Alex Quin and Michelle Chia break down a complete marketing strategy for taco restaurants—from naming and branding to launch tactics, special events, social media content, AI tools, influencer campaigns, and customer retention. Emphasizing the importance of storytelling, consistent brand voice, data-driven decisions, and team culture, they offer actionable advice for creating a successful restaurant brand. With tips for pre-launch hype, engaging content, SEO tactics, and local outreach, the episode is packed with practical insights for anyone in the hospitality space.

Episode Outline:

[00:00:00] Welcome + Overview: Restaurant Marketing Strategy

[00:03:30] Naming, Branding, and Domain Setup

[00:10:00] Identifying and Speaking to Your Core Audience

[00:15:00] Storytelling Through Decor, Food, and Staff

[00:22:00] Menu, Ambiance, and Event-Based Differentiation

[00:30:00] The Importance of Brand Voice and Hook Writing

[00:36:00] Leveraging AI and Custom GPTs for Content and Analysis

[00:44:00] Tech Stack Must-Haves Before Opening

[00:48:00] Pre-Launch Timeline and Content Plan

[00:55:00] Setting Up Systems for Email, SMS, Reservations

[01:01:00] Paid Ad Structure + Organic Content Planning

[01:07:00] Customer Retention and Avoiding Common Pitfalls

[01:12:00] Final Tips + How to Stand Out Long-Term

Wisdom Nuggets:

Know Your Audience: You can’t serve everyone. Define specific customer personas and tailor your menu, messaging, and ambiance to those profiles.

Brand Voice is Everything: Decide how your restaurant sounds—sarcastic, witty, warm, or blunt—and stay consistent across all platforms and content.

Use AI to Scale Smart: Leverage tools like ChatGPT to streamline your content, respond to reviews, and analyze OpenTable data for better marketing decisions.

Build Culture, Not Just Food: Great food won’t carry your brand if the team’s morale is low. Happy employees and genuine service are core to customer retention.

Create Experience, Not Just Meals: From events and unique cocktails to birthday specials and storytelling, experiences drive loyalty and word-of-mouth buzz.

Power Quotes

"People come back not just for food, but for how they felt." - Alex Quin

"Use your data. That’s where your real marketing edge is." - Alex Quin

"Make sure your branding is consistent across everything—domain, socials, emails. - Michelle Chia

"Behind-the-scenes content builds trust. Show the human side." - Michelle Chia

"If your team isn’t trained, you’re leaving thousands on the table every day." - Michelle Chia

Connect with Michelle:

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/michellechia)

Twitter: (https://x.com/michellechiaaa)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-chia1/)

TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@michellechiaa)

Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)

Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)

Website: (https://alexquin.com)

TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)

Our Community

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Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)

Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)

*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James Swanwick, founder of Swanick Sleep and the Stop Drinking coaching program, joins Alex Quin to discuss how choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle can transform health, wealth, and relationships. James shares the personal and professional milestones that led him to create Swannies blue light blocking glasses and a coaching platform helping professionals take back control of their lives. He breaks down the cultural stigma of sobriety, the financial and cognitive cost of drinking, and the growing wellness trend reshaping consumer habits.

Episode Outline:

[00:00:03] Introduction & Medellín living

[00:04:20] Life before entrepreneurship: ESPN and Bali years

[00:08:50] Launching Swannies & Stop Drinking program

[00:14:10] Cultural shift toward wellness and alcohol-free lifestyle

[00:21:00] Customer transformations and generational impact

[00:28:15] The business cost of casual drinking

[00:34:40] Why younger generations are skipping alcohol

[00:38:30] Swannies: Sleep benefits and productivity explained

[00:40:00] Closing thoughts and where to find James

Wisdom Nuggets:

1. Alcohol-Free is a Strategic Advantage:

Removing alcohol from your life can dramatically enhance clarity, energy, and decision-making—especially for high performers and entrepreneurs.

2. Productivity Isn’t Just Effort—It’s Clarity:

You don’t need to work harder, you need to remove the blocks. Alcohol often functions as a productivity brake without you realizing it.

3. Wellness Trends Aren’t a Fad:

The shift away from alcohol is part of a broader, long-term cultural move toward wellness. Businesses that ignore this change risk being left behind.

4. Modeling Over Preaching:

Kids emulate what they see. If you want future generations to live healthier, show them through your own habits—not just words.

5. Sleep is Non-Negotiable for Peak Performance:

Artificial light and alcohol sabotage your rest. Quality sleep, enhanced by tools like Swannies glasses, is foundational to success.

Power Quotes

• “Removing alcohol is a superpower for your love life and business life.” - James Swanwick
• “Every day you don’t drink is a special occasion.” - James Swanwick
• “In 30 years, we’ll see alcohol the same way we see cigarettes.” - James Swanwick
• “Most of our problems have simple roots we often ignore.” - Alex Quin
• “It's wild how hard we fight to keep things that hurt us.” - Alex Quin

Connect with James:

• Website: https://alcoholfreelifestyle.com
• Instagram: @jamesswanwick
• Book: Clear – Available on Amazon

Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)

Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)

Website: (https://alexquin.com)

TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)

Our Community

Instagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)

Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)

Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)

*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this brand spotlight, Alex Quin explores how Diplo, the world-renowned DJ and producer, created a unique blend of fitness and music with Diplo’s Run Club. Starting in Miami after a spontaneous half marathon, the idea grew into a multi-city wellness experience where Diplo both runs a 5K and performs a post-race DJ set. This episode breaks down the branding strategy, community engagement, and logistical challenges behind this innovative concept.

Episode Outline

[00:00] Intro to the show and episode format

[00:52] Diplo’s background and the birth of Diplo’s Run Club

[02:12] 2024 San Francisco debut: 11,000 runners, 14,000 partygoers

[03:07] Expansion to 8 cities in 2025–2026 season

[03:40] Miami 2026 event preview at Bayfront Park

[04:01] 3 brand pillars: authenticity, experience-driven marketing, purposeful scaling

[05:22] Challenges: balancing celeb image with runner credibility & managing city-wide events

[06:14] Wrap-up and final thoughts

Wisdom Nuggets

Diplo doesn’t just slap his name on the brand—he runs every race. This personal involvement makes the brand feel real to both fans and serious runners.

The Run Club is more than a 5K. It's an immersive event with music, recovery booths, and media-friendly moments—marketing built into the experience.

Scaling wasn’t rushed. Diplo partnered with wellness brands and event experts like PlusOne, Mascot Sports, and Wasserman to keep the mission clear while expanding.

Balancing Diplo’s celebrity persona with the expectations of authentic runners is tricky. Success lies in walking both lines without alienating either group.

The blend of music, movement, and shared post-run celebration creates a lasting impression that fuels loyalty and word-of-mouth.

Power Quotes:

“Diplo’s Run Club expanded to eight major cities in a single season.” – Alex Quin

“Scaling with purpose means aligning with the right partners from the start.” – Alex Quin

Connect With Diplo Run Club :

Website: (https://diplosrunclub.com/)

Connect With the Podcast Host Alex Quin:

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/alexquin)

Twitter: (https://twitter.com/mralexquin)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexquin)

Website: (https://alexquin.com)

TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@mralexquin)

Our Community

Instagram:(https://www.instagram.com/hustleinspireshustle)

Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HustleInspires)

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hustle-inspires-hustle)

Website: (https://hustleinspireshustle.com)

*This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. When you click on these links or engage with the sponsored content and make a purchase or take some other action, we may receive a commission or compensation at no additional cost to you. We only promote products or services that we genuinely believe will add value to our readers & listeners.*

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.