How can I get the most visibility for my business on Facebook and Instagram?
I have recently started my Food business and I would like to attract more of an audience through social media (Facebook, Instagram, Google+). I have a unique concept where I invite people over to my house and cook, serve, and take care of guests like a restaurant.
I've got awesome feedback so far, but the tricky point is to break that reluctance of going into a stranger's home and eat Italian food. Usually to market, I post pictures of my dishes, receipts, and guests on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
What else can I do to build a trusted reputation for myself, and get more visibility on social media sites?
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May 25, 2015
You are doing a great job @Mauro . Connecting with unknown people is very difficult instead of connecting with your friends, family and offer your services. So, the better way to connect with unknown people are social media sites as mentioned by you. Here is how you can use Facebook, Twitter and other social media profiles:
> You can share real time updates related to food services on social media by tagging your friends on Facebook and mentioning them on Twitter, using hashtags on instagram, and community participation in G+.
> You can organize any event related to your food services where you can invite people to taste your food. If they like it, they will surly come back to you.
> Keep on sharing latest dishes cooked by you in social media channels with proper hashtags.
> Take help of videos, share any recipe with the audience.
> Keep on updating social media channels after regular intervals of time.
If you are not well versed with marketing techniques in food business, then you can contact FATbit Technologies who already worked successfully on projects like Catering at Your Door (USA based) for marketing and branding.
For further queries, feel free to discuss.
Cordially,
Daljeet Kaur
May 15, 2015
How about the obvious: ADVERTISE your service to your target audiences.
Al Shultz alshultz.com/
May 14, 2015
Be engaging, don't sell, sell, sell; ask questions, provide answers, and solutions to your followers' problems.
Make sure you post regularly, not too often; like or fave other's posts, comment, LIKE their business page and say in a post that you have (from your business page).
Post compelling, interesting posts, with images/video.
May 14, 2015
All of these are great answers but everyone is missing the BIGGEST and BEST part about most social media platforms, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT!!!!
For me, a website designer/ internet marketer, community engagement is one of the single largest drivers of passive referrals/ passive lead gen. I have joined every group imaginable related to small business owners. I post to these groups at least 4 times a week. Sometimes its a quick tip, sometimes its a promotion, sometimes its answering someone else's question.
The reason why joining different groups on Facebook, Linkedin, Google+ etc, is because:
1) You can cherry pick groups full of your target market
2) Your posts to the group will show up on every group members' main feed (this is huge)
3) Over time, you become an "authority" in various groups and people/leads will actually seek you out when they need your good or service.
The reason why most Social Media marketing fails is because people get all of their friends and family to like, favorite, or +1 their page but that only does so much.
Groups are targeted environments where potential customers are actively joining and seeking out information.
Start joining groups AND, and this is the key, be active in those groups for more than just advertising. Become a figurehead of various groups and it will pay off.
May 14, 2015
I have a counter question for you, why Facebook and Instagram? Have you determined that these are absolutely the best channels for your product? If the answer is a zealous and sure 'yes' then keep reading. If not, then you have some other questions you need to answer.
For facebook, I would absolutely positively recommend doing a series of dark posts that are TARGETED at the people you want to get exposure to. Carpet bombing people that have no interest in your brand or product does you no good.
In terms of Instagram, that's a trickier platform where advertising is frowned upon. You have to build an audience through interaction there. Follow people and if they are interested they will follow you back. Like and comment photos of people you want to influence and wait for them to respond to it.
May 14, 2015
Hi Mauro,
When you think of social media, think of how can you provide massive value to your community.
Start first with a grass root approach.
1- Make sure you have engaging content that is a benefit for your audience and not just a sales pitch of your product/service
2- Get your clients, friends and family to engage with your posts (this is important for viability and exposure)
3- Through your social sites and I would say pick one to start with, don't try to go to all of them at once. Social Media Marketing is work and takes some time to build.
For example lets say you are going to use Instagram. I would take great pictures of you working with your clients at your home, food prep, them enjoying the food. Then have a quick testimonial video through instagram. That is your content. Have your client, friends, family...etc engage.
Here is the additional work, on top of this you need to connect with influencers in the cooking/food niche for example on instagram and start personally connecting with them. DO NOT start pitching to them. Ask them how you can help them, what can you do for them. In turn when they trust you they will do the same.
This is why I recommend you do one Social Media Marketing strategy at a time. If that means Instagram is the place to be for food, hint hint. Then start there. Grow it out focus on that for the next 6 months. Then once Instagram is growing on it's own, move to the next social site.
Let me know if you have any questions
Brandon
KNSSconsulting.com
May 14, 2015
Pinterest has made significant inroads in online social media marketing. Your food offerings would probably look really good there.
May 14, 2015
Social media marketing is one of the best way to promote your business and specially on Facebook because almost 48% of social media traffic on Facebook but don't ignore other social media platforms. You have to create your social existence on twitter, pinterest, tumblr, linkedin and instagram. Share your social updates in groups and communicate with group members and add those who related to your business category.
May 14, 2015
Social Media play a most important role in every business. We get more response if work with advanced strategies for promoting our business on social media. Some points you need to remember while deal with Social media:
• Targeted Audience
• Proper use of #tags in Social Media
• How to choose channels
• Build your profiles
• Attract and grow your audience
I have a blog post about marketing strategies for Different Social Media Networks https://top10websiteslist.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/a-handy-guide-on-using-hashtags-on-different-social-media-networks/ .
May 13, 2015
What a kewl idea!! You might be surprised to know that many people will buy into this concept as millions have bought into the AirBnB concept.
I would say that one of the best way to get the buzz going is asking former guests to share on their social media circles.
Be sure you have things set up so folks can use the check-in feature on FB. Also, collect emails and create a stream of pre-populated FB and Twitter posts to share with them so all they have to do is click.
Create opportunities during the meal to encourage sharing to Instagram and other social sites while it is happening. Create a signal (the click of a glass, snapping of fingers etc) that cues guests to pause, take a photo and share and say that is the only time they are allowed to share during the event.
As to the best times to post, here is a great source to check out: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-sharing-habits-new-research/
All the best and please feel to reach out if you need more help.
May 13, 2015
FB: after 3Pm, mostly on Wednesdays
Instagram & Pinterest: Fridays
G+: Post comments to engage, G+ is not frequented as much as other platforms. Mostly Wednesday mornings.
Don't forget to take advantage of eventbrite and meetup.com for your unique food business
May 13, 2015
Avoid overposting; that's a quick way to get un-friended or blocked. Post during regular work hours, and a couple of hours after regular work hours. More important than frequency of posting is the usefulness of the content you're posting.
Thanks David for the quick reply.