As a business owner, you’re always trying to find new ways to increase profitability. In the food truck business coming up with lucrative ideas can be complicated. Increasing the bottom line comes down to bringing in and maintaining a good customer base. You can leverage technology through things like social media or even building your own app. Even things like invigorating your menu with new and seasonal items can help drive sales and create buzz about your business.
Social Media Marketing
“Twitter specifically has become a favorite of mobile food vendors. You can get started by going to Twitter and setting up an account under your business name. Then you can begin sending tweets. The best part about Twitter is that it's an interactive media tool that keeps your customers updated in the moment.” - Entrepreneur
Social media is the marketing engine that drives the food truck industry. This is where potential customers can track your trucks, engage with you and learn about promotions. While Twitter is the most important platform for many food truck owners, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest still hold value. The food industry is highly visual, which makes it perfect for social media. Images and videos should be developed to promote and personalize your brand.
Refresh Your Menu
“Balancing a standard menu with rotating items has multiple benefits. For the customer, new items enhance the experience by adding an element of discovery to the visit. For operators, new items present an opportunity to pamper regulars, bring new people in, and continually develop and improve the menu using customer feedback.” – QSR Magazine
In the food industry it is important to be unique while still keeping up with the latest trends. Rotating the bottom of your menu to include your newest creations and popular items from overseas will help to keep your menu fresh and exciting. Allowing yourself or your chef to experiment with new tastes will ensure your menu does not become stale. Offering free samples of your latest dishes to your current customer base will help you to gauge their popularity and revenue potential.
Build An App
“Mobile apps provide you with an effective way to drive user engagement and simplify business needs, and because customers can only download it if you already know about your truck, it’s a great way for an underground service to deepen engagement with its customers.” – App Makr
A mobile app for your food truck business is one of the best ways to build customer loyalty. It is a good idea to hire an experienced developer to ensure your vision comes to life. Your app should include a way to track your truck, customer reviews, your menu and any upcoming or current promotions. Be sure to include an incentive to all those that download your app.
Branding
“Branding your company is key to influencing a memorable response in the minds of your chosen audience. It is not only the name recognition of your business, but also the perceived value of your food truck. Capture these essential branding elements and begin to cement a positive branded image for your food truck.” – Mobile-Cuisine
There are numerous ways to build your food truck brand including social media, mobile apps and even using your truck as a rolling billboard. Brand recognition is essential in the food industry as quality and consistency rules. Having an exceptional product will mean very little if customers don’t recognize your brand. Giving away inexpensive branded merchandise and ensuring your packaging includes your name and logo will go a long way toward building brand recognition.
Food trucks are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to dine out. Many professionals depend on food trucks to find healthy and unique food options that fit into their tight schedules. They are great as standalone ventures or extensions of brick and mortar establishments. There is a lot of opportunity for profit and the importance of marketing is paramount. For more ideas on how to improve your food truck business click below to download our free restaurant investment guide.
