One day last week I set off for lunch at one of my favorite restaurants in town, a barbecue joint that had been in the same location on the main highway for over 40 years. It was a Sarasota institution and a place you always knew was going to be delicious and consistent because they cared about their business and knew what they were doing when it came to smoking meat.

That’s why I was shocked to pull up to an empty parking lot and a ‘for sale’ sign in the window. After 40 years of business they were simply gone without any sort of a warning. They were out of business and local patrons looking for good barbecue are out of luck.

I don’t know why this particular business closed down, it could be any number of reasons, but I can guess that it wasn’t due to food quality or their location. Their food was award-winning and very modestly priced, and their restaurant was in one of the most desirable locations in the area.

As much as I loved their food and recommended it to anyone who was looking for good BBQ, I discovered that most people I talked to had never even heard of the place – even if they drove by it several times a day - because they did not advertise and did not appear to make marketing a high priority. Word of mouth took them a long way, but it only goes so far in today’s digital marketplace.

Online digital responsibility

As I mourn the loss of one of my favorite lunch spots, I can’t help but wonder if there was something more that could have been done to help save their business. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this same scenario play out time and again with well-established businesses who rely on word-of-mouth advertising. They do a great job, but the marketers beat them to the customers.

The restaurant industry is tough, competitors are doing everything they can to make themselves stand out from the crowd and create a reason for people to get excited about their dining experience. The savvy ones understand that many potential customers choose where to eat based on online reviews and don’t rely on past success to fuel tomorrow’s growth.

Fortunately, there are simple options that can level the playing field and protect your business. Bloomerang Solutions offers digital solutions including websites, social media, and reputation management for businesses of any size. We put your business first and help you lock down potential customers and keep them coming back for more.

Online digital responsibility is the future and it’s here now. One curve in the road isn’t the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn. Give us a call today at (941) 806-1911 and we’ll hit the road together!

-Art