You’ve got your food truck up and running. Now what? Fine tuning your social media footprint is an effective, economical way to increase sales and ensure the success of your business. There are many platforms to choose from, and all of them have unique audiences of potential customers to engage.
According to smartinsights.com, there are over three billion active social media users. 48% of consumers are more likely to buy from a responsive brand. 46% of consumers are more likely to take advantage of promotions offered through social media. If you’re not sure how to leverage the power of social media to improve your business, we’re here to help!
1. Hashtags
A hashtag is a way of categorizing social media posts and making your content viewable to audiences that you may want to attract. It’s used within a post on social media to help those who may be interested in your topic, and they can find your post when they search for the keyword or specific hashtag.
A great way to harness the power of the hashtag is to do a little research on which hashtags are popular or commonly searched. The top five hashtags on Instagram right now are #instagood, #photooftheday, #food, #igers, and #lifestyle. Including one of these relevant to your post may help boost engagement with your content on Instagram. But these alone won’t do the trick. You need to be tuned into which hashtags are popular in your area. For example, in Washington, D.C., one of the top food related hashtags is #dceats.
2. Influencers
According to pixlee.com, a social media influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. They have access to a large audience and can use their authenticity and persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. Their followers trust them and their taste. A stamp of approval from an influencer boosts your food truck’s credibility.
Keep an eye out for influencers in your local food industry and connect with them either online or at a local food related event. Remember that this endeavor can’t be one-sided. What do you have to offer them and how do you stand out to the other businesses that contact them? This is something you’ll want to have figured out before you approach them.
3. A Picture Says 1,000 Words
The proverbial “bread and butter” of your online presence will be photos and information about your menu items. This will be how you get your potential customers excited about your food truck. Taking high-quality photos of your food is critical to marketing your business and attracting business, so you must devote time and energy to producing the best possible photos. Consider having professional photos taken of your menu items. This can sometimes be costly, but it is worth it to ensure that your food looks its best in your social media content.
Another easy way to get photo content of your menu items is to rely on photos your customers have already taken. If you haven’t already, consider adding your social media handles and hashtags to your signage to encourage your customers to take and share photos of your truck and your food. Consider offering promotions to customers who take “shareable” photos of your food.
4. Follow the Eyes
Pay close attention to the type of content social media users are flocking to. While you’re researching the food truck industry in your area, consider the successful content of other businesses. Are videos getting the most interaction? Boomerang on Instagram? What does your audience care about?
Look at your own metrics – is there a certain campaign or post that performed well? Think about the reasons why and see if that mirrors the same trend in the food and beverage industry at large in your area. Follow social media brands and experts to learn from their insight into emerging trends. Once you’ve learned how to use your metrics to position yourself, it’s also important to stand out. Learn to establish and maintain your own unique individuality, and your brand will shine bright.
5. The “Lifestyle” Feel
Your business’s social media account is bigger than just food. Followers tend to tune out and are less engaged when every post is aimed solely at selling them something. Your audience trusts you when you allow them to see the human element to your business. They want to see behind the scenes content. They want to see family members and travels. Your audience wants to care about your food truck’s story and the people behind it tell that story. When your content showcases more than just what you’re selling, it will have a direct impact on your following and the engagement on your content.
Whether you’re a social media novice or you were born to ‘gram, there’s always something new to learn when it comes to social media and its marketing power. Share your insights with us in the comments and let us know how you’ve used social media for your food truck!
