Marketing in the BBQ world

smolderingbbq · 02-18-2013, 09:04 AM

Hi everybody, I posted about taking my barbecue business to the next level and got some great feed back. I figured I would start a thread about marketing now that I know that it is probably the second most important thing behind fantastic food. So, here goes...

What are some different industries that we as caterers can get into, like hospitals, wedding venues etc. ?

What are the best cost effective ways to market or advertise a product (besides word of mouth) ?

Any other advice would be wonderful!

Blake

Bamabuzzard · 02-18-2013, 10:16 AM

I'd use Facebook if you're not already. It's free and it can reach a mass amount of people instantly.

smolderingbbq · 02-18-2013, 10:45 AM

I am using facebook. Any insight in how to get more likes, other ways to promote that seem to work?

Bamabuzzard · 02-18-2013, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smolderingbbq

I am using facebook. Any insight in how to get more likes, other ways to promote that seem to work?

Keep your page in front of people's face. Put a status update everyday. Since you're into food, cooking and stuff maybe offer some cooking tips on bbq, side dishes, the "do's and don'ts" of things. People love pictures. Their eyes are drawn to them. Post nice looking pics of some of your dishes. Like what many do on the BBQ forum. The main thing is you have to stay at the forefront of people's minds when they think catering. Out of sight out of mind applies here.

Here, take a look at our FB page and get an idea of what I'm talking about. We keep people informed on where we're going to be, what show we're going to be in next, pics of what we cooked over the weekend etc.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Double...8786570?ref=hl

Smoke House Moe · 02-18-2013, 08:28 PM

Bamabuzzard, do you get a good response at the home/garden, and outdoorsman shows? What type of booth setup do you have?
Thanks for the great info already.

Bamabuzzard · 02-18-2013, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke House Moe

Bamabuzzard, do you get a good response at the home/garden, and outdoorsman shows? What type of booth setup do you have?
Thanks for the great info already.

We normally cover our cost and have enough money left over to pay next month's overhead. The goal of tradeshows is to get our product in the eyes, minds and mouths of the public. It's not where our "bread and butter" money will ultimately come from. Tradeshows such as hunter's expos, farmer's markets, home and garden shows etc. is another way of advertising.

We normally buy a 10x10 booth, have our booth decorated with our signs and stuff. We sample our bbq sauce with either pulled pork or smoked sausage. We've been doing tradeshows for one year. It's produced repeat customers (some are members of this board) and continues to build our brand.

smolderingbbq · 02-18-2013, 09:49 PM

Here's my fb page: https://www.facebook.com/smolderingb...becueco?ref=hl

Bamabuzzard · 02-18-2013, 09:53 PM

It looks like you're doing it right man. Your page looks great. Keep doing that and if you can afford it get in a few trade shows, festivals, farmers markets etc. and keep plugging along. Patience and persistence is your friend.

Triple T BBQ · 02-19-2013, 12:52 PM

Would recommend joining your local business network and or rotary group. This set of groups puts you in touch with most of the business people in town and gets you additional connections and usually a favorable nod when you want to get in on the latest fair, festival, etc that is being planned. Plus you get mentioned when someone is looking of a vendor because you are a member in good standing.

Motley Q · 02-19-2013, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamabuzzard

It looks like you're doing it right man. Your page looks great. Keep doing that and if you can afford it get in a few trade shows, festivals, farmers markets etc. and keep plugging along. Patience and persistence is your friend.

According to my browser your website is not secure for shopping..

If it is wrong, what controls do you have to make it secure?

Bamabuzzard · 02-19-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motley Q

According to my browser your website is not secure for shopping..

If it is wrong, what controls do you have to make it secure?

According to my IT dude it is secure. In the "checkout" function, there is a locked pad image and "https" that appears in the address bar indicating secure.

I've contacted godaddy.com and it is secure and security certificate is valid and working.

Quote:

This Web site is secured with a GoDaddy.com Web Server Certificate. Transactions on the site are protected with up to 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer encryption.

GrillsGoneWild · 02-19-2013, 11:00 PM

The two things I know about South Carolina is 1. There are lots of BBQ places and 2. There are lots of golf courses. I would think you could bring those two things together. Try contacting some of the local golf courses to see if they may have a need for your services. Some courses only have a small deli that may serve a cold sandwich and hot dogs. Maybe they can resell your BBQ sandwiches? Just a thought.

Spartan_Jeff · 02-19-2013, 11:30 PM

I liked your Facebook page and shared your page on my timeline....can't hurt right?

Bamabuzzard · 02-20-2013, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrillsGoneWild

The two things I know about South Carolina is 1. There are lots of BBQ places and 2. There are lots of golf courses. I would think you could bring those two things together. Try contacting some of the local golf courses to see if they may have a need for your services. Some courses only have a small deli that may serve a cold sandwich and hot dogs. Maybe they can resell your BBQ sandwiches? Just a thought.

^^^^Excellent idea.

cynfulsmokersbbq · 02-20-2013, 02:54 PM

This is a great thread. Thanks to all that are participating.

I created my facebook page a few years ago after taking a class.
Cynful Smokers-bbq

One thing we were told in the class (and this may have changed over the last couple of years) is that you want to create your business facebook page as if it were a person. Supposedly you can do a lot more with it, rather than just having people "like" your page.
We invite people to "events" we participate in "chats" and can reply to posts on people's "Walls"

Like I said this may have all changed since I created my page...

02-18-2013, 09:04 AM	#1
smolderingbbq Got Wood. Join Date: 01-13-13 Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina	Marketing in the BBQ world Hi everybody, I posted about taking my barbecue business to the next level and got some great feed back. I figured I would start a thread about marketing now that I know that it is probably the second most important thing behind fantastic food. So, here goes... What are some different industries that we as caterers can get into, like hospitals, wedding venues etc. ? What are the best cost effective ways to market or advertise a product (besides word of mouth) ? Any other advice would be wonderful! Blake

02-18-2013, 10:16 AM	#2
Bamabuzzard is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-09-07 Location: Shreveport, LA	I'd use Facebook if you're not already. It's free and it can reach a mass amount of people instantly. __________________ Checkout our Original BBQ Sauce & Cajun Pickles www.doubledsbbq.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Double...12864168786570 Stumps Baby Gravity Feed Smoker Backwoods Patio Unit Char Griller Offset for grilling

02-18-2013, 08:28 PM	#5
Smoke House Moe On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-13-12 Location: Robbinsdale Minnesota	Bamabuzzard, do you get a good response at the home/garden, and outdoorsman shows? What type of booth setup do you have? Thanks for the great info already. __________________ 2 - WSM 18.5, 1 - WSM 22.5, and 1 - ECB Smoke n Pit.

02-18-2013, 09:53 PM	#8
Bamabuzzard is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-09-07 Location: Shreveport, LA	It looks like you're doing it right man. Your page looks great. Keep doing that and if you can afford it get in a few trade shows, festivals, farmers markets etc. and keep plugging along. Patience and persistence is your friend. __________________ Checkout our Original BBQ Sauce & Cajun Pickles www.doubledsbbq.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Double...12864168786570 Stumps Baby Gravity Feed Smoker Backwoods Patio Unit Char Griller Offset for grilling

02-19-2013, 12:52 PM	#9
Triple T BBQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-20-11 Location: SE, Minnesota	Marketing in the BBQ world Would recommend joining your local business network and or rotary group. This set of groups puts you in touch with most of the business people in town and gets you additional connections and usually a favorable nod when you want to get in on the latest fair, festival, etc that is being planned. Plus you get mentioned when someone is looking of a vendor because you are a member in good standing. __________________ Triple T BBQ - CBJ 2012-2014 [url]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123061[/url]

02-18-2013, 10:45 AM	#3
smolderingbbq Got Wood. Join Date: 01-13-13 Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina	I am using facebook. Any insight in how to get more likes, other ways to promote that seem to work?

02-18-2013, 09:49 PM	#7
smolderingbbq Got Wood. Join Date: 01-13-13 Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina	Here's my fb page: https://www.facebook.com/smolderingb...becueco?ref=hl

02-19-2013, 11:00 PM	#12
GrillsGoneWild is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-30-10 Location: Rockwall, TX	The two things I know about South Carolina is 1. There are lots of BBQ places and 2. There are lots of golf courses. I would think you could bring those two things together. Try contacting some of the local golf courses to see if they may have a need for your services. Some courses only have a small deli that may serve a cold sandwich and hot dogs. Maybe they can resell your BBQ sandwiches? Just a thought. __________________ Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire. Exodus 12:9

02-19-2013, 11:30 PM	#13
Spartan_Jeff Got Wood. Join Date: 09-28-12 Location: Lansing, mi	I liked your Facebook page and shared your page on my timeline....can't hurt right?

02-20-2013, 02:54 PM	#15
cynfulsmokersbbq Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-05-11 Location: Wapello, Iowa	This is a great thread. Thanks to all that are participating. I created my facebook page a few years ago after taking a class. Cynful Smokers-bbq One thing we were told in the class (and this may have changed over the last couple of years) is that you want to create your business facebook page as if it were a person. Supposedly you can do a lot more with it, rather than just having people "like" your page. We invite people to "events" we participate in "chats" and can reply to posts on people's "Walls" Like I said this may have all changed since I created my page...