One of the easiest ways to stay in touch with your customers is through social media. A cupcake business with an active social media profile gains exposure – especially if its posts are relevant and engaging.
Here are the top 3 social media sites that your
cupcake business should use:
1) Facebook
It’s quick and easy to start a Facebook page for your business. But don’t just put in your info. The internet is littered with neglected business pages.
You need to stay active.
Watch a tutorial video about how to take really attractive food pictures. Unless you’re already a pro at that, of course. High five if you are – it’s a skill you need.
Then post images of your best, most scrumptious cupcakes. Every day.
With each image, include a promotion. “15% off all red velvet cupcakes today – they’re going fast!” Something like that.
You’re looking to sell out of your daily special.
For Facebook to help you promote your cupcake business, people need to know you exist. Put signs on your counter and in your window. Write your page address on your business card. Place a prominent “like us on Facebook” link on your website.
Everywhere you show up, point customers to your Facebook page.
2) Twitter
Twitter is a great place to get involved in what your community cares about. You can do it well – and you can do it poorly. Be careful not to jump on bandwagons. “I like that too! Now come eat a cupcake!” Not cool.
Instead, spend at least half your posts promoting neat events around your community.
Here’s how to do it well.
Let’s say your city’s amateur soccer team is in the championship game. That’s great! Cheer for them on Twitter.
Or, how about the Memorial Day parade? Tell people when and where it is. (And it doesn’t hurt if your business is located near the parade route.)
Twice a day, at the same time every morning and afternoon, post a coupon code for your followers to get a discount on the daily special. They’ll learn to expect it – and even look forward to it.
3) Yelp
Yelp has a scary reputation. One extremely bad review can spoil a whole bunch of good reviews. Here’s why you don’t need to be scared.
Kindness goes a long way.
If you’re consistently kind to your customers (when they’re nice and when they’re nasty), they’ll forgive almost anything. Bad cupcake? Give them a free one. You just eliminated one bad review.
You might even get a great review because your service stands out.
Yelp always shows up near the top of internet search results. So you can promote your cupcake business well by simply filling out your profile.
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Even if you don’t see instant results from social media, keep at it!
And when you do experience higher demand – because you’re marketing yourself so well – it helps to be able to keep up with those orders. If you find yourself getting behind, you may consider investing in tools that save you time and money.
Most people are online for hours every day. If you meet them there, they’ll remember you when they’re craving a good cupcake.
Almost every bakery owner I know struggles every day with two main things:
Whether you own a small, local bakery, or a small franchise, you’ve no doubt felt the frustrations of the off-season.
Now… don’t get me wrong. I love love love cupcakes. I love them in their mini, single-bite deliciousness all the way to their “say goodbye to my skinny jeans” jumbo sizes and everything in between.