The Toy Run “for the kids” kicks off the season for giving

One of our favorite charities to help throughout the year is Toys for Tots. The thought of a child opening a toy on Christmas morning when he / she didn’t think they were getting anything from Santa is truly heartwarming. As a member of Delaware Valley ABATE Small Talk Media takes a big role in marketing, securing press and covering the Toy Run each year. This year was one of the biggest turnouts in recent history stretching a line bikers from Spring Garden street to well past the Ben Franklin bridge. Thousands of Toy were donated while everyone enjoyed a great show by Live at the Fillmore at the Electric Factory. Be on the lookout for Shots for Tots, our next Toys for Tots event coming very soon..
Hit me up through our contact form if you have a charity event that you’d like us to cover,
Rob Wright
Here’s a few great pics from the 2015 Toy Run for the kids:
2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids 2015 Toy Run for the Kids

The Complete List of Bar & Restaurant Social Media Tips

Every business could use a boost in marketing, whether it’s selling a product or a service. In the case of restaurants, it happens to be both food and service. Running a restaurant can be immensely challenging. Using the best Restaurant Equipment would help make everything run smoother. Being able to show people that your restaurant is the place they want to eat (with Instagram pictures of fantastic food and shiny Nella Cutlery), is the root of your marketing, and social media should be your main conduit. So if you wish to make your restaurant look the best it can be and bring in new customers via Social Media, then check out 30 tips and recipes for sweet Social Media marketing success!

Social Media Branding

The most fundamental part of your Social Media marketing is having the audience recognize your brand. By having a carefully designed brand to carry the good name of your restaurant in Social Media, you showcase an image of class and professionalism, which is very important.
Know Your Target Audience
Be aware of what kind of establishment you run and aim for the people who are most likely to visit your restaurant. Whether you are a diner or a fancy high-class establishment, you should always be building an audience-focused Social Media marketing strategy.
Scope Out Your Competition’s Social Media
It’s important to be aware of what your competition may be doing with their social media, what new ideas they’re incorporating, and whatever they’re doing better than you. Have someone do a Social Content Audit for your site and Social Profile Audit for your pages.
Maintain Visual Consistency
This goes with your brand as it helps customers quickly identify with your posts. The colors, fonts, image quality, and overall visual theme should go well with your brand and be consistent across all social media platforms you are in. If you don’t have time to create social media images, you can always hire good designers to do it for you.
Spruce Up Your Pages
Going with the previous tip, you should put up cover images and other stuff on your Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as fill in all the details to help your audience know what you’re all about, where you are, and so on.
Do Facebook Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts are basically ads on Facebook that show up like any other post, but can be visible to a target audience as a suggestion for them to like and follow. Go to Facebook insights and pick the best stories among your posts. It could be a video showcasing your customers and members, news on your latest’s offers, or even a contest you want your audience to participate in.
Target Your Ads at Your Local Area
For restaurants, any Social Media platform’s geotargeting option may be the most valuable ad you could run. Market to places near where your restaurant is to get a higher conversion off your marketing. Consider moms, millenials and mobile diners to be your most valuable targets.
Bar Restaurant Social Media Tips Philadelphia Digital Marketing Agency
Pick Your Main Platform(s)
While the previous tip helps you become more visible online, you may want to focus your social media efforts in one or two of them for best effect. Facebook and Instagram seem to be restaurant favorites these days, with Snapchat jumping up in popularity as well.
Put Your Brand on Every Image and Video
Post It does not have to be a gigantic logo displayed everywhere. Just have it in a corner of an image, visible but discreet. As for videos, just have an intro that is a few seconds long.
Make Use of Different Social Media Platforms
Do whatever you can to reach as wide of an audience as you can. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are a given, but you can also get into Foursquare, Yelp, Groupon, Snapchat, and others to boost your chances too.
Some of the newest platforms, like TikTok, can help you to advertise your restaurant to younger audiences. You may even want to have a look at places similar to – https://bumped.in/buy-tiktok-followers/, to find out how you can find followers quickly, so you can create videos at your own pace.
Be Authentic
The one thing that will help your brand the most is authenticity. Being genuine with your intentions and your actions in the restaurant and in social media is a long-term strategy that pays great dividends in time.

Social Media Content

This forms the meat of your social media marketing as you provide value to the audience by consistently posting high-quality content. In order to get value from the people, you must first give value to them through rich and interesting content.
Post Menu Items
You can post images of your menu items on Facebook and/or Twitter and include a link to the whole menu for those who may be interested.
Social Media Tips Philadelphia Digital Marketing Agency
Showcase Your Food and Services on Instagram
Since diners post pictures of food on Instagram nowadays, you should do so as well to show off what your restaurant has to offer. Other Instagram users can then see your food and be encouraged to check your place out.
Use Trending and Niche Hashtags
Hashtags are great for both utility and visibility. Trending hashtags expose you to a huge audience, while niche hashtags help potential customers within your area to find you.
Post More Videos
People always appreciate good video content. You can do things like showing how your cooks prepare your food or how your waiters conduct their service.
Practice Employee Appreciation
Similar to the previous tip, you can post content featuring your staff doing what they do. This lets customers see how much you care not just about your customers, but also the people who work in your restaurant.
Lists, Lists, Lists
Another thing people like are list articles. You can post something like “Top 5 Foods for Mother’s Day” or something else that is timely, offering information to the audience while still advertising your restaurant.
Images with Quotes
These are also popular in social media. While a picture is worth a thousand words, a quote can actually enhance the impact of that image. As long as it fits the image and resonates with the audience, it should do well.
Promos and Updates
Patrons of your establishment would like to know if you have new stuff going on, so provide updates on your primary social media outlets to let them know if you have a great discount or days when the place will be closed and so on.
Keep It Fun and Friendly
There is no need to be serious with your posts; restaurants are places where people go to relax and enjoy good food, after all. Inject some lighthearted humor into your content; casual, but not tacky. You’ll be surprised how well people take to it.
Be Consistent
Have a schedule for posting on social media. You may be able to automate your system, but it won’t do well if you don’t have a steady stream of relevant content at reasonable intervals. If you ever need a Social Content calendar, let us know – we have the best content chefs in town!

Social Media Engagement

Content may get the people interested, but it’s engagement that will make them stay interested and come back for more. Communicating with customers and showing that you care about them is an act that pays for itself and it adds ‘value’ to your overall branding.
Have Someone Read Comments
It can be tough to stay engaged since the negative criticism may get to you. If this is a problem, yet social media marketing is still important, then assign a social media manager to do it for you.
Let Customers Know You’re on Social Media
You don’t have to shout it out loud, but you can have your Facebook page or Instagram profile on your menu or on signs to make them aware of your online presence.
Social Media Tips Philadelphia Digital Marketing Agency
Ask Questions to Customers
Whether through comments or asking them to post with a specific hashtags, ask them about your service, their favorite menu item, and so on. You can learn a lot about your customers’ tastes and preferences this way.
Conduct Photo Contests
Have customers post their best pictures of your food online with a specific hashtag. You can then reward the winners with a free meal, gift certificates, or so on.
Have Giveaways
It’s one of the oldest, simplest, and most effective ways to get an audience engaged. For a restaurant, a giveaway should be done in a way that can be done seamlessly within the establishment.
Reward Customers Who Check-in with Location-based Networks
Show gratitude for those who check in with networks like Foursquare by providing exclusive discounts and other perks. This can encourage others to check-in as well.
Encourage Reviews
Customers appreciate establishments that value their input, so have them review your restaurant through platforms like Yelp in order to get feedback that can help improve your service.
Use Calls to Action
Humbly request your audience to follow, like, share, and comment whenever possible. Don’t be incessant about it; just drop it in whenever you have the chance and show them that you do care about your audience.
Keep Track of Your Followers
With the better analytics tools available in Facebook and other platforms these days, it’s much easier to track what they like and don’t like. It’s also a part of feedback in a way, so pay attention to that data.
Make Customers Feel at Home
What holds true in the restaurant is the same in social media. Being in the hospitality industry means being cordial and welcoming to customers. Thank them for their patronage and they will keep coming back.
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Originally posted by Kristel Cuenta of Kairay Media

Personal Facebook Posts from a Page | How To

If you own a business and operate your Facebook business page I’m sure you’ve had trouble with this before. You click to share a post to your personal timeline from your business page but it keeps popping back up on your business page. Here’s a quick outline on how to switch back and forth between your personal Facebook profile and business page while on your business page.
Facebook Page Help

Facebook Page Help
 
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Why You Need To Pay Attention to Snapchat

This is a great post about the future of Snapchat originally posted by social media guru Gary Vaynerchuk. Original Article Here
Two big things happened recently on Snapchat. One, the release of Madonna’s new video.Two, the addition of the Discovery feature, which puts major iconic media companies front and center with unique content for the platform. Both of these things have created a frenzy of emails in my inbox about Snapchat. And it’s about damn time you guys noticed.
As someone who’s been a very strong advocate of Snapchat marketing since the early days, I’m getting enormous gratification out of receiving these emails. People are asking me what they should be doing on it, saying “Okay, now I believe you.” It’s been fascinating to watch, and I give kudos to Snapchat’s team. Because no matter what you think of Discovery personally, you cannot deny that, as a product feature, it has absolutely brought the mainstream business world’s attention to the platform.
Now, knowing all of this, I am asking all of you for one thing: please do not be on the wrong side of history.
I need everyone to start realizing what happens when platforms mature right in front of your eyes, and you miss it. The way I was able to bet on Snapchat so publicly several years ago wasn’t because of any secret knowledge or talent; it was based on good old fashioned scale.
When you see a platform gain 50 to 100 million teenaged users (as we are seeing currently with Instagram and prior to that Facebook), it will eventually age up. These teens will eventually graduate high school and go to college. Then they will graduate college and head into their life, whether that’s work or family or whatever.
Guess what comes along with them?
The app that allows them to communicate with the largest percentage of their social graph.
This is the reason so many people in their mid-thirties right now still use Facebook. All their high school and college friends use it. They’re all on there. It’s part of their behavior. It’s the same reason your grandma wants to talk on the phone. It became the standard form of communication for their social circle. And the standard form of communication for a lot of sixteen to nineteen year olds right now is being built on the behavior of Snapchat.
This is why I highly recommend everyone pay attention to the Discover feature and how people are consuming content there. Swiping left to right for new stuff, up and down for depth. If you want to market to twenty year olds in the next twenty-four to thirty-six months within a mobile environment, using that cadence and feature set might be a great place to start.
Everything ages up. People don’t leave forms of communication behind. They stick to what will allow them to communicate the most and at a large scale. Pay attention to where the younger generations are going. That’s all there is to it. And get into Snapchat before you miss your chance entirely.

What’s the best time to send your Marketing Messages?

Is There a Perfect Time to Send Your Marketing Message?
When sending your marketing message you need to think about the timing of your message, is it relevant to the content of your message? Will your customer appreciate receiving this message at this particular time?
There is no perfect time to send a mobile marketing message, however there are some general times that seem to be good for certain industry sectors.
If you own a restaurant, café or fast food outlet and you are looking for some extra footfall during the lunch hour, then sending lunchtime offers around 11am while customers stomach’s are rumbling and lunch time plans are being made is a perfect time.
For retail stores we have found that Saturday mornings work great as people are deciding where to go and what to do with their day, a little Saturday morning offer could mean they they come in and visit you.
Online retailers is a little bit more tricky, however we have found that in the early evenings particularly on Sundays works well, people are usually planning their week and having a little downtime where they might treat themselves to a little present.
So before you hit the send button on your marketing message stop, look at the time and think about your customer and message.
Whats_the_best_time_to_send_your_message

10 New social networks you should know about

This article was originally posted by KYLI SINGH of Mashable via the following link
Had enough of Facebook and Twitter? It may be time to switch up your go-to social network.
With the daily explosion of startups, there are plenty of new social media tools popping up. These newer platforms could be working on the next big thing, so you’ll want to keep an eye out.
Here’s a look at 10 up-and-coming social networks you should know.

  • 1. Secret

    Secret
    Secret offers a platform for users to share their feelings and thoughts anonymously. All secrets come from Facebook friends or people in your contacts, without you knowing who they are.
    The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT SECRET
  • 2. Shots

    Shots
    Addicted to taking selfies? This app was designed for you. Shots is a mobile social network through which you can snap and share selfies. You can reply to any given Shot, and also send private messages.
    The app is only available for iOS, but will be launching an Android version soon.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT SHOTS
  • 3. Snapchat

    Snapchat
    Snapchat is a popular mobile platform that allows you to share photos and videos with others. You can set a time limit for how long your viewers can see your snaps before they disappear. You can also create Stories, or a series of snaps that form a narrative, and use a variety of features for customization.
    Snapchat is available for both Android and iOS devices.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT SNAPCHAT
  • 4. WeChat

    Wechat
    WeChat is a mobile text and voice messaging service. In addition to making free calls, you can share videos and photos (or “Moments”), create group chats, and find new people nearby.
    The app is available for AndroidiOS and several other devices.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT WECHAT
  • 5. We Heart It

    Weheartit
    Think of this as a younger and artsier version of Pinterest. Instead of pin boards, the app has “canvases” and “collections.” Users can “heart” and tag others users in photos.
    We Heart It is available for both Android and iOS devices.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT WE HEART IT
  • 6. Tinder

    Tinder
    While not exactly a social network, Tinder is a mobile dating app that pulls your photo and basic info from your Facebook account. Users can swipe “yes” or “no” to potential matches who are nearby. If the feeling is mutual, people can chat within the app.
    Tinder is available for both Android and iOS devices.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT TINDER
  • 7. Medium

    Medium
    Medium is a microblogging platform that launched in 2012, created by Evan Williams and Biz Stone (formerly of Twitter). If you want to publish stories or ideas, you may want to consider using Medium. Users can also recommend stories with their networks and curate their favorites.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT MEDIUM
  • 8. Vine

    Vine
    Seven months after Twitter acquired Vine, the video sharing service made its way up the charts. The fun app allows you to shoot and share six-second looped videos.
    Vine is available for both Android and iOS devices.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT VINE
  • 9. Bubblews

    Bubblews
    Bubblews, a social networking startup, allows users to create posts (aka “bubbles”), follow friends, and “like” and comment on other bubbles. It differs from other social networks because the company pays its users who attract advertisers and traffic. Currently, Bubblews does not have a mobile app.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT BUBBLEWS
  • 10. Whisper

    Whisper
    Whisper is another social media platform that allows people to anonymously share secrets. With Whisper, you can send anonymous direct messages and ask others for advice, or just chat.
    The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
    IMAGE: SCREENSHOT WHISPER

5 ways to drive business with Yelp

Make your Business Awesome on Yelp

For those of you that were at the philadelphia bar and nightlife convention you already heard me talk a little bit about managing your reputation online. Having a good reputation is essential for the growth and prevalence of your business. Anything from bad customer service to negative reviews can lead to an undesirable reputation; this explains the number of companies that access reviews management for agencies. Having a stable and respected reputation will ensure sales and drive your business to outgrow competitors. I mentioned working with Yelp to improve your star rating instead of ignoring it. You may also want to try to conduct an SEO audit on your site if you’re concerned that your search rankings aren’t as strong as you’d like as this is another thing that is affecting your company’s reputation and its discovery. Here’s my list of the 5 things you can start doing today that will immediately help to build your online reputation through Yelp.com.

  1. Claim your Yelp Business page. This can be a bit of a process if your email address isn’t @[businessname].com but it’s simple enough to request a pin number in the mail. Yelp has a separate login for business owners, biz.yelp.com Screen Shot 2014-06-02 at 10.02.43 AM

  2. Once you have your Yelp business page claimed you need to make sure that all of the information about your business is 100% up to date. Yelp will guide you through this process making it simple for you complete all of the necessary content. Click the tab on the left that says “Business Information” to get started. Screen Shot 2014-06-02 at 10.02.55 AM

  3. Respond to your reviews. On the left side of the dashboard you will see a “reviews” tab. Click that and then click “respond privately” to every review that anyone has given you thus far. It’s Yelp, so you’re bound to have a few unfavorable reviews, but please don’t think this is an opportunity to set them straight. Simply ask the person to give you another try and promise that they’ll have a better experience the next time they come in. You’re limited to 5 responses per day.

    Yelp Review

    Yelp Review

  4. Add awesome photos. It’s your establishment, why would you want customer photos to dictate the first impression that consumers receive when visiting your Yelp page. Get some amazing food photos taken in natural light and post them where it says “photos”. And make sure you write something in the caption. This will ensure that you’re given the best possible chance to lure new customers into your establishment.

    Yelp Photos

    Yelp Photos

  5. Last but certainly not least, add a check in offer. This is the one free tool that yelp has that will drive new customers directly through your door. I love giving away a free drink with a purchase.

    Yelp Checkin Offer

    Yelp Checkin Offer

Reputation management is one service that I truly love offering at Small Talk Media. There’s something truly rewarding about taking a client’s Yelp page from 3 stars to 5 knowing the impact that has on his or her business. If you have a business with a great product or service but that isn’t reflected online please reach out to us right away. Yelp is just the beginning of a great online reputation.
Rob Wright Small Talk Media
– Rob

Instead of poking on Facebook now you simply “Ask” them out

Apparently facebook just got a whole lot more creepy..
Article originally written by Samantha Murphy Kelly for Mashable.
If you’ve been eyeing someone on Facebook whose profile doesn’t list a relationship status, the company is making it easier (or possibly more awkward) to find out if he or she’s single.
Facebook has rolled out a new “ask” feature for those profile pages that don’t list relationship statuses. The owner of the page doesn’t see the button — only the person who is checking out the page.

Facebook-Relationship-Inline

 

IMAGE: BRIAN HERNANDEZ, MASHABLE

By clicking “ask,” you must send the user a message related to the status (such as “want to grab a drink sometime?”), as well as a request to list a status as single, engaged, married or in a civil union. Note: users must be friends with the person in order for the “ask” button to appear.

Facebook Ask

 

The owner of the Facebook page then receives a request to list select a status that only the sender can see. This means your status can remain private but visible to only those who “ask” for that information, if you so wish to divulge it.

Facebook Ask

It’s also possible to update your entire network with this information too, but Facebook is probably guessing — correctly — that you’d simply list your status already if you wanted everyone to know.
The feature introduces a new way to use Facebook as a way to find dates. With the continuing success of online dating sites, and Facebook’s massive user base, the only surprise here is that the feature wasn’t introduced sooner.
A user’s relationship status can also be of use to marketers that target products or services to certain demographics. By answering an “ask” request, a Facebook member is telling the site their status (even if it’s not visible to the public) and in turn, giving the company that personal data.
Screen Shot 2014-05-19 at 5.26.13 PM
The feature first started popping up on mobile and desktop versions of the site a few months ago, but is now accessible to all users. It’s also possible to “ask” for other unlisted information too, such as phone numbers, email addresses, current city, hometown and place of employment.
Let the awkward inquiring begin.