Do you want to establish a strong presence for your restaurant within the local community, resulting in a surge of loyal customers? If so, we have the solution you’ve been looking for. Get ready to discover the key to building widespread brand recognition and customer loyalty in your area. In this discussion, our guest, Eric Knott, the Chief Operating Officer of PDQ Restaurants, will reveal the strategies and tactics that will help you achieve this desired outcome. Prepare to unlock the secret to fostering a thriving community and reaping the benefits of increased customer engagement — be the mayor of your local area.

Here are some topics discussed in the episode:

• Give your team autonomy to try new things and empower them to “be the mayor”
• Get involved with local schools, churches, and colleges to build relationships
• It takes consistency to stay top of mind in your community
• Create a contact heatmap of local organizations you want to build relationships with
• Hiring people connected to the local community leads to better marketing engagement

Resources

• Connect with Eric Knott on LinkedIn.
• Find a PDQ Restaurant near you.
• Follow PDQ on Instagram or TikTok.

Other shout-outs

• Outback Steakhouse
• Arnold’s Restaurants for being super ingrained in their community.
• Chick-Fil-A for their great example of getting involved in the community.
• Glory Days Grill