Rory Fatt and FREE Meals

[Millard Grubb]

I was reading an old interview Dan Kennedy had with restaurant marketing maven, Rory Fatt.

Rory was selling salmon dinners and people liked the food quite a bit. Dan Kennedy suggested that if people liked the food so much, he should GIVE food away as a pitch. Rory gave away meals and 75% to 80% bought again.

I remember another story where a new restaurant gave away meals to local real estate offices and was quickly filled with customers.

One time I was eating at a local Chinese restaurant and gave the owner a few tips to get more business, he was so pleased that I ate there for FREE ever after at his place.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, the power of FREE can be used to increase business even today with all the internet fluff and hype going on. What I was wondering, is whether or not FREE consulting still works.

Yeah, folks offer a FREE marketing audit to get business owners to open up about what their business is doing marketing wise... or at least some consultants do that. I know Glenn Osborn gives business owners plenty of FREE tips to make money in their business, so that they can pay him.

But does the offer of something FREE that is of benefit to business owners STILL work today? Say, at a local networking meeting. Instead of a card, give a business profits sheet or a true money-making tip sheet.

Does this actually work today?

Has anybody tried it?

I like to talk with people. It takes time, but I have the time to do it. However, it would be fun to experiment and give away something at a local BNI meeting or local Chamber of Commerce just to see what the reaction would be... and the results!

Anyone tried this lately?

Millard