Located in Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, Otomisan has been in the reputation management business for 66 years – LA’s longest-standing Japanese restaurant. Without spending a dime on advertising, owner Yayoi Watanabe – a former dry cleaner owner – has been able to put the restaurant on the map as a foodie destination.
So how did she do it? It’s the old adage about word-of-mouth being the most effective form of SMB marketing. Of course, that’s easier said than done, as word of mouth has to spark from product/service excellence. But when it’s there, SMBs can bottle the right vibe and sidestep paid advertising.
Since Watanabe first captured that word-of-mouth magic, there have been many tools that have bubbled up to help SMBs better create that spark… then manage it. This is the art of reputation management. And as we heard recently from Reputation CEO Joe Fuca, this is a cornerstone of SMB marketing.
Video Vault
So for the latest Localogy Video Vault post, we’ll leave you with a video profile of Otomisan. Produced by Vice News, it goes deep inside the restaurant’s workings, menu, and word-of-mouth winnings. It’s a good lesson in the importance of reputation, and hopefully inspiration for SMB SaaS providers.
