This week in our Snowie Shaved Ice Webinar Series #11, we talk about different ways to market your Snowie Shaved Ice Business.
First we discuss the location finder that is located on Snowie’s website under Community and then select Vendor Locations. One of the most important things you can do right now, is add your location, name, and contact information to that list. The reason that we have you do this, is if there is any venue or customer that wants Shaved Ice at their gathering, they will be able to contact you directly.
Next, we talk about getting out there with printed materials and meeting your potential customers face to face. Get them excited about coming and supporting you while they receive a delicious treat. With this, we also talk about how important it is to be pleasant to your customers. Keep a clean stand, and be happy to serve your customers. Our world, especially in fast type food, has completely lost its sense of customer service. Take the time to look your customers in the eyes and have fun with them. You sell a fun product, make the experience memorable.
Included in the discussion of printed materials, are punch cards; keep that current customer coming back! If you throw perks their way, they will come to you, and continue to do so. It is far easier to maintain a customer than to chase a new one.
We then dive into the world of Social Media. The first thing we talk about is to provide promos only through Social Channels. What this means is that if you are going to have promos, like 50% off a Large Shaved Ice on Tuesdays, then you should only tell those within your social media reach about the deal. Hopefully, all of those who are following you, will turn around and spread the word to their friends as well.
The next idea is something that I got from kogi tacos originally. They were one of the first mobile trucks that I knew of that used random locations and tweeted them. So only those through his social media would know, early, where he would be. This created an incredible following who cannot wait to know where they are going to eat lunch today.
Now, this approach is obviously perfect for anyone who owns the Snowie Bus, but if you are running events with a kiosk or cart, make sure that you tell people about the event, and that you are there with delicious shaved ice and snow cone syrups. Wouldn’t it be great if every vendor at an event would shout about it socially?
Lyle then speaks with us a bit about creating events and sharing them socially. For example, one thing Lyle likes to do is hold theme nights where anyone who shows up with something requested, or dresses up like the announced theme, they will win certain perks.
The last item on social marketing is to host contests. You do, however, have to be careful. You will most likely want to meet with a group that knows what you can pull off without being punished by Facebook and others. The last thing you want to do is get your social sites pulled from you. You have put far too much work into them to have that happen. Be careful and consult a professional about hosting contests.