Having excellent culinary skills, acquiring culinary equipment, getting a forefront location and financial Capital could help you set up a Catering service business but there is a constant need to continuously market the business in other for people to know you offer an outstanding top notch catering service .This will enable you get the patronage you desire, in the competitive market were they are several well trained and experienced caterers who also want to get the biggest bite out of the pie.
Most catering services today are operated on a small scale and are unable to hire marketing professionals except a handful of them or already well established catering companies. It is therefore of vital importance that owners of catering business develop a marketing plan that would guide them until they grow to the level of being able to hire a marketing professional or marketing team.
Here are 7 useful marketing tips for catering service providers that would help promote their catering business.


Have a marketing budget: - To gain more business people need to know your brand name and also know the quality of service you provide and be constantly reminded about it. These can be achieved through consistent marketing. It is therefore important for catering business to set aside a marketing budget which will be used to finance the marketing strategies that works best for them. You can start by trying few strategies, over time you review and evaluate then you continue with the things that work for you and do away with those that appear not to be yielding any result.

Build a website and online followership:-The first thing to do if you are to market your product online is to have a website. This is where people can visit to find out information about you and your business. It is also a springboard for all your other online marketing efforts. Try as much as possible to maximize the marketing opportunity created by social media such as facebook, twitter, Instagram etc. Create a facebook page and twitter account make sure it is updated regularly with fresh and quality contents such as pictures of your menu, events, discussions with friends about your experiences.Share your content and reach out to prospects around your target market through social media. Another way to create online followership is to create a blog were you can blog about food industry, about your experiences; provide helpful tips and useful advice to event planners and people looking for advice. You can post on your own website or on blogger or Wordpress .Endeavour to link your blog post and website to all your social media accounts.
One thing that can attract more people to your website are videos on cooking training or cooking show. It would attract lots of people. How to decorate a red velvet cake has more than100, 000 views on YouTube. Note that it should not be more than 10 minutes. Get listed in online business directories it would help your company show up on search engine results.



Develop a catering brand:-When you poorly brand your catering business it kills the business. You need to showcase style and sophistication in your branding. Hire a professional graphic artist to design a catchy and stylish logo for your outdoor signage, these logo and designs should be used in your flyers, Letterhead, Handbills, Staff uniform, Banners, Business Card .It must be amazing because all these would form your brand image. Remember to use a catchy name for your business, a name that can easily be remembered. And if you have a van that takes you to events it would be great to brand the vehicle.

Targeted brochure and business card: Develop different brochure for various customers who have specific concerns. You can design a brochure targeted at event planners this should indicate the venue capacity you can handle effectively, Menu, the discount you offer on referrals from event planners and Bulk pricing. While a brochure targeted at individual could include menu options, how you organize private tasting, Venue options and price. At any events such as weddings, conference, parties etc always go along with your business card and remember the business card is an entrepreneur’s most valuable marketing tool.


Invest in photography: Hire a professional photographer or if affordable get a high quality digital camera to take high quality pictures of your events, the food you catering for an event, well organized private food tasting all these would be used to promote your business in your website, Blog, facebook and other social media accounts and online marketing effort.

Have a customer loyalty program: - Give out some discount to returning customers, people who recommend you for events and also give special bonuses to people in Government institutions, corporate organizations that ensure your services is chosen. During festive periods and year end you could also send them gift and souvenir.

Targeted Advertisement: If you choose to advertise your Catering business and you consider that placing an advert on TV, Radio or Newspaper is too expensive and the target is too broad then you can advertise on Wedding Magazine, Event Planning Magazine who has the same target market as you. Also you can advertise in a Local Shoppers guide in your city. Its most time affordable and people often get hold of it when searching for service providers.

I hope you find these tips useful in your catering business
for more marketing tips visit my newly launched blog
collinsuzamere..com
or emaill:collins.uzamere@gmail.com

Very insightful.