Five Guys shares how they plan to fail by NOT advertising their restaurant… #restaurantindustry

Do you think that Five Guys not advertising is a good thing? Of course not! You need to stay top of mind with your customers!

What do Coca-Cola, Proctor & Gamble, and McDonalds all have in common? They spend MILLIONS on advertising their businesses!

If you’re not collecting customer data, building a segmented list, and targeting your customers with personalized ads then you will get dominated by chains.

Check out the Restaurant Marketing Secrets podcast to learn the ins and outs of advertising your restaurant the right way: https://www.youtube.com/@restaurantmarketingsecrets3580
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#restaurantowner #restaurantmarketing #FiveGuys #McDonaldsmarketing #proctorandgamble #CocaCola #socialmediamarketing #DigitalAdvertising

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Day 19 – The Puzzle

Are we crazy, probably.

But is it not something worth trying, exactly!

On a daily basis I tell my vision of what America’s Best Restaurants will become.  Many times a new thought comes up that makes the dream even bigger and I surprise myself.  

And every time the people I tell it to that are hearing it for the first time are BLOWN away.  

Here’s the thing, if your dream isn’t being spoken weekly and if it’s not so crazy that people either question your sanity or don’t say DAMN, then you’re doing it wrong. 

What we put in the universe matters.  But for more reasons than you realize. 

#1 – YOU have to believe it and if you only bring it up occasionally then how can you convince yourself of it?  Seriously!  I think my self doubt comes from the fact that I don’t talk about these things often enough.  As an entrepreneur it can get lonely.  You spend a lot of time in your own head, in your own world and not enough with others.  So when you take time weekly to tell people the mountain you’re going to climb, you’re spending time convincing the most important person, YOU!

#2 – People want to be a part of something bad ass!  They want to be on a journey, not just doing another job.  So by you putting your vision out there, you can attract other big thinkers and assemble a team of people ready to ride the rocket with you.

#3 – It makes you think BIGGER.  When I tell the vision to people, I have a second conversation in my head and I’m like WOOO!  That’s a good idea, what about this! 

Let me give you an example.  Recently I was telling someone our vision.  One that I’ll tell to the world soon.  In my vision I’ve had this idea in the past about an annual publication to chronicle our journey with the ABR Roadshow.  But as of late, it’s vanished from the stories.  Then yesterday, as I was talking to someone it came up again.  And this time it was bigger and better.  “Matt, we are going to have a few different publications published annually on our travels, top foods, top appetizers, top burgers, etc.  This will give restaurants a chance to sell a book that features them to create excitement with their customers.  But on top of that, we’ll have our brand front and center on displays NATIONWIDE for consumers to see”.  

I’m not joking when I say this was a conversation I had with myself while telling my vision to someone yesterday.  I’d been thinking about this idea for a while, but I had not verbalized it lately and it kind of went away.  

And with this, I’ve decided to start writing a blog post weekly on a piece of my vision puzzle and spend more time thinking, writing and speaking about what we are GOING TO DO! 

FYI, I think todays puzzle piece drawing was one of my best.  My penmanship still sucks, but that’s a work in progress too.

Day 18 – The Puzzle

Who’s your squad?

Who’s your coach?

Who’s in your corner?

Who’s giving you advice?

But more importantly, WHO are you listening too?

In my daily podcast, Restaurant Marketing Secrets Episode 580, I tell a story of a restaurant owner asking for help and taking the advice he was given by 3 other owners with regards to making a Facebook post he’d hope would get some attention and go viral.

This got me thinking about the people and companies restaurant owners surround themselves with, or honestly DON’T!  You see, too many of you are trying to do this alone.  And then when you do reach a boiling point and reach out for your help you don’t stick with it.  You blame ROI and not seeing traction, yet you didn’t take the action and or do it long enough. 

All too often you’re not really looking for the solution you’re looking for an easy route, and that route DON’T EXIST.

Click above and go have a listen.

Day 17 – The Puzzle

You only get one body, take care of it and LISTEN to it!

As you know I do what I can to take care of myself, which is eating much better than most and working out 5-6 times per week.  

I strongly feel that if you’re not taking steps every day to grow your business and your body, then you’re taking days off the life of each.  Growth is the only option and when that comes to you body that is making yourself stronger and harder to kill, EVERY DAY!  

And that includes, LISTENING to it.  Last week ended with 4 solid days of working out for me, honestly, probably a tad too much.  On Monday as I’m in the office playing ping pong and making quick moves to get the ball (we have some solid pongers in our office), I felt a slight sting in my achilles.  

On Tuesday I felt it more and opted to take the day off and be smart in how I moved about that day.  The achilles is nothing to mess with and part of staying in shape and becoming stronger is being ABLE to do the exercises.  I also started icing and heating it that night too.  And then throughout the week I took it easy and didn’t push it.  On Saturday I was due to complete in a small CrossFit competition with some friends and didn’t want to miss it, but I also didn’t want to miss the next 6 months 🙂

So on Saturday I scaled the movements that could have issues and on the 3rd workout which had a lot of moves I should avoid I bowed out and let someone else sub for me.  And on Sunday, the day I do my 4.6 mile hill and stairs run every week I’ll take a week off, the first since August of 2023.  I’m totally bummed about that, but I know it’s the right thing to do to stay healthy.  

My friends, I hope you all choose to live a healthier life than you are now, but I also hope when you’re on that journey you can put you ego to the side and listen to your body.

The Heroes of Hospitality | Changing the Game for Restaurants Everywhere! #restaurantindustry

Ever wondered what happens when two CEOs share a pizza? Check out Episode 2 of “Heroes of Hospitality” From that initial slice to bold pitches and negotiations, watch as we cook up a groundbreaking merger that’s set to change the game for independent restaurants everywhere.

Watch Episode 2 now: Link in bio.

Follow our journey and subscribe at www.theheroesofhospitality.com for more updates!
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#HeroesOfHospitality #IndependentRestaurants #shorts

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Day 16 – The Puzzle

Massive Attention & Excitement

That’s what we aim to bring to independent restaurants ALL OF THE US O A!

This same email happens 100+ times per week, Google letting me know ABR is getting the spotlight for a local restaurant we are visiting. Traditional media LOVE what we are doing, because they know where consumers attention is in 2024…THEIR PHONE!

The hard work happening every day inside the 4-walls of these restaurants is insane and NO ONE is telling their stories, except America’s Best Restaurants.

In the past 3 years we’ve visited and filmed at over 1,300 restaurants, 50x what the biggest TV show on old school cable did.  Oh and by the way, our shows get 100X more local views than theirs 🙂

But the ABR Roadshow is just the tip of the iceberg.  IN 2025 we’ll roll out 5 new shows built for bigger platforms that will drive traffic to our online series the ABR Roadshow and then www.americasbestrestaurants.com.  BUT ULTIMATELY that traffic will end up in restaurants dining rooms as we drive massive sales through this media and marketing funnel.  

Y’all are only seeing a piece of what we’re building.  We will supplant the TV and online restaurant brands THAT YOU KNOW, like Yelp & Food Network, within 24 months as the DOMINATE brand for restaurant media and marketing.  

And we will have the Ultimate Restaurant Marketing Platform that drives sales!

Doc Episode 2 Final Export

In the second episode of “Heroes of Hospitality,” we witness the partnership between Matt Plapp, CEO of America’s Best Restaurants, and Kamron Karington, CEO of Repeat Returns. Their journey begins over a shared pizza, where they lay the foundation for what would become a groundbreaking merger.

Kamron, driven by determination, prepares a pitch aimed at capturing Matt’s attention—a pitch that could mark the beginning of a significant change. As Kamron takes a bold step to visit Matt’s team, their interaction hints at the potential of a powerful alliance.

The path to partnership is not smooth, as both leaders face trials that not only challenge their professional bond but also their new friendship. Witness the strategic dance of negotiation and the high stakes as they inch closer to a groundbreaking agreement. Will their efforts redefine competitive strategies for independent restaurants?

“This is creating easy ways for independents to compete with the chains” says David Scott Peters, Author of the Restaurant Prosperity Formula

Make sure you subscribe at:
www.theheroesofhospitality.com

To follow our journey through this series
#restaurantmarketing #restaurantowner #independentrestaurant

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Day 15 – The Puzzle

Todays podcast of Restaurant Marketing Secrets, Episode 577, is about the “no & know” funnel.  

In another word a funnel could be called an opportunity.  

An opportunity to DRIVE more customers through the door.

An opportunity to SELL MORE FOOD at your restaurant.

The term FUNNEL is common in the marketing world.  It’s a term we use to explain our plan with each particular opportunity to sell something.  When you get oil at the gas station and they give you that little paper funnel, it’s to help you get the oil into that small oil fill hole more efficiently and with out making a mess. 

In marketing, we aim to do the same.  We aim to gather your customers into a database and take them on a journey.  And that journey for your restaurant should ALWAYS end with them visiting for a meal.

So what are the “opportunities” in the restaurant space?  What funnels MUST exist or COULD exist?

Here are some of my favorites:

– New Customer Acquisition

– Frequent Customer Acquisition

– Lost Customer Acquisition

– Birthdays

– Catering & Business Decision Makers

– Charitable Affiliations

– Sports Teams

– Beer Drinkers

– Wine Drinkers

– Special Events

These are just 10 off the top of my head.

I want you to close your eyes and visual this with me.  Picture these 10 marketing funnels in front of you. Each funnel has new people being added every day.  Sometimes they are added to 4-5 funnels at the same time and working their way through it. Every day while you run the business and sleep these customers are working their way through an email, text, messenger and social media campaign.  They are being exposed to your brand and constantly given an EXCUSE to spend money with you.

AND NOW picture hundreds of customers dropping out of the bottom of those funnels and walking into your restaurant and spend money (Scroll down to see my amazing drawing of this ).  

The issue I see with all restaurants is predictable sales and customer traffic.  And that 100% comes from a marketing plan.  And that plan all comes down to not having these funnels created.

This is why we acquired Repeat Returns, to help restaurants get access to a software that puts people into the funnels they should be in and market to them DAILY with one simple goal, DRIVE SALES!   Stay tuned this year, we aim to create a 1 of a kind restaurant marketing platform that helps owners drive sales on auto pilot with funnels like this.  

Oh and be the way,  I highly recommend you watch our free trainings on funnels in ABR U, CLICK HERE to check those out.

Chain restaurants don’t stand a chance against this level of marketing #restaurantindustry

Here’s another fantastic example of community impact that big chains just can’t match!

I always admire folks like @pizzamandans who pour their heart and soul into their brand. He’s living and breathing his business, from the way he dresses to his branded car, truly leaving a mark on his community. Picture this: a pizza-wrapped Corvette pulling up to deliver your order—now that’s something you won’t forget!

Ready to take your restaurant’s marketing to the next level? Check out the Restaurant Marketing Secrets podcast linked in my bio!
#restaurantowner #restaurantmarketing #shorts

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