Alan Gutierrez

I’d like to direct you to the high concept of my new project French Quarter Confidential. Those of you who hover around here, start hovering around there. I’ll make it worth your while.

Election Day updates are going to take place soon, I promise, but I’m running around today. I’m off now to see Paul Chistmann’s new Macintosh. Then I’m going to talk to Leonard Nicholson about the French Quarter Confidential. Then I’m going to spend time showing Deserie Durham how to update Nick Varrecchio’s weblog. Finally, in the evening, I’m attending an event at the African-American History Museum in the Treme. It is at 6:00 pm at 1210 Governor Nicholls St.

This is an entry that I’m sharing with French Quarter business owners to talk about a new publication in a new medium.

Some of them are not familiar with this new medium, blogging. They may think that a blog is a place where people keep tedius little diaries. Well, those are there, however…

Blogging is being adopted by businesses to communicate directly to their customers. My favorite example of this is General Motors, where CEO Bob Lutz writes about cars he builds in the GM Fastlane Blog. Surprisingly enough, Bob Lutz accepts comments to every one of his posts, and he receives hundreds of comments.

This new publication is going to be a blog, called French Quarter Confidential. It will feature behind-the-scenes looks at the real French Quarter. The best restaurants, galleries, antique dealers, and the history of the French Quarter.

There will be no hand grenades or t-shirts at French Quarter Confidential. It will appeal to the people who want to see a timeless New Orleans.

The premise is to engage readers with story telling, and to invite their communiacation.

Here is an excellent example of a successful publication in this format…

• English Cut

Savile Row Tailor, Thomas Mahon writes about bespoke tailoring from London. He’s now booked solid, jetting around the world to fit people for $5,000 suits, and English Cut is a “Global Microbrand”.

The trick is storytelling. If you look you’ll see stories about customers, the other tailors, tools, materials, and history.

• Mr. Sheppard’s Shears

Even articles on how to purchase a suit that is less that bespoke.

• If you can’t afford bespoke…

This has been wildly successful for Mr. Mahon, who is now selling English shirts, since he simply cannot take on any more customers.

Please take note that at the end of each of these articles, there is a comments section that is full of discussion.

This is not a broadcast medium. It is not adversisiting. It is a customer relationship tool.

If you are here, you have read this entire message, and I thank you for your patience. This is not a secret project by any means. I’m going to be as transparent and inclusive as possible.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, please help me out by pointing out other blogs that tell the story of a region like Savile Row or The French Quarter.