With the changing societal conventions, technology, and marketing, the food sector has evolved dramatically in recent years. Customers have gotten accustomed to receiving deliveries through an online ordering system; hence, eating from outside has become quite regular. 

If you want to learn more about growing your delivery business with changing times, then this blog is for you! 

According to our FoodChow‘s ordering data, 86 percent of US adults have food delivered to their front door at least once a month. Not to mention that the online meal delivery business grew by 20% in 2021 and is expected to continue to expand as restaurants adopt new types of technology and services, such as working with food delivery services.

This is both good and bad news; it’s excellent since consumers and restaurants are clamouring for your delivery service. It’s also a problem since additional delivery firms attempt to meet the demand.

Here’s how to promote your food delivery services like a pro and beat out your competition online and off.

Maintain a high level of service quality.

Most companies believe that the quality of their service distinguishes them from their competitors. But if you look at it, it’s split 50/50.

Customers will always be drawn to good service, but improving your service will help you retain them. Whether you’re a startup or a seasoned delivery veteran, here are three features your food delivery firm should constantly improve:

Excellent Customer Service: If you haven’t already, this is a critical characteristic for your company to grasp. Remember that your customer service representative and delivery personnel are the company’s face; what they do and say to clients, from the initial inquiry to the delivered order, might be the difference between an unhappy or loyal customer.

Fast delivery: About 27% of consumers who order meals are ready to pay a premium for expedited service. People are unlikely to use a sluggish ordering service, regardless of cost. Hire more staff or design better routes to increase your delivery pace.

Tracking & Updates: Next to customer service, you make sure to give updates and track when food is late, there is an overflow of orders or a lost delivery man in need of directions. You should ask for emails or phone numbers to update your customers on their food delivery when needed.

Build a Website for Your Ordering Service

Your website is the hub of your digital ecosystem. As in a brick-and-mortar business, the experience counts after a consumer arrives, just as much as your perception before they walk through the door.

Hosting a website to showcase a company’s internet presence has become commonplace. Local and international clients won’t be able to communicate with your brand as successfully on social media or via email if you don’t have it.

You must have a website, and if you already have one, update it for millennial clients and modern-day marketing.

Tenacious Techies is there to assist you in getting started. No coding is necessary, and you can construct a stunning website easily!

Check some of their client’s websites here.

Promote your delivery service on social media.

Social media marketing is no longer optional; your company must participate or risk being left behind. It’s no longer simply about selfies on social media. It’s where your clients reside, where you can increase sales, and establish your brand as the go-to meal delivery company.

Almost 40% of customers learn about food online more than ever before. Create food-related content because your delivery service is in the food industry. People are eager to share, like, and find food photos.

People are more inclined to connect with a company on social media and make a purchase if they see it there. If they enjoy your content, you may begin to build a community of devoted brand consumers that can help you advertise your business both online and offline.

Select a social networking site and begin posting content to your account.

Are you unsure which social media marketing platform is best for your company?

Begin with the heavy hitters!

There’s no better location to begin using Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter than here. According to Finances Online, these platforms will be the next battleground for gaining clients’ trust.

Make a mobile application.

A mobile app may open up a world of possibilities for your food ordering service. By 2029, orders conducted via smartphone and mobile applications will be worth $320 billion, according to CB Insights. People increasingly view apps as a tool or business extension connecting services with a single finger tap.

Mobile applications can also inspire first-time users to become loyal clients by allowing them to order whenever and wherever they want, without having to travel to your website. The less labor it takes to contact you, the more orders you’ll get.

Collaborate with Food Bloggers & Influencers

Bloggers and influencers in the food industry may either be your best friends or your worst foes. As we all know, people take their meals (recommendations) extremely seriously, and delivery is no exception.

In exchange for a review or article, reach out to renowned influencers and offer them a discount or special offer. Be aware that most influencers with a large following or who have been around for a long time will charge a price. Influencer marketing is, after all, a multibillion-dollar business.

Printing and distribution of business cards or flyers

When it comes to marketing your ordering service, a business card or a flier may go a long way. You can make business cards, flyers, and posters without waiting for a graphic designer with programs like Canva and Venngage. You may also use a QR Code Generator to create QR codes for your business cards, flyers, and posters, making it simple for your consumers to contact you online and keep in touch.

Ask employees to hand out business cards or flyers when making deliveries or pass them to local businesses in your area.

Offer Deals for Local Workspaces and Business

Find nearby workspaces, co-working centers, and businesses and provide meal delivery to their employees.

I can personally verify that, aside from heading home, lunchtime is one of the most valued moments of the day for every employee! Your meal ordering service would solve two problems that employees encounter regularly:

What should we have for lunch?

Do we have enough time for lunch?

Offering your services gives customers the freedom to select their favorite, saving them the time and effort of going back and forth between places.

Promote Your Services with Creative Advertising

It’s time to look beyond the box and get a matching pair of box cutters. Creative advertising for your brand can help your brand get noticed and go viral.

To undertake innovative marketing for your food ordering business, all you need is a willingness to try something new and invest in it. Here are three creative ideas to sell your service.

• Billboards: 

Traditional marketing still holds a candle to social media marketing. Invest a bit in your brands with billboards and out-of-home marketing.

• Social Media: 

According to Lyfe Marketing, social media ad spending will soon surpass TV ad spending. Because social media plays such a significant role in customers’ lives, you’ll need to set aside money for advertising if you want to reap the full benefits of using it to grow your business. 

• Promotional Branding: 

Start branding your employees’ uniforms, delivery bags, bikes, and caps with your company’s name and emblem. When customers see your promotional logo on the go, it might bring your organization to mind.

Offer deals and discounts.

Over 93 percent of buyers utilize a coupon or discount code throughout the year.

Contrary to popular belief, discounts save you money in the long term.

Customers will get accustomed to paying the total price for orders if you prevent discount weariness. Create a discount strategy to get customers to purchase your services. Offer special discounts to new users or over the holidays.

Offer cashback and loyalty points.

Loyalty points and payback deals are an alternative to discounts and deals. According to Nrn, 45 percent of consumers feel that mobile ordering and reward programs encourage them to frequent stores.

Postmate and Grubhub have reaped the benefits of their loyalty programs, which encourage users to opt-in for free delivery and purchases to accumulate points over time.

If you want your loyalty program to succeed, you’ll need to sit down and consider long-term rewards, as consumers will only profit from it over time.

Master Search Engine Optimization

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a skill that every business owner and marketer should understand in the digital era. However, SEO does not have to be a technical skill. It may be as easy as using the appropriate words in the proper context.

Create a Google My Business account: Google My Business functions as an online directory when customers expressly search for services linked to your organization. Viewers may instantly see your contact information and website on Google My Business.

Use Keywords in your Image Alt Text: Google utilizes an Alt text description to recommend queries when consumers search for photos or businesses. When uploading photographs to the internet, don’t forget to fill in the Alt Text Description with relevant keywords and phrases so your business may top food delivery searches in your region.

Use geo-targeted advertisements: You may target potential clients who reside in or enter a particular geographic area using Google Ad Words. The most prevalent method is to use applications that track your whereabouts.

Create an Email Marketing Campaign

Compile a list of current and new customer emails and send emails to urge them to buy via your website, app, or phone.

About 40% of B2C marketers feel that email newsletters are essential for their content marketing strategy. Regardless of social media or online marketing, email still has a role, with 73 percent of millennials preferring email for company communications.

Reward Reviews, Referrals, and feedback

What people say about your brand on the internet influences sales. Don’t make the mistake of advertising your business online while ignoring bad reviews and feedback from upset customers.

Take charge of most, if not all, of the online narratives about you. When consumers post bad Yelp reviews, your website and social media reach out to them to make things right.

Let’s be fair. Some people write negative reviews and talk badly about your brand simply because They’re “haters.” And we all know that saying, “haters gonna hate.” But for the majority, some people just want to know that their business matters to a brand.

If you don’t see reviews, start rewarding customers when they give online reviews about your company.

Summary

Here’s a recap of the 13 best food delivery marketing ideas to grow your business:

1. Maintain a high level of service quality.
2. Build a Website for Your Delivery Service.
3. Promote your ordering service on social media.
4. Make a mobile application.
5. Collaborate with Food Bloggers & Influencers
6. Printing and distribution of business cards or flyers
7. Offer Deals for Local Workspaces and Business
8. Promote Your Services with Creative Advertising
9. Offer deals and discounts.
10. Offer cashback and loyalty points.
11. Master Search Engine Optimization
12. Create an Email Marketing Campaign
13. Reward Reviews, Referrals, and feedback

Managing a company and staying on top of your marketing might be intimidating at first, but you’ll be unstoppable once you get it. To utilize new ways such as digital marketing to the fullest.

Do you have a marketing concept that we didn’t mention? Please leave a comment and share it with the rest of us. We’d be interested to know.