Thoughts on Real Estate Marketing…

There’s a restaurant in our town that is about to close – at least that’s what the word is around town, and I don’t doubt it.

This establishment is located in a high-traffic spot and it has large windows. Anyone driving by can see when there are customers seated at the tables. I glance over there every time I go by, and the only time I see anyone dining is when I make a grocery run on Saturday. So I’d have to conclude that they aren’t doing all that well.

So what happened?

Was it the economy combined with their high prices? Was it the poor service and the small portions? Was it the proprietor’s arrogant attitude toward customers?

Or was it because he did no marketing?

I stopped in to see him the first week they were open, to offer my services in helping him create a marketing plan. He told me that they wouldn’t need marketing. Word of mouth would be all the advertising he’d need.

Well… he’s gotten plenty of that, but I don’t think he’d like it if he heard it.

I’m not going to pretend that marketing would have saved this business. In a small town there are only so many new customers to be had, and when the word gets out to “Stay away from that place,” it’s pretty hard to overcome.

So if those who go don’t go back and those who haven’t gone hear why others won’t go back …

But darn… had he done some marketing, and had he provided friendly service and reasonable portions of good food… we might have a nice place to go out to dinner.

Darn it anyway.