Random app ideas for local business owners

Local wine selector – what wines are locally sourced, where to get them, and reviews

Local Zoo app – exhibit highlights, upcoming events, animal adoption

Comic book shop – specials, events, and links to or embedded reviews, links to buy digital comics

Lawyers – Expert app on critical legal documents, traffic law tips, or estate planner directory

Grocers – specials, sales, and manager messages. Store openings perhaps. Recipes.

These are just a few but  the ideas are endless.

Also, there is a shortage of speciality or niche apps where a local business could really shine without a focus exclusively on local.

Local hardware chain doesn’t have to be entirely about their sales, but could have an app specifically about home plumbing or electrical work.

A local hair styling might create an expert app on conditioners and shampoo selections.

The tailor shop we rarely visit might take the expert route on a niche area in clothing, perhaps sewing basics, clothes fitting, or focus something more specific to tailors.

If your local business is there because you’re an expert in a field, or even a budding expert, why not showcase that with an app?

The investment to make an app goes down every day. You can start with a simple blog or website to get your feet wet.

What are you waiting for? What app should you be creating?

Foursquare is no longer news. Millions worldwide are using it.

Some of those users are business owners.

You might be one of those owners. Are you getting the most bang for your Foursquare presence though?

Why am I writing this?

Stephen Smith, an expert on productivity and social media literacy, talks in depth on Make It Great about how to get started on Foursquare**.  He’s asked us to extend on that work.

Doing More

• Load up the photos.
• Take quality photos inside and out of the business. Get at least one quality store front photo.
• Product pictures make the sale. For restaurants, photos of signature dishes really helps.
• Show those smiles. Photos of staff and customers make the business more human and less formal. Do not use press release style photos.
• Encourage customers to add photos during their check-in. A little card on the table or even a menu insert is a great reminder.
• Leave comments on the Foursquare page.
• Don’t let visitors be the only voice on Foursquare. Allow staff members to post comments as well.
• Post stories there if your business doesn’t have a blog.
• Respond to negative comments. (This same holds true for Yelp.)
• Friend your visitors.
• Friend them on Foursquare that is. Have the business friend them. Bonus if you friend them from your personal account.
• Encourage staff members that have made a connection to mingle with the customers online as well as off.
• Go beyond visitor specials. (Mostly time sensitive ideas.)
• Organize a Mayor’s Party. This is both an opportunity to reward a great customer and free press. Bonus for notifying folks via Facebook and Twitter.
• Create a coupon code as a special for repeat check-ins. Bonus for offering off-menu specials or partner specials.
• Rename dishes or drinks or specials for the Mayor.
• Cross-promote with other local businesses. Perhaps your money management group and a local legal office. Bonus if it’s a discount for the referral.

Do these or Stephen’s Foursquare tips bring in 100 new customers a month? They could. Creating a community is immediate and instantly involves even potential customers in the conversation.

As an example, let’s say I visit a local restaurant enough to become the mayor. Holding a mayor’s event is a sure way to get folks in the door. I’ll be inviting as many as you allow.  Even more so if the event is scheduled up on Facebook, Tweetvite, or available as a calendar download.

Imagine you run a food photo contest for a given month and it’s only open to those who checked in during that time. Ask the mayor or even a local celeb to judge.

It’s all about creating buzz and conversation. These are the end all and be all of Foursquare or social media business tips. I’d love to hear about yours in the comments below, via Twitter, or from your own blog or website. Drop a link below if you’d like.

**

Stephen’s article - Creative Ways for Small Business to Use Foursquare

Notice there’s not browser tab with Google or Bing open?

Searching on Google isn’t #1; people search on Facebook more.

More so, they don’t search at all; they ask.

Mom is old school. She only recently learned to use Google. She starts every online session with the well known search box. Even for getting to Facebook.

She’s always been about connecting with people over trusting the Internet. People over tech.

Yet, with Twitter, Facebook and other online communities, many of us turn to those communities for answers.

Want to know the best bbq in St. Louis? Ask.

Want to find a great hair stylist? Ask.

The more complex the question the easier it’s become to ask instead of search.

Is search dead? No; we’ve just rediscovered neighbors.

Blackfinn Restaurant Comes to St. Louis

Disclosure: I was invited to a media event for lunch. Additionally I received two Blackfinn drinking glasses. Opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Blackfinn is a small cross country restaurant chain, with it’s newest location in St. Louis county. They’re bringing it in with lots of local appeal.

Divided and United

Blackfinn is 10,000 sq feet of restaurant and bar. Themed sections break up the space into four venues.

The Dining Room is the place for a quite dinner out for your friends or date. Dedicated booths for two are included along with tables for six.

Photographs line the walls. Each represents a local photographers take on a St. Louis icon. The Arch, Busch Stadium, and the waterfront are shown off.

The Grill Room is a bit more casual, including it’s own bar. Themed around boating and hunting, tables have lanterns and the seats are boating style material and colors. Hunting art hangs along the walls and  the ceiling hangs small paddling boats. Each boat is an early 1900s original.

The Saloon is a Friday and sports night hangout. Dual sided bar, sports art and decorations, and numerous televisions make this a top line sports bar. A St. Louis touch is added with framed magazine covers of St. Louis sports heroes. Four hidden large projection screens can be dropped down for big games.

On Tap

Blackfinn promises over 36 beers on tap. I noted Schlafly, Fat Tire, and even 312 at the taps. My favorite, Guinness, was included. The Grill Room and The Saloon both have bars though each has slightly different tap selections. Along with beer, wines and other spirits are provided.

Menu Largess

Blackfinn opens with one of the largest menus in greater St. Louis. Boasting over 100 items, there are classic burgers and appetizers along side bacon wrapped meatloaf and Chilean Sea Bass. I tried the Queen City Chicken. Portioned into cutlets with a light bacon wrap, it was plated with asparagus and a pile of mashed sweet potatoes. Plating was simple but neat and the mix of flavors worked surprisingly well.

The starters took half a page on the menu and went beyond St. Louis standards. Including Asian Shrimp, Calamari, and more, Toasted Ravioli is found as well. In my opinion though, this eclectic spread might not fair well in this region.  Also, singling out toasted ravioli will mean they need to step up the game there.

Main menu entries include chicken, steak, and fish choices. The bacon wrapped meatloaf is a signature dish as well. I found the choices overwhelming though, and vegetarian or gluten-free dishes were not clearly marked. Several salads were offered though again, not marked as veggie safe.

Wait staff did seem familiar with all the menu items we asked about and were able to make solid suggestions.

For the St. Louis geek

Large tap selection is just a part of a great hangout. The owners wanted to draw in the geeks as well. It’s all about wi-fi and outlets.

The restaurant will provide free wi-fi with The Grill Room sporting outlets both at the bar and at each booth. Couple this with the comfortable atmosphere, local brews, and that plate of toasted ravs and I might hang out here to work, um, play.

Not yet ready for prime time

There are unfinished bits to Blackfinn. The Patio was not completed at my visit, nor was the meeting and conference area below. Housing 10,000 sq feet of restaurant and bar on the main floor, beneath will be another 10,000 sq feet of meeting area. It will be broken up into various size areas, sound and video equipment will be provided, though no kitchen is in the works at this time.

Other observations

Blackfinn staff I spoke with were locally recruited. One bartender was pleased at the step up to the Blackfinn bar. Another expressed confidence and comfort with coworkers and the restaurant.

Music was playing in all sections. No smoking is allowed inside. It’s a large floor plan with a fair amount and variety of seating. The menu is not specific to each section; all choices are available regardless. Price wise it won’t break the bank though it’s pricier than most casual dining spots in the area.

Will I visit again?

Yes. It’s an a solid addition to the neighborhood. The appeal to St. Louis area will be chiefly in the beer and venue choices being in one place. Outlets and wi-fi are strong plusses as well.

Buzz words

In Context MultiMedia sounds like a catchy concept.

Buzzing in your brain right?

Literacy

Stephen Smith and his team created In Context MultiMedia to improve social media literacy. Their top approach isn’t their website though.

The newsletter is the big win here.

I’ve been receiving the newsletter a few months now and each is more than just a blog post in email.

Stephen starts with real world touch points; context is everything here.

In one instance he tells us how clients new to social media use with old school marketing approach then walks us and them to a more accurate model. An email about networking starts with real world events as a starting point to talk about networking and business opportunities.

Sound bites

It’s easy to toss out a few sound bites in an email. Creating a newsletter needs more than that. Stephen’s approach is part story, part instruction.

A recent example has this bite: ”Make sure that quality is really there”. Stopping there would be like using my inbox as a Twitter client.

The letter goes on though. A real work example is provided, followed by statistics, and wraps up with ‘where to next’ steps.

Good value

Context is everything. I was provided access to this newsletter in order to provide feedback and see for myself the value. I honestly feel guilty I’ve not written this up sooner. In Context MultiMedia is a solid read.

Will it be valuable to you though?

What are the cons here?

• the email newsletter isn’t free
• there’s no sharing
• it’s not just about ‘hard’ business tips – a lot of soft tips and encouragement to think
• no inside scoop material
• no secret downloads or deals – it is a newsletter plain and simple
• no art – I like images

What will you like?

• long content – these aren’t two or three paragraphs
• walk through approach so you can follow the topic
• Stephen is a real person in the business. He’s not just a blogger
• no products, offers, or deals included

Who is it for?

• business owners – small and large
• marketers – those looking to provide social media and online community approaches

Summary

I’ve enjoyed the content. It’s somewhat applicable to me but I’m not the target audience.

Stephen has put together a solid newsletter and I recommend you take it for a spin. It’s not free but it’s not just a blog post in disguise.

If you’re a small business looking to learn and don’t want to dig around for something useful to apply, this is a good bet.

The newsletter is not free though I recommend contacting Stephen and his team for a sample. You can decide for yourself if it’s a good fit.

Notes and disclosure:

To Stephen and team, thank you for sharing. My apologies for the lateness of this review.

To my readers, I was provided access to this newsletter at no cost. These opinions are my own though and driven by Stephen’s request for feedback.

To everyone, I befriended Stephen Smith at SOBCon 2008 in Chicago. I recommend attending events like SOBCon for connecting with real people doing real work in the online world.

Links: In Context MultiMedia, SOBCon events

You’re reading - review: In Context MultiMedia with Stephen Smith – from The Broad Brush.

Doritos + Taco = ???

Is it better to let a product market itself or spend millions marketing a product that has a limited life span?

Taco Bell  and ultimately PepsiCo seem to think millions of radio, TV, and internet ads will sell millions of Taco Bell items.

Loco might better describe how this really works.

Reactions to ad drew initial interest, admittedly my own. Crunching the taco though left me unsatisfied.

Twitter and Facebook discussion indicate similar sentiments on the wire. Not worth the trip.

What might have worked better?

Perhaps rolling out the taco across markets. Growing anticipation would have been fostered across the internet for free or cheap. Turned even further, imagine the use of Twitter to drop hints as to where it is available next.

Maybe even an easy to get special found on the web or with a link to a coupon that shows up on smart phones.

My opinion of course, but I’d have been more interested if the hype had been driven by real world people and not a spokesperson.

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Disclosure: I’m a fan of Pepsi and their products. Novelty pushes don’t win me over often.

Hot topic today is Pinterest revising their Terms of Service. Talk focuses on the Selling change.

No more selling.

Somehow everyone missed the ‘Do No Harm’ clause.

We updated our Acceptable Use Policy and we will not allow pins that explicitly encourage self-harm or self-abuse.

Interesting?

Reminded me instantly of the Three Laws of Robotics.

The first law of robotics: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

In this case, you’re the robot. Or maybe Pinterest is taking that role.

Lovers can teach us many things. One thing most will share is about that one special moment.

Lovers can be intimate, share a meal, or give gifts. Likely those deeply in love might do these often.

It’s not the ongoing things that they remember years later.

The time they got flowers unexpectedly when they need them most.

That kiss on the bridge as their lover came back from a trip.

Making lover while the eye of hurricane passed.

—

Readers don’t remember the 100 blog posts you did last year. Sure they appreciate them, like little ‘I love you”s across the either.

What they remember is that one special post that spoke to them when they needed to hear it. Words that reached out at the perfect time.

—

You’re going to write but the thing you write that is there at a time when it’s needed is the best one.

Timeliness though, it’s not about schedules, charts, or birthdays. Timeliness is manifested when you pay attention. When you’re listening, not talking.

—

Be timeless. Listen to the needs of your readers or potential readers. More so listen to what’s needed beyond those 100 or 1000. Listen to that one guy, on the bus, alone.

What does he need to hear?

—

The downside? That other 1000 may not remember this one article you wrote. Your call

Apple doesn’t sell more iPads because iPads are everyone’s favorite.

They sell more iPads because they deliver on the promise of a great experience.

Locally, Robust Wine Bar isn’t my favorite because they have the best wine.

They promise an experience and consistently deliver.

What are you promising and delivering?

Inspired by Seth Godin.

burning book by jamelah on Flickr

And so it goes, the books are gone.

Encyclopedia Britannica gives up publishing paper encyclopedias.

The world doesn’t notice.

–

I’m not sure I’d have noted this but the media is buzzing about it.

Generations of encyclopedias have been printed. The volumes could fill many libraries. Based on my high school, they have.

The official announcement doesn’t mean the end of encyclopedia publishing!

Yes; we’re safe from a lack of critical knowledge.  Britannica online is alive and well.

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Will the EB.Com version survive? Wikipedia is strong competition.

Sure, it’s not always 100% accurate. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but a thirty volume set of books will contain mistakes is old before it hits the presses.

Wikipedia, along with a billion plus pages of information, is updated 24/7. It’s also in the front page of many internet searches.

–

Is this just a cycle though? Perhaps so.

Right now half the world’s population can access the online world. Not all may choose it, but it’s available. You can even get Internet access in space.

Pervasiveness = success? The ‘net is a passing place for our eyes and ears.

Online content has best been consumed through a browser. Today that’s no longer true.

Applications for our phones, tablets, and even our televisions give access to movies and more with out ever visiting a web site.

Will anyone visit any online encyclopedia five years from now? Will you?