Cookie-Cutter Marketing Doesn’t Work in this Industry.
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Original story and image on Modern Restaurant Management
Cookie-Cutter Marketing Doesn’t Work in this Industry.
Recognizing that social media could be a powerful tool for the hospitality industry, Kim Beechner founded Embark Marketing in her senior year of college. The agency has grown from a one-woman operation to a team of nine with clients across the U.S.
“Most agencies can offer marketing services, but very few truly understand what it’s like to be in the weeds on a Friday night, when a chef didn’t show up and ticket times are running at 40 minutes,” said Beechner. “That’s the difference. We’ve been there. So when we develop a brand’s marketing strategy, we take into consideration operational factors.”
Our Take On This Article
Your Restaurant Isn't a Boring Franchise. Stop Marketing Like It Is.
Generic marketing is flushing your money down the drain and leaving your tables empty. The advice you get from a typical marketing agency is the same stuff they tell a dentist's office or a car wash. This article explains why a cookie-cutter approach is a recipe for disaster in the restaurant world and offers alternatives.
The One-Size-Fits-All Lie That's Killing Your Restaurant
You know the feeling. Another Friday night, and you're staring at a half-empty dining room. You did everything the marketing gurus told you to do. You posted on social media, you sent an email blast, and you even paid for a local ad. Yet, the silence is deafening, broken only by the low grumble of the ice machine, a sound that feels more like a ticking clock on your investment.
The truth is, those generic strategies were doomed from the start. They don't understand the beautiful chaos of the hospitality industry. They can't account for a sudden line cook no-show, a supplier running late, or the vibe of a slammed Saturday night. It's like trying to cook a gourmet meal using nothing but a microwave and a vending machine. You need a system built for a real kitchen, not a sterile lab.
That's where we put a stop to the madness. We need to throw out the cookie-cutter and start using a recipe designed for your unique flavour. A marketing approach that understands your world because it was born in it.
Your Secret Weapon: Marketing That Thinks Like a Chef
Imagine your marketing working like your best line cook during a dinner rush. It's not just following a recipe; it's feeling the rhythm of the kitchen, anticipating needs, and adapting on the fly. This is what we refer to as the Guest-Centric Storytelling System. It's a method built by people who have actually worked the floor, managed the bar, and felt the heat of the pass.
This system isn't about just "posting more." It's about telling the story of your restaurant in a way that evokes an emotional response in people. It turns your daily operations—the good, the bad, and the busy—into magnetic content that pulls people in. We seamlessly connect your online presence to your real-world service, so your guests feel like they know you before they even walk through the door.
Think of it this way. The old way is like a bland, pre-packaged meal. The Guest-Centric Storytelling System is a tasting menu, where every course tells a part of your story, leaving your guests hungry for the next chapter. It makes choosing your restaurant not just a logical choice, but the only one that feels right. You're not just another option; you become a destination. This is how you stop competing on price and start winning on connection.
Here is the lesson to improve your marketing right now.
- Picture your dining room buzzing with energy, full of new faces every single night…
- Transform your unpredictable, slow seasons into a reliable, steady stream of reservations and income…
- What is the one simple story from your kitchen that can double your online engagement…
- Become the go-to spot in town that everyone is talking about for all the right reasons…
- Stop using generic tactics that make your unique restaurant sound just like everyone else…
- Avoid the costly mistake of hiring marketers who have never actually worked a real dinner rush…
- Our method connects with guests, so you can finally stop worrying about wasting your budget…
Original story and image on Club Management
Why hospitality leaders can’t ignore mental health any longer
If the kitchen is on fire, you put it out. So why are we ignoring the psychological distress, burnout and harm happening behind the scenes at our venues, pubs and clubs?
Matt Moran, legendary chef, reflects on the emotional grind: “Hospitality has its highs, lows, good, bad, ugly and glorious but it’s that dynamic that all chefs are drawn to.”
Our Take On This Article
Your Team is Hurting. The Industry's "Tough It Out" Culture is The Real Sickness.
Your best people are burning out, and the high-pressure "suck it up" mentality is the disease driving them away. This isn't just about feeling stressed; it's a full-blown mental health crisis that's costing you talent, money, and your reputation. This article reveals the hard truth about why ignoring your team's well-being is no longer an option.
The Silent Epidemic Emptying Your Roster
You see the symptoms every day. The forced smiles, the short tempers, the exhausted eyes. Your crew is running on fumes, and the engine is starting to smoke. For too long, we've brushed this off as "part of the job," a harsh reality of the hospitality world. But that's a dangerous lie.
The pressure cooker environment of understaffed shifts, endless hours, and the constant demand to be "on" is causing real, measurable harm. It's not just a feeling; it's a documented crisis, with nearly half of all hospitality workers saying the job is wrecking their mental health. It's like running a kitchen with faulty wiring. Sooner or later, a fire is going to break out, and the whole place will go up in smoke.
This isn't just about being a good boss. It's about survival. The law now says you are responsible for this. Ignoring the mental toll is now the same as ignoring a safety hazard, and it carries the same legal risks.
The Cure Isn't Complicated. It's Human.
So, what's the fix? You don't need a team of therapists on standby. You need to change the system from the inside out. We call this the Wellbeing-First Framework. It's a method that redesigns your operations to protect your most valuable asset: your people.
This framework starts by treating your team's mental health with the same seriousness as your food safety checklist. It means building rosters that allow for rest, not just filling slots. It means training your managers to spot the signs of burnout and to offer real support, not just a pat on the back. It means creating a place where people feel safe enough to say they're not okay.
Think of it like this. Your business is a living thing, and your team is its heart. If the heart is strained and overworked, the whole body begins to fail. The Wellbeing-First Framework is like giving that heart a healthier diet and regular exercise. It strengthens your entire operation, making it more resilient, more productive, and a place where great people actually want to work. This is how you stop the revolving door of staff turnover and build a team that's as strong and reliable as your best-selling dish.
Here is the lesson to improve your business and protect your team.
- See your team arriving for their shifts feeling energised, focused, and ready to deliver amazing service…
- Go from constantly replacing burnt-out staff to building a loyal team that sticks with you for the long haul…
- What is the single biggest factor your competitors are ignoring that gives you an unbeatable edge…
- Establish a reputation as the premier workplace, attracting the most talented individuals in the industry…
- Stop accepting that constant stress and burnout are just a normal part of running your business…
- Avoid the legal and financial nightmare of being held responsible for a mental health crisis on your watch…
- This simple shift in focus creates a healthier team and a much healthier bottom line for you…
Why hospitality leaders can’t ignore mental health any longer
Original story and image on 4 Hoteliers
Are You Tracking In-Store Restaurant Visits on Google?
Today, we’re talking about: Tracking in-store visits for hotel restaurants.
Did you know...
when you enable Location Extensions on your Google Campaigns, you may or may not get access to a new metric called Store Visit Conversions?
Why does that matter?
Our Take On This Article
Your Google Ads Are a Black Hole. Here's How to Finally See Where the Money Goes.
You're spending a fortune on Google ads, but do you have any clue if those clicks are turning into actual customers walking through your door? For most restaurant owners, it's a total guessing game where you throw money at the screen and just hope for the best. This article pulls back the curtain on a powerful Google tool that finally connects your online ads to real-world results.
Stop Gambling With Your Marketing Budget
Right now, you're flying blind. You see the clicks, you see the "impressions," but you don't see the people. It's like buying a billboard in the middle of the desert. You know people might be driving by, but you have no idea if they're stopping at your restaurant for dinner or just driving on to the next town.
This uncertainty is stressful and expensive. Every dollar you spend on an ad that doesn't put a customer in a seat is a dollar wasted. You're left wondering if your marketing is a brilliant investment or a complete waste of time. It's a feeling of powerlessness, handing over your hard-earned money to a system that provides you with almost no real answers in return.
You wouldn't run your kitchen with that kind of guesswork. You track every single ingredient to manage food costs. It's time to bring that same level of precision and control to your marketing.
From Digital Clicks to Dining Room Guests
Imagine knowing exactly which ad brought that family of four in for dinner on Tuesday night. This isn't a fantasy; it's a capability you can unlock right now. We refer to it as the Digital Footprint to Foot Traffic Formula. It's a method for utilising Google's proprietary technology to track the real-world journey from an online ad click to a physical visit to your restaurant.
This formula closes the loop between your digital marketing and your daily sales. By activating Google's store visit conversions, we can now measure how many people saw your ad and subsequently walked into your establishment. It takes all the anonymous, aggregated data from people's phones. It turns it into a clear, powerful report that shows you what's working.
Think of it like this. Previously, your advertising was like a fishing net with giant holes in it; you were losing most of your catch without even realising it. The Digital Footprint to Foot Traffic Formula patches those holes. It gives you the power to see which ads are reeling in customers, so you can stop wasting money on the ones that aren't. You're no longer a gambler; you're a strategic investor making smart decisions that fill your tables and grow your business.
Here is the lesson to improve your advertising starting today.
- Finally, see a direct, measurable link between your online ad spend and people in your seats…
- Turn your marketing from a frustrating expense into a predictable, profit-generating machine…
- What is the one Google setting that most of your competitors don't even know exists…
- Gain the unshakable confidence of knowing exactly how to attract more customers on demand…
- Stop throwing your money away on ads that you can't prove are actually working for you…
- Avoid the painful feeling of guessing while others use real data to steal your customers…
- This simple tracking gives you total control over your marketing and a clear growth path…
Original story and image on Rolling Out
5 brilliant strategies that slash business costs instantly
Small business owners across America are discovering innovative ways to slash operating costs while maintaining quality and growth momentum. These five proven strategies have helped countless entrepreneurs navigate challenging economic conditions and emerge stronger than ever, proving that smart cost-cutting doesn’t mean compromising on excellence.
Our Take On This Article
Your Business Is Leaking Money. These Are The 5 Plugs You Need Right Now.
Your expenses are creeping up, eating into your profits and making you feel like you're running in place just to survive. This isn't about cutting corners or cheapening your product; it's about making smart, strategic moves to stop the bleeding. This article outlines five effective strategies that can instantly reduce your costs and put more money back in your pocket.
That Sinking Feeling of Watching Your Profits Vanish
You know the feeling all too well. You look at your sales numbers, and they're solid. But then you look at what's left after all the bills are paid, and your stomach sinks. Rising costs for supplies, marketing that feels like a shot in the dark, and paying for tasks that drain your team's energy—it all adds up, leaving you with less and less.
It feels like your business is a bucket with a dozen tiny holes in it. You work harder and harder to pour more water in the top, but it just keeps leaking out the bottom. This constant financial pressure is exhausting. It stifles your creativity and makes you afraid to take the risks needed to grow your business.
You're trapped in a cycle of earning more just to spend more. But what if you could just plug the holes? What if you could keep more of the money you already make, without sacrificing quality or burning out your team?
The Secret Isn't Spending Less. It's Spending Smarter.
The answer isn't to slash your budget with a rusty axe. It's to perform precision surgery on your expenses. We refer to this as the Profit Leakage Protocol. It's a system designed to identify and rectify the hidden drains in your cash flow, transforming wasted expenses into fuel for your growth.
This protocol shows you how to turn your biggest costs into opportunities. Instead of paying for ads, you learn to get customers for free. Instead of hiring more bodies, you build a small, powerful team and use smart technology to do the heavy lifting. You'll master the art of negotiation so your suppliers give you the best prices, not just the prices they want you to pay.
Think of your business like a high-performance race car. The Profit Leakage Protocol is the expert tune-up that makes it faster and more fuel-efficient. We're not taking parts out; we're making every single part work better. You stop wasting energy and start channelling all of it toward winning the race. You gain control, confidence, and the financial freedom to build the business you've always wanted.
Here is the lesson to improve your cash flow immediately.
- Watch your bank account grow as you plug the hidden leaks that drain your profits every month…
- Transform your business from a money pit into a lean, powerful, and highly profitable machine…
- What is the one negotiation secret that can instantly cut your supply costs by up to 20%...
- Become the savvy business owner who gets more done with a smaller, more effective team…
- Stop wasting money on marketing that doesn't deliver a clear and immediate return on investment…
- Avoid the common trap of hiring more people when smart technology can do the work for less…
- This system empowers you to manage your costs and secure your financial future…
Doing Rounds of The Kitchen Table
We hope you have enjoyed this week's fresh serve of news from the Catering and Restaurant Industry.
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