In the catering business, delicious food is only half the battle. Catering marketing is the secret ingredient that attracts clients, keeps them coming back for more, and helps your business thrive.
If the word “marketing” makes you break out in a sweat, don’t stress! In this blog, I’m dishing out some killer catering marketing ideas that are simple and far from overwhelming. Stick around!
Innovative Ideas for Catering Business
Here are some catering marketing strategies for both small and big businesses.
Digital Marketing:
Digital marketing is all about using online channels to promote your catering business.
Any catering business needs a digital marketing plan for these reasons:
- The Internet offers a massive audience compared to traditional marketing methods.
- Compared to print ads or TV commercials, digital marketing can be a lot cheaper.
- Digital channels allow you to showcase your offerings.
- You can also benefit from positive online reviews and testimonials.
- Last but not least, it allows you to connect directly with your target audience.
Let’s explore several super-effective digital marketing ideas for a catering business.
Read more about Instagram marketing for restaurants
#1. Create your own website
A professional website is crucial for any size catering business. Because it serves as your online storefront, showcasing your services, menus, photos, and contact information.
So, make sure to consider these essential elements:
- Include important information like About Us, Services, Menu, Testimonials, and contact info.
- If possible, enable online ordering directly through your website.
- Your website must be mobile-friendly as a huge portion of web traffic comes from mobile devices.
Suggested post: Cafe Marketing Ideas
#2. Optimize your website (SEO marketing)
Getting a website up and running is one thing, but optimizing it is a whole different ball game. With SEO, you can drive tons of organic traffic straight to your site.
SEO also helps you rank higher in search engine results for relevant keywords like “corporate catering” or “wedding catering”.
Remember;
- local SEO is key. Focus on keywords that include your location (e.g., “wedding catering Los Angeles”).
- People are impatient. Optimize your website for faster loading times.
Also, read: Marketing ideas for pubs & bars
#3. Create & optimize Google My Business profile
Google My Business Profile allows you to manage your online presence across Google Search and Maps. It’s free and necessary for a catering business-small or big.
While creating your GMB account, include the following:
- Business Name: Exactly as it appears on your signage and marketing materials.
- Physical Address: Even if you don’t operate from a storefront, a service area can be specified.
- Contact Information: List your phone number, website, and operating hours.
- Categories: Select the most relevant catering service categories (e.g., wedding catering, corporate catering, etc.).
- High-Quality Photos: Showcase your food, team, and happy customers with high-resolution images.
#4. Leverage online reviews
Happy customers leaving positive reviews are essentially promoting your business for free.
Don’t miss this free opportunity! The good news is that there are numerous platforms where you can get online reviews from your customers, like:
- Google My Business: This is the most important one as it’s integrated with search engine algorithms.
- Industry-specific review websites like WeddingWire, The Knot, or OpenTable. You should create an account first.
- Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
How to leverage online reviews for catering marketing?
Customers have done their thing, now it’s your turn to turn it into a golden strategy.
- Encourage reviews: Simply ask your happy customers to leave a review on your Google My Business or social media. But make it easy by providing a link or QR code in your request.
- Respond to all reviews, positive or negative. Thank satisfied customers for their positive feedback and address any concerns in negative reviews.
- Showcase reviews: To make the most of them, share positive reviews and testimonials on your website or social media.
#5. Social media marketing
This is the most effective and low-budget catering marketing strategy for small and mid-size businesses.
Create an account on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and optimize your social media accounts.
Just like your website, add necessary information like contact info, location, opening hours, and a link to your website to the bio or intro.
Social media marketing ideas for catering business
- Let’s go deeper and explore some social media marketing ideas for catering businesses. But, I also recommend you to read social media marketing for restaurants.
- Regularly post different types of content (Reels, Videos, Stories, Memes, Photos, and Carousels) at the times when your audience is most active.
- Add relevant hashtags to all your posts (Video or Photo). Don’t overdo it. Between 5 to 10 would be enough.
- Use Instagram stories or Facebook polls to engage your followers. For example, you can ask questions like “What’s your favorite appetizer” or “Sweet or savory”?
- High-quality photos and videos of your mouthwatering dishes are essential. Try close-up shots, plated presentations, and action shots of food preparation.
- A great idea is to share photos and short videos of successful events you’ve catered to. Something like beautifully decorated tablescapes, happy clients enjoying the food, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team in action.
- Actively respond to comments and messages. Show appreciation for your followers and engage in conversations to build relationships. Meta’s auto-reply feature is the best tool to manage your communications.
- And don’t forget to monitor your social media analytics to see what content resonates best with your audience. Use this data to refine your strategy and tailor your content accordingly.
#6. Email marketing
Email marketing is an affordable marketing tool for large and small catering businesses.
You would need an email marketing platform like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Brevo, or Active Campaign to build an email list and send targeted campaigns with promotions, new menu offerings, and event updates.
Innovative ideas for email marketing for catering business
- Welcome Series: When someone signs up for your email list, send a welcome email series introducing your catering services, showcasing your best dishes, and offering a special discount for new customers.
- Seasonal Promotions: Promote seasonal menus and special offers tailored to holidays, like Thanksgiving catering packages or summer barbecue menus.
- Event-Specific Campaigns: Segment your email list based on event type (weddings, corporate events, etc.) and send targeted campaigns with relevant menu suggestions, testimonials from past clients who booked similar events, and early-bird booking discounts.
- “Win-Back” Campaigns: Re-engage inactive subscribers with special offers or exclusive content like recipes or tips for event planning.
- Blog Content & Recipes: Share valuable content like blog posts on menu planning tips, pairing food with drinks, or even simple recipes related to your catering offerings.
The above ideas will engage your audience but follow these rules:
- Personalize email greetings with the subscriber’s name whenever possible. This creates a more welcoming and professional tone.
- Every email should have a clear call to action (CTA), whether it’s encouraging them to browse menus, download a brochure, or contact you for a quote.
- Monitor your email marketing metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to understand what resonates with your audience and refine your email strategy for better results.
#7. Create website blogs
Website blogs are the best channels to create and share valuable content that educates, inspires, and ultimately attracts potential customers to your catering business.
To create useful blogs, follow these steps:
- First, identify relevant keywords that potential clients use to search for catering services.
- Then, optimize your blog content around these keywords to improve search engine ranking and organic traffic.
- Create a content calendar so you know when and what content you’re going to share.
- Your blogs will need high-quality photos.
- Share your blog posts across all your social media platforms.
- Link your blog posts to relevant pages on your website, like specific menus or contact forms (Internal linking).
Offline Marketing:
In this digital age, you can still market without relying solely on the internet.
Offline marketing is any kind of marketing that you do without using the internet. It’s the traditional way of reaching customers, like seeing a billboard, reading a magazine ad, or getting a flyer in the mail.
Let’s dive into some offline marketing strategies for your catering business:
#8. Networking
Networking means trust and relationships which are fundamental for your business.
This could be attending industry events, business meetings, and chamber of commerce gatherings.
If you own a small restaurant or cafe, Networking is extremely effective as you can heavily rely on your local reputation. Here are a few channels to build your network:
- Join your local Chamber of Commerce: This is a great way to connect with other businesses in your area and build relationships. Many chambers also offer networking events specifically for small businesses.
- Attend industry events: Look for trade shows, conferences, or workshops related to catering, event planning, or the specific niche you cater to (weddings, corporate events, etc.).
- Volunteer your services: Offer to cater a charity event or donate food to a local fundraiser. This is a great way to showcase your skills and give back to the community.
- Partner with complementary businesses: Collaborate with local venues, florists, or rental companies to offer bundled packages or cross-promote each other’s services.
#9. Partnerships
Collaboration with event planners, venues, or other complementary businesses allows you to cross-promote services and reach new audiences.
Look for businesses that don’t directly compete with you but offer services that go well with yours.
Event planners, venues (halls for rent), party rental companies (tables & chairs), or even florists are all great options!
#10. Trade shows
You can also participate in trade shows or expos to showcase your offerings and connect with potential clients. However, this idea could be a bit expensive.
Source: Showlite.co.uk
Don’t just jump into any trade show. Look for events that cater to your ideal client. For example, a wedding catering business would benefit more from a bridal show than a general business expo.
#11. Print advertising
Print advertising can still be effective for catering businesses, especially for reaching local customers who might not be heavily engaged with online marketing.
However, it may not be the most low-budget option compared to some online marketing strategies.
That being said, there are low-budget catering advertising examples:
- Postcards or Flyers: Design eye-catching postcards or flyers with high-quality photos of your food, contact information, and a special offer.
Then, distribute them strategically at local businesses complementary to your services, like event venues or wedding planners. - Community Brochures & Newsletters: Many communities have local newsletters or event brochures where you can place a small ad at a relatively low cost.
- Business Cards: High-quality business cards with clear contact information and a link to your website are a low-cost way to promote your catering services at networking events or vendor fairs.
More Catering Marketing strategies
#12. Loyalty programs
This strategy requires rewarding repeat customers with discounts or exclusive perks. This encourages customer retention and builds brand loyalty.
You can use online platforms like LoyaltyLion, YotPo, Punchh, or Smile.io and consider these reward options:
- Offer tiered discounts based on the loyalty program level.
- Free appetizers, desserts, or even a complimentary equipment rental for their next event.
- Priority booking options for preferred dates or event times.
- limited-edition menus or special dishes only available to loyalty program members.
- Early access to new menus, special promotions, or exclusive catering events.
#13. Targeted online advertising
Sure thing! While paid advertising does require budget considerations, it’s super effective because it hones in on your target audience, boosts online sales, and ramps up leads and conversions.
Platforms like Google Ads or Meta Ads are top picks. Just keep in mind, the average cost per click (CPC) in Google Ads typically sits at around $2.69 for Search and $0.63 for Display ads.
If you’ve decided to try this method, here are some handy tips:
- Define Your Target Audience: Who is your ideal customer? Busy professionals needing corporate lunches? Families planning parties? Understanding your target audience helps tailor your ads for maximum impact.
- Focus on Location Targeting: Since you’re a local catering business, utilize location targeting features to ensure your ads reach people in your service area.
- Compelling Ad Copy and Visuals: Use clear, concise, and persuasive language in your ad copy. Highlight your unique selling proposition and what makes your catering service special. Pair it with high-quality photos or videos of your delicious food presentations.
- Strong Call to Action: Tell potential customers what you want them to do next! Do you want them to visit your website, request a quote, or call you directly? Include a clear call to action in your ad.
- Landing Page Optimization: When someone clicks on your ad, they should land on a relevant and informative page on your website that elaborates on your catering services. Make it easy for them to contact you or request a quote.
- Track and Analyze: Don’t set your ads and forget them! Regularly monitor their performance and adjust your targeting, budget, or ad copy based on the data you collect.
How to create a catering marketing plan?
You gotta have a plan for everything, and marketing is no exception! Believe me, without a solid marketing plan for your catering business, you’ll just end up spinning your wheels.
But hey, it’s not rocket science. Just answer these questions:
- Know Your Goals: What do you want to achieve with your marketing? Is it to increase brand awareness, attract new clients, or boost sales for a specific type of event (weddings, corporate events)? Having clear goals helps guide your marketing efforts.
- Know Your Ideal Client: Who is your perfect customer? Are they busy professionals planning corporate lunches, families throwing wedding receptions, or budget-conscious clients needing graduation party catering? Understanding your ideal client helps tailor your marketing message to resonate with them.
- Highlight Your Strengths: What makes your catering business unique? Is it your delicious food, exceptional service, or focus on sustainable ingredients? Identify your strengths and use them as a selling point in your marketing materials.
- Choose Your Marketing Channels: There are many ways to reach potential clients that I already talked about, from social media marketing to online ads. Choose one that fits your budget, goals, and audience.
- Set a Budget (Optional): While you don’t necessarily need a huge budget, allocate some resources for marketing activities. Focus on free or low-cost options initially, and consider paid advertising as your business grows.
- Track & Analyze: Monitor how your marketing efforts are performing. See which channels bring in the most leads or clients. Use this data to refine your approach and focus on what works best for your business.
Do I need catering marketing companies?
By now, you’re probably thinking catering marketing isn’t a piece of cake, right? You might be wondering if you should go it alone or get some help from a catering marketing company.
Well, it’s really your call and depends on your budget, but let’s be honest, social media marketing companies offer some awesome benefits:
- They have expertise, experience, and knowledge.
- Social media outsourcing companies are truly time-saving.
- They also have access to specialized tools.
For example, if you’ve got Instagram marketing on the agenda, you can hand it off to an organic Instagram growth service like AiGrow.
It’s a real time-saver and can turbocharge your Instagram growth. Why?
‘Cause an Instagram expert dives into your account, whips up strategies tailored to your goals, and handles everything from content creation and posting to keeping an eye on performance.
Catering Marketing FAQs
What is catering marketing?
Catering marketing is about promoting catering services through various channels like social media, website, print advertising, events, loyalty programs, etc to attract new customers.
What are the best catering marketing strategies?
The best catering marketing strategy depends on your budget, goals, and preferences. But digital marketing methods like social media marketing, online reviews, paid ads as well as hosting local events can be effective.
