3 ways to grow your restaurant

In our experience of working with a variety of restaurant sizes, we've come across a recipe for leveraging technology.

1. Use social media with a call to action (CTA).  With no call to action, social media is largely a waste of time.  Use Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn and Facebook to drive your restaurant patrons towards a call to action and encourage them to spread the word (it's social right?)
2. Use coupons for a purpose.  Don't just put out coupons that erode your profit margins. Use coupon deals to attract new customers or repeat customers to visit again or bring friends.  A great coupon program should be actively letting your patrons grow your business through repeat visits and bringing friends & family
3. Reward your customers.   Say thank you for being the best part of your business.  Technology provides many ways to say thanks: follow up emails, social media posts, text messages, coupons, and more. The ways are truly endless.

Take a minute to think about how you can implement one (or all) of these ways to bring in more business for you!   

... and p.s. -make sure you are using your FREE Mango account to grow your business too!

- The Mango Guys

Mobile to overtake fixed internet access by 2014

"Mobile to overtake fixed Internet access by 2014" was a bold prediction from 2008 by Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers (KPCB). Are we there yet? It's hard to say but with somewhere around 84% of phones being smart phones, and roughly 45% of those have paid internet, it's definitely on the rise!

With the trend for mobile on the rise there's not doubt that the amount of users looking for mobile deals, coupons and savings is also on the rise.  How many people does that represent today?  How many does that represent in 3 months? No one truly knows but it's increasing at an astounding rate.

According to Smart Insights (full link here), the growth potential for year over year of mobile retail usage is 80%. That's a big number - are you ready?

One of the reasons we built the Mango app as a smart, relevant, & intelligent platform was to help bridge the gap between users wanting to find a deal that they wanted, and an advertiser wanting to be able to do selective marketing to whomever had the highest propensity to buy their product or service.  With demographic and geographic targeting, the fit for mobile advertising couldn't be better.

If you're interested in a free consultation on how mobile advertising could affect your business - contact us here.

~The Mango Guys

Is Amazon's new phone the ultimate buying machine? Mango is ready.

With Amazon's new release about their Fire Phone, the interwebs are a 'tizzy with dialogue about whether this phone is the ultimate buying machine or doomed to failure and will never catchup with iPhone and Android phones.

The new phone runs a custom version of Android branded as Amazon's own operating system, and consists of it's own look and feel and own Amazon app store.  The phone is a well designed piece of hardware that will make purchasing products from the web (including Amazon.com) simpler and easier.

Here at Mango we are all about local deals, coupons, and saving money, and we are excited about Amazon's new phone.  The Mango app is already available on iTunes and Android and we are making plans to have the app available for the new Amazon phone.  We believe that consumers should have the power of choice so we want Mango to be available on any platform.

Stay tuned for more upcoming developments!

-The Mango guys.

Waffle House lists local deal in Pinellas County

One of our favorite breakfast places just got cooler.  Know why?  You can now get access to local coupons and deals in Pinellas County through the Mango app!  Available on both iPhone and Android, the app can easily be downloaded and used to find local savings and deals with a tap of the finger.

The Waffle Houses in Pinellas decided to partner with Mango as a way to reach the smart-phone savvy consumer generation that like to save money.  Typically, consumers are attracted because they already know the brand or they know someone that works there or attends there.  This strategy works great and has certainly helped Waffle House continue to grow.  Adding the Mango app just adds another avenue for tech savvy users to be reminded about local deals when they drive near a Waffle House, and if they are a regular customer, Mango only adds to their love of the brand!

If you haven't already, head on over here to download the Mango App.

- The Mango Guys

The Mango App is now on Android

We are super stoked to have the Mango app available in the Google Play store for Android.  We've had the iPhone version for a couple months, and after many requests and pleading from our restaurant partners and customers we are happy to say that the app is hear!

We decided to take a slightly different approach to the Android app so if you are lucky enough to have both an iPhone and an Android phone, then you will notice some differences between the two.  The most important part is the same - both have great deals and savings in the Tampa bay and St. Petersburg area! Some of the deals are and will be exclusive, and some will be the same as you'll find elsewhere, but just easier to view and navigate.

If you're interested, download the Google version here.

We've got more exciting things in the works, so stay tuned!

- The Mango guys

The secret theory behind mobile marketing

While Mango is new to the app store, mobile marketing itself is not new. Many of the major advertisers are playing in the space and determining what works best.  Here at Mango, our objective is to provide a true win for the customers to find local deals and savings and a true win for local Tampa Bay restaurants to promote their deals and improve customer loyalty.

We believe leveraging mobile marketing comes down to two main things:

1. Repeat customers.

When a customer is in your establishment and has had a great experience, that is the best time to sign them up for a repeat loyalty program. With Mango, local restaurants and retailers can encourage patrons to download the Mango App for free.  The next key part of the strategy is to list a coupon that will attract them to revisit.  Starbucks does a great job of this with their "treat receipts" - bring your receipt back after 2pm that day for "x dollars" off another coffee drink.  With the Mango app, the next time the user is within 5 miles of the store, they will get that promotion that you have strategically listed.

2. New customers.

With a rapidly increasing user base, more and more people in the Tampa Bay area are driving around looking for local places and in fact, impulse-buys.   Decades of research shows us that consumers are affected by impulse buys -when they are hungry, they are more likely to purchase higher quantities of food in a grocery store, and if they are looking for a restaurant, they will look for the closest place that has a good price.  Be strategic here and list a coupon that will cater to first-time visitors.

Good luck with your next promotion!

- The Mango guys

Mango featured as new members

As Mango continues to expand its reach throughout the Bay area, we have put a lot of effort into forming awesome partnerships as we grow.  Tampa Bay Business Owners is one of them.  We joined TBBO  following some great connections had with the founders of the organization.  TBBO boasts a wealth of resources, educational opportunities, and access to a body of passionate members filled with entrepreneurs, business owners, and creative minds.  This was an easy decision that the organization is a great community for Mango to be a part of.

We were welcome as new members at this week’s Main Event, which hosted Robert Thomas of Two Rivers Ranch & Crystal Spring.  Thomas’ family has owned property across four Florida counties for decades, and his story was remarkable.  He focuses on maintaining his family’s legacy, while enhancing Florida’s farming culture, and maximizing the available natural resources.  Great lessons to be learned by all in attendance, and we were glad to be there.

With multiple monthly events, we look forward to meeting great members to help us as we expand, and we are anxious for the many ways we can contribute to the positive environment that this the group is so passionate about!  Thanks TBBO!

- The Mango App 

Saving YOU money all across the Tampa Bay, Florida and St. Petersburg area.

Save at Tampa's hippest hotspot!

Tucked behind a Bayshore Boulevard high-rise lies one of South Tampa’s best kept secrets – Ciro’s Speakeasy & Supper Club.  Ciro’s is a prohibition-style establishment offers outstanding menu entrees and gourmet specialties and of course outstanding crafted cocktails.  The swanky, low-lit club boasts no signs or searchlights, and to enter, one must whisper a password through a slot in the door.  Those that have tried Ciro’s are likely return customers as well, as they offer a dining experience like none other. 

Ciro’s joins a great lineup of fine Bay area eateries and establishments this past week, and will be pushing out one of the best after-work specials around.  $6 Cocktails Monday through Friday, accompanied by half price menu items.  Yes, half-price menu items!  As if these specials weren’t enough to get you to drop by, the experience you’ll have during your dining experience will definitely bring you back for more.

Download Mango now  to check out Ciro’s 

Mango App joins the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association

In just the couple short months since our launch, we are excited to announce that we are joining an outstanding organization here in our home state. The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association , affectionately known as FRLA  has welcomed Mango as is newest member. We look forward to bringing our service into this robust association and look forward to getting plugged in to the amazing individuals and businesses connected to it.

Mango brings a fresh offering to the restaurant and lodging industry by allowing business owners to promote their specials  via smartphone app and reach local customers with ease. At over 150 annual events, the FRLA is a highly active body of members, and Mango will certainly make a presence at many of these great events as we look forward to expanding our partner community. Looking forward to a great year with the FRLA!

More to come.

- Mango App

A better St. Pete (local deals)

Recently Mango joined dozens of other upstanding local businesses and startups to support the city of St. Petersburg at the Engage St. Pete event.  The Engage event was hosted downtown this past week and Mayor Kriseman delivered the keynote message.  Kriseman spoke about changing the way we do business in our community, and the way we look at and talk about our city.

 The overwhelming turnout was outstanding to see and encouraging to the entrepreneurial community.  Mango is excited to be a part of this local community and watch small business grow in the positively changing city of St. Petersburg. We were excited to see the Mayor retweet our post, and look forward to working hard in St. Petersburg

Mango brings on Tampa's best Cuban

We’re stoked to announce that we have made great strides in our live app here in the Bay area.  In just under 2 months live on the App Store, Mango has joined with several great eating establishments throughout downtown, Hyde Park, and St. Petersburg.  Our latest partner to join is well-know Cuban sandwich staple, Tampa Street Café.  Tampa Street Café is open for breakfast and lunch 5-days a week, and offers outstanding catering options as well. 

While we can’t announce their specific deals just yet, stay tuned for savings on killer pressed sandwiches and beverages!  We are always working hard to add your favorite restaurants around town.  If you’ve got suggestions on places you want to save, send them to us here! 

Mango will post all our new deals on Facebook and as always, be sure to download the app to save around the Bay area!

Passionate about local business

The Piquant in Hyde Park, Tampa, FL

Mango is excited about pushing the shop local movement here in the Tampa Bay area.  With groups such as Downtown Tampa is Awesome, and Keep St. Petersburg Local promoting community and all the great places to hang out and things to do in Bay Area, we look forward to joining the cause of promoting all the awesome local business in Tampa Bay.  And, oh by the way, help Bay Area residents save money in the process.

We are working on partnering with your favorite restaurants, shops, and hangouts, and bringing you the freshest deals, straight from the local area.  Mango will send you notifications and deal listings when you’re within 5 miles of one of our partnering hotspots.  We’ve just launched last month, and we’re working hard to grow throughout the community.  Check us out now on the AppStore, and like us on Facebook to stay tuned with our latest news!