Hydra Studio is proud to announce its interactive marketing partnership with Bono’s of America; owner and operator of Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q. Since 1949, Bono’s has been serving up the best barbeque in the Southeast. And for this, Hydra can attest! Our team recently made a trip up to Jacksonville, the home of Bono’s, to get an authentic cut from an authentic Pit Master.
Let me explain the difference between Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q and other barbeque restaurants…
Despite it’s rapid growth, Bono’s has never strayed from its authentic southern-style cooking. This painstaking process begins with smoking meats for 12 to 14 hours in a Southern Pride Smoker. Next, the meats are placed in an open pit and tended to by a Pit Boss who cuts the meat to order. We sat directly in front of the open pit and talked extensively with Josh Martino, VP of Operations and Franchising, and of course, our Pit Boss.
Josh described the meticulous attention that must be paid to the open pit, the loyalty customers have for their favorite Pit Bosses, and the notoriety that a Pit Boss can earn in the local media. Don’t believe me? Take a look at Bono’s most infamous Pit Boss, Harvey Green. Harvey’s pit is frequented by local celebrities, such as the Mayor himself.
Bono’s recently launched a contest that awarded the best fan-made “Bono’s is Boss” advertisment with $5,000. From a viral marketing perspective, the contest was a major success, yielding nearly 100,000 plays on YouTube. Here is the winning clip:
Here are a few of the front-runners:
And my personal favorite:
Hydra Studio has partnered with Bono’s of America to redefine the web strategy for Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q. Included in this strategy is web redesign, eCommerce integration, and much more. We will keep you posted on all the great things to come from this new partnership!
