Buzz Builder: Back from Vacation & Buzz Lessons from Restaurants in Argentina

February 2009

December 25, 2008

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28

Back from Vacation & Buzz Lessons from Restaurants in Argentina

Well, excuse the long hiatus since my last blog post. My wife and I returned recently from a fantastic 3-1/2 week trip to Argentina and Antarctica. To recharge, I decided to take a break from posting but I'm now I'm back and ready to buzz...

During our vacation, we ate at more than 40 different restaurants and only two meals stand out.In fact, they were such great experiences that I've recommended both restaurants to other travelers.

Bar Uriarte, a restaurant in the Palermo District of Buenos Aires, surprised us. It's a very trendy looking place that's popular with Argentina's fashionable set. We thought it would be much more flash than substance but we were pleasantly surprised. Seated in a comfortable back patio area with very romantic candlelight, we were finally able to relax from all the city's sensory overload. Our server was incredibly friendly and chatted with us about the unseasonably hot weather as well as her favorite items on the menu. With her guidance, we ordered wine and entrees which impressed us with originality and quality. Clearly, the people in the open kitchen, who passersbys on thes street can watch, love what they do since the food is amazing.

We had two other memorable meals in Argentina at El Cucharon in El Calafate which is a city near the Andes in the Patagonia region. El Cucharon, located on 9 de julio Street, has only been open for a couple of months so it still doesn't have a website. But, don't let that stop you from visiting. We discovered the restaurant when we were returning to our hotel and paused to look at the menu. The owner came out from behind the bar he was stocking and invited us in to take a look around. He told us about his longtime dream to have his own restaurant and how he loved the the business. How could we not go back after getting this personal invitation? He greeted us like old friends when we came back that evening. The pasta and steaks were so delicious that we returned for a second meal making it the only restaurant we ate at more than once on our trip.

Two restaurants in Argentina reminded me about some basics of buzz marketing. Providing exceptional personal service and delivering a quality product are two of the best ways to ensure longterm buzz and success.

December 25, 2008 in Creating Buzz, Customer Service, Food and Drink, Referrals | Permalink

Comments

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Posted by: |

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type:

Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Post a comment

Websites

Buzz Camp - SF Bay Area - 4/23/09
Learn how to break through advertising clutter with buzz marketing in my idea-generating, results-producing half-day workshop in Berkeley, CA on 4/23/09.
Galvin Communications
The website for my word of mouth marketing and PR firm. Sign up for The Buzz Bulletin, a free monthly eNewsletter, and receive a complimentary public relations handbook.
WOMMA: Word of Mouth Marketing Association
An outstanding resource for word of mouth marketing information. This respected organization also puts on a variety of well-organized and information-rich events and conferences which are worth attending.

Books

Al Ries: The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR
Credibility is the crucial ingredient in brand building. This book explains why PR should be used to launch a brand while advertising should be used only once major PR opportunities have been realized.
Malcolm Gladwell: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Why do major changes in our society so often happen suddenly and unexpectedly? Ideas, behaviour, messages, and products often spread like outbreaks of infectious disease. This book will help you understand how social epidemics take off and reach critical mass.
EMANUEL ROSEN: The Anatomy of Buzz : How to Create Word of Mouth Marketing
Rosen pinpoints the products and services that benefit the most from buzz and offers strategies for creating and sustaining effective word-of-marketing campaigns.
Mark Hughes: Buzzmarketing
This book contains some great stories from an experienced buzz marketer that illustrate the importance of finding angles that make you stand apart from the competition. I loved the story of how getting the town of Halfway, Oregon to change its name to Half.com generated a flood of publicity. You'll learn some great practical tips from this book.
Ben McConnell: Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force
An interesting look at how to develop evangelism marketing strategies and programs that will create communities of influencers who will drive sales for your company.
Fred Reichheld: The Ultimate Question: Driving Good Profits and True Growth
Too many companies are addicted to bad profits. These corporate steroids boost short-term earnings but burn out employees and alienate customers. Learn why the answer to one simple question can determine your company's future: Would you recommend us to a friend?
Andy Sernovitz: Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking
This is the perfect book for an entrepreneur looking for a "how-to" on word of mouth marketing rather than a theoretical or academic overview. Andy Sernovitz built the Word of Mouth Marketing Association using many of the intriguing word of mouth marketing tactics he describes. His strategies are practical for both small and large businesses as his interesting case studies demonstrate. You may put this book down a few times while reading it so you can start implementing some of its excellent ideas.
T. J. Walker: Media Training A-Z
Walker, an accomplished media trainer, provides great practical insight into maximizing the value of the media spotlight. By following his simple suggestions, you'll go into interviews much more confident and come out of them with much better results for your business.
Chip Heath: Made to Stick
This is the best business book that I've read since The Tipping Point since it provides a new way at looking at how you try to tell people about your products or services. You'll have lots of new ideas for promoting your business when you've finished reading this book. And, you'll discover that the best way to promote yourself doesn't involve spending money on marketing rather its all about learning how to tell your business stories better.
Richard Fenton & Andrea Waltz: Go for No!
A great parable about a salesman who learns that every "no" brings him closer to "yes" - an important lesson for anybody who wants to create buzz.