As American voters cast their ballots between now and election day to elect the next U.S. president, smart food truck owners can use the media hype to bolster their mobile food business bottom lines. Today we’ll discuss six Election Day marketing tips to build some buzz into your food truck sales.

6 Election Day Marketing Tips For Food Truck Vendors

  • Run Election Day Promotion. Offer customers who wear their “I Voted” sticker to order at your food truck on Election Day a discounted price for their meal.
  • Educate Voters. If it’s appropriate for your food truck, educate your customers about food truck election issues. Offer voting guides, or throw a voting night watch party at your truck. If it’s too late to organize these events, start planning for a future election.

RELATED: How DNC & RNC 2016 Party Platforms Could Affect Food Truck Industry

  • Get Out The Vote. As we’ve always told you, each of your marketing emails should have a purpose. Use Election Day as one. After you remind people to vote and include helpful details (such as a link to local polling locations), add a note that announces an upcoming promotion or menu item.
  • Newsjack. Newsjacking is taking a trending topic that’s receiving a lot of media attention and adding a unique promotion or event that makes your food truck part of the story. A Portland advertising agency is doing this.  Ad agency Wieden+Kennedy started the “Donald Trump’s BS” food truck to take direct aim at the GOP presidential nominee. The truck is said to serve sandwiches to the people, with a healthy dose of factual information. They explained the “BS” stands for “baloney sandwiches. How could you newsjack this election or a future one in your community or state?
  • Use humor. Who attacks food trucks? Well, this year it was a Donald Trump supporter. Marco Gutierrez, founder of the group Latinos for Trump said, “My culture is a very dominant culture, and it’s imposing and it’s causing problems. If you don’t do something about it, you’re going to have taco trucks on every corner.” If a certain candidate is elected, could your food truck suffer? Voice your concern by putting a funny, taco truck or email twist on your election day marketing to draw attention.
  • Conduct market research. While voting dominates the news, use the theme to collect customer data. You can do this by usinf people’s voting mind-set to conduct market research. Conduct a survey asking customers to vote for their favorite menu items, or simply ask their opinion about an upcoming new menu special.

The Bottom Line

Even though Presidential elections generate more media hype, don’t underestimate the marketing power of local elections in your community. Look for opportunities to generate buzz around city, and state elections, too. Savvy food truck owners can use elections to beef up your marketing calendars.

Please Note: Remain neutral throughout your election day marketing promotions. Make all consumers feel welcome at your service window no matter who gets their vote.

Do you have any additional election day marketing tips? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section or social media. Facebook | Twitter