Reservations About Restaurants - March 21, 2010 - Segment One

Reservations About Restaurants - In this current economic environment, a recurring theme among people who have been laid off is looking to pursue their lifelong dreams, which in many cases includes opening a restaurant. However, the reality of starting such a venture is far from rosy, as 1 in 4 restaurants close in their first year, and after three years, that number climbs to 3 in 5. It is a belief that many of these pitfalls can be avoided by operating a franchise restaurant, which is considered to be a safer bet than operating an independent restaurant. Caller, founder of The Counter, Jeff Weinstein, discusses the “Sum of the Parts” philosophy that guides his restaurant chain in creating a dynamic dining experience: it’s about more than the buns, the burger toppings, the lighting, or the music; it’s about how all those things come together. He also touches on the uses of social media for restaurant owners, mainly how tools like Facebook and Twitter give owners the chance to interact with customers while they are not actually in the restaurant.

2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.

Social Media Smarts - March 7, 2010 - Segment One

Social Media Smarts - You have heard all of the buzz words and channels, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc. Listen in on how to choose the right channels to leverage your brand. Although the tools are free, the human capital it takes to effectively run these tools is not - so don’t be afraid to find a consultant or communications company to help you get ahead of the pack. Caller, CEO of Fanscape, Larry Weintraub explains the four strategies you should focus on for Social Media - PR, Marketing, Customer Service and Market Research. His biggest advice - use social media to connect with your customers in a 2 way conversation - don’t just shout from the rooftops (or laptops) about your brand.  Find his white paper here.

2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.

Building Your Brand - October 4, 2009 - Segment Two

Building Your Brand - Define it, nurture it, promote it. It starts with a name - one of the most important tools to communicate who your brand is and what you brand does… and be sure to use all the online tools we discuss to promote your brand - websites, email marketing, twitter, facebook, LinkedIn, blogs, Google Alerts, SEO & SEM.