Recently I was invited in by The Field Institute to talk about building a digital audience. The talk ended with the question: If I was given $5,000 to spend would I put it on: 1. a website 2. a social media strategy 3. photography My surprising answer was photography. The reason being that content is expensive to produce and compelling pictures are the best for engagement across many platforms including blogs, Instagram, Facebook and increasingly Twitter. With $5,000 of photographs […]
Recent posts
Ten tips on writing
Write the way you talk. Naturally. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs. 10 tips on writing by David Ogilvy from Prezly
How to manage your online reputation with Ken Burgin
You’d be amazed the number of people who contact us problems with online reviews. It seems to be the problems are split two ways. Either somebody has got drunk and is randomly posting negative reviews or a venue’s review score falls below their expectations, especially in Melbourne on Urbanspoon. I recently talked to hospitality consultancy Ken Burgin on this issue for his podcast, which you can find here. The first problem of drunken trolls is relatively easy to solve and […]
Focus your brand and message
“Imagine you’re sitting across from a reporter at lunch. You’re telling them what you do, your story, why they should care about your product. You have to convince this reporter to not only write about you, but that what you’re doing matters. That you’re going to be successful.” The article I’m linking to is about start-ups but equally it applies to what we do in Melbourne for SMEs, particularly restaurants. The smart operators who you see in the press the […]
The great food blogger witch hunt
I’ve updated this post as more information came in from Sharky. If anyone else wishes me to update anything, please let me know. I am attempting to be as accurate as possible here.You’ll see the updates appear underlined like this. There’s this group of people who are so passionate about food that they spend a fortune and invest hundreds of hours of time engaging with the culture surrounding it. Not only are they eating out, buying ingredients, gadgets, renovating kitchens […]
One Dualit toaster. Loved by owner. Despised by girlfriend.
The answer to whether one should love or hate the Dualit toaster is a debate about toast. Are you the kind of person that wants light brown and, in my view, limp toast? Or do you want dark browned, crisp toast – the kind of toast your maiden aunt told you put curls on your head? Are you a food pornographer from the 1990s? Or a locavore and a minimalist? I guess I’m all of the above. To me there’s […]
The essence of Saint Crispin on Smith St
A fish dish was the essence of a rockpool. The pullet egg with truffles and mushrooms like a forest floor. It was the evening before opening at Saint Crispin. And the restaurant was already hitting its stride. Chefs Scott Pickett of The Estelle and Joe Grbac, formerly of The Press Club, were working with the kind of seasoned intensity you only find in the world’s best kitchens. Rewind 5 years. Smith Street was all but a culinary wasteland being colonised […]
15 seconds vs 6 seconds: Instagram introduces video.
In terms of the battle for moving eyeballs I think Instagram is onto a winner. 15 seconds is short but 6 seconds seems too short. For cooking tips. Mixology. Wine tasting notes. This is going to be fun.
ACCC to tackle online reviews?
One of the biggest gripes among and hospitality or tourism-based business is the anonymous online review. We’ve helped many people over the years with trolls who have defamed venues and individuals just because they were refused entry or kicked out for being drunk – or just because they are competitors. It’s a real pain and emotionally draining for owner operators who care about their businesses. Now Restaurant & Catering Australia is in discussions with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission […]