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Interesting idea for a local restaurant

by Robscom
24 replies
Maybe all restaurants do this. No idea. I just thought it was a cool thing.

I saw where a restaurant created a FB group, and the group shares recipes. The restaurant every once in a while (not sure how often) chooses a recipe to test out in its kitchens and possibly feature on the menu. There are prizes involved (money and publicity, from what I gathered).

I don't know details (I didn't join the group), but thought this might be a good idea for any of you with restaurant owners for clients. Seemed to get a lot of buzz for the restaurant.

Hope this helps someone.
#idea #interesting #local #restaurant
  • Profile picture of the author solosolutions
    It's a good idea but not everyone would totally agree with this.

    Some restaurants want to maintain the confidentiality of their recipes.

    But the idea is absolutely good and new.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robscom
      Originally Posted by solosolutions View Post

      It's a good idea but not everyone would totally agree with this.

      Some restaurants want to maintain the confidentiality of their recipes.

      But the idea is absolutely good and new.
      The restaurant isn't posting their menu recipes, but from what I could tell, the employees post some personal recipes of theirs to share, plus the members post theirs, too.

      I am sure that if a recipe is used on their menu, they tweak it (so it's unique). I don't think they choose one often, but

      It seems like a cool way to build community and get local press coverage.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    It does sound like a good idea.
    Maybe do it on a regular basis - like Top Recipe Tuesdays
    to boost week day sales.

    I read about a restaurant that had a lot of success boosting
    weekday business by giving a meal to a lucky random winner.
    I think they did it every Wednesday.

    Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    The day they test a recipe, I can just see the restaurant being filled with the relatives and friends of the person whose recipe was chosen.

    Depending on execution, this can work wonders.


    Originally Posted by Robscom View Post

    Maybe all restaurants do this. No idea. I just thought it was a cool thing.

    I saw where a restaurant created a FB group, and the group shares recipes. The restaurant every once in a while (not sure how often) chooses a recipe to test out in its kitchens and possibly feature on the menu. There are prizes involved (money and publicity, from what I gathered).

    I don't know details (I didn't join the group), but thought this might be a good idea for any of you with restaurant owners for clients. Seemed to get a lot of buzz for the restaurant.

    Hope this helps someone.
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  • Profile picture of the author rosario1990
    That's really great idea to create a FB page and posting there regularly. And share different kind of recipes.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robscom
      Originally Posted by rosario1990 View Post

      That's really great idea to create a FB page and posting there regularly. And share different kind of recipes.
      This was a group, not a page. I think the dynamics are very different. It looked like there was a lot of interaction and engagement.
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  • Profile picture of the author umc
    That's a fantastic idea. It builds engagement and fun for their group members and their friends and families when a recipe is chosen. I love ideas like this. It would be interesting to think about how other types of businesses could do something similar.
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    • Profile picture of the author Oziboomer
      Originally Posted by umc View Post

      That's a fantastic idea. It builds engagement and fun for their group members and their friends and families when a recipe is chosen. I love ideas like this. It would be interesting to think about how other types of businesses could do something similar.
      A client of mine in the weight-loss niche has run a "Tickle my tastebuds Tuesday" for several years now mostly on Facebook but they often run in-house cooking demonstrations where they have a local chef and dietitian run cooking demos.

      These get broadcasted or recorded for re-broadcast later.

      They generally group the attendees by where they are on their weight-loss journey as the collective then shares common experiences.

      It is not really a traffic driver for them but more of a post op support service but it does help with building support and shares which then drives prospects to the first steps of the funnel.

      It also helps create original content for leveraging across all social media.

      It also adds a point of difference between them and their local competition.

      When there is a demo the recipes are published but they are grouped in nutritional groups so people can decide if the recipe fits their needs at that point. i.e. Iron, Protein. etc.

      If I was doing the recipe thing for the restaurant I'd vanity publish a cookbook that was branded and also had each contributors name clearly identified.

      Then...I'd take pre-orders from the contributors to "gift" to their family and friends.

      Lot of kudos in being "published" especially when you get natural distribution and the contributors paying for the privilege.

      best regards,

      Ozi
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      • Profile picture of the author klutzon
        Originally Posted by Oziboomer View Post

        If I was doing the recipe thing for the restaurant I'd vanity publish a cookbook that was branded and also had each contributors name clearly identified.

        Then...I'd take pre-orders from the contributors to "gift" to their family and friends.
        That's brilliant.
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      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        Originally Posted by Oziboomer View Post

        A client of mine in the weight-loss niche has run a "Tickle my tastebuds Tuesday" for several years now mostly on Facebook but they often run in-house cooking demonstrations where they have a local chef and dietitian run cooking demos.

        These get broadcasted or recorded for re-broadcast later.

        They generally group the attendees by where they are on their weight-loss journey as the collective then shares common experiences.

        It is not really a traffic driver for them but more of a post op support service but it does help with building support and shares which then drives prospects to the first steps of the funnel.

        It also helps create original content for leveraging across all social media.

        It also adds a point of difference between them and their local competition.

        When there is a demo the recipes are published but they are grouped in nutritional groups so people can decide if the recipe fits their needs at that point. i.e. Iron, Protein. etc.

        If I was doing the recipe thing for the restaurant I'd vanity publish a cookbook that was branded and also had each contributors name clearly identified.

        Then...I'd take pre-orders from the contributors to "gift" to their family and friends.

        Lot of kudos in being "published" especially when you get natural distribution and the contributors paying for the privilege.

        best regards,

        Ozi
        I do publishing. Lots of good things you can do with it, and it's versatile -- you can do it with restaurants and a lot more.

        Might be a good JV to do with someone.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robscom
      Originally Posted by umc View Post

      That's a fantastic idea. It builds engagement and fun for their group members and their friends and families when a recipe is chosen. I love ideas like this. It would be interesting to think about how other types of businesses could do something similar.
      I've been thinking about this all weekend. LOL
      1. A pool company could have a group for people to post their "summer fun" pics.
      2. A gardening shop could have a group where people post pics of their lawn. They could even have a "Lawn of the Week/Month" award!
      3. A kitchen store could have people post recipes and pics of dishes.
      4. A pet supply store could have people post pics of their pets. Also a good candidate for a contest.

      I think the idea has a lot of potential, and we could brainstorm other ideas, too.

      edited to add: You could choose 12 pics from the group and create a calendar. Good profit margin, simple to do, require a pre-order, and I'd bet it would be a hit.
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      • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
        Originally Posted by Robscom View Post

        I've been thinking about this all weekend. LOL
        1. A pool company could have a group for people to post their "summer fun" pics.
        2. A gardening shop could have a group where people post pics of their lawn. They could even have a "Lawn of the Week/Month" award!
        3. A kitchen store could have people post recipes and pics of dishes.
        4. A pet supply store could have people post pics of their pets. Also a good candidate for a contest.

        I think the idea has a lot of potential, and we could brainstorm other ideas, too.

        edited to add: You could choose 12 pics from the group and create a calendar. Good profit margin, simple to do, require a pre-order, and I'd bet it would be a hit.
        Perhaps a magnetic calendar with a picture of the new homeowner in front of his home.
        Or The new pool owner next to his pool. Or the new car buyer with his new car.

        And so on. These are given out as a "Thank You" gift to the buyer, with the hopes
        of generating referrals.

        Ron
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        • Profile picture of the author RR151
          Originally Posted by Ron Lafuddy View Post

          Perhaps a magnetic calendar with a picture of the new homeowner in front of his home.
          Or The new pool owner next to his pool. Or the new car buyer with his new car.

          And so on. These are given out as a "Thank You" gift to the buyer, with the hopes
          of generating referrals.

          Ron
          Maybe a dynamic QR Code that links back to the restaurant deals. These deals are changing every 5 minutes through the dynamic QR Code, which gives the new car owner another reason to have the special fridge magnet on the fridge. Might even have a series of different restaurant niches like a Pizza, Chinese, Italian etc...

          Just a thought...RR
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  • Profile picture of the author FemaleAddadotcom
    this seems like a new idea.. and good too because it encourages customer engagement..also you get to learn new recipes.. it works because the recipes comes from someone with authority.. one who knows food and consumers trust.. so if they like your food.. they'll like your fb posts.. your blogs.. your images.. new way to popularize new recipes.. even just by images
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  • Profile picture of the author Robscom
    The owner also calls himself a "Food photographer," so he posts pics all the time and encourages others to do the same.

    Seems like a great marketing tool.
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    • Profile picture of the author GforceSage
      Originally Posted by Robscom View Post

      The owner also calls himself a "Food photographer," so he posts pics all the time and encourages others to do the same.

      Seems like a great marketing tool.

      This could also be used as a door opener to offline Warriors.

      If you want to sell a business a website or refresh one, you could help the owner set up the facebook group and mention that they could have a contest where the group is asked to submit photos of their meal and the best ones will be part of the website.

      All participants could get a deal offer for a Monday through Thursday to spur business on slow days. The owner could then follow up with the recipe contest idea to keep the group engaged. Good stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author deepakrajput
    Only effective social media marketing can help you.
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  • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaMA
    These are really creative ideas for local restaurants. I was browsing for inspiration when I found this post in the SERPs so I joined up and wanted to say thanks!

    Cadbury were a Google Plus case study for this kind of user generated content success. People would post recipes where they used chocolate and Cadbury would select recipes to feature on their brand page. It got huge traction and engagement but then it was Cadbury!

    It could be particularly appealing for a restaurant where there are communities around certain interests such vegan or gluten free recipes.

    I love the way people are contributing to ideas here to flesh them out and offer their own suggestions. Love the cookbook idea too!
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  • Profile picture of the author Robscom
    The one drawback I see is that for the owner, it's a LOT of work. (Mainly time involved.)

    You'd have to monitor the group to make sure the content posted is appropriate, make sure there aren't spammers (or worse). You'd have to engage the members, etc.

    Would this be a service to market? Professional Business Group Admin? (Only a little bit joking, mostly serious.)
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    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
      Originally Posted by Robscom View Post

      The one drawback I see is that for the owner, it's a LOT of work. (Mainly time involved.)

      You'd have to monitor the group to make sure the content posted is appropriate, make sure there aren't spammers (or worse). You'd have to engage the members, etc.

      Would this be a service to market? Professional Business Group Admin? (Only a little bit joking, mostly serious.)
      Could be a market if the restaurant is very motivated about his business. Above the average restauranteur. Enough pay to make it worth your time could be an issue, or include with enough margin in a package of services.
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      • Profile picture of the author Robscom
        Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

        Could be a market if the restaurant is very motivated about his business. Above the average restauranteur. Enough pay to make it worth your time could be an issue, or include with enough margin in a package of services.
        Not something I'd want to do (I'm not a fan of FB), but maybe for a FB aficionado it might be a viable business model.
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  • Profile picture of the author samuk
    I think it is a good idea. There a Michelin starred restaurants who even publish recipe books.
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  • Profile picture of the author samuk
    and a big revenue stream of Jamie Oliver for example comes from sharing recipes online, videos and books
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  • Profile picture of the author awaiscivil
    i think for local restaurant need to make a page on FB after restaurant quality it will automatically likes by costumers and your restaurant will be on rocking ...
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