Posted on November 17, 2009 - by Wayne Sutton
Social Media Examples: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops are using social media in Raleigh
Social Media Examples: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops are using social media in Raleigh, NC.
By now everyone should know that social media marketing and restaurants are a perfect mix. Especially when it comes to using social media to reach local customers. Restaurants have an advantage of the ability to interact with their customers and explore other marketing opportunities without spending a lot of money with little risk. Sadly this also means most restaurants are using social media on a small level posting Twitter account and/or Facebook fanpage on their website and blogging without thinking about the offline marketing opportunities or using social media for customer service opportunities. Also a lot of times this means there is no employee social media policy, 24/7 monitoring, established goals and no social media monitoring or measuring tool being used to track engagement and what’s working. Regardless it’s working for some and there’s always room for improvement. Below are three examples from Cafe Helios, Busy Bee Cafe and Sauced Pizza. *Disclaimer, I have not worked with any of the three and this blog post is only coming from preliminary observations but I have eaten all three. 
Cafe Helios
Website: http://cafehelios.com
Blog: http://cafehelios.com/blog
Twitter: @Cafehelios – 655 followers
Facebook Fanpage: – 212 fans – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-NC/Cafe-Helios/21777426721
Pros:
- Clean simple website design
- Blog design matches brand with seamless integration ( I think the entire site is WordPress)
- Facebook and Twitter icons on contact page
- Using Twitter to Tweet specials and event promotions
- Twitter logo and background matches brand
- Using photos, in-store and on website and Facebook fanpage tab
- Using Facebook Fanpage to to post specials and event promotions, just like their twitter account
- Using blog to post more detailed information about events
- Welcomes the community to host events/meetups/tweetups at location.
Cons:
- No “find us” on Twitter and Facebook logos or icons on the home page
- I don’t see an option to join an email newsletter online or in-store. I can’t remember if they have one in-store either but I don’t think so
- Lack of constancy on Blog, Twitter and Facebook Fanpage updates
- Monitoring the @cafehelios account with little engagement from @cafehelios
- Posting same content on Twitter and Facebook Fanpage
- Not using video on blog or Facebook fanpage
- No in-store signs that say contact or follow/fan us on social media sites.
- Not showing social networking profiles on blog sidebar
- No custom Facebook fanpage username
Sauced Pizza/strong>
Website: http://www.saucedpizza.com
Blog: http://blog.saucedpizza.com
Twitter: @SaucedPizza - 207 followers
Facebook Fanpage: – 454 fans – http://www.facebook.com/SaucedPizza
Email Newsletter Sign-up – http://www.saucedpizza.com/email.html
*Opened in the last 3 months
Pros:
- Email newsletter, Facbook Fanpage and Twitter icons on the homepage
- Advertising Free wi-fi on homepage
- Using Google Calendar to show events and allowing users subscribe to calendar
- Showing Facebook Fanpage Fan box on blog sidebar and on contact page of main site.
- Showing social networking profiles on blog sidebar
- Using blog for promotions with consistent updates
- Using notes Facebook app to sync/link blog and Facebook Fanpage content
- Have a tab on Facebook fanpage to sign-up for email
- Using Facebook Photo gallery and events tab
- Custom Twitter background
Cons:
- Using Blogger for a blog platform, (sorry I’m a wordpress guy)
- Blog link not in main navigation
- Twitter, Facebook and sign-up for email newsletter on the footer of the website
- Posting same content on Twitter and Facebook Fanpage
- Not using video on blog or Facebook fanpage
- No in-store signs that say contact or follow/fan us on social media sites.
- Better Twitter engagement than @cafehelios but not consistent coming from account.
- Website and blog design not consistent
Busy Bee Cafe
Website: http://www.busybeeraleigh.com
Blog: Not obvious ( I think it’s the Homebrew/Outide the Hive link)
Twitter: @BusyBeeCafe – 457 followers
Facebook Fanpage: – 1428 fans – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-NC/The-Busy-Bee-Raleigh/88670951056
Email Newsletter Sign-up – Top right home page: http://www.busybeeraleigh.com
*I visited for the first time yesterday, Nov. 16.
*Opened in the last 7 months
Pros:
Twitter and Facebook icons in consistent locations throughout the site.
Share-this / social bookmarking icons on the footer of the website
Consistent updates on Facebook and Twitter
Using Facebook Twitter app to post updates to Twitter (I think)
They have a clipboard asking me to sign-up for their newsletter on the counter
Custom Twitter background
One video on Facebook Fanpage ( it’s a pro because they are the only one to have a video out of the three)
Using Facebook Fanpage as their blog (also a Con too if you don’t have a blog)
Welcomes the community to host events/meetups/tweetups at location.
Cons:
- Blog not obvious
- Very little if not zero engagement on Twitter
- No email newsletter sign-up on Facebook Fanpage
- Using Facebook Fanpage as their blog (also a Pro too if you don’t have a blog)
- No in-store signs that say contact or follow/fan us on social media sites.
- No custom Facebook fanpage username
- No in-store signs that say contact or follow/fan us on social media sites.
Stats:
followerwonk.com Twitter account comparison
Compete.com comparison
Summary:
Again this was preliminary observations without using any major measuring or analytics tools. Also I’m not a big Yelp user and I didn’t look to see if they have a Yelp profile and if there is any feedback on it.
- All three are using Twitter and Facebook to “push” out updates about in-store promotions and events with very little engagement.
- All three are not using video to create content with the exception of Busy Bee Cafe one Facebook video.
- The content strategy seems to be same message on all three platforms (blog, Twitter, Facebook)
- All three have cork boards for people to post flyers and posters but those are also good locations to post information about their social networking profiles. None have a visible presence to say find or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Twine Interactive office downtown Raleigh is a good example of how to use social media icons in windows to attract customers.
What’s next or to do?
- Using Location based apps such as Tri Out, Brightktie, Whrrl, FourSquare and Gowalla for location based marketing.
- Create video content for hire engagement and customer reviews
- Better blogging. Yes restaurants need content strategies too.
- Mobile: Have a mobile version of their website and/or create restaurant iPhone/andriod interactive app with menu and pictures/videos of food.
- Augmented reality, I wouldn’t worry about this until 2nd half of 2010
Questions:
What are other ways have you seen restaurants use social media and how can they use it better?
Related Posts:
Share post bit.ly url: http://bit.ly/VbLQO
About the Author
Written by Wayne Sutton
Wayne is the business development/marketing strategist for TriOut and partner at OurHashtag. For more, follow SocialWayne.com on Twitter, Buzz, and Facebook. Also check out the SocialWayne Podcast in iTunes. See all posts by Wayne Sutton.
Tags: BloggingBlogsBusy Bee CafeCafe Helioscoffee shopsdowntown restauratntsFacebookSauced PizzaSocial MediaTwitter
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17. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: Social Media Examples How downtown restaurants & coffee shops are using social media in Raleigh http://socialwayne.com/p18g
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17. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: Social Media Examples How downtown restaurants & coffee shops are using social media in Raleigh http://socialwayne.com/p18g
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17. Nov, 2009
Great local analysis RT @waynesutton Social Media Examples: How downtown restaurants are using social media in Raleigh http://bit.ly/1bfhbG
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17. Nov, 2009
Interesting read! RT @waynesutton Blog post: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops use social media in Raleigh http://socialwayne.com/p18g
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17. Nov, 2009
RT @PoshNoshCaterer: RT @waynesutton Blog post: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops use social media. http://socialwayne.com/p18g
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18. Nov, 2009
Social Media Examples: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops are …: Sadly this also means most restaura.. http://bit.ly/257Ewn
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18. Nov, 2009
Social Media Examples: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops are using social media in Raleigh http://bit.ly/VbLQO
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18. Nov, 2009
RT@CommentTech Social Media Examples: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops are using social media in Raleigh http://bit.ly/VbLQO
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18. Nov, 2009
RT @akintundedisu: RT@CommentTech Social Media Examples: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops use social media : http://bit.ly/VbLQO
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18. Nov, 2009
Good examples for restaurants wanting to use social media to reach customers. http://bit.ly/4AcNIO via @waynesutton
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19. Nov, 2009
/ @joesumney yeah, I wrote about @BUSYBEECAFE and other Raleigh restaurants using social media here: http://bit.ly/VbLQO need more engagment
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19. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: / @joesumney yeah, I wrote about @BUSYBEECAFE and other Raleigh restaurants using social media here: http://bit.ly/VbLQO
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19. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: / @joesumney yeah, I wrote about @BUSYBEECAFE and other Raleigh restaurants using social media here: http://bit.ly/VbLQO
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19. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: … @BUSYBEECAFE and other Raleigh restaurants using social media here: http://bit.ly/VbLQO need more engagement
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19. Nov, 2009
RT @KarlieJ: RT @waynesutton: … @BUSYBEECAFE and other Raleigh restaurants using social media here: http://bit.ly/VbLQO need more enga …
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20. Nov, 2009
[...] Social Media Examples: How downtown restaurants & coffee shops are … [...]
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26. Feb, 2010
[...] are a growing number of case studies, articles, and blog posts pointing to this potential. So, let’s get to [...]
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07. Mar, 2010
[...] are a growing number of case studies, articles, and blog posts pointing to this potential. So, let’s get to [...]
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November 17, 2009
Permalink
Jeffrey Summers said:
More ‘old tactics – new media,” lowest common denominator efforts. We also need to 86 the ‘low cost and low risk’ line about Social Media since it’s a lie.
I’d rather see restaurants not engage with social media at all until they get their bricks-and-mortar business squared away first.
If you’re not built to engage people in your dining room and build relationships, you will be an utter failure there as well as in social media.
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November 17, 2009
Permalink
Nicole DeMaio said:
Great post of how local businesses are and aren’t using social media. Looking forward to more!
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November 17, 2009
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Wayne Sutton said:
Thanks for comments and Jeffrey you’re right, social media engagement has to become a fabric of the workplace for it to work, even for restaurants.
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November 19, 2009
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Lisa Jeffries said:
Great observations, Wayne! I’m glad I stumbled upon this (RT on Twitter by @KarlieJ) – any and all feedback is welcome on the Sauced Pizza front!
In-house signage is definitely on the way (great point), but one thing I wanted to note is that one of the reasons we run similar content on facebook and twitter is that we have a significant amount of facebook users who are not regular twitter users. Instead of running too many campaigns that frequently change, it’s more consistent for us to market the same messages to both audiences.
Also, as far as engagement, we respond to any and all messages we receive online – even publicly at times. We also receive much more email than anything and of course, that’s something that isn’t often published, unless approved by the customer.
Thanks for letting me offer some insight from the inside out
Hope to see you at Sauced Pizza again soon!
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November 19, 2009
Permalink
Lisa Jeffries said:
Oh yeah! Video is also coming soon
One step at a time!
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November 19, 2009
Permalink
Wayne Sutton said:
Thanks for the feedback Lisa. Looking forward to seeing video being used.
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November 20, 2009
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Peter said:
When social media integrated to www, that’s email. Spread – email marketing software and service is a professional web-based Email marketing platform.
I have already used it and maintain good relationship with clients. It’s also works for explore new customers.
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April 22, 2010
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Coffee Clubs said:
Very good analysis. This can help not only them but also us how to use social media to increase sales.
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April 22, 2010
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Coffee Clubs said:
Very good analysis. This can help not only them but also us how to use social media to increase sales.
Visit My Website
April 22, 2010
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Coffee Clubs said:
Very good analysis. This can help not only them but also us how to use social media to increase sales.
Visit My Website
July 12, 2010
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Joshua Pearlstein said:
You should checkout SinglePlatform's twitter feed @SinglePlatform to see how other restaurants throughout the United States are using social media. We are a social media and marketing platform specifically for restaurants and bars, and we are already working with thousands of restaurants across the country.
Please feel free to contact me anytime, I would love to discuss more later.