Why Mister Rodgers Would Make an Excellent Restaurateur (and so can you!)
Won’t you be, my neighbor? This was the theme song to a long airing PBS show called Mister Rodgers Neighborhood. The lovable character, Mister Rodgers, asked this of American children for close to 33 years. He believed in community and crossing the fence to meet your neighbors. You know what? Fred Rodgers would have made an excellent restaurateur!
Running a restaurant involves an engine of working parts. If the engine starts locking up, marketing gets quickly pushed aside. In reality, marketing is the oil that keeps the engine running. Starting locally within your community is a powerful marketing tactic…Mister Rodgers understood this principle.
I was recently reading the three part series at Jaw Dropping Marketing titled Restaurant Marketing: Be a Good Neighbor…and the wheels started cranking. The article talks about being involved in your community as a form of marketing. Car washes, charity events, and church picnics are all ways to get involved. These people are the customer base of your restaurant. Don’t sit back waiting…offer to help with community events, and they will thank you by becoming a patron.
Who are your neighbors in a three mile radius? ESPECIALLY the office buildings, they can help double your lunch crowd. You need to get out within this community and make friends. Go door to door and introduce yourself. Offer a coupon or just shake hands. Tell them about your restaurant. These are the people who are most likely to become repeat business, just because they live next door. You need to meet your neighbors, it worked for Mister Rodgers, and it will work for you!
An easier way to scale these relationships are online. Scour Facebook and Twitter looking for people who live in your community. Friend or follow them up and introduce yourself. Tell them about your restaurant and invite them in. Don’t push specials on them, that would be spamming. Take the time and get to know them. If they are part of church group on Facebook, ask if you can cater a picnic. Get creative, the business is in your backyard.
We both know that Mister Rodgers wasn’t a restaurateur, but he would have been awesome. Getting involved within your community is a way to give back, and run a successful business. The people within your community are the people who pay your bills. Take the time to meet, show you care, and they will support you. It is the ultimate “THANK YOU.” Now step over the fence and start meeting your neighbors!
Tags: community, good neighbor, jaw dropping marketing, marketing, Mr. Rodgers