Not all of the following food marketing tactics will be right for your business, but they’re certainly worth considering. We recommend you sit down and think about your goals first. Then, once you know what you want to accomplish, incorporate your style into the right tactics.

Website

1. After creating an awesome and user-friendly website, update your content often.

Ecommerce

2. Set-up your website so you can sell directly to consumers.

3. Is Amazon or any other online grocery distribution right for you?

4. What specialty food stores have an online presence? Bingo.

Social Media

5. Create Pinterest boards for your retailers, for recipe ideas, for other brands you like, and on and on.

6. Get on Instagram, but make it personal. We’d much rather hear from Bob the President XYZ Salsa Co. than XYZ Salsa Co. all by itself.

7. Spend 20 minutes on Twitter every day.

8. Post to Facebook at different times throughout the day for two weeks. Then study which posts got the most interaction and re-create that magic.

9. Set-up your Google+ profile (for SEO and so much more). Check in every week.

10. Connect with influencers on LinkedIn. Who knows how far a personalized Inmail can go?

11. Update all your social media profile pictures now and again.

12. Ask your fans what they love most about your product, Ask them how you can improve, too.

13. Come up with your own branded hashtag. e.g., #condimentsrock

14. Respond to everyone who mentions you and your product on social media…even if that means addressing negative comments.

15. Create a content calendar for the next three months. Make sure that more than 2/3 of the content informs and entertains your fans and yet does not mention your product at all. Don’t over promote your product on social media.

Photo and Video

16. Create a series of videos and publish on YouTube and your blog. Try Powtoon to start.

17. Hire a photographer to take office shots, product shots, and event shots. Use these pics in all your materials including social media.

18. Ask your customers to send in pics or videos of themselves with your product in various places.

Email

19. Add a newsletter sign-up form on your website to collect email addresses.

20. Email your subscribers once a quarter, once a month, or as often as makes sense.

21. Experiment with digital coupons and special offers.

Media and Blogger Relations

22. Get published in a local newspaper.

23. Introduce yourself to local food editors.

24. Host a media event at your facility.

25. Write a guest blog post once a month.

26. Leave comments on every blog post that mentions you.

27. Ask food bloggers to review your product.

28. Start a blogger advocate program.

Blogging

29. Create theme days for your blog.

30. Interview your biggest fans and publish the Q&A on your blog.

31. Blog every day for a month.

32. Hold a blog contest.

33. Create custom graphics for all of your blog posts. Make them shareable on social media.

34. Provide recipes and serving suggestions on your blog.

Advertising and Sponsorship

35. Hire a graphic designer to create outstanding display materials.

36. Get listed in catalogs, including local or state pride centered publications and websites.

37. Mail coupons or flyers to your targeted demographic.

38. Is your food packaging as awesome as it could be?

39. Print up brochures or any other nicely designed piece that you can leave with retailers, customers, and potential customers.

40. Create t-shirts and other wearable promotions and BE your brand every day.

41. Sponsor an event or sports team.

42. Advertise in a publication your customers read (not your colleagues).

43. Invest in traditional TV and radio advertising.

44. Connect with film and video producers to learn about product placement. (Or get professional help with that.)

45. Claim your spot on Google Places and other relevant online directories.

46. Design your own postcard for fans to send to friends.

In Real Life

47. Join a Meetup.

48. Teach a workshop.

49. Speak at a conference.

50. Create a life-size mascot that waves at passersby, swirls signs, points to your front door, and more!

51. Partner with complementary food companies to cross-promote products, co-host events, create new recipes, etc.

52. Collect testimonials from customers.

53. Attend a food festival.

Out of the Box

54. Start a rewards program.

55. Would a mobile marketing campaign work for you?

56. Write a children’s story with your product playing an important role.

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What food marketing tactics will you try? What have we missed on this list?

Sara Lancaster

About Sara Lancaster

Sara is The Condiment Marketing Co.’s founder and creative director. She oversees client relationships, strategic marketing plans, as well as a bit of copywriting and social media management.