Foodie Friday| restaurant review

OK, I know I've missed Friday by a couple of days, but better late than never :). Kyle and I took an afternoon trip to Mobile, AL, and had the most fantastic and affordable lunch at this quaint cafe that I just had to share it will you all.

Mobile is a neat little city that offers a lot. Kyle and I had planned to go to Nola for the day but due to time constraints we couldn't make it. So instead, we drove the 50 mins to Mobile's downtown and ate at Cafe 615. We received the recommendation from Kyle's cousins who live there, and we couldn't have been more pleased with the food, service, ambiance AND price.

We were greeted by a very nice and personably bartender who complimented us me ;) and sat us right away. We opened the menu and the first page was an insert for the Friday special: filet medallions or a New York strip with salad, baked potato and asparagus for $19.99.

Since Kyle and I both felt a little lethargic from our previous date night outing, we agreed that a hearty meal was what we needed to recover. We also ordered from their small plate options and chose the fried green tomatoes with lump crabmeat smothered in a marsala cream sauce. Hooooweeee.

Everything was DELICIOUS. We both drank a couple of beers and the total was less than $50. Yes, I realize that's a little pricey for a lunch, but this wasn't your stand in line and grab a poboy type of place either.

We will definitely go back again!

Friend green tomatoes with lump crab meat and a marsala cream sauce
= HEAVEN ON A PLATE

Route 66 Branding: promote your brand through word-of-mouth

Session 1, segment 5: Get people talking about your brand

This segment reveals the power of word-of-mouth marketing (WOMM) to build and promote your brand.

WOMM is any business action that results in a customer recommendation. 

Check out this awesome infographic from the Word of Mouth Marketing Association that shows just how powerful WOM can be. 

The typical American mentions specific brand names 60 times per week - that's 60 times - in online and offline conversations. Why not capitalize on this and thank your customers for their recommendations? 

As a small business, you know your customers well and new ones will tell you if they received a recommendation from a friend. Be sure to thank your regular customers for sending you new business.   

Give them something to talk about - because they'll most likely say something nice. 66% of brand-related convos are "mostly positive."

Keep the conversations going. Online and offline. Interact with your customers and ask for feedback on new products, services, events or promotions. 

If they believe in it AND they receive a great experience, they will keep coming back. 

55 % of customers recommend a company because of its customer service. Remember back in segment one when I told you about the elements of a brand? 

Those elements included how your customers experience your brand, and the better the experience the more profit that means for you.

WOM drives 54% of purchasing decisions! Listen to what your customers are saying about your brand and and you'll find ways to improve your business.

Check out other segments on building your brand at the Route 66 branding page.

Introducing Route 66 Branding

Looking for branding advice for small business. Check out my new online mini "lunch and learn" series on branding advice for small business.

Why Route 66?
The first major highway funded by the government span from Chicago to Los Angeles traversing many Midwestern states. It was along this route, and many other original routes developed later that independently owned small businesses flourished.

What you can expect
I will break this process down and its concepts, nuts, bolts and all the other parts that make up the whole in a way that is easy to understand, easy to implement and you can digest during your lunch break.

I offer this insight because not only have I worked in several small businesses - whether I was working my way through school or as a part-time gig for some extra dough [for my wedding] but I am also a committed frequenter and supporter. I am fired-up passionate about empowering the small-business owner with some of the very tools that the conglomerates use to maneuver their way into the towns business owners like you work so hard to serve and stabilize yourselves in.