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Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
5 Ways to Maximize Food Truck Profits
After browsing through dozens of food trucks for sale, you finally found the one that's perfect for your mobile eatery. But, owning a food truck is only a small slice of running a successful food truck business. Since there are likely plenty of other food trucks that feed your local community, there are steps you'll want to take to beat out your competition.
Even if you've got the best pizza or street tacos around, there's work to do on your end to ensure your food truck is a success. Here are 5 ways to maximize food truck profit to make the most out of your road-based venture.
1. Go Where the Customers Are
The key to being successful when running a food truck is to know where customers will be. Parking your truck in a high-traffic area is sure to get the foot traffic you need in order to make sales. Do some research to find local business parks and city centers in your area. You could also network with other food truck owners as there’s a good chance that there’s already a go-to spot for food truck owners.
One of the best parts about owning a food truck is the flexibility. On Mondays you can be in one part of town and the next day be somewhere different. This allows you to serve a variety of customers while spreading your delicious eats across town.
2. Embrace Marketing
As with any business, in order for your food truck to be a success, proper marketing is a must. In today's on-the-go world, there are two main marketing areas to target: foot traffic and potential online customers. To entice passersby who may be out looking for lunch or a mid-day snack, you'll need to focus on direct marketing. This can be something as simple as an eye-catching sign that announces your food truck's presence and top menu options.
For more a more unique direct marketing technique, make your food truck stand out. Your business' brand should be very obvious to customers as soon as they see it. Custom food trucks with large business logos, flashy colors, and other fun decor are much more visually appealing.
Aside from direct in-person marketing, it's also important to use online marketing campaigns. To start, be sure your food truck business has a solid social media presence. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are hot spots for enticing new customers to try your food. You can use these social networks in many ways including:
- Sharing pictures of your food
- Posting today's menu
- Running contests
- Sharing your truck's location and hours
By using social media, you're able to not only reach your existing customers, but you have the ability to make connections with other hungry patrons in the area.
3. Be Unique
It’s no secret that the food truck industry is booming across the globe, and even in the smallest of towns, chances are that you’ve got some competition. In order to become a brand that customers cannot stop talking about, your food truck has to be unique. Not only do you need to establish your brand's personality, your food truck should also have a clever name or should have a unique offering.
Memorable branding, humor, and a fun menu are great ways to draw in customers and to keep them coming back for more. Being eye-catching is the name of the game if you want your food truck to beat out the competition.
4. Go Mobile
Food trucks are all about convenience. These days customers want to quickly grab their food and head back to their office. In our face paced on-the-go world, odds are a large percentage of your customers aren't paying in cash. While accepting debit and credit cards is a must, you'll also want to offer mobile payment as well. This allows customers to pay using Apple Pay or PayPal, making their meal time even more convenient.
Your food truck should also offer mobile ordering. This is convenient for customers who are on a time crunch but really want one of your delicious meals.
5. Offer a Seasonal Menu
Your food truck likely already has its food niche, but sometimes sticking with the same menu for months at a time can bore customers. To keep patrons interested in your food truck, change your menu seasonally. If you don't want to do a full menu revamp, consider adding seasonal items to spice things up.
With a seasonal menu you can ensure you’re always provide customers with the food they crave. During the warmer weather offer crisp and refreshing food, and in the cooler months, be sure to add hearty and comforting options to the menu.
Conclusion
The food truck industry continues to become more competitive and as the owner, you'll need put in effort, time, and energy to become a well-known food truck eatery in your local area. To navigate your food truck towards success, be sure to practice these 5 tips to make your business profitable and successful.
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