Someone Hire Me! – Marketing Your Catering Business – Part 2
Today we would like to share with you a four more marketing tips for your brand new catering business.
1) Creating a website: Why are websites so important? Because a website is where you can direct your prospects to and “capture them” there. Treat your website like it’s a brochure and the whole purpose of your website is to Pre-Sell you and your amazing catering services. Your website should have the following pages: ‘About You’, Pictures, Events, Contact Us, Pricing, Recommendations. Now If you really want to spice up your website – add a blog and start posting articles promoting your expertise. Make sure your URL is easy to remember for example: www.samscatering.com – Keep it simple.
Remember: the website must share what is unique about you and your services. Which this leads me to number 2.
2) You see in the early stages of your business you must focus on branding yourself. What area in catering are you really really good at? Is it baking cakes? Is it making a good soup? Is it your beautiful designed cupcakes? What ever it is – personal branding is critical because that’s how your name gets out there and thats how people remember. For example: Are you familiar with Holy Bagel? Well they do many Brit Milah events and other ‘simple’ events. Now why are they so popular? Because they have branded themselves as a company that will show up on time – do the work – serve excellent food – clean up and the event ends with zero problems. This is how people remember them and this is what people will tell their friends.
If you are not clear about your personal branding, we always recommend the following: Choose one specific area in catering and become really really good at it. Start with that specific area and brand yourself as the guy/gal who does the best job.
3) Facebook: Why is Facebook so powerful for marketing? Because the larger your personal network is – the more chances of your name getting out there and people hiring you or recommending your services to a friend.
Simple Case Study: In my network their is someone who creates really beautiful cakes. Almost every day she uploads pictures of her creations. Last week a friend of mine mentioned to me that she wants to surprise her husband for his birthday and that she was looking to create a customized cake for the event. She asked me “Do you know anyone who can create such a cake?” The first person that came to mind was the person in my Facebook network who creates the beautiful cakes…and guess what? She got the job!.
4) What’s the best marketing? Word of Mouth is the best marketing tool that exists today! This means that people are talking about you and your name is getting around. The best way to get started with your word of mouth is by telling all of your close family and friends, they will always be happy to help you get started.
But above anything else:
Excellent customer service is more precious then anything in the world. People like to do business with nice people. One of the reasons all of the great companies became great was because they had excellent customer service.
Always return a phone call
Always respond to emails
Make sure that you are easy to reach
Always be on time
Treat the customer with incredible respect (sometimes its not easy!:)
Remember this great quote:
The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best, but legendary.