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.
Clover Sonoma + Whole Foods Eggnog Giveaway
As you may know — I love everything about eating & drinking during the last two months of the year. One of my favorite things is having people over to try different eggnogs, with and without alcohol, of course.
Gift List for Wine Lovers in your Life
Gift ideas for Wine lovers for the holidays. Get your friends and family the perfect wine-themed Christmas Gift.
A Marketers Dream: The Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco
Pop-up shops are nothing new; we see them at the mall every Christmas season, calendar and phone kiosks in the middle of every aisle. Even the Santa meet-and-greet is a pop-up shop where kids can wait in long lines to pay a guy in a suit to take a picture on his lap (nothing against it, but that is totally what it is). However, these Instagram-style Pop-Up Museums are a somewhat new idea.
The one reason you don’t want to have automatic posts for your social networks
Automated posts from one social network to another creates issues and marketers need to be careful when they share one piece of content on all platforms.
Two Questions: Marketing Your Business After the Wine Country Fires
Questions from Small Business Owners on how to marketing your business after the Sonoma and Napa Fires. My answer: Be as transparent and empathetic as possible.
Moving Forward with Business After the Wine Country Fires
Advice for brands in Sonoma County: Take a step back after the fires to create a marketing strategy for 2018
Social Media Photography: how to shoot GREAT PHOTOS with a smartphone
Tips on How to Take Marketing Photos with your Smart Phone for Wine Industry Social Media Marketers for top photographers in Sonoma and Napa County.
Why Successful People Wear a Work Uniform
Wearing a Work Uniform even when you work from home can help your productivity and clear up your mind for important tasks throughout the day.
Update As the Sonoma Fire Is Almost Contained
Several fires are currently burning in Sonoma County and Napa County in both urban and rural areas. The fires are mainly in eastern Sonoma County – parts of Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa.
Thousands of Businesses, Farms, Wineries, Vineyards, and Homes have been destroyed, but the Wine County Community is STRONG.
What Hotels Need to Know about Social Media Marketing
Social Media Marketing is essential to hotels. It allows you to continue the relationship after the guest leaves, or start one even before they book a trip to your location. Here are some tips for the travel industry on how to connect through social media.
Happy 10 Year Anniversary to my Wine Blogger Career
Celebrating my 10 Year Anniversary for my Wine Blogger Career with the Wine Bloggers COnfrence coming back to Sonoma County
California Wine Month on the Wine Road
Wine Road is an association of wineries and lodgings in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys of Northern Sonoma County. This September they are hosting a social media photography contest for Califnrioa Wine Month.
Writing for Sonoma Magazine
Weekend Getaway: 15 Things to Do in Sonoma. The city of Sonoma pairs small town charm with world-class wineries and restaurants.
Storytelling Matters - A Guide to Instagram Stories for Brands
Instagram Stories best practices for your brand
5 Tips for Farmers Using Social Media
Social Media Tips for Sonoma County Farmers looking to create content and connect with their Northern California Community.
Bluegrass Music and Craft Beer in Sonoma County
Instagram Giveaway on Sharayaray - two tickets to the craft beer fest at the Green Music Center in Sonoma County.
40 Under 40 Award for SF North Bay Professionals
Shana Bull, owner, and Director of Digital Strategy at Shana Bull, Digital Marketing + Social Relations wins an 11th annual Forty Under 40 (business professionals) award from North Bay Business Journal in Sonoma County.