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CHIPOTLE ROARS BACK FROM FOOD CRISIS WITH HARD-HITTING STRATEGY

10/31/2019

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​by Patty Odell
It wasn’t that long ago in restaurant time that Chipotle suffered a major food safety crisis, but since then the brand has overhauled its marketing strategy to drive profitable volume growth and double its stock price.
The Mexican grill, with more than 2,500 company owned restaurants, offers a menu filled with wholesome food with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. The restaurants have no freezers, microwaves or can openers.
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​“We use more local produce than any other restaurant group and always responsibly source real food prepared with classic cooking techniques that we’ve made fresh every single day,” Chipotle CMO Chris Brandt said. “If you’re going to have food this good you want to show it to people.”

That thought planted the seed for a new marketing playbook that would transform the way consumers understand and engage with the brand.

One major change took place last year when Chipotle moved its headquarters to California, closing its New York and Denver offices. That offered a chance to reset its marketing department with a new team

“I wanted agile and innovative marketers who looked at this changing world as an opportunity, not as a problem,” he said. “I really wanted people who generate ideas because ideas differentiate you. Ideas separate you. Ideas enable you to win.”

Brandt personally interviewed every person on his team to ensure they have the right chemistry and that everybody passes what he calls the “Friday afternoon” conference room test.

“In the unfortunate event that you have to go in a conference room on a Friday afternoon at four o’clock, are you happy to see a person there or are you sad? And I will tell you if you’re sad to see that person there you should not hire them, no matter what their qualifications are,” he said earlier this month at ANA Masters of Marketing Week.

Embracing digital

Chipotle also fully embraced digital growth to engage Gen Z and Millennials.

“It’s clearly where the action is and one of the biggest things consumers want when we surveyed them was more access to the brand,” he said.

Brandt doubled down on the digital budget with delivery capability through DoorDash in Chipotle’s app and pick up shelves in every restaurant so customers didn’t have to wait in line to pick up their orders.

“Our operating model is so efficient that we can make the food really, really fast, getting order to delivery times of less than 30 minutes—which is incredible,” he said. “It’s a giant growth area for Chipotle.”

A new tone

“In the years since the crisis, the message for the brand was really heavily focused on what others don’t do as opposed to celebrating what Chipotle actually does. I wanted to have a much more positive tone. I wanted to have a lot more fun with the brand and I wanted to really engage with our consumers and we wanted to be more insightful and relevant in culture,” Brandt said.

That new positive tone included the new tag line, “For Real,” which debuted last fall.

“We needed a rallying cry for the brand with our customers, but also with our employees. We’ve got 75,000 employees out there, so we had to make them proud to wear that badge on their uniform,” he said. “And we wanted a tagline that few brands would dare say and fewer still could back up. The beauty of ‘For Real’ is that tagline is new, but it really harkens back to the principles the brand was founded on 26 years ago. We were off to a good start. But the job certainly wasn’t done,” he said.

With the campaign, Chipotle worked to change consumer perceptions and retell the “real” story in new and different ways and to show up in places where consumers didn’t expect brands like Chipotle to appear.

On the job training

In his third week on the job, Brandt, who joined as CMO in April 2018, went to work in one of the restaurants.

“I showed up at the restaurant at 7 a.m. and I was blown away because what I saw in the restaurant was whole heads of romaine lettuce, crates of whole peppers, bags of onions—whole ingredients. Then I saw the employees get to work cutting and chopping and cooking in that restaurant to make everything fresh for that day and I thought man, if we could show this to everybody they will love it,” he said.

He immediately called Chipotle’s agency Venables Bell & Partners in San Francisco and scheduled a team to experience what he just had.

The results were the global campaign launched in February, “Behind the Foil,” the most intimate look into the company’s operations in its history. The documentary-style digital and TV spots, shot by documentarian Errol Morris, aimed to “pull back the foil” by featuring behind-the-scenes footage of Chipotle restaurants, including its kitchens, equipment and prep routines, and featuring Chipotle employees and the farming partners that grow the brand’s real ingredients. This spot is titled “The Guac Smasher.”
​Supporting the campaign was a push to remind consumers that Chipotle uses only 51 ingredients, “all of which you can pronounce.” A massive billboard in New York City kicked off that part of the campaign and then the brand showed up at a very unexpected place—a spelling bee.
“Nobody expects Chipotle to show up at the National Spelling Bee, but we had this insight that the only thing that’s hard to spell at Chipotle is Chipotle, but that’s not necessarily the case with our competitor ingredients,” Brandt said.
Cultural Connection
Merging with current cultural moments helped Chipotle move forward. The brand had no involvement in February’s Super Bowl until Maroon 5’s Adam Levine took his shirt off during the half time show. A consumer posted on social that Levine without a shirt looked like one of Chipotle’s signature paper bags.
“So we poured on the gas adding 170 million views,” he said. “We kind of won the Super Bowl without even participating.”
In March, Chipolte launched a new loyalty program, Chipotle Rewards, reaching out to Venmo for a contest that used Venmo payouts to give away up to a quarter of a million dollars, to 25,000 Chipotle fans per day. Then in June, the NBA finals got underway. Chipotle, with no rights to the game, tweeted out that the first 500 people to use a special code could win a free burrito every time the announcer said the word “free” as in a free throw.
“We got a billion impressions on this thing and a bunch of Twitter followers,” Brandt said.
Another major piece to its comeback was menu innovation. In January, a collection of Lifestyle Bowls were introduced like Paleo Salad Bowl and Keto Salad Bowl available only for digital customers. The bowls were so successful that Chipotle followed up with “influencer bowls.” For example, the brand got in early with a Fortnite team and debuted a bowl after one of its streamers “because I felt like Fortnite single handedly lowered the GPAs of the entire nation,” he said.
And there were other bowls and burritos tied to David Dilbert and World Cup soccer champs Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle.
“We got real results,” he said.
As all components of the turnaround began to gel, Chipotle’s work was paying off.
“The category of restaurants in general runs about plus two or three on comp sales and traffic is flat to negative. It’s a tough business,” he said. “In Q4 we launched the ‘For Real’ campaign and saw comp sales up plus six and traffic up plus two and that was the first time Chipotle saw traffic up in two years for a quarter. Then in Q1 we were plus 10 and plus six. Q2 we were plus 10 and plus 7. The beauty of this growth is that it’s profitable volume growth because it’s really driven our earnings per share and that earnings per share has driven our stock price to more than double over the last year or so.”
According to The Motley Fool, Chipotle has more than tripled its share price since bottoming in early 2018.
“The numbers are amazing,” Brandt said.
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8 Referral Marketing Statistics That Will Change How You Think About This Strategy [Infographic]

10/26/2019

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Amity Kapadia
Most of us – as marketers and consumers ourselves – inherently understand the value of referrals. As professionals, we’ve read the referral marketing statistics and have seen it work for companies large and small. In our personal lives, when we make a big purchase, we seek out reviews or ping our networks for recommendations.

While you may see referral marketing work for successful companies like Uber and Airbnb, it’s understandable that you might question if it can be achieved by your brand. You might also be wondering if your unique audience would be interested, or engaged, in your referral program.
Here’s the short answer: No matter the industry, successful referral programs generate a natural network effect. As you acquire more referred customers, an abnormally high proportion of them will convert into new ambassadors. Those ambassadors will then draw in new customers, and the cycle will start all over again.
​A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is. It is what consumers tell each other it is. -Scott Cook, co-founder, Intuit
Need more proof on why referral marketing should be a critical component of your strategy? We thought you might!
Which is why we set out to answer a few key questions:
– How influential is word-of-mouth in their purchasing decisions?
– Which channels do they rely on most for recommendations?
– How (if at all) do people want to be compensated for providing referrals?
What was the verdict?
Let’s just say that even we were surprised by some of the results. To get the full picture, check out our infographic below.
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At its core, referral marketing doesn’t have to be overly complex. In fact, getting started is as simple as putting yourself in your customer’s shoes. Ask these questions:
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– Would you recommend your company’s products to others?
– Where and how would you do it?
​– What incentives would motivate you to increase your referral activity?
– What barriers would keep you from doing it?

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Ways to Build a Successful Fall Marketing Strategy

10/23/2019

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JJ Tyson
Why is a Fall Seasonal Marketing Strategy Important?

Seasonal marketing is more important than ever before. A well crafted Fall seasonal marketing strategy helps humanize your brand and connects you with customers in a more meaningful way.

Seasonality affects everyone’s life, regardless of locale or demographic. It affects the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and how we spend our time.

Fall Seasonal Marketing

Fall tends to be thought of as a time of change – and that change brings around endless opportunities for marketing. Virtually every type of business can benefit from a fall seasonal marketing strategy.

Autumn is a time of year when everyone can find something to enjoy. If you’re the outdoorsy type, most people can brave the outdoors without a parka. Prefer the great indoors? All the more reason to stay inside, bake, craft, and relax.

Halloween
Consumers spend a huge amount of money each year on Halloween. In 2017, the NRF valued the holiday at $9.1 billion. Halloween is one of those rare holidays that’s driven by pure, unadulterated fun. This gives your brand a chance to let loose and embrace the occasion.

Scaring Up Engagement with Gamification
Need another reason to get excited about Halloween? Nearly 80% of Americans celebrate the holiday in some way. Getting customers involved with on-site gamification is a great way to piggyback on Halloween’s playful nature.

Need a push in the right direction? Consider gamifying minimums on free shipping offers already available on-site. Creating an experience around gamified minimum order values or free shipping thresholds gets users involved the moment they start shopping.

Each time customers add an item or “treat” to their bag, they get closer to the cart value threshold. When the shopper meets the minimum, display a message similar to “No Tricks, Just a Treat! You’ve Qualified for Free Shipping!”

This strategy is an easy means of integrating gamification alongside an offer that is already available to shoppers.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday
According to the National Retail Federation, shopping in the month leading up to the major gift-giving holidays accounts for about 30% of annual revenue. For that reason, best-of-year deals and promotions are par for the course.

Progressive Remarketing Campaigns
One important aspect of Black Friday/Cyber Monday preparation is a carefully crafted remarketing strategy. Remarketing is a fantastic tool for continuing the conversation and recovering sales.

Large purchases like video game consoles, bicycles, and electronics are popular during this time of year, but often require customer consideration. Since virtually every retailer is vying for consumer attention, remarketing keeps your brand top of mind and reignites interest in your products.

Progressive remarketing campaigns follow a three-pronged approach. The first message reminds shoppers of their relationship with you, what they left behind, and why they should come back.

For customers that simply became distracted, this first touch can be very effective. For users that do not convert with one email, a second with a small incentive can get them to return and purchase.

If users still do not convert after two touches, combining an incentive with urgency in a final email can offer one last push toward conversion.

Post-Holiday Shopping
The day after Christmas is one of the largest shopping days of the year. This is partially because stores are working hard to clear excess merchandise with end-of-season sales and clearance deals.

Additionally, customers are returning gifts that didn’t quite hit the mark, meaning lots of store credit. That, combined with the increasing popularity of gift cards means that people are looking to do some serious shopping in the days following the holidays.

SMS Alerts
Mobile messages consistently achieve open rates of 90%+. Leveraging the power of SMS means you can keep shoppers informed about new arrivals, discounts, and promotions. Additionally, it allows you to connect with customers in a more personalized way.

SMS allows for quick communication, making it perfect for real-time updates on clearance products, markdowns, and end-of season offers.

Including a short link to popular sale items is a great way to lead shoppers directly to purchase. Of course, make sure they can opt-out at any time, as compliance is key in any successful marketing campaign
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40 Iconic Restaurants That No Longer Exist

10/21/2019

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​by CHARLOTTE CHILTON

​Due to fickle consumer trends and high rent, many beloved restaurants have been forced to call it quits over the years—some even after decades of success. From swanky celebrity hot spots to local institutions, take a look back at some of the most iconic restaurants that have, sadly, gone out of business.
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​1961: The Original McDonald's

With over 37,000 restaurants worldwide, it's safe to say McDonald's isn't going anywhere. But the original McDonald's drive-in, which was founded in 1948 and located in San Bernardino, California, isn't a McDonald's restaurant anymore.
After brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald signed over the rights to their company to franchise agent Ray Kroc in 1961, they forfeited the right to their name. In 1971, the building where fast food was born was demolished and turned into an unofficial museum for the chain by restaurateur Albert Okura.
​1965: The Stork Club
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The Stork Club was an integral part of the New York City social scene in the early 19th century. Open from 1929 to 1965, the restaurant and night club was a place where celebrities and socialites alike could enjoy cocktails, a steak dinner, and a night of dancing. The prestigious hot spot closed in 1965, and although there were talks of it relocating, owner Sherman Billingsley died shortly after. The club's iconic building was later demolished and turned into Paley Park.
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​1968: Minnie Pearl's Fried Chicken
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Minnie Pearl's Fried Chicken was a fast food franchise started in 1966 as a competitor for the nationwide sensation Kentucky Fried Chicken. Founder John Jay Hooker set up a copy cat model of the restaurant and hired popular comedic actress, Minnie Pearl, as the spokesperson. After much success, the company took their stock public, but after an investigation by the Security Exchange Commission and inquiries with their books, the chain closed up shop in 1968.
1971: Toots Shor's Restaurant
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During the '40s and '50s, every A-list celeb was a regular at Toots Shor's—from Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Gleason and Judy Garland. The exclusive New York City bar, owned by Bernard Shor served steak and baked potatoes among other things, but the crowd was the real attraction. The establishment closed down in 1971 when the building was seized for taxes. Even though Shor reopened a year later, the restaurant's heyday had passed.
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1979: Cloud Club in New York City's Chrysler Building
For more than 40 years, a private luncheon club for Manhattan's titans of industry was located 68 floors above Manhattan and nestled into one of the most iconic buildings in New York City. Founded in 1930, the Cloud Club offered more than just food. It also had a private locker room, cigar collection, and a two-story view of Manhattan. Since the club closed in 1979, the space has remained vacant, and many of the original old art deco fixtures have been removed or damaged.
1982: Sambo'sThe causal diner opened during the peak of roadside dining in 1957. It gained massive popularity (in part for its fluffy pancakes) and in the years to follow there would be a chain in 47 states.
The eatery was not without controversy though, as the name is a derogatory slang word used towards African Americans. As the chain opened more and more restaurants, especially in bigger cities, customers began objecting to the tone-deaf marketing. The restaurant eventually rebranded itself, changing its name to No Place Like Sam's and Jolly Tiger, however there's still one original Sambo's left in the United States—the original restaurant, which is run by the founder's grandson in Santa Barbara, California.
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1985: Dubrow's Cafeteria
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For 33 years, this New York City family-owned, cafeteria-style institution served as a rallying point for hopeful politicians (both JFK and Ed Koch campaigned here), as well as a favorite dining destination for locals. But, sadly, Dubrow's closed in the late '80s, as the trend of diners began to die down.
​1986: Gino's Hamburger
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At the start, Gino's Hamburgers was simply Gino's Drive-In, a hamburger company started in Baltimore, Maryland, in the late 1950s. The company was known for their celebrity endorsements, like Muhammad Ali and comedian Soupy Sales, as well as their monstrous burgers like the "Sirloiner" and the famous "Giant." In 1982, the company was sold to Marriott and used as a foothold to expand their chain, Roy Rogers. By 1986, Gino's was no longer in operation.
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1987: Brown Derby

The Brown Derby became a Hollywood institution after the original Wilshire Boulevard location was founded by Herbert K. Somborn in 1926. The restaurant became known for hosting celebrity clientele, walls adorned with caricatures, and the unique building, which was shaped like a bowler hat. But as Hollywood exited the golden era, so did the Brown Derby, and by 1987 all four locations were closed.
​1989: Beefsteak Charlie'sWhat started as a popular Manhattan restaurant founded in 1914 grew to a huge chain throughout the northeast during the '80s. Beefsteak Charlie's commercials are famous for constantly plaguing viewers with their unlimited salad and shrimp bar—but, unfortunately, after getting acquired in 1987, the restaurant slowly went out of business.
1994: Boston Sea Party
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In the late '70s, it was hard to find a theme restaurant that didn't do well, but by far the most inventive was Boston Sea Party. The nautical-themed restaurant that served up unbelievable deals on seafood (as waiters wore colonial garb, no less) was scattered across the country. However, the chain closed quietly over the years, and the last one was shut down in 1994.
1995: Chasen's
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In 1936, Chasen's opened and instantly drew in a flurry of Hollywood clientele. Over the years the West Hollywood restaurant became famous for its Academy Award after parties as much as it was known for its chili. But after 24 years, the glamorous watering hole closed in 1995.
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1996: Burger Chef
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Starting with a small shop in Indiana in 1954, Burger Chef eventually grew to over 1,000 locations and rivaled fast food giant McDonald's. After years of success, the owners sold the popular burger joint to Hardee's in 1982. Sadly, the last storefront with the name closed in 1996.
1996: Mr. Steak
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Mr. Steak was a quality, yet affordable, steak house that took the United States by storm in the '60s. After starting as a small operation in Colorado Springs, the chain eventually grew to over 200 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up menu items in favor of more chicken and fish. Eventually pieces of the franchise were sold off and it slowly dwindled with the last location closing the mid-1990s.
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1998: Kenny Rogers Roasters
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Country singer Kenny Rogers ventured into the chicken business in 1991. His chain restaurant, which focused on causal dining, never grew to tremendous popularity. However, it was memorialized on the sitcom Seinfeld and some remain in operation in Asia.
1998: Sign of the Dove
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Sign of the Dove is considered one of the lost gems of New York City after closing and eventually being demolished in 1998. "The hole it left in the landscape was more than physical. One of many iconic Upper East Side eateries owned by the Santo Family Group, the fine dining experience in its garden of stain glass was said to have been magnificent," explained The New York Times.
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1999: Fashion Cafe
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In the '90s, one restaurant group decided to capitalize on the era of the supermodel. Fashion Cafe in New York City gathered iconic models together, like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Elle MacPherson, and Claudia Schiffer to endorse it. However, the international chain ceased operations in 1999.
2000: Valle's Steak House
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Founded in 1933, Valle's Steak House saw huge expansion during the '60s by embracing the dining trend of leaning toward a menu full of steak and lobster. Over the next decade, it saw huge expansion, which unfortunately was cut short by the '70s economic crisis. The chain never fully bounced back, but hung on for a long time. The last restaurant shut down in 2000.
2000: La Petite Boulangerie
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American bakery chain, La Petite Boulangerie or "little bakery," did indeed start out small, with only two stores in the beginning. In 1982, the company was bought by PepsiCo and expanded across the United States. The company, famous for its warm croissants, had 93 stores in its peak, but eventually closed down in 2000.
2001: The Original Spago
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The restaurant of world renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck, became a Hollywood hangout when it opened in 1982 on the Sunset Strip. Although Puck owns other locations of Spago, in 2001 the chef decided to close down the original, which had become an institution amongst Hollywood's heavy hitters.
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2002: Bill Knapp's
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Bill Knapp's made a name for itself in the restaurant world thanks to its quality ingredients and menu full of home-cooked food—not to mention its dreamy chocolate cake. Founded in 1948 in Michigan, the homestyle eatery had more than 60 locations across the states before it closed down in 2002.
2004: Chi-Chi's
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Before Chipotle and Taco Bell, there was Chi-Chi's. The affordable and casual Mexican dining experience hadn't been done before and people loved it. But the idea soon caught on and Chi-Chi's couldn't compete. In 2003, the company filed for bankruptcy, the following year the restaurant was sued for a health outbreak, and by 2004 the restaurant closed for good.
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​2006: Stock Exchange Luncheon ClubEver wonder how the movers and shakers of Wall Street spend their lunch breaks? Well, for awhile most of them had their midday meal at the Stock Exchange Luncheon Club, a members-only dining club located on the seventh floor of the New York Stock Exchange, which was founded in 1898. However those are distant memories now, as the club closed in April of 2006.
2007: Official All Star Café
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In the '90s, better known as the era of gimmicky restaurants, a set of iconic athletes (Wayne Gretzky, Andre Agassi, and Joe Montana, to name a few) teamed up with Planet Hollywood to open the Official All Star Café. The chain not only included classic sports memorabilia and a menu of traditional bar food, but also hosted premieres and events with some of the top celebrities and sports figures in the world. Sadly, the restaurant wasn't a home run and ceased operations in 2007.
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2008: Googie's Italian Diner
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Since the early 2000s, New York City has seen the death of many iconic diners. Googie's was one of the Upper East Side's best causal Italian spots and has been missed dearly since it closed in 2008.
2008: Steak and Ale
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Steak and Ale was ahead of its time. The casual dining steak house, founded in 1966, was one of the first restaurants to conceptualize the steak and salad bar combination. Although it went bankrupt in 2008, the chain sold all of its menu items and brand property to Legendary Restaurant Group—so here's hoping for a comeback!
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2011: Elaine's
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Elaine's was a New York City institution since opening in 1963 and remained one until it closed in 2011. Popular with celebrities and the social set, fans and photographers would frequently crowd the sides of the yellow awning just to sneak a peak at who was entering and exiting those signature wooden doors. Sadly, after legendary proprietor Elaine Kaufman passed away in 2010, the restaurant closed for good.
​2012: Lyon's Restaurant

Customers were instructed to "Eat like a king" at Lyon's, a competitor to Denny's with casual dining and low-cost breakfasts. The chain was founded in 1952 and continued to grow over the years. However, after filing for bankruptcy in 1998 the company was acquired and sold in 2001. The last location closed in 2012.
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2012: The Stage Deli
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Located on Seventh Avenue, The Stage was one of the most popular delis in New York City after being founded in 1937 and was known for having a menu full of Broadway-inspired dishes. But after 75 years in the business, the famous restaurant went out of business in 2012.
​2013: Bahooka
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In 1967, Bahooka was opened in Los Angeles to capitalize on the Tiki phenomena in the U.S. at the time. The family-owned restaurant became well known for its many fish tanks and novelty decor, but sadly served its last Tiki drink in 2013.
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2014: Pastis
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When Pastis opened in 1980, the French cuisine and Parisian bistro decor made it a fixture in the New York City restaurant circuit. A spot that's been sorely missed since it shuttered its doors in 2014. However, much to the city's delight, the French bistro re-opened in 2019, however to a new location.
2016: Da Silvano
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Da Silvano spent 45 years serving up authentic, high-end Italian cuisine in Greenwich Village. Sadly the restaurant, famous for its outdoor dining and frequent celebrity presence, closed in 2016 due to high minimum wage costs and increased rent.
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2016: Carnegie Deli

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Carnegie Deli was a staple in the New York City deli scene, with customers willing to wait down the block for a table at the famed delicatessen. But after 78 years of serving up pastrami and slaw, it closed permanently in 2016.
2017: Beso
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Eva Longoria's Hollywood hot spot, Beso, which opened in 2008, temporarily closed in 2016 for renovations. However, the following year it was revealed the restaurant would be re-opening under new ownership and a new name.
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​2017: Lum's

Lum's restaurant was founded by two brothers in Miami beach, who took their famous beer steamed hot dogs from one location to over 400 franchises around the country. In 1971, they sold the company to the owner of KFC, John Brown. For years the chain was a staple in shopping malls, but after a new owner, the Swiss company Wienerwald Holdings, filed for bankruptcy, many of the franchises were forced to close. The last Lum's restaurant shut down in 2017 in Bellevue, Nebraska.
2017: Sushi Samba
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The Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian restaurant held prime reality in New York City's West Village and was a buzz-worthy restaurant throughout the late '90s and early '00s. Although the Miami location is still open, the famous New York lounge shut down in 2017.
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2017: Howard Johnson's
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Howard Johnson's restaurants were everywhere during the mid-century, as their notorious orange roofs and fried clams fed and housed roadside travelers across the country. Sadly, they started to disappear in the new millennium.
2018: Le Cirque
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Le Cirque became famous for its decadent French cuisine in the '80s and had a reputation for fine dining. In 2006, a location opened in Bloomberg Tower, but due to high rent, the restaurant was forced to close down in 2018.
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2019: Barbuto

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This casual, yet sensationally chic, eatery in New York City's West Village closed down in May 2019, after 15 years of serving succulent roast chicken, hearty kale salad, and famous wood-fire pizza.
2019: The Grill at the Four Seasons

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Less than a year after re-opening, the Four Seasons announced that it would be closing the East 49th Street dining room as "the restaurant world has changed," managing partner, Alex von Bidder told The New York Times. The institution was open for more than 60 years before closing.
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Pennsylvania restaurant going viral for life-sized deer wedding cake

10/17/2019

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​by Stefanie Dyga
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AST EARL, Pa. (WSBT) — A restaurant in Pennsylvania is going viral for a very realistic and delicious-looking deer cake.
Shady Maple Smorgasbord posted the photo of the gigantic cake on Facebook that has since gotten over 800 comments and over 5000 shares:
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The restaurant says a bride and groom brought in antlers and requested a deluxe dessert for their wedding day, and boy did they get one! It took Cake Decorating Supervisor Pam McNeal over 10 hours to make.
We're told the deer's head and neck were carved from Styrofoam, and the back part of the animal is all cake, enough to feed 250 people.
The couple's wedding was this past Saturday -- we wish you two all the best!
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Facebook And Instagram Ad Campaigns That Get Results

10/15/2019

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Deborah Smith 
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Promoting your restaurant with Facebook and Instagram ads is a surefire way to acquire new customers. But with millions of restaurants vying for attention, how can you guarantee your restaurant stands out?
Restaurants have to be promoting themselves with targeted and beautifully designed, paid Facebook and Instagram ads, particularly in tight markets like the New York metro area, where the crowded restaurant scene is highly competitive.

Organic Reach
If you have a Facebook page and an Instagram account for your restaurant (and why wouldn’t you?), you might be disappointed in the reach and engagement of your posts. Organic reach for posts on Facebook pages is dismal. By some estimates, just 2% of a restaurant’s fan base will see its unpaid posts. The best way to make sure that your content reaches as many people as possible is with a paid promotion.

Boosting Your Post
Most restaurants know how to boost a post, mainly because Facebook is constantly suggesting it. But simply boosting a post is Facebook basic advertising 101. There’s little to no strategy behind what you’re doing and the post you’re boosting may not be very effective.

You are far better off planning an ad campaign and creating it in the Ads Manager.

Video ads perform much better than static image ads for restaurants. There are several different formats for ad campaigns, but we’ve found video is important for restaurants because it gives them a chance to showcase several offerings in an engaging format.

You can choose to run the ad both on Facebook and Instagram—simultaneously or separately. We often find that Facebook aims your ads almost exclusively to Facebook users and therefore the ad is hardly delivered on Instagram. So, you may want to consider running two separate campaigns—one on each platform.
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Targeting
When you run an ad on Facebook, the platform gives you the ability to select your own audience. We always recommend selecting your own ‘custom audience’ over targeting people who have liked your page because it is cheaper, and you know exactly who and where you are targeting.

Audience targeting on Facebook and Instagram can get incredibly precise. In general, it’s safe to say that a restaurant should be targeting its ad campaigns around a geographic radius based on the restaurant’s location. Since our goal is to cultivate “regular customers” for our clients, we stick to a fairly close area, usually 3 to 10 miles depending on how densely populated their area is. Depending on the demographics of your customer base, you might also want to target by age or personal interests such as healthy eating, wine, fine dining, craft beer, etc.

If you’ve never run Facebook or Instagram ad campaigns before, keep your audience fairly broad at first and let Facebook do its magic. Facebook will detect which audience segments are engaging more with your ad and will start filtering more of your budget toward that population. It’s an excellent way of gathering intel on who your actual target market is, which you can use for later campaigns.

Thinking It Through
The types of ads you use will depend on your objectives as a restaurant owner. We feel strongly that “Click to your website” is the appropriate objective for restaurants. People who take action by following a link to your website to view your menu have more serious intentions than someone who is simply “liking” a photo. If they care enough to visit your website, capitalize on their visit! Is there an offer you can make in exchange for their email address?

To help you judge whether your ad campaign is performing well, Facebook offers many metrics in its reporting. Some of the most important things to look at are the number of link clicks and impressions, as well as the Cost Per Click (CPC) and Cost Per Thousand Ad Views (CPM). You want to keep both CPC and CPM as low as possible.

Recently, we ran a campaign for a newly renovated restaurant whose owners wanted to get the word out about all the changes in both decor and menu. We ran video ad campaigns on both Instagram and Facebook within a seven-mile radius. The total budget for the month was $350. We ultimately drove 1,400 people to their website for .25 per click. Our CPM was under $8.00. Total for all clicks was over 4,000. That means likes, shares, comments and tagging friends. Where else can you get that kind of bang for your advertising buck?

Picture This
Image quality is an important, yet often overlooked element of any ad campaign. Quality and professionalism really matter in the restaurant industry. While it’s certainly possible to take incredible images with an iPhone, if you don’t think you’re up to the task, you need to commit to finding a photographer who can capture appetizing images and videos of your best menu items.

If you would like more information about how to acquire diners with Facebook and Instagram ads, then reach out to our team at Market to Foodies. We specialize in restaurant marketing for the digital age.
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PepsiCo Is Investing Where It Counts

10/12/2019

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John Ballard
​Investors have been very upbeat about PepsiCo's (NASDAQ:PEP) prospects this year, as the company invests in areas to accelerate sales growth and position itself for sustainable long-term returns. The stock is up 28% so far in 2019 and the latest results seem to have met the already high expectations investors have for the snack-food giant. 

Let's look at a few highlights from the fiscal third-quarter earnings report that has investors so optimistic.
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Revenue growth
Starting with the top line, organic (non-GAAP) revenue increased by 4.3% year over year. This is slightly below the year-ago quarter's 4.9% increase, but it's still impressive for this global brand powerhouse to post more than 4% growth on top of the strong results in last year's third quarter. Year to date, Pepsi's organic revenue is up 4.6%, which is better than the 3.4% growth reported for the same period this time last year. 

Core earnings per share (EPS) on a constant-currency basis were down 1% year over year for the quarter and down 0.5% year to date. However, core EPS of $1.56 beat analysts' estimates by $0.06 per share. 

Explaining the backdrop for the strong results, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said, "We are making good progress against our strategic priorities and our businesses are performing well as we continue to make the necessary investments in our capabilities, brands, manufacturing and go-to-market capacity to propel our future growth." 

Investments paying off
The stock continues to soar despite the lower earnings because investors understand that the investments in marketing and additional capacity are putting the company's brands on offense against competitors. Marketing expense is up 12% year to date and is being directed toward Pepsi's most important brands and geographies.

The Frito-Lay business, which comprises the company's snack food brands in the U.S. and Canada, saw organic revenue increase by 5.5%, enough to gain market share in the quarter. Management noted strong growth in core brands, such as Doritos, Cheetos, Ruffles, and Fritos. Smaller premium brands, including Bare and Off the Beaten Path saw double-digit revenue growth.

The most impressive aspect of these results was the balanced performance across all channels -- grocery, mass, club, convenience, foodservice, and e-commerce -- which is not an easy thing to accomplish given the complexity of managing dozens of brands across different sales channels, especially with competitors trying to grow sales, too.

The North American beverage business saw an acceleration last quarter, improving from organic revenue growth of 2.5% in the fiscal second quarter to 3% in the third quarter. Management is especially pleased with the performance of Gatorade, which gained market share. Gatorade Zero has been a very successful new innovation, exceeding $500 million in retail sales since launching last year. 

Pepsi is making investments internationally to drive higher per-capita spending and increase market share, and the results show the efforts are paying off. Organic revenue from developing and emerging markets increased by 7% year over year, including double-digit growth in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, and Pakistan. 

Laguarta's comments during the fiscal third-quarter conference call suggest that Pepsi may still have a few more gears to shift into to accelerate sales growth: 

We're invested to increase the capacity and reach of our go-to-market systems with substantial investments in new routes, merchandising racks and coolers, and we're investing in additional manufacturing capacity to remove bottlenecks and expand growth capacity for our brands. These include investments in new plants, new lines and added distribution infrastructure.

Pepsico is also investing in technology, highlighted by the strength in the company's digital sales capabilities. E-commerce is on pace to generate nearly $2 billion in revenue this year. 
​
Upbeat outlook
Management put the cherry on top for the quarter by raising sales expectations for the year. The company now expects to meet or exceed 4% organic revenue growth for the full year. Core EPS should be down 1% in 2019, but free cash flow is expected to be approximately $5 billion. 

The company plans to return $8 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. On the surface, that looks unsustainable, since a business can't continue to distribute more than it brings in year after year. But investors should look at the excess return as a vote of confidence from management in the long-term expectation that free cash flow and net income will move higher.
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11 Essential Steps Businesses Should Take When Connecting With Influencers

10/11/2019

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​Forbes Coaches Council
​Influencer marketing is among the most popular methods of growing a business through the social media platform. Influencers have the eyes and ears of hundreds of thousands (and in some cases, millions) of individuals. Their status, reach and willingness to work with businesses makes them a perfect asset for marketing.

But some companies have yet to realize how impactful influencers can be and are reluctant to tap into this form of marketing. Below, 11 members of Forbes Coaches Council share some crucial advice for businesses who are interested in developing a business relationship with influencers but don't know how to get the ball rolling.
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1. Get To Know The Influencer

Take the time to research the influencer and investigate whether your business is really a fit for their audience, before you reach out. Get to know the influencer and understand why people follow that person, then align your pitch to that. Your pitch will be more personalized and effective, and then, when it's a genuine fit, it will make your influencer more excited to offer you to their audience. - Natalie Ehmka, Natalie Ehmka Coaching & Consulting

2. Confirm Value Alignment First

Influencers create amazing buzz around products, services and even brands, but before partnering up, make sure your values align first. Do your research, get referrals and see their work firsthand! It's scary to attach your brand to someone else's, as so much can go wrong. But, if done properly, so much can go right! Ensure proper vetting before taking the leap. - Miranda VonFricken, Miranda VonFricken Mastermind Coaching

3. Make Authentic Contact

Research the influencer to discover a recent piece of content they published that you can comment on or purchase their products. When you make contact, you have a better chance of being remembered. Rather than only asking, start off giving. Give them an interview slot on your podcast to promote their product or service and consider amplifying the interview with a press and media release that you promote. - Mike Saunders, MBA, Marketing Huddle, LLC

4. Begin With A Win-Win

Begin with the end in mind. Reciprocity is always a win-win. When reaching out to a marketing influencer, be sure to know about their specific expertise before trying to connect. When you do reach out, be sure to emphasize how collaboration with your business will be a benefit to their bottom line. Authentic connection is most rewarding when all parties benefit from the collaboration. - Dr. Melissa Weathersby, 5-Star Empowerment

5. Build Trust With An Agreement

A marketing influencer contract establishes a foundation to empower and motivate influencers to achieve success in key target markets and help convert the people into loyal customers. Agreed-upon terms will ensure proper management and execution of commitment and results, enabling high consumer loyalty and trust for the company's brand, products and services. - Lori Harris, Harris Whitesell Consulting

6. Articulate Both Value Propositions

You may be able to recruit a few influencers who owe you a favor. But to be truly successful in influencer marketing, there needs to be a quid pro quo. You need to be clear about the value that you will bring to the influencer, as well as the value that you will bring to those with whom they connect you. Be prepared to clearly articulate both value propositions. - Brian Gorman, TransformingLives.Coach

7. Set Clear Goals

Set clear goals and be ready for a long haul to achieve the best results. The questions to ask are, do you want to boost your product sales, gain exposure for your services, position your brand as an industry leader, establish credibility or something else. Next, determine the influencers in your niche that you align with, begin with giving, build a relationship and then reach out with a simple ask. - Divya Parekh, DP Group

8. Make It About Them

The No. 1 thing you must do is your research on the influencer you want to collaborate with. What is meaningful to them? Make it about them and give before you ask. Engage with their content. Be specific and acknowledge what you love about their work. Offer to make an intro, or give a tip. Serve them. When you lead with a give and don't see the person as being above you, you'll get their attention! - Christina Jandali, Deliver Your Genius

9. Prepare A Package

If you are going to reach out to influencers, you must make it easy for them to get money and promote you. Put together a package with your sales copy, videos and pics for them to copy and paste as posts. The easier you make it, the more likely they are to promote your product. - Ryan Stewman, Break Free Academy

10. Look For A Long-Term Partner, Not A Quick Fix

I believe that a business and its influencer(s) need to have similar values, target groups and goals in order to succeed. So, have an honest conversation about your expectations, your "why," deliverables on both sides and interests. See how you can help each other. Make it a fair deal. Give your best to build the foundations for a long-term partnership rather than looking for a quick, cheap fix. - Dr. Natalia Wiechowski, Think Natalia

11. Collide And Meld

Beginning an influencer-brand relationship is grounded in identifying commonalities between the two. How can the brand and influencer collide and meld the approach to lifestyle, aesthetics and target audiences? The answer can be found by first researching the influencer's current social and commercial attractiveness. The interview process provides the opportunity to confirm the fit. - Deborah Hightower, Deborah Hightower, Inc.
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Programmatic Marketing: What You Need to Know

10/10/2019

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Bonnie Harris
RTB. DMP. DSP. SSP. It might seem like Greek at first, but programmatic marketing and its terminology aren’t all that complex. And this strategy can be one of the most efficient and profitable for your marketing budget. If you’re not already using programmatic advertising, you’re missing out on a more intelligent way to reach your target audience. In fact, over 80% of all digital ad spend in the U.S. is programmatic, and it’s expected to increase to $66 billion by next year. From basic definition to tips for success, this post has all the essential programmatic marketing information you need to know.

Programmatic marketing defined
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Basically, programmatic marketing is the use of software to buy digital ad space. This strategy uses data to determine which ads to buy and for how much money, often in real time. Programmatic systems continually coordinate to target individuals based on what they are most likely to engage with and at a time they’re likely to do just that. Largely automated, programmatic buying does rely on algorithms and technology to buy the advertising. However, even the best technology is futile if your messaging is irrelevant or poorly crafted. With programmatic marketing, the time saved on cumbersome manual bidding opens marketers up for more sophisticated ad campaigns and strategic optimization, which ultimately improves bidding algorithm performance.

The two types of programmatic advertising

Real time bidding (RTB)

Real time bidding (RTB) is the most popular type of programmatic marketing. It involves the purchase of ads through real-time auctions on a per-impression basis. The four necessary components to RTB are the publisher, a supply-side platform, a demand-side platform, and an advertiser. The process for this system takes mere seconds to complete and begins when an internet user clicks on a webpage. The publisher of the page then puts the ad impression up for auction. Finally, the advertiser with the highest bid (automated) wins the display.

Programmatic direct

This type of marketing is a bit closer to traditional media buying. It is the use of programmatic software to directly buy a guaranteed number of impressions in advance from specific publisher sites. Though programmatic direct is less common than RTB, publishers sometimes reserve their most valuable space for these direct deals with top-tier advertisers. Programmatic direct is also a desirable option for buyers who are planning campaigns that they want to ensure the right placements and prices for in advance.

Some important terms to be familiar with:

Data management platform (DMP) – used by marketers, agencies, and publishers to handle and merge data.

Demand-side platform (DSP) – offers advertisers the ability to launch and manage online ad campaigns on an open exchange as well as use DMPs.

Supply-side platform (SSP) – used by publishers to connect their inventory to DSPs and ad networks and sell advertising at the most advantageous rates using RTB.

(Check out Unruly’s programmatic glossary of other related terms.)

How it works

Media agencies are the most popular method of buying programmatic advertising. In an Econsultancy survey, 43% of respondents reported using an entirely agency-run programmatic trading model. When choosing a provider, it is important to evaluate the company’s technology, expertise, inventory and data. Once a provider is selected, you will supply them information about your campaign and key performance indicators. From this information, an algorithm is created. This algorithm determines where your money is best spent because it uses real-time, first- and third-party data to identify consumers by their behaviors, interests, devices, geography, time of day and even weather. These personal insights allow you to reach a very specific demographic at an ideal time and location, even on an impression-by-impression basis. The programmatic system launches your campaign and monitors your spending for improvement opportunities.

Tips for success
  • As with any strategy, set clear and realistic short- and long-term goals.
  • Carefully consider the cost you’re paying your platform provider, and analyze your programmatic transactions to determine break-even costs.
  • Do even more audience research! This means more data point analysis. Learn as much as you can about your target audience from their internet consumption habits. Do this, not only to better retarget customers but also to find similar audiences who could be potential customers. Become an expert on the customer journey and invest your programmatic budget accordingly.
  • Explore mobile ad inventory possibilities, as nearly 80% of programmatic ad spend will go to mobile ads this year.
  • Evaluate your workflow to determine how to best use the resources you will save with a programmatic approach.

What to watch for

Because programmatic relies on algorithms, advertisers and publishers have limited control. Ads can sometimes appear where you might not want them. To protect your brand image, a blacklist – or even a whitelist – can narrow the field of sites and ensure that ads land in appropriate spaces. Additionally, strengthen your provider contract with specificity to protect your interests. Clarify the stability of tech fees, visibility into purchased media and distribution of impressions, control over your advertising and access to data, even in the instance of a hypothetical supplier switch. You will want to follow up to make sure your purchased impressions were delivered as well. Also, keep in mind that agencies have relationships with publishers, which can create bias toward those publishers when it comes to your advertising. Lastly, it’s important to be wary of bot fraud too, which costs digital advertisers billions annually.

You’re all set! Armed with basic programmatic marketing understanding, you are ready to set goals and start new campaigns. The days of tedious, reservation-based orders with 40+ steps will just be part of your history as you evolve away from expensive, unreliable practices. Streamline your ad-buying process by embracing the programmatic marketing approach, and the rewards will be obvious, from increased flexibility to expanded publisher access to higher ROI. Ultimately, it will bring you closer to delivering the right message, to the right person, at just the right time.



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Next-Level Marketing Reporting: Your Top 5 Platforms

10/9/2019

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Paul Schmidt

Improve Your Marketing Reporting: Looker, Tableau, Power BI, Databox, and Grow
From business owners to senior executives to marketing managers to frontline staff, entire organizations are utilizing one type of software as both a strategic and tactical tool, as well as a way to improve marketing reporting. Business intelligence software (BI) is being used to leverage big data and cloud computing in order to sort, analyze, and present complex datasets in easy-to-read reports.

Over the last 14 years, big data and business analytics have grown to over $187 billion globally, as predicted recently by the IDC.
Why are more and more companies utilizing BI software?
Main Benefits of Business Intelligence SoftwareGain Insight for Your Marketing StrategyBI software allows you to optimize business intelligence for sales opportunities, lead generation, lead conversion, market analysis, marketing strategy, and customer segmentation. By combining various databases with real-time data and cross-departmental collaboration, organizations are able to manipulate huge volumes of data and surface an almost unlimited amount of insights. These can include:
  • Identifying growth areas
  • Assessing supply and demand
  • Measuring product viability
  • Determining market position
  • Improving marketing reporting

Five Solid BI Solutions to Improve Marketing ReportingAnalytics are the backbone of business operations for organizations of all sizes and industries. In order for these organizations to understand their employees, customers, and processes—and develop effective marketing plans—they need to be able to effectively analyze their data analytics and provide a useful portrait of said data.

Looker, Tableau, Microsoft’s Power BI, Databox, and Grow each provide comprehensive business intelligence tools complete with data analytics, visualizations, and collaboration with other programs. Below, we give you the 411 on these give popular BI solutions, along with details on where each one excels and where they fall short.

Looker Data PlatformFrom dashboards to reporting, the Looker Data Platform is a one-stop shop for BI, analytics, visualization, and data management. For businesses both large and small, data can be analyzed in real time within Looker’s 100 percent in-database and browser-based platform.
The platform, which integrates with any SQL database or data warehouse, has powerful sharing capabilities. In addition, Looker’s data models, called LookML, allow non-technical users to scan an SQL database successfully without prior coding knowledge. Users are also able to create new metrics, edit the LookML data model, and have access to a large variety of visuals including charts, graphs, and maps.

Where Looker Excels
  • APIs for integration into custom or third-party applications, such as Google Docs and Excel
  • Browser-based interface and customizable dashboards that work on any device
  • Drag-and-drop functionality
  • Collaboration capabilities
  • Extensible modeling language (LookML) that defines dimensions and measures
  • Fully customizable and exportable reports, charts, and graphs
  • Live connection to any SQL database on any infrastructure
  • Modern integrated development environment (IDE) for agile development and embellishment
  • Reliable tech support and self-learning database
  • Extensive visualization abilities complete with real-time analytics
  • Public access on reports and the ability to control viewing privileges

IntegrationsLooker offers open APIs for integration with custom or third-party applications.
PricingLooker doesn’t offer pricing information, but instead develops customized quotes based on organizational needs. Variables that affect pricing include the size of the deployment, the amount of database connections, and how many users will have access to the platform.

Where Looker Falls Short
  • Marketing data does not integrate easily without an external tool, a separate spreadsheet, or in-house API.
  • Looker doesn’t support online analytical processing (OLAP).

Devices Supported
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mac
  • Web-based

Customer Support
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Training
  • Videos and how-to articles
  • Team of analysts that work side by side with data team
  • Live web chat

Language Support
  • English
  • Dutch

Pricing Model
  • Quote-based

Customer Types
  • Small business
  • Medium business
  • Large enterprise

Deployment
  • Cloud hosted
  • On premises
  • Open API

TableauTableau offers a robust platform for data visualization and analytic reporting. Perfect for organizations of any type and size, Tableau offers simplicity and ease of use with drag-and-drop features, the ability to share information across an organization and create dynamic visualizations and reports, without the need for any coding or programming skills.

Where Tableau Excels
  • Develop dashboards with the ability to scale for desktops, mobile, and tablets
  • Embed dashboards into existing applications, such as Salesforce, SharePoint, and Jive
  • Create several different types of visualizations, including heat maps, line charts, and scatter plots, as well as animated and interactive visualizations that demonstrate data changing over time (e.g., month in a sales performance review)
  • Ask “what if” questions of the data
  • Unlimited number of datapoints in analysis
  • Patented technology from Stanford University
  • Data notifications and automatic updates
  • Dashboard commenting
  • Ability to create no-code data queries
  • Import all ranges and sizes of data
  • Metadata management
  • Security permission at any level
  • Tableau Public for data sharing
  • Online analytical processing (OLAP) which allows for data drilling, exploration, filtering, and time series auto-generation

IntegrationsTableau offers the Tableau Extensions application programming interface (API), which allows for the direct integration of web-based applications into the Tableau dashboard. Other dashboard integrations include customer relationship management (CRM) systems; integration with enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools; extract, transform, and load (ETL) software; and the Microsoft Office Suite.
In addition, Tableau offers support for hundreds of data connectors such as online analytical processing (OLAP).

Sample integrations include Facebook, Google Analytics, Google BigQuery, Google Ads, Google Sheets, Salesforce, and Twitter. Deployment options include Windows, Linux, AWS CodeDeploy, Azure, and the Google Cloud Platform.

PricingIn addition to a 14-day free trial for new users, Tableau offers customized subscription services based on number of users, and whether or not an organization needs data prepping, data cleaning, or hosting services. Plans range from $12–70 per month, per user.

Where Tableau Falls Short
  • Extensive training is usually necessary for first-time users.
  • Dashboards can sometimes be a bit slow and larger data files can take longer to load.
  • An organization should have a well-defined data warehouse already in place, along with an up-to-date ETL and a data-savvy team that understands data joins, the business logic within that source, as well as the ability to find workarounds with complex calculations because they are difficult to perform in Tableau.
  • Because OLAP options are pre-built, there are some limits to functionality, such as the inability to do data grouping.

Devices Supported
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Android
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Mac
  • Web-based

Customer Support
  • Online support
  • Desktop support
  • Server support
  • Phone support
  • Knowledge base
  • Training

Language Support
  • English
  • Chinese
  • German
  • Japanese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Portuguese

Pricing Model
  • One-time payment
  • Annual subscription
  • Quote-based

Customer Types
  • Medium businesses
  • Large enterprises

Deployment
  • Cloud hosted
  • On premises
​
Microsoft’s Power BIWith a collection of software services, apps, and connectors that work together to turn your data into coherent, visually immersive, and interactive insights, Microsoft’s Power BI gives a bird’s-eye view of any organization through its cloud-based analytics platform. It simplifies sharing and evaluation for users by allowing them to connect all of your data sources, visualize and discover what’s important, and share that information both inside and outside the organization.

Where Power BI Excels
  • Unlimited access to on-premises and in-cloud data
  • Interactive, stunning, and customizable visualizations with the ability to share with wide audiences
  • Drag-and-drop capabilities
  • Natural language queries
  • Dashboard sharing and printing capabilities
  • Customizable dashboards with ad hoc reporting, analysis, and trend indicators
  • Over 200 data analysis functions

IntegrationsPower BI integrates with Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce, Google Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Mailchimp, GitHub, Comscore, Adobe Analytics, Acumatica, Circuit ID, and Azure Mobile Management, Zendesk, and more.

PricingPower BI offers a free desktop version for individual users, as well as packages that start at $9.99 per month, per user, which include features like data governance, content packaging, and distribution. A free 60-day trial of this package is available. Premium plans start at $4,995 per month, per dedicated cloud computer and storage resource.

Where Power BI Falls Short
  • Without a buy-in into the Microsoft ecosystem, customers will find it difficult and costly to integrate tools from other vendors.
  • SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) only work in on-premises deployments.
  • There are some data limits (3,500 datapoint limit) when it comes to drilling down datasets.

Devices Supported
  • Windows
  • Android
  • iPhone/iPad
  • Web-based
  • Windows mobile

Customer Support
  • Phone
  • Training
  • Tickets
  • User groups
  • Guided learning
  • Documentation

Language SupportEnglish
Pricing Model
  • Free
  • Monthly payment

Customer Type
  • Medium business
  • Large enterprises

Deployment
  • Cloud hosted

Databox Data PlatformWith Databox, a cloud-based business analytics tool, users can incorporate data from multiple sources into customizable KPI dashboards that are viewable from any device. Features include drag-and-drop capabilities, customizable report viewing with multiple data visualizations, live previews, custom metrics, events, statistics, and goals.

Where Databox Excels
  • Multiple data sources and integrations with no need for coding knowledge
  • Ability to restrict permissions and IP addresses
  • Customizing metrics and visualization styles
  • Ability to pull in Google Sheets data into dashboard visualizations
  • Advanced settings for each metric, including time range filtering
  • Daily scorecard delivery for iOS and Android with user-selected metrics
  • Trend alerts

Customer Service and Support
  • Online support (chat and ticketing)
  • Knowledge base
  • Video tutorials

IntegrationsDatabox currently integrates with 70+ applications, including all major social media platforms, Mailchimp, Stripe, Zendesk, Google Analytics, Google Ads, HubSpot and more.
PricingDatabox offers a subscription-based service ranging from $49-$250 a month. They also offer a free tier that gives you the opportunity to build out 3 dashboards.

Where Databox Falls Short
  • Custom reporting comes at a higher cost
  • Some learning curve in adopting the platform

Devices Supported
  • Web-based
  • iPhone
  • Android

Language Support
  • English

Pricing Model
  • Subscription-based

Customer Types
  • Small businesses
  • Medium business
  • Large enterprises

Deployment
  • Cloud hosted
  • Open API

Grow Data PlatformWith the Grow cloud-based data platform, marketers are able to combine data from hundreds of connections including Salesforce, Dropbox, Google Analytics, Twitter, and MySQL (as well as spreadsheets and in-house data sources) into one fully customizable dashboard that gives a real-time, enterprise-wide, visually beautiful view of your business analytics, trends, workflows, and key activities.

Where Grow Excels
  • Data is able to be blended, cleaned, and filtered across multiple data sets
  • Built-in data editor allowing for customizable metrics
  • Accessible on iOS and Android mobile devices
  • Automated reporting
  • Unlimited users

Customer Service and Support
  • Phone support
  • Online support
  • Knowledge base
  • Video tutorials

IntegrationsGrow currently integrates with 123 applications, including all major social media platforms, Marketo, Microsoft Excel, Salesforce, Zendesk, Google Analytics, Google Ads, and more.
PricingGrow doesn’t offer pricing information, but instead develops customized quotes based on organizational needs. Variables that affect pricing include the size of the deployment, the amount of database connections, and how many users will have access to the platform.

Where Grow Falls Short
  • Sharp learning curve with non-intuitive navigation between different dashboards, along with the necessity for a healthy knowledge of SQL
  • Lack of a dashboard preview option, resulting in the inability to anticipate sizing for presentations
  • Some integrations require manual refreshing
  • User interface issues with font, color, and lack of sparklines when hovering over data

Devices Supported
  • Web-based
  • iPhone

Language Support
  • English

Pricing Model
  • Subscription-based

Customer Types
  • Small businesses
  • Medium business

Deployment
  • Cloud hosted
  • Open API

Which BI Solution Is Right for You?In summary, you’ll want to choose a platform based on the vision you have for your organization, your data strategy, your marketing needs, and your specific business users’ needs. Whether you choose Looker, Tableau, Power BI, Databox, or Grow, you’ll want to define the future state of your business with a clearly outlined, well-thought-out data strategy that includes a tiered roadmap of how you’ll execute each step of your data architecture.
​
Enterprises have diverse needs and requirements and no software platform will be a perfect out-of-the-box solution that fulfills all of your business requirements. Instead, plan on customizing the application of your choice for your special wants, staff member skill levels, budget, and other needs.
Do your groundwork, look into each application in detail, read a few reviews, contact the seller for explanations, and finally select the application that offers the features and flexibility you desire.

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DISCLAIMER: The sales figures stated above are my personal sales figures. Please understand my results are not typical, I’m not implying you’ll duplicate them (or do anything for that matter). I have the benefit of practicing direct response marketing and advertising since 2009, and have an established following as a result. The average person who buys any "how to" information gets little to no results. I’m using these references for example purposes only. Your results will vary and depend on many factors …including but not limited to your background, experience, and work ethic. All business entails risk as well as massive and consistent effort and action. If you're not willing to accept that, please DO NOT GET OUR INFORMATION. ​
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