Six tips to market your food business this holiday season

Food is a significant part of the Christmas holidays. There are staff parties, class parties, family gatherings and countless other opportunities to eat. So, if you have a food business now is the most opportune time to position your food business for a financial windfall. 

The following are some tips that you can use to market the business during the festive season (and maybe beyond).

• Start early – Know what your holiday plans are for the business and pull together those plans early enough to craft a comprehensive marketing plan. Contact current clients to find out what their needs are during the holidays and use the opportunity to advertise your offerings for the season. Use both traditional and non-traditional media tactics to attract new clients as well.  A rewards programme for existing clients may also be a good option to attract new clients.  But again, you must start early!
• Use social media – Incorporate appropriate social media into your marketing campaign.  Social media platforms provide a unique opportunity to reach audiences in real time and basically ‘show and tell’ your holiday offerings.   A good social media campaign will engage your audience and assist in spreading the word about the business.
• Take great photos – And if you’re using social media, ensure that you have high-quality visuals to share.   There’s no better way to promote your business across platforms than with superior, drool-inducing photos from your menu. #Enoughsaid
• Incorporate your customers – Encourage customers to share pictures of their favourite meal at your restaurant, and to say why it’s their favourite --- kinda like an endorsement.  You in turn, can share that on other social media networks or even in your traditional marketing campaign.  Offer an incentive for the most compelling story, just as a reward for any random customer sharing their experience.

 

• Offer a delivery service – The great thing about offering a delivery service is that you do not necessarily have to have a delivery department as part of your business.  There are several small delivery companies that now offer these services, and at a minimal cost.  Partner with one of them for deliveries as this can boost the attractiveness of your business to clients.
• Offer a catering service – In addition to operating an ‘eat-in’ facility, offer a catering service for both corporate and residential clients.  This will not only diversify the business but provide an additional stream of income.

Especially during the holidays, food is a connecting force over which new memories are made and festive moods shared.  Your establishment, once prepared can capitalize on the many opportunities that this period presents.