2019 Marketing And Branding Strategies For Food Truck Vendors

Do you want to run a successful, profitable food truck? Of course you do. Unfortunately, like many other new food service businesses, the failure rate is exceptionally high. However, if done right there can be huge returns. This year food trucks are collectively predicted to clear more profits industrywide, and it’s the tenth straight year of growth for the industry. With the new year right around the corner, now is a great time to make 2019 your most successful with these ten 2019 marketing and branding strategies for food truck vendors.

10 Simple 2019 Marketing And Branding Strategies

Hire A Professional Food Photographer

The first of our 2019 marketing and branding strategies relates to your marketing budget. If you’re going to put money towards marketing collateral in 2019, make it professional photos. Once you have these images, don’t forget to share the photos online. With every post, make sure your number one goal is unveiling pictures so good your customers can almost taste them.

Instagram Will Remain A Must Marketing Channel

Get your food truck Instagram account setup today if you don’t already have one. Instagram is experiencing massive growth each year. In 2018, the network reached one billion monthly active users and is expected to continue to grow. Also, the platform will continue to be the leading one for brand-influencer collaborations. The main reason why Instagram has high-performance potential lies in its highly engaged community filled with rich visual content. In 2019, food trucks that are able to utilize this content to amplify their voice stand to succeed.

Delve Into Video

The dominance of video in the digital realm probably isn’t news to most food truck owners, but it’s worth noting that growth is only set to continue in coming years. Experts predict that by 2020, 82% of web consumer content will be video-based. If video isn’t already a part of your 2019 marketing strategy, then you really need to make it a priority. Entering the new year without consideration for how video will feature in your strategy is a sure way to get left behind.

Reaching Target Audiences Will Become Tougher

Pay attention!!! The industry is growing and that means more competition in 2019. Because of this there is more value of engaging with influencers to reach their target audience. You will have to use community-driven marketing strategies to tell authentic brand stories and adequately engage your customers.

Again, consider upping your marketing budgets for 2019 to gain favor with coveted, popular influencers. But what many vendors are starting to realize is that the true value lies in harnessing the mind-share of existing happy customers who are highly engaged on social media.

Engage With Your Audience

If you really want to make your customers feel special, share the pictures they take and like them on social media. By doing so, it shows how much you appreciate your customers and also adds a personal perspective to your food truck brand. If you decide to share, just make sure you give them credit.

Include Yelp In Your Social Media Strategy

Over the years, Yelp has gained a reputation as the number one Internet rating and review site. This means you’re guaranteed to get reviewed even if you don’t create an account. Make sure you’re listening to and participating in the conversation by responding thoughtfully to all reviews, both positive and negative.

Make sure your profile is complete by adding information such as:

Photos
Typical operational hours
Common Parking Locations
Menu
Prices
Amenities (Wi-Fi/Seating/Phone charging/etc.)

Respond To Both Positive Press & Negative Reviews

The moment you get a press hit, you should immediately share it with your followers on social media. If you can get your hands on a physical copy, it’s also a great idea to frame it in your truck. Negative online reviews call for timely, polite, and public responses. Always thank customers for their feedback and make an effort to win back their business.

Know Your Food Truck’s Brand Identity

All effective food truck marketing strategies begin and end with one thing: your target audience. Once you’ve identified them, build your food truck’s brand with them in mind. Every post you publish should engage the consumers who track down your truck week after week.

Create Authentic Content

Traditional advertising and stock photos aren’t winners on social media anymore. Thus, the demand for authenticity and transparency will continue to rise in 2019. Social media will continue to bring an authentic flavor for food trucks who are looking to captivate their audiences in new ways. People connect with food trucks because they want honest and transparent insight into the food they serve. Successful marketing campaigns will be focused on in meeting the need for authenticity in 2019. Show more transparency! It goes a long way.

Show Off Your Food Truck Staff

Don’t keep your staff relegated to your food truck kitchen. Regularly incorporating your employees into your social media content adds a human element to your brand. Let the consumers that follow you meet the chef and feature employee profiles. It can do wonders for your reputation and sets the tone for a friendly, familiar food truck experience.

The Bottom Line

Are you ready to turn up the heat and push past the competition next year? Build your business with these ten 2019 marketing and branding strategies. Do you have any additional marketing and branding strategies? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section or social media. Facebook | Twitter