Series: After Coupons, Part 3

Be the Mayor of Mayberry. It's a commitment of time, but no marketing strategy works better than being everyone's friend.

You're told in school that you can't be everyone's friend. That's good advice for high school, it'll keep you from falling in with the wrong crowd and staying true to yourself.

But why can't a restaurant owner try to get everyone to like them? What's the downside? It's not a lack of brand recognition (you ARE the brand). And so what if the "friendships" are superficial? These are your guests, they don't expect you to remember their pets' names (bonus points if you do though).

Being the Mayor of the Village simply means that you care about your constituents, that you give back to the community in which you live and work.

It also means knowing the thought leaders in the neighborhood. PR is effective, and companies spend a lot of money on it, because thought leaders like radio personalities and newspaper reporters say nice things about their products. A savvy Mayor does the same thing, but they include additional thought leaders such as principals, ministers, charity leaders, youth leaders, athletic organizers, Chamber presidents, and others.

Being the Mayor was the only advertising local restaurants did for centuries. Being involved in the community was good business. Still is.

The strategy takes time, but there's no better way to build a loyal base. Thankfully, since you're food rich and cash poor, offering some free food gives you the perfect excuse to introduce yourself to those who will spread the word to their own constituents.