The number of chefs that let great media opportunities slip through their fingers because they can't answer a simple question is staggering.  More accurately, staggeringly sad. So, yesterday I suggested tapping one of your staff people to handle basic media requests.

I assume you are already acting on this sage piece of advice.  If not, don't read further.  Seriously.  You really need to get that handled before you can move on.

If you have, the next thing you should do is find one person on the staff who can do the same for your restaurant's Facebook page (and yours!). All it takes is one person -- albeit, one creative person with a unique voice -- to tend your Facebook presence.

Oh, and a digital camera and maybe a flipcam would be nice, too.

See, simply starting a Facebook page and putting up an update once a week or every few days isn't enough to keep your fans engaged. But putting up a post or two a day, varying them between photos, menu/specials alerts, links of interesting articles, maybe even a video -- that'll do ya.

Of course, if you are a chef, the very thought of this likely makes you want to call me nasty names.  Which is why I am suggesting finding a go-getter on the staff to take this on. 

And believe me, they are there, right under your nose.  I meet these go-getters who are bored, underutilized and often frustrated that their bosses don't "get it" every day I step into a restaurant.  They want to help.  They ask me if they can help.  Go, ask them to help!

Once you do, here are a few other ideas they can try out, but don't just take my suggestions. Remember, two heads are better than one, which is why you enlisted help in the first place.

Once or twice a month, post a recipe for a signature dish or cocktail.

Once a week, offer peeks into the kitchen through flipcam videos.

If you have a special event, livestream the event via UStream.

Post quotes from customers' feedback forms, with permission, of course.

Drop some "Did You Know?" facts and figures about the restaurant into posts over the course of a week or month, and then spring a pop quiz on your fans. Whoever answers the most questions right is entered into a drawing to win a gift certificate.

In other words, mix it up, dish out some fun, let your customers in and reap the rewards.