Marketing ideas for food catering business

It's not always easy to get the attention you need for your catering business. How can you make your business stand out from the crowd in the foodservice industry, while also having time to indulge in your passion for cooking? These essential marketing ideas will bring customers to your door.

1. Get a fantastic website

Your website should serve as a powerful tool for generating leads and sales. Share helpful blogs, recipes, and updates to establish yourself as a local authority. Working with a web developer can help you make your site conversion focused. 

Your catering website may include features such as ordering and payment, which will save you and your client’s time.

Integrate photos and videos to appeal to your senses. To encourage people to share, embed photos and videos into your blog posts, social media updates and emails. Share video tutorials for recipes, advice clips and staff introductions. 

Create a strong online presence using major platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Work with content creators like bloggers, social media influencers and podcasters to expand your reach.

2. Optimize Your Website for Mobile Use

Mobile traffic accounts for about half of the internet traffic in Australia now. A mobile-friendly website will make you more accessible to customers who use mobile devices. 

You'll be able to interact with your customers, view content, and submit orders from anywhere. Your leads may be searching on mobile devices to find your business. If your website is mobile friendly, you will be providing them an optimized experience.

3. Integrate your eCommerce directly into the website

You can automate all your sales processes, including the online ordering by customers. You can easily customize orders, update the menu, and add new menu items. Simple things such as automated order confirmations, easy and quick quotes, and invoice downloads make a huge difference for customers and can support an efficient backend.

4. Unlocking the potential of digital marketing

Digital marketing or internet marketing can drive traffic to your site and get people talking about you catering business.

• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). – Drive organic traffic to a site by sharing topical, useful content using key phrases and keywords. Use SEO to boost your search results.
• Social media – Create a presence, share photos, videos, and tips, and post news and updates. You can pay for social media ads that are targeted.
• Pay per Click - Pay per Click advertising allows you to target specific search results. Advertise for local searches, like "Sydney Catering", as well as special events such as "Christmas Catering", "Office catering in Sydney", or "Wedding catering".
• Use keywords that are specific to your area, city and language to attract local traffic. You can, for example, target phrases such as "Chicago gourmet caterers".

5. Use testimonials

Testimonials are a great way to build credibility and trust for your catering business. Use a system to capture customer feedback, such as Trustpilot and Google reviews. You can highlight great reviews in your social media posts and blog and create a testimonials page on your website.

Monitor reviews and testimonials on external websites, such as review platforms and catering directories. Respond to negative reviews in a positive and professional manner. Readers will get both sides. Give referral bonuses to encourage customers who recommend you.

6. Take Professional Photos

Do not leave it to the customers to imagine what they will be receiving. Invest in high-quality photography to showcase your signature dishes. For a strong visual impact, use only high-quality images for your brochures. Think about which gourmet creations best represent your brand. Consider which dishes are visually appealing and what your clients want.

Use the correct size for your images when sharing them on Instagram or other social media platforms. Use hashtags to make your posts more visible in searches. Use different photos, stories and videos to spice up your posts.

7. Use high quality packaging supplies

High quality and custom packaging solutions can help your catering business stand out and leave a strong impression with the customers. Atpack provides a wide range of catering and grazing boxes, kraft paper bag, takeaway containers and more for catering businesses.

8. Style Your Food

Make sure your food looks irresistible in photos and videos, as well at the event. Food that is visually appealing will sell itself because it stimulates the senses. Customers who want to impress their guests with their catering can use aesthetic appeal as a value proposition.

Some great ways to create a powerful visual impact are:

• Centrepieces and feature Items - Incorporate dramatic centrepieces in your menus.
• Use color - Add splashes of vibrant colors and shades that contrast to your dishes.
• Even numbers - Threes and fives are good for highlighting items, such as meatballs, dumplings or rolls.
• Drizzles: Add a touch of flair to your food by adding sauces, syrups and liquid ingredients.
• Smaller portions are the key to better photos and videos.

9. Understand your market

How can you develop a marketing strategy if you do not know your market? Know who your audience is. If your target audience is not large enough to sustain a business, you may want to reconsider. Consider your local market: Who is around you? You could target offices, private parties, family events, schools and cafes.

Are you a gourmet chef or a mass-market specialist? You may work in several different segments. What is your target audience for the services you provide? Understand their thinking, their needs, and their budgets and then determine how to best market to them.

10. Develop a business plan

A business plan will help you to get the big picture and then build your marketing strategies from there. In a formal business plan, you will identify your goals, your value proposition, your target market, and the way in which you'll reach your goals. Are you specialized in a certain cuisine, service or event? What makes you different from your competitors? How do you give customers value for money?

It is important to have a value proposition that identifies what you offer customers and why you are better than your competitors. Include essential elements in your plan, such as market research, competitor analysis, branding strategy, and budgeting. Include specifics about your market goals, as well as target audiences and segments.

11. Customize your delivery van

Your vans, or perhaps delivery bikes and scooters, can be used to promote your catering services to the locals. Make sure that your vehicles are in excellent condition, well-maintained and immaculately clean. Include your website, phone number and logo in a prominent place. Work with a consultant to update graphics, logos, and other branding material if your branding is outdated.

Your branding consultant will be able help you design the best graphics, and place vehicle wraps and decals to maximize impact. Do not forget to keep your branding consistent across all marketing materials, including brochures, storefronts, and vehicles.

12. Get out and explore the real world

List everyone you can directly approach with a personal pitch: wedding planners and bridal shops, banks, ad agency, local golf and sporting clubs, galleries, museums, exhibition halls and law offices. Do research and prepare your pitch to make your proposal competitive.

Directly contact local businesses. Participate in local business and volunteer groups. Your business will be the go-to caterer. Donate services at a discount or give away freebies to those in need. You can also work with local businesses to promote your services to their customers.

13. Become a trade show exhibitor

Trade shows, conferences and fairs are great opportunities to meet people in person. The same events, such as community gatherings and farmers' markets or festivals, are great opportunities to showcase your products. You can distribute menus, pamphlets, and samples and allow your audience to ask questions. You can use personalized menus to target customers at local events such as food fairs and bridal fairs.

Create an appealing sample menu to offer at marketing events such as fairs, tradeshows, open days, and client visits. Your menu should be both affordable to produce and attractive enough to impress your target audience.

14. Make the most out of your shopfront

Take advantage of your shopfront if you have one. Signs that are large and eye-catching can be used to promote your brand, and inform locals of what you do. Place menus and signage in your windows. Display pamphlets and chalkboards on tables and counters. Branded products like coffee mugs or reusable cutlery can be sold.

You can capture leads with promotions like monthly business cards draws. Regular tastings, open houses and other events, which include samples and treats for qualified leads are another great way to attract more attention.

15. Touch base regularly

It is much more cost-effective to convert existing customers than to acquire new ones.

Consider these strategies to improve your messaging when you touch base:

• Personalization – Personalize your marketing messages so that your customers will feel valued.
• Add value by sharing useful content, not just sales messages. You can, for example, educate your customers about how to use the website to place orders and pay. You can share information about exciting new dishes.
• Use multiple platforms - Try out different communication platforms such as social media, email newsletters, and even physical mailings.

16. Create press releases, brochures and QR codes

Press releases are a great way to spread the word. These can be distributed through local newspapers, community bulletins and food magazines. Locals should be informed about new launches and products, as well as any milestones that you have achieved such new contracts and partnerships.

To stand out, you can also distribute pamphlets or put up signs with QR codes that lead to your website. Hire promotional staff to hand out these pamphlets in busy retail areas. You can ask local businesses to display your QR Code flyer or pamphlet in reception areas. You can also display pamphlets at local chambers of business, trade shows and fairs, gyms or coworking spaces, and other venues.

Stand out from the crowd

In the food service sector, it is important to market your services and to provide a high-quality service. There are many strategies that you can use to reach your targeted customers, from optimizing your web presence to branding and photographing your products.

Watch your catering sales grow by following these marketing tips.