How to boost your food business online
In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any food business. Digital marketing can help you connect with more customers and grow your brand. Here’s a comprehensive guide to get you started with digital marketing for your food business.
Get personal
Show your personality: There are thousands of food businesses, but only one of you! Share stories about yourself and your team. Highlight your journey, your passion for food, and the unique elements that set your business apart. Personal stories help customers resonate with you and build a loyal customer base.
Engage with your community: Engaging personally with your audience makes them feel valued and connected to your brand. Respond to comments, share behind-the-scenes content, and celebrate milestones with your followers.
Think hyperlocal
Target local customers: In large cities, you can reach thousands by marketing specifically to the neighborhoods you frequent. While it makes sense to #nycfood you can also specifically tag things like #lowereastsideeats or #brooklynfoodbiz to find specific customers within your neighborhood.
Use social media to reach new customers
Video content: Share video-based content on Reels, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. These platforms favor video content, making it a great way to reach new audiences. The same video can be repurposed across different platforms, maximizing the impact of your content.
CapCut: Use CapCut, a free video editing app available on both mobile and desktop, to create engaging videos. CapCut templates are a great place to start if you're new to video editing.
Hashtags: Use 5-8 specific hashtags related to the kind of food you sell and your location. This strategy helps people interested in your type of cuisine find your content.
Collaborate with Nimbus: On Instagram, add @nimbuskitchen as a collaborator when you tag users in your post. Nimbus can reshare your content, increasing your reach by over 3.5k followers. This collaboration can significantly boost your visibility.
Increasing brand visibility
Reach out to journalists and influencers: Do you have any favorite food publications you wish you could be featured in? With a little bit of detective work, you can most likely find some of the journalists who work there. Don’t be afraid to search for emails and do direct outreach to your favorite food magazines and influencers. Invite them to come try your food—maybe they will decide to share it! Our favorite publications are Eater, The Infatuation, and Grubstreet!
Offer exclusive tastings: Host exclusive tastings or events for journalists and influencers. This creates a memorable experience and increases the likelihood of them sharing your business with their audience.
Leverage press coverage: When you do get featured, make sure to share the coverage on your website and social media channels. This not only boosts your credibility but also extends the reach of the feature and drives sales engine optimization
Build out your website
Build a simple, effective website: A well-designed website strengthens your brand and enhances your reputation. Platforms like Squarespace offer user-friendly templates to help you get started. You can also customize your website from scratch to perfectly match your vision. Our team loves using Squarespace for its flexibility and ease of use.
Share your menu: Your website is a perfect place to highlight your different menu items with photos of each item. It has been proven that restaurant conversions increase by 25% when including photos of their food on their menu or website
Ask for reviews
Boost your reputation with reviews: Google reviews and Yelp reviews are essential for building your reputation and improving your search engine optimization (SEO). Positive reviews not only attract new customers but also signal to search engines that your business is trustworthy and relevant. Don’t forget to always respond to your customers as well when they submit a review. It’s a great way to show you care and improve your search engine visibility.
Use QR codes: Incorporate QR codes in your packaging that link directly to your Google Business profile. This makes it easy for satisfied customers to leave a review, reminding them at the moment when they're most likely to be happy with their purchase.
By following these digital marketing tips, you can create a compelling online presence that attracts new customers and keeps your existing ones coming back. Embrace the power of personal stories, local engagement, and strategic use of digital tools to take your food business to the next level.
