Menus Aren't Just For Restaurants
What’s your professional bucket list?
Do you want to close a million dollar deal, start a business, oversee a global marketing campaign, write killer software, or something else?
I have multiple items:
- Make enough money to fund an orphanage
- Work with a non-profit again
- Design a billboard
- Write a book
The list goes on and on and is eclectic. Part of me wants to get back to non-profit work (I was a director of marketing at a non-profit for years) and another part of me wants to become the best marketer I can through developing UX skills. The marketer in me wants to hit big collateral milestones of billboards, magazine layouts, and something which some might consider odd . . . a menu.
What’s Your Favorite Restaurant?
Houston has pros and cons like any city. We have swarms of mosquitoes that attack with military precision to make any special forces proud, sweltering heat, and congested traffic (looking at you 290). On the other hand, we have a low cost of living, some of the nicest people you will ever find, diversity throughout the city, and food. If you didn’t know, Houston has some of the top restaurants in the country.
Thanks to the many ethnicities which call Houston home it's not only great but diverse food. Some of the best food can be found in little hole-in-the-wall places while others are at upscale establishments. Then you have trendy places which combine unique food and an amazing atmosphere.
One is located near me, Ambriza calls itself a “Social Mexican Kitchen” and is my happy place. I fill up on authentic Mexican food paired with a premium margarita. Besides the fantastic food is the atmosphere. The decor is artistic without being pretentious, the waitstaff is attentive, and the menu has nice design features.
After really looking at their menu from a UX/marketing perspective, I now look at other menus with a critical eye.
Life is Weird
For the past month or so, I kept telling my wife, “I really want to design a menu.” Then it happened, well sort of. A client asked for a collateral piece which explained his business services.
I said: “so a service menu?”
Client: “exactly.”
There it was, my opportunity to put together a menu. Might not be a restaurant menu, but a menu nonetheless. Over the past few weeks, we came up with an idea, target audience, content, and design. Now we are in the final stages as we sent it to print and have it online.
His company, Lone Star Network Communications (LSNC), specializes in technology infrastructure and all associated needs. Our goal was to create a menu which helped people better understand unfamiliar terms, like what the heck is “the cloud” or a “network switch?” Further, what does a business really need technologically speaking to be successful? Beyond the education, the menu helps businesses understand their unique “philosophies” which allows LSNC to customize technology solutions.
Below is the front and back of the menu.
I showed it to some people in the marketing industry, and they all said the same thing, “every business needs one of these.” Not necessarily the design, but a small collateral piece which explains what a business does and how it can help customers meet specific needs.
I agree, especially since I am biased and want to build more for other businesses :)
Application to You
How does the above apply to you? I mean if you made it this far you deserve something. Let’s break it down into a few takeaways:
- Create a professional bucket list, what are the things you want to do before you retire?
- Look for opportunities to fulfill those items in unique ways.
- Businesses should have a way of clearly showing how they help customers.
If you haven’t thought about your professional bucket list, take the time to write it out. Better yet, go to an amazing restaurant with a notebook and spend some time really thinking about what you want to accomplish in your career.
Time to plug services!!
Do you have technology needs for your business? Of course you do, we all do. Let LSNC help, they have more than 30 years of experience and are experts at custom technology solutions while allowing you to focus on your business. Contact today.
There is also this amazing marketing duo out there from Elisha Consulting. Contact us to elevate your brand.
Matt Avery
