One of my favorite coffee shops (with free Wi-Fi, I must add) has closed its doors. The obituary as it appeared on Facebook.
XYZ Coffee Shop closed its doors yesterday, December 1, 2010. We would like to sincerely thank all our patrons and friends for all the support!!! We just wish more people had been as supporting as you. We do this with a very heavy heart and wish all of you a Wonderful Holiday Season with all your loved ones!!! Auld Lang Syne to XYZ Coffee Shop.
This place was what you think of when you think of a coffee house. A red chaise lounge, leather club chairs, new local artwork featured monthly . . . bohemian, great vibe. Not something you expect to find in Orlando, so as a New Yorker, I thought of it as my second home. Besides remembering your name, the person behind the counter brought your food over on a nice plate, or beverages in a nice mug, without you leaving your seat. Service was off the chain.
Me and my trusty laptop, Thor, would be there for hours on end (too embarrassed to say how many), and most times I was the only one there. As a person who knows the power of Social Media, it frustrated me.
Just because you build it, doesn’t mean they’ll come
That means your Facebook Page, Twitter account and your website.
- I was in there about once a week. Not once was I asked or did I see anything about them being on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare or Yelp
- Their website had no social media links. I stumbled on their Facebook account one day.
- I found them on Twitter the day I discovered closed down.
Since it was never truly busy, the person behind the counter who was on their laptop could have been using that time to interact online.
People are competitive, and they like freebies
In New York, when you ask someone to recommend someone, you’ll hear them say “I have a guy”. Everyone had a guy. For car repair, jewelry, tailor, you name it. Location Based Networking can work on the same premise. Imagine this conversation “Where do you go for coffee? I like to go to XYZ Coffee Shop, because I get a free shot of “espresso” in my coffee every other time I check in on Foursquare or Yelp.
Then imagine a customer going to check in to their favorite local spot only to find out that someone else is the Mayor and getting the free espresso. Don’t you think there’s a possibility they will visit more often in the attempt to dethrone the Mayor? Whatever the reason, they’re visiting more and buying more coffee. Click here for great examples of Foursquare check in specials
7 ways to promote your business using location based networks
Like it or not, your customers are checking in on Facebook and Foursquare, putting reviews of your store on Yelp and tweeting about you. Do you know how many establishments I’ve been in where I’m checking in on Foursquare and the manager has no idea what I’m talking about?
1. Educate Yourself. It can be a lot to keep up with, so just take one social network at a time and study what it is and how to use it.
2. Set up a profile on each network. In some instances you’ll have to “claim your business”
3. Decide what discounts or freebies to give, if any. (Don’t let this jam you up. You can always add later.
4. Have a staff meeting and make sure your employees know about Foursquare, Yelp, Facebook Places. Gather them around the computer and show them how people are checking in and what they’re saying.
5. Have an index card or notes by the front desk, cash register or employee area, so that if someone says “I’m the Mayor on Foursquare”, or “I just checked in”, everyone from the manager to the bus boy, knows how to respond. List discount/freebie for each site and how it’s claime
6. IN THE STORE: There should be no doubt to anyone walking by, driving by or visiting your store, where to find you online. From window stickers to, menus to, business cards and flyers make sure that once they leave your store they know where to connect with you online
7. ONLINE: All your sites (including your website, Blog, Facebook , Twitter, Yelp) should have links to all your sites. Some people like Facebook, others are in to Twitter. Make sure they can connect with you wherever they like to hang out online.
Feel free to post your questions in the comment section below.
And if you need help setting up your profiles, understanding how they work or just have questions, click here and lets chat.
photo courtesy of Flickr
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