Since taking control of Mt Lewis Pizzeria, Jason Tarraf has harnessed the power of social media to revolutionise the brand’s presence, driving substantial growth and capturing the hearts of pizza lovers across Sydney.

The transition in ownership marked a pivotal moment for this local family-owned pizzeria in the heart of Bankstown. Jason Tarraf aligned his intense vision and dedication by embarking on a mission to transform the business landscape and take it to new heights. Armed with an innovative mindset, Jason recognised the tremendous potential that social media offered as a catalyst for growth, engagement and brand recognition.

“When my family opened Mt Lewis Pizzeria about 17 years ago, all we had was the heart and soul to make great food. I knew that in our modern day this wouldn’t cut it, so I figured it’s best to use social media to boost the visibility of the business,” says Jason.

Taking care of business

One of the main factors that empowered the shift in ownership of the family business was Jason’s intense passion and motivation to succeed.

“They won’t trust you to make the decisions you need to make if you’re not giving it your 100 per cent,” Jason notes. “As the new generation, we have massive advantages when taking over the business as we know how the world works today!”

Since quitting his full-time job and powering the marketing avenue for Mt Lewis Pizzeria, Jason has organised the chaos and has heightened the business’ presence on a local basis in Bankstown and for pizza lovers across Sydney.

“I do admit, quitting my job as a broker and jumping into the marketing side for my parent’s business was scary and thrilling at the same time. I wasn’t expecting to be labelled as ‘The Manoush Man’ after a few viral videos!”

Taking social to the next level

To date, Jason’s content on social media showcases Mt Lewis Pizzeria’s dishes in an extremely creative and engaging way, so much so that he has reached tens of thousands of customers per day – and this is just the start for The Manoush Man.

“I didn’t need a huge budget, all I needed was my phone and my brain,” Jason admits. “Everything else came in place when my followers began to grow, and customers came in quoting a few of my videos.”

 

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A post shared by Mount Lewis Pizzeria (@mtlewispizzeria)

Even though the power of social media is definitely a force to be reckoned with, it’s important to note that revamping a business’ marketing strategy requires a delicate balance between budget and strategy. By focusing on areas that offer the highest potential return on investment and implementing cost-effective strategies, other business owners can also reap the rewards of utilising social media to boost their brand.

“I highly recommend other small business owners to take the time to develop a clear strategy and realistic goals for your business,” cautions Jason. “Otherwise, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure.”

Why online is key to success

One of the easiest ways to start your social media movement is by focusing on your online presence. This is free and effective in gaining engagement and traction, especially in the current social media market. Alongside this, it’s best to also train your staff so they’re in the loop with the new processes and updated systems.

“Once everyone is on board, we ended up posting like crazy. Things like behind-the-scenes footage alongside personable content helped us engage with our audience.”

Of course, with every marketing strategy, we all need to regularly monitor, analyse and assess the marketing strategies. There’s no point in focusing your attention on a strategy that’s failing, or one that has used a lot of resources but has gained barely any traction. With the power of social media, it’s always best to be flexible and be able to adapt to new trends.

“Times are always changing, and you need to be updated with the new ways of marketing for your business to thrive,” says Jason.

Today, Jason’s unparalleled success behind the social media marketing strategies of Mt Lewis Pizzeria has paved the way for other small businesses to increase their brand through the use of social media platforms. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, there’s no telling how fast this business will rocket in the future.

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