Be Your Company’s Spokesperson – Use These 4 Simple Tips!
Katie Waxman / July 16, 2024
VendCentral Founder and Spokesperson: Neil Swindale
Is your company’s social media strategy important for your brand? Absolutely. But your vending company’s brand should have a human face as well, ideally a spokesperson. If you are an owner-operator, your LinkedIn social media account can be a driving force behind your company’s online marketing success. No one can build trust and relationships better for your company than you! If you are having a hard time getting started, remember these 4 simple tips.
Tip 1: Be Authentic
Your LinkedIn audience wants to see the real you and will connect with your stories. Share the challenges you are overcoming. Celebrate the wins (like that new micro-market install!). Shout out appreciation for long-term employees and express gratitude for loyal customers. Or, explain how something in your personal life is influencing your professional life. No matter what you post, remember your social media platform should always showcase your professionalism and passion for your business.
Royal ReFresh Ryan Harrington Post
Owner-operator Ryan Harrington shares news of Royal Refresh’s latest micro market install
Tip 2: Show Your Expertise
Whether you are adding insight to industry trends, showing excitement for new products, or displaying curiosity and anticipation for new technology, be sure to weigh in on the topics that matter to your industry and customers. It will all show your audience that you are staying in the know on the latest and greatest breakroom products and services. This will build trust and confidence in you AND your company’s brand.
Tip 3: Engage with your Community
Get on LinkedIn and see what other leaders in your community and industry are doing on their social media platforms. Contribute through likes and comments. It will grow the awareness of you and your company. It will also promote goodwill that will inevitably return to you. Take note of how your audience becomes more engaged with your content through comments, shares, or even direct messages.
Tip 4: Build a Bridge
Finally, build a connection between your personal social media platform and your company’s social media platform. Do this by commenting on your company’s posts and blogs. Take it a step further by sharing your company’s social media content on your own personal platform and adding your point of view. As your company’s spokesperson, you should be its biggest cheerleader! Invite your audience to take action, like following your company’s brand page or reaching out for advice on the latest breakroom products and equipment. This connection is an important part of successful social selling and brand growth.
Corporate Coffee Systems David Henchel Post
CEO David Henchel applauds the Corporate Coffee Systems tech team
Getting social on LinkedIn can be intimidating. But, don’t let your worry over making things look perfect prevent you from making it happen. If you create content that showcases your personality and drive to keep your customers happy you can’t go wrong. Your content will be a perfect enhancement to your company’s social media marketing strategy.
VendCentral specializes in marketing programs with strong social selling strategies for Operators, Manufacturers, and Suppliers in the Refreshment Services Industry. Contact us for a free consultation.
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Vending Marketing That Works, Part 1: Define Your Marketing Strategy
Katie Waxman / July 28, 2022
Many vending business owners jump into marketing with social media posts and blogs to reach potential customers. Indeed, these are part of any good marketing plan. However, to get results, vending marketing needs to be supported first by a strategy behind the posts and blogs. Then you can work out a detailed plan of what and when to post.
Did you define your vending marketing strategy before jumping in? If not, keep reading. Here are some marketing strategy basics to ensure your marketing succeeds.
Marketing strategy vs. marketing plan
While often used interchangeably, a marketing strategy and marketing plan are very different. A marketing strategy is the why. It explains how your marketing will help you achieve your company’s mission and goals. Plus, it outlines what you will market, who you will market to, and how you intend to communicate your message. Finally, it should consider your competitors and how you will set your breakroom business apart.
In contrast, a marketing plan takes your marketing strategy and puts it into practice. It is how you will execute the strategy. For instance, your social media post schedule, your blog topics, and the associated performance metrics.
Steps for a strong vending marketing strategy
A well-defined marketing strategy supports your company’s mission and vision. Follow these steps to ensure yours is complete:
1. Lay the groundwork
Begin the vending market strategy process with a summary of your company. For example, how it started and the values that drive your business. It is also important to include what you wish to accomplish with your marketing efforts. Are you looking to obtain new business? Do you want to show existing customers you do more than vending? How can your marketing efforts help you achieve your goals?
2. Understand your market
Next, outline the key factors and trends happening in the breakroom industry and in your particular service area. Are micro-markets the “go-to” in your area? Are locations asking for ways to lure employees back to the office? Check industry sources, local news, and LinkedIn for some insights.
3. Detail your offering
At a high level, list the types of products and services your vending marketing should focus on. This is going to be directly related to the market trends you identified in the previous step.
4. Define your audience
In order to develop an effective vending marketing strategy, you need to know who to target. Therefore, you should create a clear description of your ideal vending or breakroom service customer. What type of business is it? How many employees are on-site? Who is your contact, the facility manager or the human resource manager? How can you get your marketing message in front of this person?
5. Describe your message
Now that you have identified your target audience, what do you want to say? Use what you came up with for overall breakroom trends, which products/services you want to target, and who your ideal customer is to solidify your message. Does it revolve around hassle-free service? Or, perhaps it highlights the advantages of superior coffee equipment? Maybe it’s showcasing your environmental stewardship through sustainable practices?
6. Analyze your competition
In marketing as in most aspects of business, it is important to look not only at yourself but your competitors. For instance, how is your vending company unique or better than others? How will your marketing plan accentuate these differences?
Don’t forget, you don’t have to come up with your marketing strategy alone. A digital marketing agency can assist you in developing and solidifying a vending marketing strategy that works.
A marketing strategy is just the beginning
Once you have all the elements of a marketing strategy complete, you can take that framework and build a marketing plan. Don’t be tempted to skip the strategy, however. It is worth the time. Starting with the support of a strategy will ensure you make the most of your vending marketing investment, keep your message on target, and reach your goals.
Ready to solidify your strategy? VendCentral can assist you in defining one that works. For a free consultation, contact us by email or at ((866) 699-8363.
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