Nowhere is this more true than within the Michigan Restaurant Industry.  With Michigan going through one of the worst economic downturns in history, restaurant owners are faced with a whole new set of issues.  Read Mike Clough's "Top Ten Tips for Tough Times" at http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/03/10/top-ten-tips-for-tough-times/ for some great advice about keeping your restaurant afloat in a drowning economy.

Are you a Michigan restaurant owner who is looking to breath new life into your business?  Visit www.miflavor.com to see the Michigan Restaurant Directory that many restaurant owners in Michigan believe to be one of the best advertising investments they've ever made.  Call 248.302.2738 to speak with an account manager.

According to the Michigan Restaurant Association the Foodservice Industry is a Ladder of Opportunity

According to the Michigan Restaurant Association, the foodservice industry has a wealth of opportunities available to the Michigan workforce.  Did you know that 9 out of 10 salaried employees at tableservice restaurants started out as hourly employees?  In fact, the average restauranteur started out at the bottom of the restaurant ladder as dishwasher, bussers or servers, dispelling the myth that entry level restaurant careers are dead-end jobs for the average restaurant industry worker.  Approximately three out of five salaried employees in the Michigan restaurant industry started out as hourly workers in foodservice.

The Michigan foodservice industry also hires more women and minority managers than any other industry in the state.  That statistic coupled with the fact that 58 percent of employees in foodservice operations are women and 12 percent of food industry supervisors are people of Hispanic origin, bodes well for the career advancement opportunities for women and minorities in the Michigan restaurant industry.

Given the current state of unemployment in Michigan, these statistics from the Michigan Retaurant Associaton are highly encouraging.  Total restaurant industry employment is expected to reach 12 million people this year, and, just like other business executives, restaurant industry executives can earn six or seven figure salaries annually, including health benefits and vacation time.

So what's the moral of the story?  When jobs are hard to come by as they currently are in Michigan, the restaurant industry jobs may be among the best choices for the unemployed.  Studies show that workers who start in entry level restaurant jobs have many advancement opportunities and may be able to parlay an entry level job into a highly successful career. 

This is good news for both employer and employee.  Employers should be able to draw from a larger pool of interested and capable job candidates.  Employees can now choose the Michigan restaurant industry as a career path instead of just a means to an end.  In the end, this all leads to more stability for this popular service industry.  The jobs are out there and these jobs are leading to careers, strengthening the Michigan economy.

If you are a Michigan restaurant owner or manager who is interested in learning more about new ways to market your product and promote your service, contact Michigan Flavor at 248.302.2738.  An enhanced listing for your establishment on http://www.miflavor.com/ will not only drive customers to you, but that listing can also help attract skilled workers with an interest in a foodservice industry career.  Your listing on Michigan Flavor will help optimize your Michigan Restaurant or Bar's website for search engine queries.  Partnering with Michigan Flavor may be one of the best marketing/PR investments you'll ever make.

*source: http://www.michiganrestaurant.org