Your post generated some really interesting comments and got me thinking about a local wine store I love. And, actually since my husband and I have moved it’s NOT local anymore, but we still make the trip because we like it so much.

The owner does a lot right — he is friendly, gets to know his customers, has helpful suggestions, etc. So, when he asked me if wanted to be on his email list, I said yes. (And I nearly always decline to give my email address.) Anyway, he doesn’t abuse this list as some companies do … no need to name names, we all know who they are!! … Instead, he sends out weekly invitations to friday night wine & cheese tastings at his store. (This is Ball Square Wine and Spirits in Somerville, by the way.) They’re not fancy events, but a great way to try new wines and meet your neighbors. And I think that last point is particularly important — he’s creating a community so that people (like us) want to come back, even after they’ve moved.

Okay, that’s all — good luck and I look forward to hearing how your interview goes!

Cheers,
Anna

As Ron wrote, email marketing is critical and often underutilized. They are onboard – make sure they are fully maximizing the potential. See the last section of http://www.useit.com/alertbox/confirmation-email.html, especially. “Deferred SEO”, I like that.

Web 2.0 will be important – but make sure their Web 1.0 is solid: updated menus in the right places; fast optimized site; domain names!; optimized for search engines; some way to manage content; hours and directions and calendar updated and in google local, yelp, etc.; google alerts and other monitoring is set up; analytics is set up and used.

Papa Gino’s is right now making a huge push for online orders. See what they are doing.

In addition to writing blogs, they could sponsor them, such as http://foodwoolf.com/

Cams is a great idea!

Check out Legals’ online activity; They use the agency http://getfused.com, apparently.

I suspect people unhappy with a dish or service may be more inclined to comment than people happy or OK with them, so they will need to be careful with any public review system.

skaufman’s last blog post..skaufman24: @ariherzog digitized music, that’s all. many kids start with their mp3 players around than. radio & making CDs would be more frugal tho

Ideas:

* Menu on their website is a no-brainer, but also make sure it’s on popular sites, e.g. http://boston.menupages.com

* Enable pick-up or delivery orders by website. Domino’s Pizza does this, for instance.

* Install “fish cams” in select areas around the restaurant that offer live feeds on the website. Nantasket Beach does this, for instance. There may need to be a sign by the hostess stand to this effect, so a paranoid patron can sit in a non-camera area. Have a separate camera watching the kitchen, e.g. boiling spaghetti. Take snippets from the cam shots and make them into mini videos.

* I’m not sure about an individual restaurant’s blog; but if a group, make it a group blog, e.g. chefs can have recurring blog posts every Monday, different servers could be “profiled” on the site on Thursdays, and so forth. If the servers have their own personal blogs = instant link juice.

* Do the restaurant managers watch Yelp? I write reviews on http://yelp.com frequently…and have occasionally received freebies in the restaurant when/if the manager remembered my name from a good review.

* Webcasting is a great idea, such as when Bin Ends of Braintree does with wines (http://binendswine.com). Wine tastings are scheduled with comp admission for bloggers, and the “event” is casted live online – both web and twitter, so it’s a group experience.

Ari Herzog’s last blog post..How College Systems Like the University of Massachusetts Are Blogging and Tweeting