Question

Topic: Strategy

No Budget- How Do I Get Business

Posted by Anonymous on 25 Points
My boss has told me I do not have a budget for advertising this year but he still expects me to get business in. We are a catering company....Any tips on how to get the calls coming in. I have already achieved first page on google but I am lost. All tips gratefully accepted
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by bill.hall on Accepted
    I would start a referral program with past customers, with other complementary businesses that do weddings etc. If you can partner with other businesses, then you can feed off of their advertising and offer them something in return - discount, services etc.
    Hope that helps!
    Bill
  • Posted by mlang on Accepted
    Start generating press releases. If you have paid for advertisements in the past, you should have enough emotional collateral with local newspapers to get some free press. It can be anything - how many years in business, a special event you did, even just an article on how to choose a caterer or get the most from your catering can be of interest to editors. Also take advantage of social media - start a facebook page to showcase specials, events and other news. That will help your webs search results and give you a format to offer tips for party planners allowing you to be seen as an expert/first choice when it comes to catering an event. Good luck!
  • Posted on Author
    Many thanks for these suggetions, I have started a facebook page and update it with any new events etc. I am in constant contact with my suppliers. I feel like I should be doing more.
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on Accepted
    You should be doing more. Get the phones ringing by doing some dialing on your own. Everything you are doing is passive, you need to get aggressive, and become a guerrilla marketer. There are hundreds of low or no cost marketing tactics.

    Take a niche and be lasar sharp in your tactics. In your biz, one could be catered lunches. In any area there are thousands of companies that order in lunch every day, why isn't it from you? It may be as simple as asking for the business.

    Architects, lawyers, accountants etc need continuing education credits to keep their credentials current. Sales reps (I was one) are trained to deliver non commercial lunch presenations to these groups. Larger firms allow no more than one a week, and larger firms might have a 6 month waiting list. A new rep coming in has no idea where to order these lunches. The person coordinating these luncheons often maintains a menu list of preferred caterers. Think of what even 10 clients doing 15 box lunches a week would impact your next salary review.

    There is a person in Denver called "the Food Guy" who sends monthly emails out with seasonal themes on these lunches only. The firms appreaciate it-- these weekly luncheons get boring.

    Think of other groups that cater regularly. Nonprofits, trade orgs all hold monthly meetings-- all catered. It might as well be you. Fusion market with wedding suppliers. The list is endless-- once we get you into a marketing frame of mind.
  • Posted on Member
    Building on Bill's idea, how about offering your existing customers a referral incentive? Refer 3 customers and get 25% off your next bill. Or hand out cards with a handwritten coupon offer on the back. Do you have in-house web resources? If you get enough traffic to your site, add a directory of complementary businesses (partner with other local firms you can recommend), and have them cross-promote you on their sites or in their marketing efforts.

    Lastly, I think your boss is being penny-wise and pound-foolish. No marketing seems like a good way to end up with no business!

    Jodi
  • Posted by michael on Member
    Only because we have a caterer client....

    Twitter. Do lots of sales calls. That usually is in a different budget. Corporate direct (HR dept).

    Independent banquet halls....have to find out if they allow outside catering and for what.

    Network: Cake bakeries, DJs, Photographers, Florals, Nail Techs, Hair salons.

    This is working for us.

    Michael

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