Pizzeria marketing itself with social media

Monday, March 30, 2009

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south bay news, teresa garcia

SANTA CLARA, CA (KGO) -- A South Bay business has now found an innovative way to use the hottest trend in social networking to help keep the business growing.

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The Pizza Party parlor in Santa Clara has been spinning pizza pies in one shape or another since 1962.

"We have so many different varieties," said co-owner Bear Silber, who joined the restaurant in the last six months, but is already diving head in to modernize this nearly half century old business.

"You can find us on Facebook; we're on Twitter," said Silber.

This is a sign of the next generation of marketing.

"I'm young. I'm only 26, and I use the Internet everyday anyways," said Silber.

Silber swears by using online social networking tools, like Twitter and Facebook, as a fresh, free, and fast way to market his small business.

"Immediately when I have an idea, I can tweet it," said Silber.

Pizza Party already has more than 1,000 followers on Twitter and Silber sends them instant messages about different meal deals and other incentives to come in.

"On Super Bowl Sunday, whoever came in wearing their team's jersey got free pizza," said Silber. "Sharks games, same thing,. I'll do the same thing. I'll put those out on my Twitter.".

It has become a marketing and advertising tool that is beginning to help increase business, especially critical during this rocky economy.

Silber says social media can be useful for many types of businesses. The challenge is to think, and act, outside-the-box.

"Especially within the traditional mom and pop pizza parlor, they're so used to Yellow Page ads, doorbell hangers. These old, old marketing things that in my mind aren't successful," said Silber.

But it's not just Twitter and Facebook that has catapulted Pizza Party into the 21st century. Silber has even developed a way for customers to connect by iPhone.

"We actually have an icon here. It's its own app. It's an iPhone app," said Silber.

And if you really want to feel connected with your pizza, visit www.pizzapartyonline.comfrom a computer or a mobile phone, and you can watch your pizza being made live on three different cameras. Now that is one modern way to get your customers drooling.

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