Where do I go from here ...

by iPete
7 replies
Hi everyone,

I've been developing my website Good Cafe Guide (Good Cafe Guide | Best cafes and coffee shops | Top UK cafes and tea rooms) in my spare time and it's finally starting to take shape. As the name suggests it's a directory of cafes in the UK. I'm offering premium listings free of charge for a limited period in order to make it look populated but I can't seem to attract any new cafes which is really frustrating!

Does anyone have any tips or advice to help me target the thousands of cafes out there? I'm sure there must be an easy way to reach out to them but it hasn't come to me yet. I'd love to hear from anyone who may have any ideas


Cheers,

iPete
#directory
  • Originally Posted by iPete View Post

    I'm offering premium listings free of charge for a limited period in order to make it look populated but I can't seem to attract any new cafes
    Have you thought about compiling a current mailing / phone list of your target audience? You know...

    The Attendant - Basement, 27A Foley St, W1W 6DY. Oxford Circus.
    FreeState Coffee - 23 Southampton Row, WC1B 5HA. Holborn.
    Look Mum No Hands! - 49 Old Street, EC1V 9HX. Old St.
    Prufrock Coffee - 23-25 Leather Lane, EC1N 7TE. Chancery Lane or Farringdon.
    Rapha CC - 85 Brewer St, W1F 9ZN. Piccadilly Circus.

    You can either purchase those, or build it yourself.

    The web is good for that.

    Cafes UK - Directory of UK Cafes

    And then

    A: Go there, bring your laptop, meet the owners, show your directory and sign them up in person.

    B: Hire your mom / sister / uncle / friend to make phone calls and sign them up.

    C: Mail out an invite to them

    D: Advertise on related sites .......

    E: Submit your directory to related Directories... Social bookmarking, Blog commenting, Write a press release, Write and post related articles, Post classified ads, Ok, that's all I got... Well not really, but you get the point.
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    • Profile picture of the author angshuy2k
      A key point to take as my other fellow warrior have said, target local keywords as well as offline marketing might be a way to go forward.
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  • Profile picture of the author iPete
    Thanks for the suggestions.

    I've found following cafes on Twitter and contacting them this way works quite well but it's quite labour intensive. I'm not looking to get rich quick from this but I'm trying to think of somehow contacting cafe owners much quicker than contacting them one by one.

    iPete
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  • Profile picture of the author edhuu
    maybe put an advertising in your local radio? I think you should do more offline marketing to approach this cafes..
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  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it but your "Contact Us" link (which appears to be just an email address) does not work for me.

    I click it and nothing happens.

    My email client is Thunderbird.

    Cheers,

    Neil
    Signature

    Easy email marketing automation without moving your lists.

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    • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
      Banned
      You can "recommend" a cafe without their permission and without contacting them.

      If you feel the need to have visited the premises first, then simply advertise on a free classifieds section (Gumtree?) for that area and I'm sure you'll find people who are willing to oblige. You can even get them to take pictures for you. You'll be surprised what folk will do if you offer an acknowledgement of their personal contribution on your website.

      The point is, you don't need permission to appraise someone. And when your website is a resounding success you monetise it. It's amazing how many people will then pay you money to stay on there . . . in the face of competition.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    Originally Posted by iPete View Post

    Hi everyone,

    I've been developing my website Good Cafe Guide (Good Cafe Guide | Best cafes and coffee shops | Top UK cafes and tea rooms) in my spare time and it's finally starting to take shape. As the name suggests it's a directory of cafes in the UK. I'm offering premium listings free of charge for a limited period in order to make it look populated but I can't seem to attract any new cafes which is really frustrating!

    Does anyone have any tips or advice to help me target the thousands of cafes out there? I'm sure there must be an easy way to reach out to them but it hasn't come to me yet. I'd love to hear from anyone who may have any ideas


    Cheers,

    iPete
    Are people generally looking for cafes online? Restaurants yes but isn't cafes just one of those things that you pop into because it's convenient and there in front of you?
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