This past fall, I had the privilege of presenting at the Wisconsin Restaurant Association’s Traveling Show, with stops in Eau Claire, Green Bay, and Wausau. Each city brought a different energy, and every conversation reminded me why I love working with independent restaurant operators—they’re passionate, hardworking, and hungry for practical tools that actually move the needle.

In my session, I walked through the foundations of menu engineering, the power of strategic menu design, and the importance of building a planned, consistent social media presence that sparks conversation. I also shared several of my favorite guerrilla marketing tactics—the simple, scrappy ideas that can drive real attention without expensive budgets.

Whether you attended the show or are seeing this for the first time, the video below is a look into how smart menu decisions and better storytelling can transform a restaurant’s bottom line. If you’ve ever wondered why certain items sell, why others don’t, or how to get more people talking about your brand, this is a great place to start.

Thanks again to the WRA team for hosting such a well-run and inspiring program. I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to connect with operators across Wisconsin.

Watch the full presentation linked below.
(If the video takes a moment to load, hang tight—it’s worth it.)

The post Behind the Scenes of the WRA Traveling Show: My Talk on Menu Engineering, Design, Social Media & Guerrilla Marketing appeared first on HotOperator.

The Free Guerrilla Marketing Playbook

If your restaurant’s marketing plan is just posting food pics on social media and praying, you’re leaving money on the table (guaranteed). Get The Free Guerrilla Marketing Playbook From HotOperator.

Talking to a restaurant operator the other day and he was worried about the rising food costs, losing staff and losing customers. It’s like a perfect storm. And I got to thinking, there are probably a lot of restaurant owners out there with the same problems. So, I decided to develop The Free Guerrilla Marketing Playbook, That Puts Butts in Seats. That, and more money in your pocket.

To get a copy of The Free Guerrilla Marketing Playbook That Puts Butts in Seats, and money in your pocket, just click the link and ask for a copy. Fill out like a contact and put “White Paper Please” in the comments.

Here’s what I cover, and if you follow my outline (to the letter) you will gain more guests and make more money from each in the process. But you can’t just put a toe in. You’ve gotta dive in and get wet.

Section 1 – Why Guerrilla Marketing Works for Restaurants

It’s about partnerships, unexpected promos, and hyper-local tactics. Everything is based on low-cost, high-impact strategies. It’s stuff you don’t need a lot of money to execute. But it’s stuff that will get the attention of your local community or neighborhood.

Section 2 – The Problem with Traditional Restaurant Marketing

Basically, there is too much reliance on paid ads or discounting. It’s also about social media saturation — and having customers tune out. We also to into the lack of measurable community engagement. It’s all good stuff, and it’s FREE. But you’ve gotta sign up to get it.

Section 3 – Here’s just a taste of the Playbook

Example: Sponsoring local clubs with high ROI potential.
Example: Table tents with “mystery meal” QR code promotions.
Example: Cross-promo with local gyms or pet shelters.

Section 4 – Why You Need the Full Playbook

Because the white paper includes:

• Step-by-step tactics
• Checklists
• ROI calculators
• Real examples from successful operators

None of this is theory, but made from real life experience. It’s essential for you to have this guide to growing your business in tough times.

 I’m being up-front here, this playbook will fill your dining room without breaking the bank. And it’s a free download with email verification.

The post The Free Guerrilla Marketing Playbook That Will Put Butts in Seats appeared first on HotOperator.