RESTAURANT STRATEGY

#544 - Marketing Should Start Inside the Restaurant ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT SCALE SECRETS VISIT: https://restaurantscalesecrets.com/Chip This week's episode is brought to you by: OVATION VISIT: https://ovationup.com/chip/ ***** Great marketing can't make up for a mediocre experience. Start marketing by making a more memorable meal. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#543 - Your Systems Are Either Training Your Team... or Replacing You ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/ This week's episode is brought to you by: AJINOMOTO VISIT: https://ajinomotofoodservice.com/ ***** Stop trying to be a hero. It's not cute anymore. Your job isn't to do it all. It's to teach everyone else how to do it all. End of story. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#542 - Why Discounts Attract the Worst Customers ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII VISIT: https://marqii.com/ This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES VISIT: https://www.rti-inc.com/ ***** PRICE is different than VALUE. The worst customers want the lowest price possible. The best customers want the most for their money. Make sure you're attracting the right one. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#541 - The Hidden Cost of Being “Nice” ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE VISIT: https://www.marginedge.com/lp/chip This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy ***** NICE is different than KIND. Let's talk about why you being nice is costing you people and money. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#540 - The Myth of Word of Mouth ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII VISIT: https://marqii.com/ This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES VISIT: https://www.rti-inc.com/ ***** Word-of-Mouth is a result. What you need is a system for making it happen. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#539 - Why “Trusting Your Managers” Is Costing You Money ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE VISIT: https://www.marginedge.com/lp/chip This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy ***** One of the most important aspects of the P3 Mastermind is to help owners get themselves out of the operation. The way we do that is through delegating and outsourcing. But blindly trusting your team does not work. You have to give them systems and structure. That's what today's episode is all about. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#538 - Social Media is NOT Content, It's Communication at Scale ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT SCALE SECRETS VISIT: https://restaurantscalesecrets.com/Chip This week's episode is brought to you by: OVATION VISIT: https://ovationup.com/chip/ ***** Social Media isn't about likes and followers. It's not about keeping up with trends or going viral. It's an opportunity for you to tell your story over and over again to the world. Get used to repeating yourself. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#537 - Menus Are Operational Tools, Not Art Projects ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/ This week's episode is brought to you by: AJINOMOTO VISIT: https://ajinomotofoodservice.com/ ***** We are in the business of "selling things." And there is one piece of sales colateral you give to every single person who walks into your restaurant. What is it? Your menu. The question is whether that menu is doing the heavy lifting you need it to do. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#536 - Stop Chasing New Guests ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT SCALE SECRETS VISIT: https://restaurantscalesecrets.com/Chip This week's episode is brought to you by: OVATION VISIT: https://ovationup.com/chip/ ***** Customer Acquisition is a crucial piece of any restaurant's marketing plan... but only if there's a clear strategy to get them back. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#535 - The Real Reason Your Labor Is Out of Control ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/ This week's episode is brought to you by: AJINOMOTO VISIT: https://ajinomotofoodservice.com/ ***** Stop trying to "cut labor." Start redesigning your restaurant. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#534 - You Don’t Have a Marketing Problem, You Have a Clarity Problem ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII MARQII is your one-stop-shop for listings management and reputation management. Collect reviews in one place to make responding easy and effortless and win the SEO game to land at the top of more search results. Win back guests and put more butts in the seats with Marqii. VISIT: https://marqii.com/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES Simplify and automate your back of house operations with RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES and their cooking oil management program. These guys take the dirtiest job out of your kitchen! VISIT: https://www.rti-inc.com/ ***** You're not for EVERYONE. Not even close. In fact, figuring out who you're NOT for is a great way to figure our who you ARE for. Clarity is like a knife cutting right to the heart of things. Get small. Stay focused. Solve a problem for someone. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#533 - Busy Is NOT Profitable ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: OVATION OVATION provides frictionless feedback, streamlined guest recovery, and operational insights – all focused on the guest and perfected for restaurants. VISIT: https://ovationup.com/chip/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Automate your sales taxes using DAVO BY AVALARA. The software integrates with most POS systems. It sets aside your sales taxes, files on time, and submits payments before the deadline. VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy ***** Busy is NOT the goal. Profit is. A business that runs itself... that provides. For your employees, your partners, and your guests. Busy is a trap. Profit is freedom. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#532 - The Connection Between Marketing and Culture (ENCORE) ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII MARQII is your one-stop-shop for listings management and reputation management. Collect reviews in one place to make responding easy and effortless and win the SEO game to land at the top of more search results. Win back guests and put more butts in the seats with Marqii. VISIT: https://marqii.com/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES Simplify and automate your back of house operations with RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES and their cooking oil management program. These guys take the dirtiest job out of your kitchen! VISIT: https://www.rti-inc.com/ ***** "People like US do things like THIS." -Seth Godin "Culture exists. Always. The question is whether you get to craft it." -Chip Klose ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#531 - How to Inject True Hospitality into Our Restaurants ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: OVATION OVATION provides frictionless feedback, streamlined guest recovery, and operational insights – all focused on the guest and perfected for restaurants. VISIT: https://ovationup.com/chip/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Automate your sales taxes using DAVO BY AVALARA. The software integrates with most POS systems. It sets aside your sales taxes, files on time, and submits payments before the deadline. VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy ***** On today's episode I'm joined by one of the P3 Coaches, Chris Hughes. He is a 30-year veteran of the industry, along with being a friend and colleague. On today's episode we're talking about the moves you can make to inject true hospitality in your restaurants. Best of all? These moves are TOTALLY FREE and will MAKE YOU MORE MONEY! ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#530 - What Exactly is a Figure Eight? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE VISIT: https://www.marginedge.com/lp/chip This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT SCALE SECRETS VISIT: https://restaurantscalesecrets.com/Chip ***** A Figure Eight is the repeated set of tasks that an employee is responsible for throughout service. You teach it to your people so they always know what they need to do next. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#529 - If You Can't Take a Vacation, You Don't Have a Business ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/ This week's episode is brought to you by: AJINOMOTO VISIT: https://ajinomotofoodservice.com/ ***** If you can't take a vacation, guess what? You don't have a business... you gave yourself a job! This is how you fix it. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#528 - How to Find a POS That Works for You ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE VISIT: https://www.marginedge.com/lp/chip This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT SCALE SECRETS VISIT: https://restaurantscalesecrets.com/Chip ***** Connect with Sam Maddox, founder of BridgeWave to see how they can help: EMAIL: sam@bridgewave.io WEBSITE: https://bridgewave.io/chip LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-maddox/ ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#527 - Putting Employee Retention Front and Center ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/ This week's episode is brought to you by: AJINOMOTO VISIT: https://ajinomotofoodservice.com/ ***** KickFin: https://kickfin.com/demo/ KickFin is an incredible tool that allows for instant, cashless, tip payouts the second an employee's shift ends. It saves the management team from late night tip distribution plus all the annoying bank runs. Safe and convenient. They are working with thousands of companies all over the country... why not you? Prairie Canary: https://www.prairiecanary.com/ Check out this charming little upscale bistro in the middle of Iowa to see how the PHG leadership is putting the staff experience front and center. ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

#526 - Google Should Be at the Heart of Your Marketing Strategy ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII MARQII is your one-stop-shop for listings management and reputation management. Collect reviews in one place to make responding easy and effortless and win the SEO game to land at the top of more search results. Win back guests and put more butts in the seats with Marqii. VISIT: https://marqii.com/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES Simplify and automate your back of house operations with RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES and their cooking oil management program. These guys take the dirtiest job out of your kitchen! VISIT: https://www.rti-inc.com/ ***** 1. Google Is the New Front Door For most guests, Google is the first interaction they’ll ever have with your restaurant. Before they see your menu, your dining room, or your Instagram, they see your Google Business Profile. That means Google decides whether you look busy or dead, trustworthy or risky, relevant or invisible. If that front door looks dusty, people don’t knock—they keep scrolling. 2. “Near Me” Searches Are Pure Buying Intent When someone searches “restaurant near me,” they’re not researching—they’re hungry. Google prioritizes proximity, relevance, and activity, which means owners who optimize their profiles win disproportionate traffic without paying for ads. This isn’t branding; it’s demand capture. Ignore Google, and you’re leaving ready-to-spend money on the table. 3. Reviews Are Social Proof on Steroids Google reviews don’t just influence guests—they influence Google itself. Quantity, quality, and recency all affect how often you show up in search results. A restaurant with 1,200 reviews and a 4.4 rating will outperform a 4.8 with 73 reviews almost every time. Reviews are not vanity metrics; they are ranking fuel. 4. Google Often Decides Before Your Website Most guests never click through to your website. They see your photos, hours, menu highlights, reviews, and busy-ness directly on Google—and make a decision right there. If your photos are dark, outdated, or nonexistent, you’ve already lost them. Google isn’t a gateway to your site; it’s the decision engine itself. 5. It’s the Easiest Marketing Win You’re Ignoring Posting updates, photos, and offers on your Google profile takes minutes—and almost no one does it consistently. That means the bar is low. Active profiles get rewarded with more visibility, more clicks, and more calls. This is one of the highest-ROI activities available to an independent operator, precisely because it feels unsexy. 6. Google Answers Questions About You—Whether You Like It or Not “What are your hours?” “Do you have parking?” “Is it good for kids?” Google will answer these questions with or without your input. If you don’t control the narrative, the internet will happily guess for you. Claiming and managing your profile is reputation management, not marketing. 7. Photos Matter More Than You Think Restaurants with frequent photo uploads dramatically outperform those without. Guests want to see the food, the room, the vibe, and the crowd. Google prioritizes businesses that look alive. A restaurant that visually signals momentum wins over one that looks like it hasnitated since 2019—even if the food is better. 8. Google Is the Refere...

#525 - The Biggest Difference Between Independent Restaurants and Chains ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: OVATION OVATION provides frictionless feedback, streamlined guest recovery, and operational insights – all focused on the guest and perfected for restaurants. VISIT: https://ovationup.com/chip/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Automate your sales taxes using DAVO BY AVALARA. The software integrates with most POS systems. It sets aside your sales taxes, files on time, and submits payments before the deadline. VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy ***** Two words: REVENUE MANAGEMENT ***** If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/ If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809