Monetizing a restaurant directory usually looks straightforward on paper. The audience is already there, restaurants want visibility, and featured placements or sponsored listings seem like a natural next step. It’s easy to assume that if revenue isn’t happening yet, the missing piece must be packaging, pricing, or sales effort. But, in practice, that usually isn’t…
Most editorial teams don’t decide to spend time maintaining a restaurant directory. It usually begins in small, reasonable ways that don’t feel significant enough to name. A listing needs a quick correction, hours need to be adjusted, or a restaurant that quietly closed needs to be removed. Each task only takes a few minutes, and…
On my 45th birthday, I headed to my favorite steak restaurant in Seattle. I’ve been there so many times that I already know they don’t take reservations, so I don’t bother calling ahead. I could taste the perfect medium rare, as we turned into the lot. But, instead of having a hard time finding a…
