But will UMass Boston DJ's have their own voice?

[Signpost]

If you believe that taking years to build credibility through word of mouth references is the way to go, You're not living in 2011. Those days are long gone.

One word: Facebook. Word of mouth, even if via social media, is the most effective marketing tool. The stats show that more people will trust the opinion of someone they know over that of a critic or advertisement (radio or otherwise).

Take that place the Wahlberg's just opened up. Do you think that place would be open in a year if they weren't getting all the press? How many great restaurants have opened and closed on Rt 9?

I'm pretty sure Wahlberg's didn't advertise on radio. And many great restaurants have closed that DID advertise on radio. If preferring to dine at John Harvard's instead of McDonald's makes me elitist, so be it, but I've never heard John Harvards advertise on radio, yet somehow they're still open, and doing pretty well last I saw.

Apple is a perfect example of organic branding. Some of their most famous advertisements ran once - not repeatedly, in defiance of marketing convention.

 

[Neanderpaul]

One word: Facebook.

Facebook is free. How many people would *pay* for the service? Ask AOL.

I'm pretty sure Wahlberg's didn't advertise on radio.

Then how do I know about the restaurant? I haven't lived in Boston for almost 7 years.

If preferring to dine at John Harvard's instead of McDonald's makes me elitist, so be it, but I've never heard John Harvards advertise on radio, yet somehow they're still open, and doing pretty well last I saw.

After 20 years, sure. But when they opened, they brought food to us on the morning show at WZLX. I still have one of the glasses. So, again...bad example.

 

[CTListener]

One word: Facebook.

Facebook is free. How many people would *pay* for the service? Ask AOL.

I'm pretty sure Wahlberg's didn't advertise on radio.

Then how do I know about the restaurant? I haven't lived in Boston for almost 7 years.

If preferring to dine at John Harvard's instead of McDonald's makes me elitist, so be it, but I've never heard John Harvards advertise on radio, yet somehow they're still open, and doing pretty well last I saw.

After 20 years, sure. But when they opened, they brought food to us on the morning show at WZLX. I still have one of the glasses. So, again...bad example.

Not to mention the difference in what's needed to be "doing well" at a stand-alone, one-location restaurant vs. a franchise in a huge multinational chain. McDonald's would close a location that was only drawing the daily traffic of a John Harvard's before too long.