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Written by Emily on July 26, 2023

Content marketing is a key part of a successful marketing plan. It has the power to bring you new customers and build trust with those you already have. But first, you need to understand what content marketing is and how it works. Then you can use it to your best advantage in growing your breakroom services business.

What is Content Marketing?

This type of marketing aims to attract, engage, and retain breakroom service customers. How? By answering their questions and giving them the information they need. It’s helpful, solving pain points and offering a solution. That makes it valuable to your clients.

What Does It Look Like?

There’s no one way to offer content marketing. It can be done via blog posts, articles, videos, infographics, podcasts, ebooks, social media posts, and more. Most vending operators start with blogs about their services and products. These can answer a specific question a client might have, which makes it a valuable resource for them. The mention of keywords in the blog also helps with search engine optimization (SEO). It makes your site more discoverable and thus, a value to potential new clients as well. That’s a powerful benefit.

The 3 Things Content Marketing Should Do

Every piece of marketing should have a purpose. Content marketing is no different. Here are the three must-dos to make this type of marketing effective.

1. Establish Authority – Use content to show you know your business. It can be based on your experience of which products sell best in a vending machine. Or it might be how you can help human resources with a corporate wellness program by installing a micro-market. Ultimately, it’s about sharing what you know so you are the expert.
2. Generate Interest – When facility or office managers come to the internet searching for breakroom ideas, you want to be there. Sharing the products you put in the breakroom, the benefits of micro-markets, or even how to bring a cafe vibe to the office can engage and educate. The idea is that you want content that will get your client or potential client interested in your company’s services.
3. Build Trust – Through content, share answers to common problems your clients have. When a facility manager comes upon your marketing, they will find a solution and feel informed about the decision they need to make about the breakroom. That’s how content marketing can build trust. And generate qualified leads.

What You Get Out of Content Marketing

When done well, content marketing offers vending company owners a great return. The content uses service and product keywords that will boost SEO. Thus, your website and company will be easier to find and appear higher on search pages.

Another benefit is lead generation and sales. As your content is discovered via an internet search, you’ll get more prospects and more sales. Seeing all the valuable content you have online will make them trust your company and want to reach out even more, which is the point.

Finally, with customers looking to your content for answers and ideas, it will grow awareness of your company. Clients will remember your brand and your company name. You will be the provider they think of when they need a solution or move to a new company looking for refreshment services. That’s a big win!

How to Start Now

Most vending operators are full of knowledge and experience. Start sharing that in blogs, short videos, social media posts, etc. The key to making it great content marketing is to ensure it resonates with the target audience. Remember, it should address their pain points and provide a solution or valuable insight.

Want help with content marketing? VendCentral has been successfully assisting refreshment services companies to grow their marketing efforts. Content marketing is one of the many services offered. Contact VendCentral today, or call (866) 699-8363.

Written by Emily on July 12, 2023

Welcome to part 2 of our blog series on the benefits of email marketing! If you didn’t catch part 1, make sure to give it a read first to learn about the first six ways it helps your vending business succeed. If you already know how it influences business-to-business decision-makers, then you’re ready to keep reading. In this final part, we’ll focus on the power of email marketing and how it saves money for vending operators.

7. Getting Low-Cost Leads

Email marketing is a great tool for increasing leads for your sales team. It removes the need for cold calling or having a feet-on-the-ground approach. With its personalized message, you can nurture email leads and guide them through the sales funnel, virtually. In addition, you can further qualify leads so your sales team has high-value prospects that are more likely to turn into new customers.

8. Reaching the Right People

Use email marketing to target messages to specific customers. For example, talk about the ease of vending machines to the facility manager. Or tout the corporate wellness benefits of your healthy snacks program to the human resource manager. In the end, this kind of marketing lets you create just the right message for the customer you’re hoping to reach. That will make them more likely to take action and stay engaged.

9. Marketing Cost Effectively

Without the need for printing, postage, or advertising space, email marketing can result in significant cost savings. Plus, your vending business still looks professional thanks to a well-designed layout and user-friendly email platform. Thus, this type of marketing is a truly budget-friendly solution.

10. Being Valuable to the Customer

Being quick and targeted means email marketing is more valuable to your customers. An email can share relevant updates, exclusive offers, and discounts, all of which are likely of interest to your clients. The more your content is relevant to your email list, the better you keep them engaged. That results in a higher ROI.

11. Owning Your Message

Email marketing gives you full control of your message. You control who sees your email and what they see. Therefore, it’s a direct line of communication. You do not need to rely on third parties or algorithms. Quite simply, you are in charge. That’s priceless.

12. Driving Brand Awareness

When sent consistently, email marketing does a great job of promoting your brand. The content reinforces your message, showcases your break room products and services, and highlights your experience in the industry. It helps your vending company stay top-of-mind for your customers.

Use the Benefits of Email Marketing to Grow

In the end, a vending business can drive up lead quality and boost conversions with the help of digital marketing solutions, like emails. This will ultimately lead to growth from current and new customers.

Interested? Consider VendCentral as your go-to resource for personalized email marketing that can take your business to the next level! Reach out today at (866) 699-8363.

Written by Emily on June 22, 2023

Email marketing is a powerful tool for vending businesses of all sizes. Why? Because it’s how your company can build and nurture relationships with refreshment service customers. 

Especially with business-to-business decision-makers, email is key. It’s preferred over paper mailers and phone calls by most of your current and potential clients. Just ask them. That makes email marketing a must for your vending marketing strategy. 

Because email marketing is such a vital part of a company’s growth and success, we’ve broken down its benefits. Read on for six ways it will help your breakroom services company succeed. 

1. Tailoring Messages

One thing email marketing lets you do is create a message geared toward each customer. Custom content better resonates with recipients. The more the customer feels the information is helpful and on target, the more they will open and click on the emails you send. This boosts engagement and conversion rates. Which is the goal of any email campaign!

2. Getting Feeback and Insight

In a service business, like vending, you need to know what your customers think. So, include links to surveys and feedback forms in your email marketing. This gives you a way to gain insights into the satisfaction level of your customer. It’s also a great way to get suggestions on how to improve your service and better meet their needs. This creates a strong connection and drives up loyalty.

3. Boosting Sales

When an email is done well, it can entice customers to take action. They will buy more products, add a line of service, or take advantage of your promotional deal. This will boost your revenue and profitability!

4. Sharing Your News

Emails make it easy to communicate often with facility managers and human resource personnel in charge of breakroom services. Maybe you send a monthly informative enewsletter or digital company update as needed. However you design your email marketing, it keeps clients in the know about your offerings, any promotions, and the industry news. This is an ideal way to foster trust and power up the customer relationship.

5. Increases Website Visits

Including a call-to-action in your emails can lead to traffic for your website. For example, “Click Here to Learn More” could take an interested facility manager to your water filtration service page and get you some extra revenue. Ultimately, boosting website traffic is good as it leads to more conversions. Whether that means more customers or a higher ticket for an existing customer, it’s a win-win!

6. Getting Info Out Quickly

One of the best things about email marketing is that it’s digital. Meaning it doesn’t take as long to plan and produce as print materials. Emails can be crafted and sent closer to a promo deadline, in a certain season, or as a result of a certain event, like a company anniversary. The digital world moves fast. So, it makes sense that your email campaigns would too!

And We’re Not Done Yet…

There are plenty more benefits to email marketing. That’s why VendCentral offers marketing programs that make email marketing simple and easy. Think custom email campaigns that will “WOW” your target vending client. Or, simply build loyalty. Give VendCentral a call at (866) 699-8363.

And stay tuned for Part 2 in our email marketing benefits series. In that one, we talk money benefits. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it!

Written by Taylor Hicks on May 24, 2023

The NAMA show, hosted by the National Automatic Merchandising Association in Atlanta, brought together leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts in the refreshment services industry. The VendCentral team had the privilege of exploring the trade show floor, attending panels, and networking with key players in the industry. From exciting innovations found at “Imagination Way” to the launch of new products, the show left a lasting impression.

Interested in learning more about the world of possibilities for the industry’s future? Keep reading to discover a few of the show’s highlights, latest product trends, and more!

Coffee, Coffee, & More Coffee!

Office coffee took center stage at the NAMA Show, capturing the attention of attendees at every turn. The Emblem bean-to-cup coffee brewer was ever-present with its exceptional on-demand brewing capabilities. Definitely, a staple to include on your office coffee equipment roster. National brands and local coffee roasters, including Segafredo, Seattle’s Best, Starbucks, Ellis Coffee Company, Bodecker Brewed, and more kept everyone fueled throughout the 3-day show.

Additionally, the popularity of on-the-go coffee options, including nitro brew, cold brew, and canned coffee is undeniable. Brands such as RISE, La Colombe, Wandering Bear, and Costa Coffee made a significant impact, offering unique coffee drinking experiences for attendees.

Bubbling with Excitement: NAMA Beverage Takeaways

The NAMA Show showcased the latest trends in the beverage industry. It came as no surprise that energy drinks continued to dominate. Well-established brands like Red Bull, Celsius, Monster, and C4 Energy drew substantial attention. However, the show also provided a platform for up-and-coming brands such as Alani Nu, PHOCUS, UpTime, and Sparkling Ice Energy Drinks to make their mark.

Better-for-you beverages were another highlight of the event. Healthy soda alternatives like Poppi, Zevia, and Good Mood made their debut, captivating attendees with their healthier and more flavorful options for the refreshment services market.

New-Age Vending Equipment & Technology

In the realm of vending equipment, the NAMA show revealed groundbreaking innovations. For example, Just Baked’s hot food kiosk was a must-see. Offering a wide range of delicious meal and dessert options, you can select, pay, and be eating in minutes. The convenience and quality of these hot and fresh treats left a delightful and memorable impression on everyone’s taste buds.

Supply Wizards Supply Wizards wowed the crowd with their revolutionized online ordering process. Their user-friendly software seamlessly integrates with operators’ Vending Management Systems (VMS), making invoicing and tracking inventory a simple task! On average, operators have seen an increase in order sizes by 24% when using Supply Wizards for their online ordering. Therefore, this product is ideal for operators looking to grow their office coffee and pantry services!

ZippyAssist ZippyAssist emerged as a game-changer, enabling vending operators to provide immediate support to customers. With simple-to-use features like instant refunds and maintenance requests, they’ve streamlined customer service. This text-based platform accessed from a customer’s mobile phone is helping operators across the globe enhance their unattended retail experience.

Embracing the NAMA Show Momentum

Overall, the NAMA show was a resounding success leaving operators inspired by new ideas and technology for the refreshment service industry. From the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to the introduction of cutting-edge vending equipment, this event set the stage for a future of innovation and growth. The VendCentral team looks forward to implementing the lessons learned and supporting the members of our industry through comprehensive marketing services.

VendCentral is solely focused on the refreshment services industry. Contact us to learn how our marketing programs can help your business GROW!

Written by Emily on April 25, 2023

Blogging can help you get more vending and breakroom service leads. In fact, small business resource Fit Small Business reports that businesses that blog get 67% MORE leads per month. That significant boost in leads makes blogging a huge return on investment.

6 Benefits You Get From Blogging

What makes blogging so successful? What brings all those breakroom service leads? It’s a combination of factors, from better search engine optimization (SEO) to being considered a breakroom expert. Keep reading for more details on the 6 benefits of writing a vending website blog. Trust us; you won’t want to miss them!

1. Increase Website Traffic

Blogging helps people find your website. Keywords used in a blog, like vending and breakroom, are “seen” by search engines. That makes your blog and website more likely to show in search results; therefore, more people will find your company while shopping online for breakroom services.

2. Blogging Drive Conversions

Your vending-related blog is a great place to show customers and prospects your knowledge of breakroom services. And that knowledge can lead to conversions, where users fill out an online form or sign up for an email list. After all, when you want a product or service, you go to a company that knows its stuff. So, show off your expertise by publishing blogs!

3. Contribute to Social Media Efforts

Every company needs a social media presence. If you don’t have one, you should. But let’s assume you do have one. Blogging gives you more items to post about. Yes, it’s true. You can promote your latest article with a nice photo to engage your audience and drive traffic to your website. It’s a win-win! But don’t forget to include a link to the blog. Why? Because a direct link encourages clicks and reads without any leg work from the audience. Doing this also helps boost your SEO score and can help your website climb to the top of the search results.

4. Build Trusting Client Relationships

Just as knowledge of quality refreshment solutions drives conversion, it also builds trust. Blogging about services like micro-markets or office coffee shows your customers you are devoted to your businesses. In turn, they are more likely to trust you with their service needs.

Plus, it lets you show off what you can bring to your customers. And who doesn’t love that? Writing blogs about specific break rooms you’ve installed will help your audience understand what you do and what their break room could look like.

5. Reinforce Your Brand

Don’t forget what your blog can do for your brand. Most people, including human resource professionals and facility managers, prefer doing business with companies they recognize and trust. So, make sure they know your company with a blog tone and look that follows your branding plan.

6. Differentiate a Business From Its Competition

Not all vending companies blog. And that’s to your advantage. Blogging sets you apart from the competition. But even if your local competitors do have a blog, you can still use yours to stand out. Ensure your blog has a personal touch, introducing readers to your brand. Cover local issues, seasonally relevant topics, and the service and products that make you the best choice for breakroom services.

The Time to Start Blogging is Now!

Blogging is an important marketing tool. It brings in readers who can convert to breakroom service leads and sales. The key is consistency and industry knowledge, ensuring appropriate keywords appear throughout the blog for maximum results.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry; our team of marketing experts can help! VendCentral offers different levels of support for vending marketing. Contact us at (866) 699-8363 or visit us online.

Written by Emily on April 12, 2023

When it’s time for your vending company to create a new website there’s a lot to consider. After all, this is where facility managers and human resource managers learn about your company. The new website needs to showcase your brand identity and offer everything your current customers and prospects want to learn.

To get you started, here are some of our new vending website MUSTS.

Start With Services & Products

A clear message about what your vending company offers must be front and center. That means links for each service. In fact, each service should have at least one dedicated webpage. Focus on showing the service with great-looking custom pictures. Plus, include short descriptions that tell why the service is a benefit.

Enhance the User Experience

For business-to-business (B2B) websites like yours, it’s important to optimize the customer experience. Ensure information is up-to-date, links work, and most importantly, everything loads quickly. Nothing frustrates potential clients more than a website that takes several seconds to load (or never does).

It is also critical your new website displays well on a mobile device. Statista reports that 16% of B2B website traffic was from mobile in 2022. The number is growing, suggesting that mobile devices will be used more in the future. Don’t miss a sale because you’re counting on a desktop user! Ensure your website is mobile-optimized.

A New Vending Website Needs Custom Content

Your vending website needs to show who you are as a company. That means personalization. Be open to including photos of your team, warehouse, and the breakrooms you service. Having more than stock photos on your website will help decision-makers relate to your business. A great place to personalize is an About Us page, which can tell your company’s story.

On your new website, don’t forget to create a space for blogs. Writing a blog is a great way to highlight your vending business’ personality, showcase the breakroom services you offer, and help your search engine optimization (SEO).

Generate Leads With a New Vending Website

Your website acts as a sales tool 24/7. Ensure it’s seen by focusing on services and custom content that is full of SEO keywords. That way prospects in your area find your refreshment services company.

Need to know more about what makes a good vending website? Ask VendCentral, the convenience services industry’s digital marketing experts. We offer different levels of marketing support to match your need. Learn more about how one of our vending marketing programs can drive sales by contacting us at info@vendcentral.com or (866) 699-8363.

Written by Emily on March 9, 2023

Running a vending contest or promotion for your vending customers offers many benefits. Both can boost excitement about your services as well as build loyalty to your brand. In addition, using social media for your promotional efforts can enhance engagement and gain you followers.

Read on for a look at how vending contests and promotions can increase your vending sales.

Add Excitement

One reason to run a vending business promotion or contest is to create excitement. Why does it work? Because people love a chance to win. That means they will want to enter a drawing or buy a certain product to get a discount. It gets people excited to use your services and enjoy the products you’re offering. That drives up sales at your machines and markets.

Build Loyalty

People are looking for connections and brands to follow. In fact, a survey by Merkle in 2021, showed that over 80% of consumers want to form a relationship with a brand. And, these customers are willing to go out of their way to buy from brands they are loyal to. Promotions and contests give your customers something to be excited about. They can connect to you through a contest or promotion and ultimately become loyal customers.

Increase Engagement

Online contests and promotions that use social media are great ways to engage your customers. Social media makes it easy to post about promotions and contests. It’s also easy for your audience to react. They can follow a link to a contest page or post their thoughts on it instantly. Doing so shows that they want to engage with your vending company. And an engaged customer spends more and is more loyal.

Grow Your Following

Having followers on your social media strengthens your vending marketing efforts. It means more people will see your brand and messaging. This includes facility managers and human resource professionals.

Hosting online contests and promotions is a tried and true way to get more followers. People want more opportunities to play and win. Therefore, they will like and follow your company to get them. Plus, they are likely to share the contest or promotions with their social media connections. Who might then also become your followers. It’s a great way to get leads and grow awareness of your vending operation.

Give promotions and contests a try. There’s little risk and lots of rewards. You gain exposure, followers, loyalty, increased sales, and leads.

Struggling with time and resources to make vending contests a reality? VendCentral can help. We help vending operators increase sales with successful branding, marketing, and sales strategies. Contact us at info@vendcentral.com or (866) 699-8363.

Written by Emily on February 22, 2023

Testimonials and Reviews are akin to word-of-mouth marketing. And we all know how important word-of-mouth is to a vending business. Testimonials from happy vending customers are a top way to get new vending customers. And a nonpartial third-party review strongly impacts a decision maker’s buying process. So, how do you make the most of a client’s testimonial or review? And how do you get more?

Share Testimonials on Your Website

One of the first places a prospective client visits is your website. And because as many as 93% of buyers read reviews, displaying testimonials on your website is a must. Ask your long-term customers to send you a statement about their experiences with your company and services. Let them know that you plan to share it on your website. For even more impact, include a picture of your customer along with their statement. This helps show prospects that the testimonial is from a real person.

Don’t be tempted to create testimonials on a client’s behalf. Make sure every testimonial is authentic. Overly positive or promotional reviews will stand out. Savvy decision makers will see right through them.

Ask for Reviews on Social Media

A prospect who does research on your vending company will look on your website. But that’s not all. They will look elsewhere online for feedback too. That’s why reviews on your Google Business Listing and social media are also critical. An active Google Business Listing with lots of reviews will also gain a higher SEO.

Make it easy for clients to share their honest opinions by sending them a link to your Google Business Listing. Don’t worry about imperfect reviews. It is a chance to engage a client and turn the situation around. Do not be tempted to pay for reviews or to reward customers for submitting them.  The feedback on your Google Business Listing should be organic and people should be inclined to leave them without incentives or rewards.

Video reviews are also becoming more and more popular. If you’re visiting a customer who is raving about your service, ask to record them. Use your smartphone for a quick video review of the happy customer. Then post it to social media. It’s a great way to spread the word about your stellar service.

Get Testimonials. Gain Leads.

Testimonials and reviews by a customer can impact future sales. Make sure your vending business is getting the leads it deserves by focusing on your testimonials and online reviews. If you want to grow your business through testimonials, reviews, and other digital marketing strategies, VendCentral can help. We offer various digital marketing plans created just for breakroom service providers. Call us at (866) 699-8363 or reach us online.

Written by Jen on January 26, 2023

A vending marketing program is your secret weapon for growing sales. It’s crucial for driving leads to your website. And for changing prospects into customers.  A vending marketing program will drive new buyers to you! It will also spur upgrades with your existing customers.

Vending operators who want to stay focused on their daily tasks turn to VendCentral for marketing help. If fact, it’s why we created our vending marketing programs. All of our marketing programs include a brand-new, mobile-friendly website to attract more leads and convert more customers. They also include top-notch social media content to engage your audience online.  But, our sales and marketing programs offer lots of other benefits too. Looking for more leads and more sales?  Keep reading, because this guide will help you decide what vending marketing program is right for you.

The Works – a COMPLETE vending marketing program

Looking for a program that is completely personalized for your business? A program that drives sales? One that includes all aspects of digital and print marketing? This program is for you. Clients on our COMPLETE sales and marketing program rely on us to handle it all!

To start, we craft a sales and marketing strategy based on our COMPLETE clients’ unique needs and growth plans.  From that, we develop their monthly promotional schedule. These clients work closely and regularly with their VendCentral marketing account manager to fine tune their marketing strategy throughout the year.

Clients on our COMPLETE program have the most robust website growth plan for top SEO results. They also receive the most social media and blog content. Plus, it’s all customized for their business. We help these clients tap into the power of social media to grow their audience and reach. Press releases and design services for email and print campaigns are included too. It is our highest tier program. But COMPLETE clients consider it a valuable investment that pays off big for company sales growth.

The Assist – a CORE program

For vending operators that need only a bit of marketing help, we offer the CORE vending marketing program. In this program, our marketing account managers focus on generating content to help our CORE clients get top search results. Blogs and social media posts concentrate on industry topics and promote our clients’ services and expertise. They contain great SEO keywords but minor customization.

The CORE program appeals to clients looking to establish an online presence, improve search rankings, and grow their websites over time. It works best when complemented by a member of your own team who can add personalized content.

The Best of Both – a CUSTOM program

Take all the benefits of CORE, pair them with several great options from COMPLETE, and you’ll get our CUSTOM program. This is our most popular program with good reason. It is a semi-custom approach that highlights what sets your vending business apart from competitors.

We work together with our CUSTOM clients to create promotional plans. These include both industry-related and personalized content. Website growth is also emphasized in this program to maximize SEO. Clients on the CUSTOM marketing program also get ZippyLead, a website IP tracker tool that can increase vending sales. It does this by capturing valuable contact information about website visitors.

Our VendCentral marketing account managers collaborate closely with our CUSTOM clients for maximum impact and maximum lead generation.

What Type of Vending Marketing Program Do You Need?

Looking to grow your vending sales?  Want to stay focused on your operations? We have a marketing program that fits your needs. From full-scale sales and marketing to a more simplified approach, VendCentral will help you succeed.

Contact VendCentral today for more details on our vending marketing programs.  We will help you find the best fit for your business. Call us at (866) 699-8363 or reach us online.

Written by Emily on January 12, 2023

The vending industry is buzzing about social media. With good reason! A solid social media presence gives vending businesses some unique benefits. What benefits, you ask? Read on for the top reasons why social media helps your vending operation thrive.

Increases Traffic to Your Website

Social media posts can drive people back to your website with links for more info. And your website is a sales tool open 24-7. That means social media posts are part of a good sales strategy.

Drives SEO Ranking

Social media posts and YouTube videos rank with search engines. That means more hype for your services, photos, videos, etc. That’s marketing gold. Just make sure to include helpful keywords, like your city name and vending service offering.

Showcases your work

Social media lets you highlight what you do and how well you do it. Plus, you can talk about the benefits of your services in bite-size posts. That will help customers remember them. Social media is a great place to show real-world breakroom pictures. This gives potential clients visual examples of how you can improve their breakroom. It can also help upgrade your existing vending customers to a brand-new micro-market.

Helps Recruit Skilled Staff

Posting a job on social media helps you announce your open jobs to candidates. It also makes it a lot easier for them to see you’re hiring. Professional networking sites, like LinkedIn, can even reveal people with specific skill sets. These are skills you may need to help your vending operation grow.

Reinforces your brand

Well-crafted social media posts can be terrific branding. They show people who you are and what your company stands for. Customers like to do business with a company they can connect with. Social media gives them more chances to understand and connect with yours.

It’s not enough to have a logo and some images on social media. There’s a strategy for getting the many benefits a social media presence offers. Posting frequently and personalizing your content are two important components. Engaging with customers, prospects, and other industry professionals on social media is key too.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the need to create and maintain a social media presence, there is help. VendCentral’s team of digital sales and marketing experts is dedicated to the breakroom services industry. Contact us today at info@vendcentral.com or (866) 699-8363 to grow your vending sales and stay current online.