We can't say for certain but we think that Harry's is making more innovative use of social media than any other Verde Valley/Sedona restaurant and possibly of any other VV/Sedona commercial enterprise period. It's inspirational to see the lengths to which this guy will go to put in a plug for his boutique restaurant. We think he's actually becoming a de facto role model for successful use of social media in promoting a small commercial enterprise. Let's face it, how else could a teeny business in tiny Cornville reach the outside world? By positioning himself on the leading face of the emerging social media tsunami, Harry's is creating a superb chance to surf to success!
That's why we are relentless promoters of this guy's enterprise and entrepreneurship. We've never even met him and his wife, much less visited their place. Afterall, we're in Idaho, not Cornville. Heck, we've never even talked with him on the phone either and we've had only one email interchange. So why the "rep?" Simple. Cornville and the other backwater rural nooks of Arizona need all the help this can get in this dicey, touch-and-go economy. It takes a lot of moxie to dare to open any kind of new business these days, let alone a small restaurant that's seemingly too small to attract a much broader audience, especially when it's smack dab next to the Nose Bleed Seats of High Dollar Sedona's so-called "culinary arts" houses.
We admire evolving stories such as this one and we want to do what we can to help. That's what is at the heart of social media networking. Afterall, despite the bells and whistles of internet technology, we're still all in this together, just as we were long before anybody even heard of something called the internet. Remember something called "Word-of-mouth" that was wildly popular back before the internet and email and text messages and Facebook and Twitter? Well, that's how we see our usage of social media to promote a place like Harry's. It's all about "buzz!"
If people step aside from their own personal interests once in awhile and put in a plug for somebody else's struggles for success, we all stand to enjoy a much brighter future. That's the way it's always worked and that's the way it always will work no matter what tools we use or how we use them.
Ya gotta love some Chicago Dude who dresses up as Elvis to cook in his own restaurant and makes funky YouTube videos about cilantro pesto and hummus and stuff like that. And ya gotta love his relentless use of Twitter and a WordPress blog. This is genuine Horatio Alger Stuff morphed for the 21st Century!
We don't have any pecuniary interest in Harry's and don't stand to gain a dime by plugging his place. Anybody who knows us personally knows simply that we will always root for the underdog and go the extra mile to help people who are trying to help themselves by helping others.
If you're reading this from some other far flung corner of our Nation or Globe, we heartily recommend that you, too, look around and see who you can help in your own context. Maybe it's a cause of some sort, perhaps as simple as your "no-kill" animal shelter or maybe it's a friend with an at-home business.
The social media tools now offer one of the best ways to promote other people without ever even leaving home! Put 'em to work and lend a hand--you'll be glad you did.
Cheers! jp
http://harryshideaway.com/
http://twitter.com/harrys_hideaway
As Gomer Pyle would always say "Goooooolly". Thanks for all the kind words and help. And as you say, in this economy we need all the help we can get and we will use all the tools available! Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHarry of Harry's Hideaway