Marketing Your Michigan Restaurant on the Web: Part 2 - The Fanpage

So, you have a beautiful new website that is nice to look at, easy to navigate and full of great content.  Now you need potential customers to find your restaurant in search engines.  Seems like a gigantic task.  The good news is that if you think of it in terms of a series of smaller tasks, it can be a bit less overwhelming.  What's even better, you can get your website ranked in search engines without spending a dime.  You can tackle this project for only the cost of your valuable time.  So, for part 2 of 7, I thought we'd discuss one of the easiest and most popular ways to get your Michigan restaurant ranked in search engine results - the Facebook Fanpage.

Setting up a fanpage on Facebook is very simple and can actually be fun.  It causes you to think about your business in terms of what potential customers are looking for, especially the demographic who are using facebook the most.  Since Facebook is the most used application on the web, I feel this is the single most important place to start marketing your restaurant and your restaurant's website on the internet.

Step one is to set up a facebook account.  Simply go to http://www.facebook.com/, fill out the quick application and click on the "sign up" button.  Once you've set up your account and filled out your personal information, click on the icon that says "set up a page for your business".  This will take you to the fanpage section of facebook.  The single most important part of the process is to fill out a comprehensive profile of your Michigan restaurant.  Be as specific as possible, highlighting everything your restaurant has to offer.   

Next, upload photos of your restaurant into a photo gallery.  Facebook users LOVE to look at photos!  Use your own digital images or hire a professional to take some beautiful pictures of your establishment, making sure you hire a professional who uses digital equipment.  Upload your photos and write keyword-heavy descriptions of each photograph.  Think in terms of how your customers will be searching when you write these descriptions.

A Facebook fanpage isn't much of a fanpage without...FANS!  You have to get followers engaged with your fanpage and there is only one way to do it.  Invite them.  Invite them through email.  Invite your facebook friends.  Invite your Twitter followers.  Put your Fanpage address anywhere you'd put your web address.  It's almost just as important.  If your Facebook Fanpage address is on your menu, internet-based mobile phone users will use their phones to become fans while their waiting for their meals to be served.  Put a link to your fanpage on your website. 

After that, you're good to go and ready to start posting content to your fanpage.  Add links to your website wherever possible.  Talk about specials you're having, events that will be happening in your restaurant and even coupon availability.  Provide links to your favorite websites.  When you have an event, talk about it the next day and post photos of the event.  Post photos of your specials along with detailed descriptions.  Start customer loyalty programs.  Take a poll.  Get your customers involved in discussions.  Have give-aways.  The possibilities are practically endless.  The more you can do to get customers to interact with you on Facebook, the better search engine results your website will get.  So do everything you can.  The only way you can get this wrong is to not do it!  Visit Michigan Flavor's Fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/michiganflavor.

So that concludes part 2.  Stay tuned for part 3 when we'll tackle Twitter.  Between now and then, make sure you check out the Michigan Flavor Restaurant Directory at http://www.miflavor.com/.  Have questions regarding anything in any of our blog posts or need help implementing any of our suggestions?  Contact me via email at jodi@miflavor.com.  Interested in advertising your Michigan Restaurant on Michigan Flavor?  Call Dennis at 248-302-2738 or contact him via email at dennis@miflavor.com.  He or one of our other account managers will be happy to visit your restaurant and give you a full demonstration of Michigan Flavor. 

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.

Promoting Michigan Culinary Tourism

According to a December 15, 2oo9 Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) Press Release, The MRA is planning to partner with the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Travel Michigan in order to promote Culinary Tourism in Michigan.  The MDA will play a leadership role in forming a Michigan Culinary Tourism Alliance, together with the MRA and Travel Michigan on a project that will be funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and matching funds from an MDA program, the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council.


"We are excited to be a part of this project" said Rob Gifford, president and CEO of the MRA. "Many of our members are already actively supporting local producers and offering a unique Michigan experience when people dine as they travel throughout the state.  With the coordinated efforts provided through this grant, we will expand these experiences and help make Michigan known as a travel destination that allows people to fully experience the bounty of our great state."

The hope is that from this effort will arise a boost in Michigan's economic development, given that agriculture and tourism are Michigan's 2nd and 3rd largest industries.  Michigan should be positioned as a worthwhile travel destination for an educational and healthy culinary encounter.


According to the press release, the goals of this collaborative efforts are to first increase sales and productivity for specialty crops in Michigan by offering menu choices packed with local produce at Michigan restaurants and also to promote Michigan as a culinary travel destination.

Members of the public and allied industries are encouraged to sign up to be a fan of the “Michigan Culinary Tourism” page on Facebook.

*source: www.michiganrestaurant.org.

If you'd like to learn more about Restaurants in Michigan, visit Michigan Flavor's online directory of Michigan Restaurants at http://www.miflavor.com or become of fan of Michigan Flavor on Facebook.  You can also follow Michigan Flavor on Twitter or read our Directory of Michigan Restaurants Blog.

Interested in having your restaurant featured on Michigan Flavor?  Call 248-302-2738 or email dennis@miflavor.com.

Restaurants and Institutions Magazine’s 2009 Menu Census: Top food items restaurant owners across the industry rely on to bond their menus.

Every two years,  Restaurants and Institutions polls  commercial and noncommercial restaurant owners and managers to communicate what is currently anchoring their menus and what they're considering adding. Below is a depiction of what's frequently featured on their menus mounting sales and garnering the most attention.

Appetizers: Commercial

1. chicken wings
2. Chicken Strips/fingers/tenders
3. Onion rings
4. Mozzarella sticks
5. French fries

*Items commercial restaurants may perhaps include in their menus: Mini burgers, flatbreads, stuffed jalapenos/peppers.

Appetizers: Noncommercial

1. Chicken strips/fingers/tenders
2. Chicken wings
3. Chips and salsa and garlic bread (tie)
4.  Mozzarella sticks
5.  Nachos

Items noncommercial restaurants may perhaps include in their menus: Mini burgers, bruschetta, Asian lettuce wraps.

Center of the Plate Proteins: Commerial Seafood        

1. Salmon
2. Grilled/broiled/sautéed shrimp
3. Scallops
4.  Breaded and fried shrimp
5. Crab cakes

Center of the plate proteins: Commercial Meat

1.  Rib eye steak
2. Filet mignon
3. Strip steak
4. Pork ribs
5.  Prime rib/sirloin steak (tie)

Center of the plate protein: Commercial Poultry

1. Grilled Chicken breast
2. Chicken strips/fingers/tenders
3.  Chicked wings
4. Sliced turkey
5. Grilled/broiled chicken

*Center of the plate proteins commercial restaurants are considering adding to their menus: Calamari, crab cakes, hanger steak, short ribs, duck, chicken pot pie.

Center of the plate proteins: Noncommercial seafood

1. Canned tuna
2. Cod/scrod
3. Breaded and baked fish portions
4. Breaded and fried shrimp
5. Tilapia

Center of the plate protein: Noncommercial Meat

1. Meatballs
2. Meatloaf
3. Roast Beef
4. Beef stew
5. Baked ham

Center of the plate protein: Noncommercial poultry

1. Chicken strips/fingers/tenders
2. Sliced turkey
3. Turkey breast
4. Chicken nuggets
5. Grilled chicken breast

*Center of the plate proteins noncommercial restaurants are considering adding to their menus: Scallops, tilapia, beef and pork ribs, chicken pot pie, rotisserie chicken.

Side Dishes: Commercial Potatoes

1. Straight cut french fries
2. baked potatoes
3. Mashed Potatoes

Side Dishes: Commercial Vegetables

1. Broccoli
2. Mushrooms
3. Carrots

*Side dishes commercial restaurants are considering adding to their menus: Sweet-potato fries, house-made potato chips, asparagus

Side Dishes: Noncommercial Potatoes

1. Plain mashed potatoes
2. Baked potatoes
3. Straight cut French fries

Side Dishes: Noncommercial Vegetables

1. Broccolli
2. Carrots
3. Green Beans

*Side dishes noncommercial restaurants are considering adding to their menus: Sweet-potato fries, spiral/curly/waffle fries, steamed/grilled vegetable platter, sugar snap peas.

Desserts: Commercial Desserts

1. Brownies
2. Hard Ice Cream
3. Cookies
4. Bread Pudding     
5. Creme Brulee

Desserts commercial restaurants are considering adding to their menus: Mini desserts, crème brûlée, cobblers/crisps, dessert samplers/flights

Desserts: Noncommercial Desserts

1. Cookies
2. Brownies
3. Fresh fruit
4. Cobblers/crisps
5. Bread pudding

*Desserts noncommercial restaurants are considering adding to their menus: Gingerbread, mini desserts, frozen yogurt, éclairs/cream puffs. 

Resource:-- Restaurants and Institutions, 12/16/2009 10:51:00 AM

Read More:

2009 Menu Census Data: Breakfast

2009 Menu Census Data: Soups, Salads and Sandwiches

For a fully interactive directory of Michigan Restaurants, visit www.miflavor.com or users on the go can visit our mobile version at http://mobile.miflavor.com.  Search for Michigan restaurants based on a variety of features and cuisine types, browse photo galleries, download, view and print menus, search Michigan dining specials and events and so much more.  www.miflavor.com is the only Michigan dining resource you'll ever need.

Restaurant Brands That Offer a Social Experience Are Gaining Market Share

An October 2009 study published in Restaurant News states that teens are looking to spend and socialize at restaurants because they are becoming more economy-conscious and looking for value for their entertainment dollar. Teenagers are starting spend more at restaurants for the first time since our country's economic downturn.  And because these teens are becoming more value conscious, they are spending at restaurants where they can not only dine, but can socialize as well.

Brands that offer a social experience as well as a perceived value are gaining market share among this younger demographic.  A recent survey of 1,200 teens was conducted nationwide at high schools and found that these teenagers are spending on aver $14.51 per week at restaurants.  The same survey was taken in the spring and the last fall.  The results of the most recent survey showed a 15 percent increase from the spring 2009 survey and a 6 percent increase from last fall.

These numbers should cause restaurant owners to take a closer look at why teens are choosing where they spend their money and how to properly market to that demographic.

*source: http://www.nrn.com/landingPage.aspx?menu_id=1416&coll_id=554&id=374900#ixzz0ZzzdAlIJ


Interested in locating Michigan Restaurants?  Visit www.miflavor.com for an interactive restaurant searching experience.  Michigan Flavor is changing the way consumers search for Michigan Restaurants.

How the Internet Has Changed the Way People Dine

A 2009 Google study revealed that a staggering 90% of diners use internet sites to search for restaurants.  That fact shows a 32% increase from last year alone.  Just think of the implications of that study.  How are restaurants advertising in Michigan?  Print media?  Radio?  Television?  Billboards?  Are these restaurants completely missing the boat?

The Google study broke down these statistics further regarding how these diners are actually using the internet to complete these restaurant searches.  80% of diners use search engines to decide where to eat.  Think about that fact for a second.  80% of diners use search engines to decide where to dine; therefore, if a Michigan restaurant isn’t showing up in a search engine, 80% of diners aren’t finding them.

52% of diners go online searching for coupons and specials.  52% of diners aren’t looking for coupons in the mail; they’re not looking for coupons in the newspaper and they’re not listening to radio advertising to hear about a restaurants’s specials and events.  In other words, your coupons, events and specials must be on the internet to be found by 52% of diners.

22% of diners use the internet to sign up for loyalty clubs.  19% of diners will go online to participate in contests and 19% of diners will purchase restaurant giftcards online.

This Google study is the perfect example of why www.miflavor.com is such an incredibly perfect match for any restaurant in Michigan.  Michigan flavor does all the work for you.  Michigan flavor will help your restaurant get seen in search engine results.  Your coupons can be downloaded and printed directly from your michigan flavor restaurant page and your daily specials and events are not only listed on your restaurant page but are searchable as well.

www.miflavor.com links directly to a restaurant’s website so users can easily opt in to loyalty programs, participate in contests and even purchase gift cards.  Michigan flavor encompasses every point made by this very relevant Google study.

Interested in learning about how to get your restaurant’s enhanced listing on miflavor.com?  Visit the website or call 248.302.2738.  Get the best bang for your advertising buck.

*source: google.com