Effective Marketing Strategies For Your Food Business | Many food businesses put all their time thought, planning and energy into the quality of their food, selecting the right location, creating a wonderful atmosphere and hiring good staff. But without effective marketing, their business will fail.
The following are some good marketing strategies food companies can use to attract customers and increase their chances for success.
1. Positioning your brand
The first step in properly positioning your food brand is to identify your target market. You then have to make them aware of the amazing taste and high quality of your products. That raises brand awareness. You should make them aware you have food they will love at prices they can afford, where your shop is located and how well your hours of operation works with their daily schedules. Make your target market aware of how well your food business can fit into and improve their quality of life.
2. Powerful, evocative packaging
The right packaging and presentation are essential. People often judge food by the way, it looks and how it’s packaged. Attractive packaging with beautiful, evocative, pictures of succulent, mouth-watering food will arouse people’s interest and make them want to try it. This is true for any type of foodservice company. If the food is attractive, colorful, creatively arranged, and smells wonderful, people are more likely to purchase it. The way your eatery is furnished and decorated is also part of your package. A clean, tastefully decorated, well-lit, atmosphere with comfortable seating and charming tablecloth and linen chair covers will entice people to stay, eat and tell others about your eatery.
3. A unique selling point
Food businesses need a unique selling point that attracts attention and differentiates them from the competition. It can be organic or vegan ingredients, a special cheesecake, authentic ethnic cuisine or anything else to which your target market will be attracted. Some eateries are known for their spectacular soups or freshly baked specialty bread with unique flavors. Whatever you choose, it must generate excitement and make people want to come back again and again.
4. An engaging blog
An engaging online blog is a very effective marketing tool. It can give food businesses an online presence with an SEO strategy that gives people an opportunity to get to know more about what’s special about the company. The blog can provide insight into authentic ethnic cooking, share special recipes or answer questions about using special spices or any other topics of interest. SEO services from Digital Logic say that blogs are excellent, versatile, easy to use, effective marketing tools. Integrating the blog with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and posts on other social media platforms will multiply and enhance its impact as part of your marketing strategy. Consider featuring professional food bloggers. This can increase your brand’s following, create a more engaging online presence and supercharge your marketing efforts.
5. An email marketing program
An email marketing program is a cost-effective marketing tool. It’s quick, easy and free to send out an email blast to thousands of consumers to make them aware of special events, send them discount coupons or announce new products. Using email marketing is a great way to keep customers engaged. All it takes is an email list and a few minutes to send an email and they can pay major dividends for food companies.
6. Social media marketing
Being active on social media can have a significant impact on online marketing. Several major companies developed reputations among young consumers for being cool and relatable because of their presence on Reddit, Foursquare and other social media platforms. Food companies can improve the impact of their marketing activities by posting attractive, interesting pictures of food on Instagram. It enables companies to promote their food, events and favorable reviews of their products to a wide audience of potential customers.
7. Hosting events
To draw more customers to your eatery, host seasonal and holiday events there and offer special packages and menus. Hosting food festivals at your restaurant can raise awareness of where your business is located and the wide range of food your offer. This type of marketing event can be held year round and help to make your business a familiar and popular foodie destination. This can enhance brand awareness and improve your bottom line.
8. Website and online directory listings
Listing your products and menus on marketing websites is an effective, inexpensive way to expose more potential customers to your food business. There are also numerous smartphone apps and online directories on which food related businesses can list their name, location, and specialties. Many of them charge a small commission for allowing restaurant and other eateries to sell food products on their platform. This is a great way to introduce thousands of new consumers to the unique food products your food business has to offer.
9. Special and seasonal offers
There is a holiday or special occasion every month of the year. Advertising special offers on particular dishes, products, and meals to celebrate any occasion can bring in many new customers. Announcing special discount meals for couples for Valentines Day or special offers on Mother’s Day meals can attract new customers who can become regular visitors if they’re impressed by your cuisine, atmosphere, and service. Offering discounted cold drinks in summer and hot drinks in winter can make your restaurant very popular and you’ll make more money by the increased sales volume.
10. Partner with local groups
Doing joint events with local schools, Girl Scouts troops, AARP chapter or local sports teams can raise your company’s profile in the community and attract tons of new customers to your establishment. Long after the event is over, members of those groups will continue to visit and bring their friends with them. These local partnerships are marketing opportunities that can pay dividends for years to come.
These are many simple, inexpensive, effective things the owners of food companies can do to promote their companies and take advantage of the many opportunities available to build and market their brand. These are just a few marketing strategies food companies can use to increase their customer base and their bottom line. With a little creativity, it’s possible to take advantage of limitless marketing opportunities to increase any food business popularity and enhance their chances for success.
