social media – Custom Concessions http://www.customconcessions.com Mon, 02 Aug 2021 17:36:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.1 http://www.customconcessions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/cropped-Fav-32x32.jpg social media – Custom Concessions http://www.customconcessions.com 32 32 4 Valuable Summer Season Preparation Tips for Your Food Truck Company http://www.customconcessions.com/4-valuable-summer-season-preparation-tips-for-your-food-truck-company/ Mon, 14 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13790 The summer season is potentially the most profitable time of year for a food truck company. There are more outdoor events, and people naturally spend more time outside in the hot and sunny weather. However, if you are unprepared, you could miss out on huge business opportunities. Fortunately, you can […]

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white food truck parked on city street

Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels

The summer season is potentially the most profitable time of year for a food truck company. There are more outdoor events, and people naturally spend more time outside in the hot and sunny weather.

However, if you are unprepared, you could miss out on huge business opportunities. Fortunately, you can take several key steps to ensure you work efficiently and maximize your profits.

Read on for 4 essential summer season food truck tips and tricks.

Prepare for the Season

Because the weather is more favorable, you could be attending events and posting up at outdoor locations every day during summertime. It’s important to look after your health by keeping your air conditioning unit in good mint. 

Also, you can’t afford for fridges or ice makers to stop working in the heat. Food could go off more quickly, in which case you might have to leave a busy location early. You don’t want to miss out on those potential sales! It’s important to check these appliances before and after every use.

Cleanliness is vital for a food truck business. While it’s crucial for your appearance, it’s even more important for food safety. Use a food truck cleaning list to ensure you don’t miss any areas, and give your truck a deep clean before the busy season. 

By keeping a regular maintenance routine, you can make sure your truck is ready for the whole season.

Look Out for Events

There are endless opportunities to attend music concerts, sporting events, outdoor cinemas, and other popular events in the summertime.

Try to free up some time each week to go onto Facebook groups, local authority websites, and even check on shop noticeboards. Form relationships with other business owners who can keep you in the loop about local events.

If you can find an opportunity your competitors don’t know about, you could make a healthy profit and boost your reputation within the local community.

Seasonal Menu for your Food Truck Company 

Choosing a menu isn’t quite as simple as offering what you think customers might like in warmer weather. You also need to consider current popular trends! And you might want to keep in mind that summer is also diet season for some people. 

Look online to see what’s popular. You may find a new juice drink or a popular type of Mediterranean salad that is all the rage.

You can install new equipment for different foods and beverages before it’s time to meet your hungry customers. This can give you an edge over your competition. 

Connect With Customers

An important step when connecting with the modern-day customer is to advertise on social media. Regularly take high-quality photographs of your food and post them on multiple platforms.

Many businesses think this is enough, but the best food trucks take it further. Post questions about what people want to eat to get engagement. If you offer healthy meals, explain why it is good for the customer.

The more detailed information you provide, the more likely a customer will choose your food truck for their needs.

Don’t Get Beat by the Summer Heat

Don’t let summer go by without taking advantage of the benefits it holds for your food truck company. 

Want to expand your food truck fleet or open your first truck? Contact us for a free quote on your custom truck!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Get Your Food Truck Ready for Summer In 6 Easy Steps http://www.customconcessions.com/get-your-food-truck-ready-for-summer-in-6-easy-steps/ Mon, 24 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13758 Summer is the busiest season in the food truck industry, so make sure you’re prepared to handle the rush and take advantage of maximum profits. Before the summer kicks off it’s important to get your food truck in good shape, plan a seasonal menu, and strategize your marketing efforts.  Follow […]

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glass of ice water on a picnic table in the sun

Photo by picjumbo.com from Pexels

Summer is the busiest season in the food truck industry, so make sure you’re prepared to handle the rush and take advantage of maximum profits. Before the summer kicks off it’s important to get your food truck in good shape, plan a seasonal menu, and strategize your marketing efforts. 

Follow these six tips on how to get your food truck ready for summer to have the biggest season yet.

1. Get Your Food Truck Maintenance Done Early

Before summer kicks off, make sure your food truck is in top shape so you don’t have to slow down for repairs and maintenance during the busy season. Take care of the oil change, check the tires, fill up the fluids, flush holding tanks, and get any other needed repairs done.

2. Keep Your Truck Cool

Make sure your food truck’s AC is operating smoothly before the long summer days start. The last thing you want is for food to go bad or to overheat your employees working all-day outdoor events. 

Stock a fridge with drinks and refreshments just for your employees to help keep them cool for their entire shift. To keep your food safe, be sure and keep items within recommended temperature ranges.

3. Switch Up Your Menu

No matter what style of food you serve, you should start offering menu options that play off the summer season. Think about cool drinks, refreshing snack options, and frozen desserts to beat the heat. A seasonal menu will keep your customers’ attention and leave them wanting more.

4. Build Community Through Your Social Media

Summer is a great time to build a community around your food truck since you’ll encounter the most customers during this season. Before it starts, post fun challenges on your social media pages and offer coupons for customers who complete the challenges. When summer rolls around, they can use those coupons at one of your events. 

For the challenges, you can have your followers share your social media pages with friends so you get more exposure.

5. Invest in Promotional Swag

You’ll be in front of more customers during the summer months than any other time of year, so take advantage of promotional swag to spread brand awareness. Stickers and pens are great options to giveaway to customers for free, and make sure you outfit your staff with crisp new t-shirts for summer. 

6. Plan a Summer Kick-Off

Memorial Day is typically seen as the start of the summer season, so make sure you have events lined up for Memorial Day weekend. Promote it as your food truck’s “kick-off” to the season with special discounts and incentives to increase customer turn out. Make it a party and set the tone for how the rest of the season will be so that your customers will want to keep coming back all summer long.

Get Your Food Truck Ready for Summer

Your business will have a successful and memorable season with these ideas to get your food truck ready for summer. For more tips on running your food truck business all year round, check out the rest of our blog.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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5 Creative Ideas for Marketing a Food Truck http://www.customconcessions.com/5-creative-ideas-for-marketing-a-food-truck/ Mon, 10 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13622 The food truck industry is competitive and challenging to break into. You must have a solid business plan, a good brand identity, and proper advertising. You need to learn how you can stand out. Keep reading for 5 cool and creative ideas for marketing a food truck.  1. Launch a […]

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handwritten text that reads "marketing strategy" on chalkboard with glowing light bulb

The food truck industry is competitive and challenging to break into. You must have a solid business plan, a good brand identity, and proper advertising. You need to learn how you can stand out.

Keep reading for 5 cool and creative ideas for marketing a food truck. 

1. Launch a Social Media Campaign 

In our digital age, you really should have an online presence. However, simply having a Facebook page or posting a few photos to Instagram isn’t going to make your business boom. You need to have the right strategy and launch a social media campaign.

Look into what your competitor’s social media sites are like to gather marketing ideas. What is their brand style? Do they actively engage with their customers often?

From here, you can build your own strategy and think about the content you want to produce. Make sure it is unique and engaging. Monitor your posts and see what works and what doesn’t. 

2. Establish Your Brand Identity 

No matter how good your food is or how well you treat your customers, you’ll just blend into the background if you don’t have a good and memorable brand identity. Use vibrant colors that will help you stand out and get a simple yet unique logo designed. Be careful you don’t go too over to the top and make your menu or advertisements unreadable or unclear.

Once you have your brand established, you can sell or give away promotional items like t-shirts, cups, metal straws, bottle openers, etc. 

3. Hand Out Loyalty Cards and Win Return Customers 

How can you make sure your customers will come back? Hand out loyalty cards. Loyalty cards, such as a “Buy 5, Get 1 Free” promotion, will encourage folks to buy more and to return to your food truck until they complete their card.

You can even use a digital loyalty reward system if you don’t want to hand out physical cards. It’s highly customizable, so you can change your strategy often. It won’t affect your bottom-line. In fact, it will increase your sales and profits. 

4. Get In Ahead of Popular Food Trends 

The video-sharing app TikTok has popularized certain food trends like dalgona coffee, White Claw slushies, and strawberry milk. There’s no shortage of new fads on the rise. While you may not want to base your whole food truck business around one of these, it can certainly be a part of your menu.

There are always new innovations in coffee. This high-in-demand beverage is a good addition. 

5.  Follow National Food Holidays

No, we don’t mean Thanksgiving. There’s a lot of fun food holidays you can celebrate to promote your business and draw in new customers. February 9th is National Pizza Day, and November 1st is World Vegan Day.

You can advertise on social media about these holidays and celebrate with your customers with a fun menu change. 

Marketing a Food Truck Made Easy 

When operating and marketing a food truck, you need to know how to stand out. Launching a social media campaign will help you get the word out about your business. Look at your competitors for inspiration. Learn about what’s popular and follow the trends—and possibly even make your own.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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3 Ways to Get Customer Feedback About Your Food Truck http://www.customconcessions.com/3-ways-to-get-customer-feedback-about-your-food-truck/ Wed, 10 Mar 2021 20:41:23 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13625 Food trucks have experienced a revival, especially as a safe and delicious option for getting takeout food in the age of coronavirus. However, due to their changing locations or lack of permanent space, sometimes it can be difficult to build a loyal customer base.  One of the best ways to get the […]

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female customer getting fries from a food truck vendor

Food trucks have experienced a revival, especially as a safe and delicious option for getting takeout food in the age of coronavirus. However, due to their changing locations or lack of permanent space, sometimes it can be difficult to build a loyal customer base. 

One of the best ways to get the word out about your food truck is to generate customer feedback. The more customer reviews your business receives, the more exposure and buyers you will get. Here are a few ways that you will get many more reviews and boost your business profile in no time. 

1. Post Regularly on Social Media

A good social media presence is essential for your business. You should set up social media accounts for posting business updates, new menu additions, and promotions or specials your food truck may run. Some of the best social media sites for restaurants include Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and even TikTok.

When your customers follow you on social media, you’re giving them the opportunity to engage with your business. When they leave feedback on your photos in the form of comments, your social media algorithm will boost your online presence and expose your business to more potential customers.

2. Remind Your Customers to Leave Reviews

Online reviews can be a huge advantage for your business, and they are also a completely organic way to generate customer comments. If your business has an online presence on review sites like Yelp and Google, then your customers can easily give you a star rating and leave their comments.

Reviewing a business through a third-party site is one of the easiest feedback methods. Your customers will be prompted to rate the business, leave their review, and usually have the option to upload photos. You can also easily respond to customer comments through these sites. 

3. Have Unforgettable Menu Items

For positive feedback, a foolproof way to generate more customer comments, along with interest in your food truck business, is to be unique. Make sure if you have a signature dish, promote it, and if you don’t, you should think about adding dishes to your menu that will make your business stand out. 

If customers see there is something unique about your food truck, then they are much more likely to leave a positive review or give you firsthand feedback about what they enjoyed about their experience. Be sure to remind them to give their feedback when their order is complete. 

Customer Feedback is Key to Expanding Your Business

When you run a food truck, you rely on your customers to keep you in business, which is one of the many reasons why customer feedback can be so important. For even more customer comments, you should consider letting customers fill out a survey in change for coupons or freebies. 

Want to know more about the best way to run your food truck business? Visit our blog for more details.  

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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7 Food Truck Prep Tips For Spring 2021 http://www.customconcessions.com/7-food-truck-prep-tips-for-spring-2021/ Mon, 01 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13586 Owning a food truck is an exciting venture, but it comes with its challenges. If you own a food truck in a place with harsh winters and shut down or have reduced sales during the off-season, one of those challenges is preparing to restart operations in the spring.  Spring will be here […]

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photo of a worker setting items on a food truck's fold down shelf

Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels

Owning a food truck is an exciting venture, but it comes with its challenges. If you own a food truck in a place with harsh winters and shut down or have reduced sales during the off-season, one of those challenges is preparing to restart operations in the spring. 

Spring will be here before we know it, so make sure your food truck is prepared for maximum growth. Bring your business out of hibernation effectively so you can serve more customers without skipping a beat.

Let’s breakdown seven food truck prep tips for Spring 2021. 

1. Amp Up Your Menu

If you offered a limited selection during the winter slow time, now’s the time to surprise and delight your customers with new options. Get creative and try to offer seasonal foods that will become a staple of springtime.

2. Hit Social Media Hard

If you stepped back on social media because there wasn’t as much going on, now’s the time to boost your online presence so your customers know you’re back in business. Utilize tools that engage with your audience, like polls and question boxes on Instagram.

3. Target Spring Breakers

If hungry spring breakers descend in throngs on your town every March, make a plan to serve them. You could offer special prices and menu items just for spring break, or offer a coupon if they post a picture with your truck on social media.

4. Plan Ahead for Summer

You should start seeing more sales in the spring, but it most likely won’t be up to summer levels yet. Use your time wisely throughout the spring to plan your summer strategy, and start booking outdoor events and festivals coming up in the summer months now. 

5. Offer Seasonal Drinks

Your customers are ready to shake off their winter coats and enjoy warm weather again, so offer them something cool and refreshing to drink. Make it tropical with spring flavors, like cherry, pineapple, or mango. 

6. Sweeten Up Your Menu

Add new dessert items that your customers have been craving all winter, like ice cream sandwiches or gourmet popsicles. They’ll jump at anything that reminds them that summer is coming.

7. Have Fun Experimenting

Things are picking up again, but you won’t be as slammed in spring as you will be in summer. This is a time to test drive menu options and see what works. If there are things you’ve always wanted to try but you weren’t sure how they’d sell, add them to the rotation in the springtime. You may have new hits or you’ll learn what doesn’t work, but either way, it will be fun to experiment before you get too busy.  

Springtime Food Truck Prep Tips for Success

Food truck seasonal challenges are nothing new in this industry, but with a little prep and creativity, your business can thrive during the spring. Have fun trying new things during these months, and don’t forget to take advantage of spring breakers. 

It’s also the perfect time to do food truck prep for your busiest season coming up, summer. For all the tips you need to help your food truck business thrive year-round, check out our blog.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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How to Use Instagram As a Marketing Tool: A Guide for Food Truck Owners http://www.customconcessions.com/how-to-use-instagram-as-a-marketing-tool-a-guide-for-food-truck-owners/ Mon, 22 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13548 Thousands of people get lost in the infinite Instagram scroll. We follow friends, family members, and influencers we like on daily basis through the power of social media. It seems like Instagram has taken over the social media world, and it’s become of the most popular apps for our phones. […]

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photo of a person scrolling through food photos on Instagram

Photo by ready made from Pexels

Thousands of people get lost in the infinite Instagram scroll.

We follow friends, family members, and influencers we like on daily basis through the power of social media. It seems like Instagram has taken over the social media world, and it’s become of the most popular apps for our phones.

Because of its popularity, Instagram can be a powerful tool for marketing your food truck. Seeing photos of your delicious dishes and fire graphics wrap is sure to tempt potential customers.

Below is a quick guide for food truck owners on how to use Instagram as a marketing tool. Keep reading, and get ready for a business boost.

Know the Features

Before getting into the details, it’s important to know how to use Instagram. 

Most importantly, know how to use the posting feature. Regularly create posts with witty captions and strategic hashtags

Next, make sure you follow other accounts. Follow other food trucks you like, local businesses, and some of your favorite customers.

You’ll also want to explore the Instagram stories feature. Instagram stories are up for 24 hours at a time. You can create boomerangs, make polls, share music, tag other people, and post pictures. For food truck operators, the story feature can be where you share your current location so customers will know where to find you.

Build Engagement

People love a responsive, engaged business. You’ll be able to connect with locals through the magic of social media. (Tip: Use social media to connect people with your mobile business app.)

Make sure to always tag your location so people can easily find your truck. You can even put your location in your bio section on your profile. Use the story option to update people daily on your location and hours if it changes. 

It’s important to either check your account regularly or turn on your notifications, so you’ll know if a customer tags you in a post. You can share these, if they’re positive, to showcase your customer satisfaction. If a customer posts something negative, it gives you a chance to respond, rectify the situation and possibly gain a loyal patron. 

A great way to engage customers is by creating polls in your stories. Ask people whether they prefer deep dish or thin crust pizza, curly or waffle fries, or sweet tea or lemonade. Polls are a great way to get feedback about your menu or decide on weekly specials.

Create Incentives

Create small incentives like giveaways and rewards for tagging your business. For example, if someone posts a picture of your food truck on Instagram and tags you, give them a coupon or a free food item.

You can also ask followers to share your posts. Make it a contest and randomly draw a lucky winner to receive free meal. Some food trucks have even been creating virtual scavenger hunts by hiding small free meal tickets in their area. They give clues on social media to get people to try and find them.

By creating fun opportunities, you’ll bring in new customers and cement your popularity with loyal diners.

Successful Food Truck Owners Use the Power of Instagram

All food truck owners should be using Instagram to attract customers. It’s simple and effective.

Make sure you know all the features of Instagram and take time to explore them. Build engagement on your profile, and take the time to answer questions and comments. 

Ready to start your first food truck? Check out some of our recent projects to get some ideas. And when you’re ready, request a quote for your custom truck!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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7 New Years Resolutions For Food Truck Operators http://www.customconcessions.com/7-new-years-resolutions-for-food-truck-operators/ Mon, 21 Dec 2020 17:54:39 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13499 Photo by Vladislav Murashko from Pexels 2020 has been hard on all of us, and it’s been particularly challenging for the restaurant industry. Throughout the winter, many business owners are thinking about what’s coming next year. To help you prepare, we’ve lined up these New Year’s resolutions to keep your food truck business going […]

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photo of gold balloons spelling out 2021 on a white couch with a wreath in the background

Photo by Vladislav Murashko from Pexels

2020 has been hard on all of us, and it’s been particularly challenging for the restaurant industry.

Throughout the winter, many business owners are thinking about what’s coming next year. To help you prepare, we’ve lined up these New Year’s resolutions to keep your food truck business going strong through 2021.

Importance of Resolutions for Food Truck Operators

It can be easy to dismiss the idea of New Year’s resolutions as frivolous and quickly forgotten, but it’s important to be prepared for anything. Setting attainable resolutions can keep your business on track and help it thrive in the eventual recovery of the economy. 

While you are thinking about your goals for next year, keep these seven resolutions in mind. You can customize them to better fit yourself as a food truck operator, and adopt just one or as many as you want! 

1. Think Healthy

We’ll start out with the theme of most New Year’s resolutions: the goal of generally being healthier. People are looking to eat more fresh, local food at the beginning of the year, and you’ll be right there for them with smart, delicious options.

2. Try Out New Ideas

Now is the perfect time to experiment with your menu and try out new items you’ve been thinking about. There’s usually a bit of a lull after the holidays, which could leave you with more time to test out dishes you didn’t have time to mess with before.

3. Become More Organized

The extra time that January provides is also an ideal time to get everything organized. You can use the downtime to research the best programs for accounting, ordering, and maintenance of equipment.

4. Take Care of Employees

Now’s the time to assess your staffing needs. If you need to hire more people, take the time to find qualified workers. If you’ve got everyone you need, make sure to let them know that they’re appreciated.

5. Go Online

If you don’t already have an online presence, now is the perfect time to set that up. If your truck isn’t on social media, it’s a good idea to start an account and engage with your customers. Creating a website with online ordering options can also be a great option to increase your sales potential.

6. Get More Involved In Your Community

Becoming more involved in your local community is always a good goal. It gets the word out about your truck and helps locals connect with you and your business. It can be as simple as participating in your city’s food truck festivals or partnering with local charities.

7. Increase Sales

If you can keep all of the above resolutions, it’s going to be easy to increase your sales. Having a specific goal that’s both realistic and optimistic is going to make it easier to achieve. 

Keep Those Resolutions

It can be easy to blow off New Year’s resolutions, not just for food truck operators but for everyone. Post them up somewhere you’ll see them every day to keep up your motivation and make 2021 a big success. Take time throughout the year to evaluate how you are doing on your goals—whether it’s once a month, or once a quarter.

Are you looking to make the most of 2021 and upgrade your food truck for the coming year? Contact us today for a free quote.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Small Town Business: How To Succeed With Your Food Truck http://www.customconcessions.com/small-town-business-how-to-succeed-with-your-food-truck/ Tue, 15 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13374 Photo by Mansoor Del on Unsplash Often times when you hear of someone starting a food truck, they either live in a big city, or they’re planning to move there and make a go of it. But a food truck business can operate successfully in smaller cities and towns as well; […]

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silver food truck parked near a field at sunset

Photo by Mansoor Del on Unsplash

Often times when you hear of someone starting a food truck, they either live in a big city, or they’re planning to move there and make a go of it. But a food truck business can operate successfully in smaller cities and towns as well; you don’t necessarily need to make that big move if you like the small-town atmosphere better.

Read on for a comprehensive guide to making the most of your small town business food truck.

Location

Your food truck’s location is critical to generating repeat sales and overall success. You cannot expect to see enough customers if you are off the beaten path.

Instead, find a main road that town residents often visit. Perhaps near a popular shopping center, in the downtown historic district, or near a major highway for commuters.

Each town has different rules for zoning regarding where you can set up shop. When doing the research to select your location, reach out to your local government to get clearance.

Create a Unique Menu

Each small town has a set of dining staples. It is hard to compete against local spots with a great reputation and a loyal customer base.

One way start building your own customer base is by offering a unique menu. If you offer exciting food items that are not available anywhere else nearby, customers are more likely to come. Since small towns tend to have fewer different types of food on offer, if you bring in something completely new people are bound to be curious and give your treats a try.

Use Digital Marketing

You cannot rely on location alone to attract customers. You need to get the word out in other ways. Social media and e-mail marketing are effective digital marketing measures to reach new and existing customers.

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram provide business owners with a valuable tool. You can generate buzz for your food truck online. Be sure to share high-quality images of your food to attract likes and shares.

Many successful food trucks ask their customers to follow them on social media. You can also collect e-mail addresses at the point of sale. This way, you can mass distribute coupons, specials, and exciting additions to the menu.

Price for Success

A key component to long-term success is finding the right price range for your menu. Of course, you do not want the menu to be overly expensive. Most people do not expect to spend a fortune at a food truck.

At the same time, you need to generate enough revenue to keep the business afloat. The cost of each menu item needs to reflect the labor required and the ingredients included. It is important that you find the right balance between profit and an attractive price.

Succeeding With Your Small Town Business Food Truck

Your food truck is the recipe for navigating these challenging times. Food trucks do not rely on indoor dining to bring in customers and you don’t have to be in a big city to operate one. Instead, you can generate revenue with unique menu items.

If you are interested in purchasing a food truck for your small town business, contact us today to speak with a sales associate.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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7 Essential Tips for Food Truck Advertising on Social Media http://www.customconcessions.com/7-essential-tips-for-food-truck-advertising-on-social-media/ Mon, 10 Aug 2020 20:59:04 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13327 In the United States alone, there are over 25,000 food trucks! How do you make yours stand out in a sea of others? One key is through food truck advertising on social media. Keep reading to discover seven tips for a successful social media strategy.  1. Keep Your Socials Updated When it […]

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Man taking an advertising picture of coffee and cake with his phone

Photo: Freepik

In the United States alone, there are over 25,000 food trucks!

How do you make yours stand out in a sea of others?

One key is through food truck advertising on social media. Keep reading to discover seven tips for a successful social media strategy. 

1. Keep Your Socials Updated

When it comes to social media advertising for your food truck, nothing is more important than keeping your socials up to date! You shouldn’t make an Instagram one week and then neglect it the next. If people come across one of your social media platforms that seems abandoned, they’ll think that your food truck has been too.

2. Location Information

As a food truck, you’re constantly on the move. At any given time, if someone feels like eating a burrito from your truck specifically, they should be able to look on any of your socials and find out where you will be and at what times. 

Customers don’t have the luxury of always counting on your truck to be there, like with a brick and mortar store. Think of updating your social media with your location as paying your rent to stay in the same spot. It needs to be done!

You can make it easier on yourself by linking your socials to one location page that you update.

3. Menus (With Labels)

Perhaps one of the worst things about trying to eat out is trying to find a menu that seems ever so elusive. Very few people want to go to a restaurant if they have no idea what their options will be and how much they’ll cost. Your socials should include a way to easily access your current menu. 

Additionally, so many people these days have dietary restrictions, whether vegetarian, vegan or food allergies. Your menu should be very clear about what’s in your dishes and should be labeled accordingly. 

4. Use Stories

People love to know who’s behind the wheel and the spatula! So let your customers get to know you. Post stories about where you are on any given day, what new recipes you’re creating, and the amazing customers that you meet. 

Stories will help you connect with new clients and reconnect with old ones and they’re especially popular at food truck festivals

5. Repost User Content

It’s common practice to take photos of your food, especially when it’s from a food truck that’s active on social media. People love to feel heard, so a repost to the feed or to your story is a fantastic way to grow a loyal following. Plus, it saves you a lot of time creating your own photos. 

Use a social media scheduling service that keeps track of user-generated content and allows you to quickly organize your social feeds. 

6. Offer Unique Discounts

Offering discounts on your food for a follow on social media is a great way to get new followers and loyal customers. Every few weeks post something special on one of your accounts with a unique “codeword” that gets people a discount or bonus item.

7. Engage, Engage, Engage

On all of your socials, you need to constantly be engaging—whether with customers, foodies, bloggers, or other food trucks. Seeing your username popping up in feeds and comments will create brand recognition, and more importantly, get you new customers. 

Start Your Food Truck Advertising Plan Today

Now that you know how food truck advertising on social media works, plan your own strategy. Set up times throughout the day to be active on social media and to update your location. 

Keep reading to discover more tips and tricks to a successful food truck business!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Social Media Marketing: How to Engage Your Food Truck Customers on Facebook http://www.customconcessions.com/social-media-marketing-how-to-engage-your-food-truck-customers-on-facebook/ http://www.customconcessions.com/social-media-marketing-how-to-engage-your-food-truck-customers-on-facebook/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2020 19:30:32 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13265 Facebook can be a critical free marketing tool for your food truck. If you don’t have the time or money to invest in creating a website for your food truck business, having a Facebook business page is probably your next best bet.  Not sure what to post or how to […]

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photo of a smiling young white woman looking down at her phone with overlay of animated floating Facebook likes, hearts and emoji faces emanating from the phone screen

Photo: Rawpixel

Facebook can be a critical free marketing tool for your food truck. If you don’t have the time or money to invest in creating a website for your food truck business, having a Facebook business page is probably your next best bet. 

Not sure what to post or how to get started? Let’s explore some of the ways you can keep customers engaged, and possibly attract future regulars to your truck!

Food Truck Facebook Tips

1. Share Your Location & Schedule

Share your daily location and any changes in your regular schedule. This is especially important if you don’t set up shop in the same place regularly. How can customers buy food at your truck if they can’t find it easily? If you are set up in front or in the parking lot of a business, consider tagging them in your post so potential customers can find you easily.

2. Post Food Specials

If you have a rotating menu, post your daily or weekly specials. Have a different special every day? You might want to share a brief menu for the week on Sunday or Monday so customers can plan ahead to eat at your truck on days their favorite food is being served. Follow that up with individual posts throughout the week of what the special is for each particular day.

Sharing these types of posts works especially well when you have an enticing food photo to whet your followers’ appetites.

3. Personal Updates

Post occasional personal updates about yourself or your employees, or just life around the food truck. This could include sharing big life events, new hire announcements, or photos of employees doing daily tasks with a smile. Something short and sweet will be easy to put together and showcase a personal touch.

For example, you could share a photo of a new team member and say something like, “This is Julia, the newest member of our food truck family. Her favorite food on the menu is … Welcome to the team, Julia!” Followers will enjoy getting to feel like they have an insight into operations on your food truck.

4. Food Truck Humor

Post memes or gifs that you find funny and relatable to your food. Customers will love seeing your humorous side.

5. Advertise Event Participation

Invite your followers to community events that your food truck will be participating in. Fairs, festivals, block parties, and holiday celebrations are all fair game. Posting a few times in the month leading up to the event is a great way to build anticipation and maximize your reach. In these posts, be sure and tag the organization putting on the event to get even more eyes on your content.

6. Get Customer Feedback

Post surveys for customer feedback: voting on upcoming menu specials, giving feedback about their customer experience at your truck, getting suggestions for people with dietary restrictions or kids, etc. The most engagement on posts occurs when you give the customer a question to answer that is relevant to them in some way.

This kills two birds with one stone: it gets your customers thinking about your truck and your food, and it also gives you helpful information that you can use to better tailor your food truck operations. Getting customer feedback will help you provide the best possible customer experience, which will in turn get you more business in the long run.

7. Use Hashtags to Expand Your Reach

Use relevant hashtags to make your content more easily searchable on Facebook and other social platforms you might use. This will boost the number of people who could potentially see your content. Just be careful not to overuse hashtags. A couple of concise and pertinent tags will do the trick.

8. Engage with Comments

Be sure to regularly check and moderate your comments! This is especially important if someone has a complaint that they decide to share on social media. By ignoring negative comments, you could signal to potential customers that you don’t care about their customer experience.

Be calm and professional when responding to negative feedback, but equally, thank people for taking the time to write something positive about your truck as well. This can be a good opportunity to invite them to come back in the future.

9. Use Facebook Ads

As a food truck owner, you might not have much of an advertising budget built into your business plan. This is where Facebook can really make it easy for small businesses to promote themselves. You can spend as much or as little as you would like on ads for your truck, and make sure it is only reaching relevant audiences, like people in your surrounding area.

Even if you can’t advertise on a regular basis, you might want to consider paying for a short run of targeted ads if you have a big event coming up, like a festival or fair in your area.

Facebook as A Food Truck Marketing Tool

We hope these tips have been helpful in getting your Facebook game on point. Social media is a powerful tool for sharing information and connecting with your customers, so don’t miss those opportunities. Now that you have some direction, get out there and start posting!

Don’t have your dream truck yet, or want to upgrade? Contact us for a free quote.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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