This week we look at a new security tool, a bad promotion idea, fake Yelp reviews and Google's idea for boosting your drive-thru traffic.
Idea #1: Keep a sword handy. If we have an idea-of-the-year contest, this one will definitely be in contention. So a burglar tries to rob this pirate-themed restaurant in Daytona. It’s called Captain Steamers Oyster Bar. The security guard at the place doesn’t carry a gun. So what does he do? He grabs a freakin’ sword from the wall and uses it to hold the guy until the cops come. Something tells me the rent-a-cop had his eye on that sword for some time. Still a pretty swashbuckling move.
Idea #2: Use domestic violence as an ad hook. And this idea would not be in contention. A Georgia chef promoted his restaurant’s sandwich, the Caribbean Black and Bleu, on Facebook saying, “Chris Brown won’t beat you up for eating this unless your name starts with a[n] R and ends with A.” The chef, Richard Miley of Hops & Chops, returned to Facebook days later after getting pounded for the remarks, saying in a statement, “The owners of C&H would like to make sure everyone knows that we and our staff DO NOT SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Many of us have been affected by domestic violence in some manner and realize that this is no joke.”
Idea #3: Buy fake Yelp reviews. No telling how many companies like this are out there, but some Philadelphia restaurants were contacted recently by a “reputation management firm” that specializes in “correcting negative reviews” of restaurants on social media sites, according to a company email obtained by Eater. The company promises all sorts of increases in your ratings on Yelp, with their main tool in doing so paying people to write fake reviews. Read more at Eater.
Idea #4: One way to boost traffic. Google just released a new video of their driverless car taking a blind man to Taco Bell.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.