Restaurant & Bar Marketing
THE EXPERTS ARE LYING TO YOU! Tired of wasting time and money on marketing strategies that don’t deliver? Sick of being fed empty promises by so-called ”gurus” who couldn’t sell a drink in a desert? Want to use AI and the internet to increase sales without coming off sounding like a robot? Erik Shellenberger has written 4 books in the Restaurant & Bar Marketing series including his latest book - ”Restaurant & Bar Marketing IV: If I Could Give It Zero Stars, I Would” Through this no-nonsense approach, Shellenberger cuts through the BS with refreshing honesty and raw insight. Drawing from years of experience in the trenches of the hospitality industry, he reveals the hard truths about what really works when it comes to marketing your restaurant or bar in our modern online age. Forget the fluff and filler—this approach is all killer content, delivered with a punch. Shellenberger’s entertaining style will keep you engaged from start to finish, while his practical advice will empower you to take control of your marketing efforts and drive real results. Whether you’re a seasoned restaurateur or a newbie bartender, this book is your ticket to success in an industry where only the strong survive. Get ready to revolutionize your marketing game to be found first by hungry people and stay ahead of the competition. Don’t waste another minute on ineffective strategies that benefit no one except the guy selling them. Learn more about SEO for Restaurants at BarMarketingBasics.com
Episodes
Erik Shellenberger shares expert tips on structuring menus online to attract more customers. Discover the pros and cons of PDF, live text, and image-based menus, and understand the importance of alt tags, meta descriptions, and search-friendly formatting. Whether you use WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix, this guide will help you boost your website's ...
In this insightful episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, Erik Shellenberger dives deep into how customers will search for restaurants and bars in the future. Using ChatGPT, Erik explores evolving trends such as voice-activated AI searches, influencer-driven recommendations, advanc...
The Future of AI Restaurant Searches: How Hungry Customers Will Find You. The Bold New World of Personalized Searches. Erik breaks down how AI-powered searches are revolutionizing how customers discover restaurants and why this shift matters for business visibility.
From Keywords to Conversations AI searches are moving beyond traditional keyword searches like “restaurants near me.” Instead, they’re becoming conversational, mimickin...
In this episode, Erik dives into a powerful tool that shows you where you rank on Google from any location. Whether you're targeting a bustling tourist spot, a local neighborhood, or a specific area your business wants to dominate, this tool offers invaluable insights. The key feature discussed is the GMB Everywhere Google Chrome extension, which lets you view search results as if you're standing in any location across the country....
In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, host Erik Shellenberger reveals how to avoid the #1 restaurant website mistake that many owners unknowingly make. He explains that a restaurant website’s main goal is to attract new customers and increase foot traffic. However, many popular platforms like Pop Menu, BentoBox, and SpotHopper may look appealing, but they lack essential SEO tools to rank well on search engine...
Erik Shellenberger dives deep into how to blog effectively and get more shares by leveraging AI. Many restaurant and bar owners hear the advice to start a blog, but few understand the real strategies behind making a blog successful. The main goal of blogging is to get found by your target audience on search engines like Google, YouTube, and other platforms. However, many people overlook the essential steps needed to achieve that vi...
In this video, Erik Shellenberger, a restaurant reputation management expert, takes a bold stand against 1 Star Yelp Reviews and How Restaurant Owners REALLY Want to Respond.
He humorously but candidly addresses the issue of unfair negative reviews, which can damage businesses while lacking constructive feedback. Shellenberger begins by acknowledging that mistakes happen in the restaurant and bar industry; no one is perfect. He poi...
Optimizing your Google My Business for restaurants is crucial for boosting your local search visibility and attracting more customers. In today’s episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, Erik Shellenberger discusses effective strategies for improving your restaurant's ranking on Google, starting with a well-optimized Google Business Profile.
The Importance of Google My Business for RestaurantsGoogle My Business (now ca...
In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, host Erik Shellenberger dives into essential strategies for optimizing restaurant websites for better visibility, emphasizing the importance of SEO over aesthetics. According to Erik, many restaurant owners prioritize high-quality photography and sleek design but neglect the crucial element of search engine optimization (SEO), which is key to driving traffic and increasin...
When it comes to finding the best website platforms for restaurants, it's important to choose a solution that enhances visibility and user experience without unnecessary costs. Website platforms like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, PopMenu, and BentoBox each have their strengths, but they differ significantly in terms of SEO capabilities, ease of use, and long-term value...
In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, Erik Shellenberger dives into the crucial role of reputation management for bars and restaurants. Discover expert tips on how to effectively respond to reviews on Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor, and why managing your online presence is more important than ever with the rise of AI. Erik shares actionable insights on how to handle negative reviews, flag false ones, and craft...
In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, host Erik Shellenberger shares expert strategies for holiday promotions. Learn how to effectively pivot your marketing efforts to make your bar or restaurant stand out during the holidays. From over-the-top decorations to creative drink presentations, Erik explains how to generate free press, organic social media buzz, and attract influencers to promote your venue. Discov...
In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, host Erik Shellenberger shares a hilarious yet eye-opening account of a nightmare Yelp reviewer targeting one of his clients, La Antica Pizzeria de Michele in Hollywood, California. Erik dives into how to handle serial complainers, like Alexander Mendoza, who leave multiple one-star reviews and often seek free meals. Learn actionable tips on reputation management, respond...
Join us on an epic 3-month RV road trip from Scottsdale, Arizona, to San Diego, California! Join us as we explore the country's most unique restaurants and bars starting with the California coast, with stops in Yosemite, San Francisco, Malibu, Newport Beach, and more. From tiki bars like Smuggler’s Cove to hidden gems like Mothership, and top picks like Born and Raised, discover the incredible places we visited. Watch as we dive in...
Welcome back to the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast with Erik Shellenberger, recorded in Los Angeles, California! In this episode, Erik breaks down the recent changes to Google's algorithm and how it impacts your restaurant or bar’s Google Business Profile impressions and clicks. If you've noticed a drop in your numbers, you're not alone! Erik explains how Google’s new measurement rules, from impression counting to get directi...
Welcome to the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast! In this episode, Erik Shellenberger dives deep into how AI will revolutionize how your restaurant or bar is found online. Learn about SEO, search engines, and AI's role in ranking your business above the competition.
By 2026, Google is expected to lose 25% of its search volume to AI-driven tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Erik explains how you can position your business for success...
In this episode of the Restaurant & Bar Marketing podcast, Erik Shellenberger dives into the elusive concept of the "It Factor" that makes some bars and restaurants irresistibly appealing. Drawing parallels with Apple products and the emotional appeal they create, Erik explains how aesthetics, service, ambiance, and layout contribute to the success of a venue. He shares insights from his experience in Old Town Scottsdale and hi...
In this episode of the Restaurant & Bar Marketing podcast, host Erik Shellenberger shares a powerful speech designed for front-of-house staff, showing them how to increase their tips by adopting a “ruthlessly self-serving” mindset. This episode is all about putting more money in your pocket—not just improving the business. Erik explains how being prepared, remembering customer details, and providing a personalized experience ca...
In the next episode of the Restaurant & Bar Marketing podcast, Erik Shellenberger discusses a key concept from his first book: the Fishbowl vs. the Ocean. Erik explains why relying solely on social media and existing databases (the "fishbowl") isn't enough to drive new business. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of targeting all potential customers (the "ocean") using Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor. Drawing from his years of...
Today on the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, Erik Shellenberger reveals how Yelp's algorithm can hurt small businesses by flagging positive reviews and favoring negative ones. Using real examples like the Peach Cobbler Factory in Cincinnati, Erik explains how Yelp’s flawed system filters reviews, impacting businesses' online reputation and Google rankings. Erik also discusses the importance of Google reviews, the role of AI i...
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