Thousands of years ago the ancient Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu, wrote this in The Art of War: "Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." In this week's episode I want to pause for a second to talk about the difference between strategic thinking and tactical thinking, and show you how they're really just two sides of the same coin.   CONTINUING EDUCATION:

This week's episode is all about photography... specifically Food Photography. It's a big part of how I make my living, and an important way to attract customers to your restaurant. It's a longer episode than normal, but we've also packed a ton of information into 42 minutes. There are three main segments to the episode. First, I'm sharing the basic principles of good photography... Next, I walk you through how I set up my food shots... Finally, I'm sharing the full list of all the gear I use. To help you navigate through, I've put together a Photo Guide with links to every single item I recommend in the episode. It took forever to pull it all together, but I'm hoping you guys get a lot out of it.  

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I've been telling you week after week that the key to success... the key to your success... is to answer this one question: "What are the stories only you can tell?" You have to figure out what makes you unique, remarkable... and then highlight those differences to separate yourself from the competition. In this week's episode I'm going to tell you my story, and the story of my business to make a point. I'm going to use that story to make a point, to show you how storytelling can help you can stand out. CONTINUING EDUCATION:

This week’s episode is all about the importance of Permission Marketing. Perhaps you're asking: "What is permission marketing?" Seth Godin defines it as “the privilege (not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal, and relevant messages to people who actually want them.” We are of course talking about building an e-mail strategy, but it goes beyond that I think. It’s about shifting your perspective to reconsider how we connect with our audience. Throughout the episode we'll talk about five key areas of building an effective e-mail strategy:

E-Mail Service Providers

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Think of your website as your digital home. At the very least, it should be an extension of the hospitality you provide in the restaurant; at best, it needs to entice diners to come try the experience for themselves. It should reflect the tone and aesthetic of your place, and be the centerpiece to your online presence. Articles, interviews, reviews, and all other forms of media (including social) will drive traffic here. This is where you will close the sale, so to speak. In this week's episode I'm going to talk all about what a restaurant website does and doesn't need to be. Do-It-Yourself Website Design

Restaurant Design Templates

Hire a Freelance Designer

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Much of the work I do with my clients is Social Media Marketing, and yet I think a lot of small business owners can feel overwhelmed by it all. Just managing the three main platforms can sometimes feel like a hassle. So this week I'm going to share my five keys to success when it comes to social media. There's a ton of information in this episode so sit back, relax, and maybe even take some notes. CONTINUING EDUCATION:

Think about the people who dined in your restaurant last night. Couples, families, businessmen, friends, whatever... all of them were there for different reasons. They ordered different things, and in the end had different experiences. But there's one thing they all shared about their dining experience. And that was the menu. Your menu was the one thing every single person in the restaurant got. I'm going to make the case that your menu is the most important piece of real estate in your place. It can be a drag to your finances or work hard to keep you profitable. Listen in as I walk you through the ins and outs of Menu Magic! CONTINUING EDUCATION:

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it's a crazy complicated topic that would take hours to effectively explain. But just because it's complex doesn't mean we should ignore it. In fact, I'm going to make the case that SEO is the single most important tool in the Digital Marketer's Toolkit. The ability to be FOUND in a world as vast as the internet is INVALUABLE. And so this week I'm giving a crash course in SEO for Restaurants. Give me the next 25 minutes and I'll show you 8 ways you can start improving your ranking on sites like Google and Bing! SEO TOOLS:

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** Click on any of the titles to order your own copy at Amazon.com **

1. Purple Cow by Seth Godin

2. All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin

3. Permission Marketing by Seth Godin

4. Setting the Table by Danny Meyer

5. Start with Why by Simon Sinek

6. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook

7. The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

8. To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink

9. Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull

10. This is Water

By far the biggest question I get from clients is this: "Should my restaurant be running Facebook Ads." In this week's episode we break it all down, and share some key reasons why paid advertising works on social media. I'll show you an easy way to get started, and walk you through the most efficient ways to spend those limited marketing dollars. FACEBOOK BUSINESS PORTAL: CLICK HERE CONTINUING EDUCATION: