Making a trip to the soda fountain fun

Terrior is is a French term used in wine making that loosely translates to “a sense of place.” It refers to the fact that the same chardonnay grapes grown in different vineyards (or even separate parts of the same vineyard) can produce noticeably different wines . . . → Read More: Think Local for Unique Content Marketing Opportunities]]>

Making a trip to the soda fountain fun

Terrior is is a French term used in wine making that loosely translates to “a sense of place.” It refers to the fact that the same chardonnay grapes grown in different vineyards (or even separate parts of the same vineyard) can produce noticeably different wines because each set of grapes will absorb different amounts of sunlight, minerals from the soil, and be subjected to unique weather in each region.

The concept of terrior offers tons of ideas for social media marketing. What makes where you live or work unique and fun?

• Is your corporate office a 100-year-old converted sugar plant/movie theater/train station?
• Do you offer a product/service/meal/experience that’s truly one of a kind (be honest)?
• Is Wrigley Field/Empire State Building/Eiffel Tower up the street from your office?
• Can you get awesome green chili/cheese steak sandwiches/clam chowder/barbecue ribs from the hole-in-the-wall restaurant in your neighborhood?

What unique places do people go out of their way to track down when they visit your hometown? Share those insider tips with us. That’s interesting stuff we’re not going to find in the guide book from the airport bookstore.

The Food Network has built its whole business around basic social concepts since its beginning in 1993.

Fans of different shows are often drawn to the host instead of what types of food they cook or how they cook it. I love Mario Batali because he comes across as knowledgeable and funny, . . . → Read More: Check Out “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” as a Social Media Case Study]]>

A Checklist of Must Eating

The Food Network has built its whole business around basic social concepts since its beginning in 1993.

Fans of different shows are often drawn to the host instead of what types of food they cook or how they cook it. I love Mario Batali because he comes across as knowledgeable and funny, in addition to the fact he’s the Italian cook (my favorite food). I am very confident that a night on the town with Mario would be the night to remember.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate is a wonderful case study on how the Food Network capitalizes on the appeal of their people instead of generic subject-specific content. The premise of the show is very simple. A number of the stars from different shows tell viewers about their favorite dishes and the places to find those dishes while sitting in front of a white background.

If you need inspiration about how to talk about your subject in an interesting way, check out a few episodes and listen carefully to how they talk about things.

They use specific and descriptive language. When each person talks about their favorite, they use very specific language to paint the picture of the awesomeness of each dish for you. They discuss textures, spices, cooking techniques and other details to give you a real idea of exactly what they love about their favorite.

They are full of confident passion. Each chef or host also seems to feel a responsibility to persuade you to do what ever it takes to experience their favorite place and dish as soon as possible. The passion they have for their favorite garlic noodles or wood-fired pizza is obvious and very contagious. Do you inspire people in your field like that?

All of the traits that go into success . . . → Read More: Great Social Media Advice from the Food Network]]> This commercial on Food Network is pitching the newest season of The Next Food Network Star. As our pal Bobby Flay walks toward the elevator, various people (I’m assuming they’re contestants) hold up different signs describing qualities they possess that will make them the next superstar TV chef.

All of the traits that go into success at the Food Network are also great guidelines for anyone involved in social media. Have a look at the video and then we’ll break it down.

> I Will Have a Clear Culinary Point of View: This is vital in social media because things get so noisy. When there are millions of choices online, getting me to listen to you and subscribe to your blog involves standing out and having a clear voice.

> I Will Express Myself and Be Authentic: If your stuff sounds like PR/corporate-speak, that may be worse than not having a point of view. Consumers are too smart. They have developed an incredible ear for B.S. and expect people to sound real in social media. Compare the President of Domino’s Pizza and a multiple franchise owner from Chicago as they both issue apologizes for service problems. Guess which one I like more?

> I Will Make My Food Personal: This is a delicate thing to get right. One of the main complaints skeptics have about social media is that Twitter, Facebook, and other sites are just a collection of people broadcasting random details about what they had for breakfast. And that is boring. Think about ways your personal stuff can also add value to my life (because in the end, it’s all about me). Try this as an example:

• My cat barfed = BAD
• My cat barfed & I’ve found Kitty-Barf-Away is a great product for cleaning up messes = BETTER

> I Will Handle Pressure: Getting involved in social media may expose you to criticism. Don’t forget that getting a few rocks thrown at you goes with the territory.  The upside of social media is worth the occasional brouhaha.

> I Will Be the Next Food Network Star; “We’ll Be the Judge of That”: Bobby’s right. It’s all about the audience. You’ll quickly learn if what you’re sending out connects with people.

In this talk from the Taste3 Conference in 2008, Dan Barber describes his experience with Eduardo Sousa, a Spanish . . . → Read More: TED Talk – Dan Barber Discusses Foie Gras and Respecting the Nature of Things]]> Foie Gras is a topic that can inspire passion. Chefs and epicureans often put foie gras on the list of the highlights of life. Opponents see foie gras as the height of animal cruelty and human excess.

In this talk from the Taste3 Conference in 2008, Dan Barber describes his experience with Eduardo Sousa, a Spanish farmer who is rapidly becoming world famous for his foie gras. But this talk is not about farming or cooking. It’s about respecting and understanding nature.

Sousa’s mantra during Barber’s visit was: “I’m here to give the geese what they want.” And by taking this respectful and calm approach to raising and harvesting his geese, Sousa’s foie gras has won the Paris International Food Salon Coup de Coeur without gavage (the force-feeding of corn that rightfully makes animal activists so angry).

Do you have a secret family recipe that you bust out for parties or holiday dinners that everyone tells you would sell like crazy if only you would market it? With Twitter and other social channels, floating a few trial balloons into the social media universe is an easy way . . . → Read More: Real People I’ve Connected With on Twitter: Interview with Vanessa Hughes]]>

Vanessa Hughes - Spice Rub Entrepreneur

Do you have a secret family recipe that you bust out for parties or holiday dinners that everyone tells you would sell like crazy if only you would market it? With Twitter and other social channels, floating a few trial balloons into the social media universe is an easy way to see if your creation has legs.

As I was looking around on Twitter for interesting people to follow, I stumbled on @vjhoneycut, the profile for Vanessa Hughes. She is a self-described “spice rub entrepreneur.” Just the kind of person I wanted to learn more about, as the last item in the tagline for this blog is BBQ.

Nothing that makes me happier than barbecue done right. What makes great barbecue? Spice rubs. A killer rub is what separates good barbecue from “HOLY SMOKE THAT’S GOOD!!” barbecue.

After chatting with Vanessa over a few Twitter direct messages, it dawned on me that she would be a perfect interview for my humble blog. Vanessa is a social media success story and her spices rubs are the perfect way impress your friends at your next cookout.

Business Name:
RedBone Rib Rubs

Best Way to Contact Vanessa:
Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook

When did you start using social media?
I really started to use social media when I began working at LinkedIn back in June of 2007 and from there I was hooked.

Any good success stories with social media to share?
I just recently started to post on my social networks that I am trying to market my husband’s award-winning spice dry rub and I have gotten hits from all over the United States. It’s great. I didn’t think people would really notice. I am in the process of evaluating how to get our product out there.

What tips would you have for someone getting started on Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.?
1. If you want to be remembered while using social media, make sure to use the same name for each account. That will build your personal brand.
2. Be honest and straightforward.
3. If you don’t know what you are doing – ask for help or even a consultation. If you do your research, you should be able to find someone who will guide you though building up your profile.

Who do you follow on Twitter that you look forward to hearing from?
I follow a lot of people. One of my daily rituals is to look and see what kinds of social media David Spinks has been tweeting about.

What is the first thing I should buy from you to make my barbecue better?
As long as you know how to properly grill or smoke your meat, the first thing to do would be to start with a good rub, like my husband’s recipe for RedBone Rib Rubs. Having hung out with him at cook-offs and watched him cook his award-winning masterpieces, I think the secret (once you get a good cut of meat) really is your dry rub. That is why we started our spice rub business.

If you live in Denver, CO, there are four Savory Spice Shop locations you can visit. Don’t live in Colorado? No worries! They’ll ship to you.  Buy the building blocks for your own secret recipe spice rub or try one of . . . → Read More: Make Better BBQ Today]]> All you have to do is buy fresh spices. You will be amazed at the difference.

If you live in Denver, CO, there are four Savory Spice Shop locations you can visit. Don’t live in Colorado? No worries! They’ll ship to you.  Buy the building blocks for your own secret recipe spice rub or try one of their house blends.