Thoughts on Marketing Yourself
Maybe I’m up too late. Maybe I’m way too sucked into this whole social network, but I found something useful on Twitter. It is how to market yourself, but it’s labeled “The Top 10 Reasons I Will Not Follow You on Twitter.”
There’s a few (10 namely) funny examples of the undesirable in this article, but the best part is the ‘3 tenets’:
1. Present a cohesive personal brand, or, if presenting a brand is too much for you, simply present a cohesive sense of yourself
2. Always be consistent in your use of Twitter, i.e., become known for the unique ways in which you use Twitter, and stick with what works for you
3. Engage with your network. Genuine engagement with your network of followers will ultimately ensure that your mobile number is retained, and not “lost,” at the end of that fabulous party, and it will ensure that you don’t (too often) commit any serious follow fails, (Bartelby, 2009).
The items listed above are geared toward twitterers, but hey stillhold true for any brand. Go Ahead. Look at them again, take them in and try to separate them from the marketing we discuss and do every day. It will be hard to do.
Reference:
Bartelby, A, (2009). “Follow fail: The Top 10 Reason I will Not Follow You on in Return on Twitter.” Mashable: The Social Media Guide. Retrieved June 2, 2009 from http://mashable.com/2009/01/06/twitter-follow-fail/
Can’t Cook? i-COOK works for those who can
Back in May, Lifeware TEK debuted a “premier online foodservice platform” called i-COOK Professional at the National Restaurant Association Show in Florida. This system is a business-building software system that includes “recipe management, integrated nutrition calculator, menu planning and costing” features that will “automate and streamline common, time-consuming processes through and ‘operator-centric’ suite of user-friendly, intuitive tools,” (PR Newswire, 2009).
Ok, so what’s so exciting about that?
Well, I’ll tell you…this software system also includes a “foodservice-focused social network enabling direct communication between key stakeholders,” (PR Newswire, 2009). These stakeholders may be owners, managers, chefs, key employees, CEO’s and marketers for any number of large, multi-unit brands. Some possible users may include Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, and Longhorn Steakhouse) or the Applebee’s Company Stores and franchisees.
The social network allows for a “targeted, cost-effective forum for sharing ideas, receiving brand and product information and promotions and messaging vendors and customers,” (PR Newswire, 2009). This system can also be upgraded to distributor information. I used to work for Applebee’s, and in the Pittsburgh Metro Region US Foodservice was our contracted supplier. This kind of software system like this would allow managers to immediately view nutritional information such as how many carbs are in the quesadillas, or many grams of fat are in the Oriental Salad Dressing, (trust me, its’ VERY High as it contains LARD!) This type of information is not required to be printed on foodservice packaging as it is never seen directly by the consumer, so finding this data is quite hard. Sales reps have access to it, but not usually readily available, and in my experience, are not real quick about getting back to you with an answer. (It could hurt a sale.) So sometimes it’s pretty difficult to get answers from those who know, even if it is for the benefit of the customer or business.
And the price is right, as it costs only $29.95 per month, although the release doesn’t say if that’s the price per restaurant group or for each individual location. Either way, it is still quite affordable.
Once again, bringing you the news of media in the foodservice field, whether you want it or not, this is Rachel…OVER & OUT!
Reference:
PR Newswire. (2009). “Industry Leader Introduces Affordable Online Business Solution for Foodservice Operators.” Retrieved June 2, 20069 from http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/prnewswire/press_releases/Florida/2009/05/15/PH17439
From Pong…to Big Fuzzy Mice who bring you Pizza, now this???
This is pretty cool. uWink has created an interactive restaurant concept and began the development of franchising this idea and licensing the technology in 2008, (Business Wire, 2008). So what is uWink? “uWink develops digital media entertainment and hospitality software and an interactive restaurant concept that allows customers to order food, drinks, games and other digital media at the table through proprietary touch screen terminals,” (Business Wire, 2008). The head of this company is Nolan Bushnell, who founded both the Atari company and Chuck E. Cheese, (Business Wire, 2008). Ok, everyone say it with me… “Atari…I miss Atari.” (Back in the day I could’ve played PacMan and The Riddle of the Sphinx for hours, and I did!)
The technology for this company is now called Tapcode and won the 2009 Excellence in Innovation Award from The University of Las Vegas and the Hospitality Technology Overall Technology Innovation Award in 2008, (Tapcode, 2009).
Now supposedly this technology can make a difference in a whole variety of dining establishements. “We put the power to order and pay at your guests’ fingertips (literally!) – reducing frustrating wait times, increasing average checks and speeding table turns. Your staff is freed up to serve more guests, increasing their productivity (and their tip pool!),” (Tapcode, 2009).
I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind a system like this at say Sheetz, or the grocery store, or even TGI Friday’s, or combined with a jukebox system in a new-fangled ‘old-fashioned’ diner. But the last thing I want in a full-service dining establishment is for someone to get a tip from me who didn’t really work for it. I have been in the food service industry in some aspect for about 19 years and most of that time I have been a tipped employee. I am a big tipper, as it is good karma to do so. The first thing a good server does is create a rapport with the guest, show them their knowledge and offer their assistance. How can you do that if the computer is taking the order? And what about food allergies and questions about menu items? How does a computer answer questions concerning which side dish goes best with the one vegetarian item on the menu, or if any of the items can be modified to leave out dairy, or if the chefs/cooks can make an alfredo sauce because your 12-year-old is on an alfredo kick? This is when a server can shine, can make suggestions and can prove they are worthy of the 18% or better tip that allows that person to put a roof over his/her head, go to school, feed his/her kids and pay for nursing care for an aging parent.
Well, I digress. I guess that currently the hardware/software is only available in their branded restaurants, so no fear that I am going to lose my job to a computer screen, YET! You can watch this video and take a look for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufSy00U8LS0
And there are games to play!
Too bad the actual uWink website shows video but the sound didn’t work. Okay Nolan, get back to the drawing board!
Once again, this is Rachel reporting from the SIN (Service Industry Network, –he he, catchy new name)…OVER & OUT!
References:
Business Wire. (2008). “Food Service Industry Veteran Ted Leovich Teams with uWink to Drive Technology Licensing and Franchising.” Retrieved May 25, 2009 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2008_April_29/ai_n25361662/
Tapcode. (2009). “About.” Retrieved May 25, 2009 from http://www.tapcode.net/about
YouTube. (2007). “”uWink.” Retrieved May 25, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufSy00U8LS0
