How To Market Your Takeout Business

Carryout businesses provide a much-needed service to customers around the world, bringing them delicious food on the go. Though most people sing the praises of the takeout business restaurants, even the most delicious food in the world won’t reach an audience if your restaurant business doesn’t have the proper marketing. Let’s explore how you can market your takeout and delivery business and increase your revenue.

The Importance of Marketing Your Carryout Business

The average consumer is faced with a constant influx of marketing ads, which means that companies that don’t actively market their offerings are already behind the curve. Competitors in every industry are working hard to catch the attention of your audience, which means you need your own restaurant marketing plan to match. Fortunately, carryout businesses have several unique ways to reach out to their audience.

Ways to Market Your Takeout and Delivery Business

To reach a wider audience, you need a way to get in front of them in the food business. There are plenty of popular methods, like using google ads, but takeout and carryout businesses can get exceptionally creative with their marketing strategies. These powerful methods can help you to get in front of your audience in a fun and engaging way.

Offer Branded Cups

Branded disposable cups are one exceptionally easy way to meet your audience through your current customers. Every time someone purchases a drink from your establishment, there is a very good chance that they will take it with them—especially if you exclusively offer carryout. This means that every drink purchase is a branding opportunity to showcase your brand identity. By placing your logo on custom cups with lids, you automatically ensure that anyone who sees that cup will also see your brand.

Expand How You Accept Orders For Your Food Business

Sometimes the best marketing is convenience. When someone is looking for takeout services that accommodate their preferred ordering method and payment method of choice, it can make it much easier to choose your business if you meet those needs.

People often look for terms like “takeout”, “delivery” or “online orders” when they are searching for local food options. More importantly, prominent sites, like Yelp, highlight these options. Making it convenient to order and pay for your food can have a huge impact. In fact, 45% of consumers say that when companies offer mobile ordering, it encourages them to use these services more frequently, which can bring you more repeat customers.

Join a Food Delivery Platform

A food delivery and online ordering platform can get you right in front of your target audience, even if you run a very small takeout business. These platforms can offer great food delivery marketing ideas by ensuring that your menu looks great, your takeout business can be found, and your customers can sing your praises in a shared public space. These are all great for increasing visibility and driving sales with food delivery for small takeout businesses.

Share Your Story Online

Online spaces are the base for all modern marketing. The majority of people use the internet in some variety every single day, which gives you the opportunity to get in front of them. By sharing content online that tells more people about your takeout business, you increase the likelihood that your business will reach people, especially on popular platforms, like Instagram or TikTok. This cost-free social media marketing is a great step for small businesses.

And don’t forget to continually engage directly with your audience online as that can make a significant impact. Responding to comments and online reviews on your google business profile, reposting user-generated content, and interacting with customers in real-time fosters a sense of community and loyalty around your brand. Consider using tools like Instagram Stories or Facebook Live to give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your business, introduce your team, or showcase how your dishes are prepared.

This kind of authentic content not only builds trust but also allows your audience to feel more connected to your brand. Moreover, consider telling your brand’s story in a way that highlights your unique values, mission, and the people behind the scenes. Sharing stories about where your ingredients come from, your commitment to sustainability, or the inspiration behind your menu can resonate with customers on a deeper level, making them more likely to support your business.

Provide Excellent Presentation

We live in an Instagram-fueled world, and there are few things that people love sharing more than their food. When your food looks great, you can almost guarantee free marketing. People are more likely to post online about your food, and a lot of the time, they will tag your establishment when they do—alerting their followers to just how amazing your food is. And by reposting those onto your feed you’ll get double the exposure for your restaurant business and help encourage your customers to keep posting about those pretty meals they received even if it’s from a takeout container.

Make a Special Takeout Menu

A way to make your special takeout menu stand out is by creating exclusive, limited-time offers that aren’t available on your regular menu. This could include seasonal dishes, chef’s specials, invite food bloggers to collaborate for a special menu item or even unite with local suppliers, other local restaurants, or even a food truck nearby. By offering something unique that can only be ordered for takeout, you create a sense of urgency and exclusivity that encourages customers to order more frequently.

Additionally, promoting these special menu items through an email newsletter or push notifications via your app can drive excitement and increase orders. Customers love to feel like they’re getting something special, and a carefully curated takeout menu can provide just that, making your brand more memorable and enticing.

Offer High-Quality Takeout Containers

A takeout business’ take out containers can tell customers a lot about the quality that they offer. Every customer knows the struggle of grappling with a to go box that is simply not up to the challenge. Poorly made clamshell containers can leak, show grease stains, and ruin the food inside of them. People notice this, and when they do, they are less likely to choose your brand. On the other hand, when someone receives takeout from a coworker, a friend, or a relative, and it comes in great branded packaging, they are more likely to try it again.

To take your presentation to the next level, consider how your packaging contributes to the overall dining experience. High-quality, aesthetically pleasing takeout containers can make a big difference. Opt for packaging that not only keeps the food fresh and intact but also aligns with your brand’s image as the restaurant owner. Adding small touches, like branded takeout bags, napkins, stickers, or even a handwritten thank-you note, can elevate the experience and make your customers feel valued. These details don’t go unnoticed and can turn a simple takeout meal into a shareable moment. The better your presentation, the more likely customers are to share their experience on social media, which can significantly boost your brand’s visibility.

Protect Customers with Branded Safety Seals

Custom safety seals are a modern essential for takeout, especially if you plan to offer delivery through a third-party service. Your customers want to know that their food is safe and untouched, and carryout seals can offer incredible peace of mind. More importantly, they offer another amazing branding opportunity that can help your brand to be more visible in public spaces. While some companies do use basic seals, creating original designs that show off your brand can be a wonderful opportunity to catch someone’s attention and promote your brand. Your Brand Cafe even offers the option to bundle safety seals at a discount when purchasing them with takeout containers!

Implement a Loyalty Program

Customer retention is just as important as attracting new customers. A well-designed loyalty program can encourage repeat business and increase customer loyalty for your takeout business. Offer points for every purchase that customers can redeem for discounts, free items, or exclusive offers. Digital loyalty programs that can be accessed via an app or through your website make it easy for customers to track their rewards. Not only does this encourage repeat orders, but it also provides an incentive for customers to choose your takeout service over competitors.

Social media marketing can yield some really exceptional results, and it is even more effective when you let your customers do it for you. Giving your customers the opportunity to receive discounts or a free meal for being vocal about your brand on social media through social media contests or just by sharing their content is a really effective way to market using word-of-mouth advertising in a modern way.

Seasonal and Themed Promotions

Seasonal and themed promotions can create a sense of urgency and excitement around your takeout business offerings. For example, during the summer, you could offer a “Summer BBQ Special” featuring popular grilled items, or during the holidays, a “Festive Feast” package that customers can order for their holiday gatherings. Limited-time offers not only boost sales but also encourage customers to try new items from your takeout business. Make sure to promote these seasonal deals through all your marketing channels, including social media, email newsletters, and in-store signage.

Incorporating seasonal or holiday-branded cups and cup sleeves into your takeout promotions can further enhance the customer experience and reinforce your brand. Imagine offering pumpkin spice lattes in cups adorned with autumn leaves or serving hot cocoa in festive holiday-themed cups during the winter season. These custom cup designs not only add a visual appeal but also make your takeout offerings feel more special and timely.

Customers are more likely to share their seasonal beverages on social media when they come in eye-catching, festive packaging, providing your business with free, organic promotion. Branded cups and sleeves serve as portable advertisements, traveling with your customers and catching the attention of others. This strategy can drive customer engagement, encourage repeat business, and make your brand a memorable part of their seasonal celebrations.

Community Involvement

Being an active member of your local community can have a positive impact on your business. Sponsoring local upcoming events, participating in community fundraisers, or providing food for local charity events can increase your visibility and endear your business to local residents. Community involvement demonstrates that your business is invested in the well-being of the area, which can lead to increased customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth marketing to new local potential customers .

The Takeaway

More people are turning to takeout options when they eat out, and that means that a takeout business has a lot to gain from effective marketing strategies. The marketing world is evolving in so many ways that there is always a new opportunity to share your brand with the people around you. While ads can offer a beneficial boost in traffic, it is important to remember that simply getting in front of your audience can make all the difference—and there are plenty of ways to get started!

Your Brand Cafe offers plenty of assistance when it comes to branding your takeout business essentials. From custom printed plastic cups to high quality takeout containers, Your Brand Cafe can turn your takeout business into a strength for many years to come!