Word & Mouth Blog
Where food, hospitality, branding, and human behavior all crash into each other. I write about restaurants, wine, placemaking, customer experience, and the small details that make people talk about a business long after they leave.
For even more snarky takes on marketing, pop culture, branding, and the internet, visit my Substack, Burnt Popcorn & Branding: Substack
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A mix of hospitality, branding, customer psychology, hospitality culture, and internet behavior from someone who’s worked behind the scenes in marketing long enough to know what feels authentic and what feels painfully forced.
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Yes. Especially if your marketing currently sounds like ChatGPT wrote it.
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No LinkedIn thought leadership energy here. Just strategy, storytelling, and occasional side-eye toward trends, Chat-GPT written branding advice, and “disruptive” ideas that all look the same.
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People in marketing, hospitality, branding, retail, wine, or anyone who secretly judges restaurants by their menu design before reading the food list.
The Netflix Effect: Does Binge-Watching Make TV Shows Forgettable?
Thoughts on why Netflix shows don't stick around in our memories. Explore how binge-watching changed TV, impacted our viewing habits, and why some stories deserve the wait.
New Book Out: Randall the Blue Spider Plays Pretend
Randall the Blue Spider and his friend Joey the Grasshopper want to try out for their school play. But Joey is worried that bullies will make fun of his stutter. Learn about this Children's Book on Bullying where Randall & friends discover how to overcome insecurities and handle adversity with kindness, love, and respect for themselves & others.
Written by mother and son duo, Ryeson & Shana Bull, Randall the Blue Spider Plays Pretend is a cute easy-to-read children's book that teaches young readers important social-emotional skills like coping with nervousness, overcoming bullying, and being good friends to others.
What Small Businesses Need To Know About The 2nd Round Of PPP Loans
For millions of small businesses that are still struggling because of the pandemic - there is good news coming out of the White House this past week — the Biden Administration is modifying the new PPP rules to be more small business friendly.
Please Don't Say "I Don't See Color"
It’s very problematic to POC/gay friends/trans/etc for white cis-gendered people to say this. I know because I have heard marginalized groups talk about this many times before the past week. And right now, they are literally asking us to see them and hear them.
Building Trust Through Social Media as you Open Back up
Covid and shelter in place orders here in California have closed many small businesses in the food and wine industry. Now that things are opening back up, here are some actionable tips for sharing on social media.
Tools For Creating Video For Virtual Wine Tastings
The experience of “wine” isn’t always JUST about the wine. Any winery that plans out virtual wine tastings should think about what core values they share with their customers and try to create video wine tastings that connect with their target audience and brings something else to the table. Here are some video tools to use to create better video quality for your virtual wine tastings.
Post-Shelter in Place California Business Will Be Different
California Governor, Gavin Newsom shared some of his plans to open California back up after the COVID-19 pandemic slows (still no official date until we see trends in hospitalization numbers flattening). The plan will be lifting SIP in stages. California Small businesses that rely on customers may need to rethink this business plan for life after the SIP orders are lifted - and get creative.
Best Work from Home Tools
Now that a lot more people are working from home, due to the coronavirus, here are some of the top work from home tools that have worked for me for working from home. So, check out what I would get for a professional who is new to remote working:
Celebrating 11 Years as a Social Media Entrepreneur
I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur—maybe because I never had employees under me. I guess when I think of entrepreneurs, I think of traditional “small business owners” like my dad, who has employees. I realized that my mindset—thinking of my work in such a small way—was holding me back from spending money on myself and on my social media marketing business.
The Move to the East Bay
This past July we moved from Sonoma County to the East Bay, CA in Concord/Walnut Creek area with the family. We did it for work life balance and to spend more time with my husband now that he doesn't have a long commute. More family time in the East Bay = happy family.
Quick Update on Goals for 2019
2018 has truly been a pivotal year in my decade-long entrepreneurial career. I went from managing social media accounts for several brands to focusing on my own brand, writing for several publications, and working with a few marketing and PR agencies on projects. Now I look to Goals for 2019…
Roundup of My Favorite Sonoma County Articles of 2018
A roundup of my personal favorite articles I have written this past year about wine, food, social media, music and mom life in Sonoma County.
How Troop Beverly Hills Made Me a Better Writer
A movie from the 80s made me realize I wanted to become a writer when I grew up. Technology taught me how to become a better writer. And the rise of apps using voice has taken my writing to the next level.
Gerard's Paella - A Sonoma County Food Legend
The former Arrigoni’s Deli space on Fourth Street has been transformed by a Sonoma County Food Legend. Gerard’s Paella is a great space for vegetarians, vegans, meat-lovers, travelers, locals and anyone looking for a real Sonoma food experience.
The #DeleteFacebook Movement
Users Deleting their Facebook Pages Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal
How I Spent my Vacation: Goal Planning
Goal Planning is an important part of any marketing strategy - figuring out WHY you want to accomplish your goals and breaking them down into tasks makes them more manageable. Here are a few tips I have learned over the years on how to create goals for marketers.