Comments for BeforeTheWalls.com http://beforethewalls.com The Crossroads of Content Marketing, Social Media, Online Community and PR Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:48:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 Comment on New Marketing for a Restaurant Chain by Jonathan Trenn http://beforethewalls.com/new-marketing-for-a-restaurant-chain/#comment-15 Jonathan Trenn Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:01:40 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=50#comment-15 Hi Kevin I just googled "social media" and "restaurants" and came upon this post. Here's why: I am: 1) a digital marketing consultant that is heavily involved in social media; 2) a part time waiter in a local restaurant here in Northern Virginia, an area that my be much like the Austin area. I'm putting together a proposal for the restaurant company that I work for, Cafe Deluxe (http://www.cafedeluxe.com) There are three of them, one in DC, on in suburban Maryland, on in suburban VA. Nice restaurants, family oriented while being good place for singles as well. The one I work for is in the Tysons Corner area in VA...lotsa high tech. What I'm hoping to do is a blogger outreach program for them. Luckily there's this site: http://www.dcblogs.com that serves as a great database for potential blogges. I don't want to have an event. I'm hoping to reach out to 20-40 of them and send them $25 gift cards and invite them in and say it's on us and we hope you'll blog about it...give us a review. We won't know when you come it, but we're confident enough in our food, service and environment. I'll be reaching out to singles bloggers, to mommy and daddy bloggers, etc. I'll be trying to target bloggers by location - so I can get a relatively even distribution to the three restaurants. The owners actually have a fourth one on Capitol Hill, but it is Tex-Mex. The great part is that if people don't use the card, then the restaurant is not paying for them. Since I'm going to try to establish this as a business, I'll let them know that I'd like to build a relationship with them (the bloggers that is) and send them, from time to time, gift cards, coupons, guest passes, and samples. That will serve as an incentive to blog...because it they say "Sure, I'll take the gift card" and either don't use it (because we won't be able to tell if they use it or not unless they blog) or us it and don't blog, then I'd have to stop sending them offers that they may have an interest in. It's a bit more complicated than all of that and if you have any questions, shoot me an email. I'm just starting this so we'll see how it goes. Hi Kevin

I just googled “social media” and “restaurants” and came upon this post. Here’s why:

I am:

1) a digital marketing consultant that is heavily involved in social media;

2) a part time waiter in a local restaurant here in Northern Virginia, an area that my be much like the Austin area.

I’m putting together a proposal for the restaurant company that I work for, Cafe Deluxe (http://www.cafedeluxe.com) There are three of them, one in DC, on in suburban Maryland, on in suburban VA. Nice restaurants, family oriented while being good place for singles as well. The one I work for is in the Tysons Corner area in VA…lotsa high tech.

What I’m hoping to do is a blogger outreach program for them. Luckily there’s this site: http://www.dcblogs.com that serves as a great database for potential blogges.

I don’t want to have an event. I’m hoping to reach out to 20-40 of them and send them $25 gift cards and invite them in and say it’s on us and we hope you’ll blog about it…give us a review. We won’t know when you come it, but we’re confident enough in our food, service and environment.

I’ll be reaching out to singles bloggers, to mommy and daddy bloggers, etc. I’ll be trying to target bloggers by location - so I can get a relatively even distribution to the three restaurants. The owners actually have a fourth one on Capitol Hill, but it is Tex-Mex.

The great part is that if people don’t use the card, then the restaurant is not paying for them. Since I’m going to try to establish this as a business, I’ll let them know that I’d like to build a relationship with them (the bloggers that is) and send them, from time to time, gift cards, coupons, guest passes, and samples. That will serve as an incentive to blog…because it they say “Sure, I’ll take the gift card” and either don’t use it (because we won’t be able to tell if they use it or not unless they blog) or us it and don’t blog, then I’d have to stop sending them offers that they may have an interest in.

It’s a bit more complicated than all of that and if you have any questions, shoot me an email. I’m just starting this so we’ll see how it goes.

]]> Comment on New Marketing for the Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica by Donna Fenn http://beforethewalls.com/new-marketing-for-the-reggae-sumfest-in-jamaica/#comment-14 Donna Fenn Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:54:21 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=136#comment-14 It's so inspiring to see how far David and Realvibez have come over the past few months; keep up the great work! It’s so inspiring to see how far David and Realvibez have come over the past few months; keep up the great work!

]]> Comment on New Marketing for the Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica by Mike Michalowicz http://beforethewalls.com/new-marketing-for-the-reggae-sumfest-in-jamaica/#comment-13 Mike Michalowicz Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:48:28 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=136#comment-13 David's marketing (particularly on YouTube) impresses me no end. - Mike David’s marketing (particularly on YouTube) impresses me no end.

- Mike

]]> Comment on New Marketing for the Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica by Karel - Caribbean Public Relations http://beforethewalls.com/new-marketing-for-the-reggae-sumfest-in-jamaica/#comment-12 Karel - Caribbean Public Relations Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:59:52 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=136#comment-12 I've recently entered the mortgage finance industry and as a social media lover, of course it's a channel I'm looking at/ When it comes to maximising the benefits of new media, especially as it relates to entertainment, David has it going on. Looking forward to more real vibez from him. I’ve recently entered the mortgage finance industry and as a social media lover, of course it’s a channel I’m looking at/

When it comes to maximising the benefits of new media, especially as it relates to entertainment, David has it going on. Looking forward to more real vibez from him.

]]> Comment on New Marketing for the Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica by Scott Bradley http://beforethewalls.com/new-marketing-for-the-reggae-sumfest-in-jamaica/#comment-11 Scott Bradley Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:04:20 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=136#comment-11 David is the bomb. He knows what he is doing and is truly an innovative individual that everyone should know! David is the bomb. He knows what he is doing and is truly an innovative individual that everyone should know!

]]> Comment on The Next Generation Brand Sponsorship by Kevin Dykes http://beforethewalls.com/the-next-generation-brand-sponsorship/#comment-10 Kevin Dykes Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:40:29 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=113#comment-10 Your point that the audience deserves to know is interesting. I agree, not trying to hide or be covert and a foundation in transparency should be the mission. But as opposed to print 'advertorials' which pretend to be news, I think branded entertainment is more about our culture's demand for real, compelling entertainment. And, in many cases, a brand or company can provide a more engaging experience because they can afford to do it right, even more so that some of our traditional media companies who need to turn a profit on the programming itself. The reality is that much of our media & print editorial has been driven by the advertisers behind the scenes anyway. A branded documentary, with the brand firmly woven in as a character, is actually much more transparent than having a story in a magazine supported covertly by a media buy from that company. Your point that the audience deserves to know is interesting. I agree, not trying to hide or be covert and a foundation in transparency should be the mission. But as opposed to print ‘advertorials’ which pretend to be news, I think branded entertainment is more about our culture’s demand for real, compelling entertainment. And, in many cases, a brand or company can provide a more engaging experience because they can afford to do it right, even more so that some of our traditional media companies who need to turn a profit on the programming itself.

The reality is that much of our media & print editorial has been driven by the advertisers behind the scenes anyway. A branded documentary, with the brand firmly woven in as a character, is actually much more transparent than having a story in a magazine supported covertly by a media buy from that company.

]]> Comment on The Next Generation Brand Sponsorship by Julia http://beforethewalls.com/the-next-generation-brand-sponsorship/#comment-9 Julia Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:46:30 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=113#comment-9 I think brands can get involved and support content that aligns with their mission and vice-versa. I'm creating a web-show for Brand Tampa and I see an opportunity for mutually beneficial partnerships with brands who want to be associated with my city, my region. I also believe in full disclosure - if it's branded entertainment - the audience deserves to know. It fulfills needs for transparency and invites viewers to appreciate and the brand that brings them content they enjoy. I think brands can get involved and support content that aligns with their mission and vice-versa. I’m creating a web-show for Brand Tampa and I see an opportunity for mutually beneficial partnerships with brands who want to be associated with my city, my region. I also believe in full disclosure - if it’s branded entertainment - the audience deserves to know. It fulfills needs for transparency and invites viewers to appreciate and the brand that brings them content they enjoy.

]]> Comment on Is the Press Release DEAD? by Chuck Dykes http://beforethewalls.com/is-the-press-release-dead/#comment-8 Chuck Dykes Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:21:57 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=82#comment-8 Ford, great points. Corp SEC releases aside, you are right, it is just packaging and that will always change. It's the shift in content inside that packing that is important. We can call it PR, marketing or social media but in the end that goals are identical. Ford, great points. Corp SEC releases aside, you are right, it is just packaging and that will always change. It’s the shift in content inside that packing that is important. We can call it PR, marketing or social media but in the end that goals are identical.

]]> Comment on Is the Press Release DEAD? by Ford Kanzler http://beforethewalls.com/is-the-press-release-dead/#comment-7 Ford Kanzler Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:21:07 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=82#comment-7 Hi Chuck, The press release, whether loved or hated by PR pros or journalists, has been evolving and will continue to. It's just a package and packaging design is always changing just as are the packages' contents. As a standard way of pushing out information, I don't see it going away any time soon. For many organizations, it's the only way they know how to get the word out. It's often relatively minor but SEC-required news, such as a new management team member, that will be lucky to get any traditional or new media pickup, but still must be broadcasted. There are certainly better ways of generating buzz or creating awareness and credibility, whatever you want to call it. For many, unfortunately, "PR still stands for Press Release." The good news is that this tactic doesn't need to continue being the same old bland flavor its been for decades. Hi Chuck,
The press release, whether loved or hated by PR pros or journalists, has been evolving and will continue to. It’s just a package and packaging design is always changing just as are the packages’ contents. As a standard way of pushing out information, I don’t see it going away any time soon. For many organizations, it’s the only way they know how to get the word out. It’s often relatively minor but SEC-required news, such as a new management team member, that will be lucky to get any traditional or new media pickup, but still must be broadcasted. There are certainly better ways of generating buzz or creating awareness and credibility, whatever you want to call it. For many, unfortunately, “PR still stands for Press Release.” The good news is that this tactic doesn’t need to continue being the same old bland flavor its been for decades.

]]> Comment on Video in a Press Release Doesn’t Work! by Chuck Dykes http://beforethewalls.com/video-in-a-press-release-doesn%e2%80%99t-work/#comment-5 Chuck Dykes Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:46:08 +0000 http://beforethewalls.com/?p=25#comment-5 Nice work Aaron! I love the unique use the online media enabled press room coupled with the html emails. Nice work Aaron! I love the unique use the online media enabled press room coupled with the html emails.

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