Operating in the highly competitive Australian restaurant market is like living in the Wild Wild West, every person for themselves. Threats lurk around every corner and survival is the first order of business. What you need is a hired gun. A professional gunslinger to ride by your side, armed with an arsenal of ideas and tactics.

The role of digital influencers in modern marketing hit the headlines this week with the announcement of Publicis Groupe's takeover of Influential, an influencer broking company based in Las Vegas.

This is not news to anyone working in the digital realm. It's not even news to anyone who reads or watches television but the perceived value of it certainly is.

Social media can be daunting, especially for business purposes. The sheer number of platforms—Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Threads, YouTube, Snapchat, X, Reddit, LinkedIn, and more—can be overwhelming. Each platform also offers its own set of tools and features, like Instagram’s posts, reels, and stories.

However, your socials are crucial for any marketing strategy if used correctly.

Words are powerful.

When thinking of words to describe your venue or your offer it pays to give them due consideration, not only for the positive effect you intend, but also to avoid any negative effects you would rather avoid. Look to make an impact in the short amount of time you have to make an impression.

Using words that are overly familiar, that are generic restaurant marketing terms or have little genuine meaning is a waste of time and effort. If you are going to do it then make it count.

The hospitality industry in Australia is facing a dire situation, with a recent report from CreditorWatch painting a bleak picture for the coming year. According to the report, one in eleven hospitality businesses is expected to fail within the next twelve months, with the failure rate forecast to rise from 7.5% to 9.1%. This is a stark contrast to other sectors, such as Arts and Recreation Services and Transport, Postal and Warehousing, which have forecast failure rates of 5.7% and 5.5% respectively. The average forecast across all industries stands at 5.1%.