Tom Altman’s Wedia Conversation

Social Marketing – Memphis Style

I recently returned from the annual Rubber Ducky Bike Tour.  This is a little motorcycle trip some friends and I go on each year.  We ride some miles, tell stories and have a great time.

This year’s tour was to Memphis, TN.  One of the goals for the trip was BBQ.  Many people told us the place to get that in Memphis was Rendezvous.  So we set out for the BBQ in the alley.

Yea – that’s a parking lot smack dab between.  So we rolled in on a Monday afternoon around 5pm.  We were going to grab a reservation for later that evening and then hang out on Beale Street for a bit.

What?  Just our luck…they were closed on Mondays.  Now what?

We kept walking down to the end of the alley and ran into a guy.  He said, “going to the Rendezvous?  They are closed.  But BB King’s is open and they are good too.”

I’m like – are you a rib expert?  He said “No, I own BB Kings.”  What – he owns the place?  “Come down to my office and I’ll get you some passes.” – we were like…cool.

Now that is some social marketing.  Now he had everything to gain – but Tommy did not have to take us down to the corporate office and give us anything.

So what did we do – we high-tailed it down to BB King’s and had a great dinner.  I must say, those were the best ribs I have ever had.

But let’s get back to the subject at hand.  Tommy Peters did the best form of social marketing he could.  He saw a problem – 5 guys were in need of ribs.  And he owned a resturant/club (BB Kings in Memphis) which had ribs and he was able to connect us.

That is what websites and their owners need to strive for.  There are people out there who are looking for what you have…now find them.  And be nice – start a conversation.

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Tags: B. B. King, Barbecue, BBQ, Beale Street, Memphis, Memphis Tennessee, Rib