Worldwide, people consume approximately 145 million bags of coffee each year.
Coffee is clearly the beverage of choice for tons of people, but you can’t rely on its popularity alone to help your coffee shop or coffee business get off the ground and thrive long-term.
If you want your coffee business to succeed, you have to focus on your promotion and marketing strategy.
Not sure where to begin when it comes to coffee business or coffee shop marketing? Start with these five effective strategies. They’ll help you get your business on the map and boost your sales.
Common Coffee Business Marketing Mistakes
Between the US and Canada, there are millions of coffee businesses. The Canadian coffee market alone is worth a whopping $6.2 billion, and the US coffee market is worth more than $45 billion!
Some of these coffee businesses are thriving, but others are struggling when it comes to marketing and promotion.
To avoid falling into the latter category, it’s important to know what kind of marketing mistakes to avoid. The following are some common coffee business marketing mistakes that can hinder your growth and progress:
No Marketing Plan
It doesn’t matter what kind of coffee business you run. Whether you want to have your own independent coffee shop, a coffee franchise, a roast/retail business, or anything in between, not having a marketing plan is a huge mistake.
Before your business even opens, you should have a plan in place for how you’re going to market it. If you have already opened your doors, you should make the marketing plan your top priority.
Not Knowing Your Audience
In addition to not having a clear marketing plan, a lot of coffee business owners also make the mistake of not having a clear idea of their target customer.
Most don’t sit down to think about the people they’re trying to reach with their marketing efforts. As a result, it’s hard for them to tailor their ads and promotional products in a way that attracts the right people to their shop or business.
Only Using One Marketing Approach
Another common mistake coffee businesses make is using only one type of marketing to appeal to their target customers. They might limit themselves only to social media marketing, for example, or they might focus only on flyers and printed ads.
In general, a varied marketing approach that utilizes several different types of marketing will yield the greatest results for your coffee business (or any business, for that matter).
Essential Marketing Strategies to Try
Now that you know what not to do when it comes to marketing your coffee business, let’s talk about what you should do. Here are some effective tips you can start implementing into your marketing plan today:
1. Enhance Your Storefront
An attractive, well-designed storefront can be a powerful marketing tool. If you take the time to enhance the way your coffee shop or retail business looks, you will more effectively attract people from off the street and get them interested in what you have to offer. Make sure you have a clear, easy-to-read sign displayed in a prominent location outside of your business. Consider using other types of signage, such as window signs or sidewalk signs, to catch people’s eye as they’re walking by and alert them to promotions you might be running.
2. Create a Presence Online
Make sure you have a strong online presence.
This includes a well-designed, easy-to-navigate website that highlights what your business has to offer and encourages people to take a specific action (ordering coffee beans, visiting your store, signing up for your newsletter, etc.).
You also should establish a social media presence. Create profiles on popular social media platforms (including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) and start posting and engaging with followers right away.
3. Become a Community Fixture
Getting involved in the community is another great way to spread the word about your business. Look for ways that you can help out your neighbors and promote your store or shop at the same time.
For example, you could host coffee classes to teach people how to choose the best beans or learn the difference between different types of coffee. Teaming up with a local charity or setting up a booth at a local event would also be beneficial.
4. Work with Influencers
When it comes to your social media presence, increasing the number of people who learn about your business will be helped by teaming up with influencers.
Influencers are social media personalities who get paid to promote products or services on their platforms. They have large audiences and high rates of engagement, both of which can work in your favor when it comes to getting more people interested in your business.
Consider reaching out to a few influencers whose brand seems to align with your products to see if they’re a good fit for your marketing strategy.
5. Encourage Reviews
Encourage customers to leave reviews online for your coffee business.
It doesn’t matter if they are praising the great customer service they received or the incredible green coffee beans you roasted freshly for them that morning. Either way, having people spread positive messages about your business will work wonders for attracting new customers.
You may even want to consider offering an incentive for people who leave reviews. For example, if they show you their review when you’re ringing them up, they can get a small discount on their purchase. Or, they can receive an entry in a drawing for a larger prize in exchange for a review.
Update Your Marketing Plan Today
As you can see, there’s a lot you need to keep in mind when it comes to marketing your coffee shop or coffee business.
If you remember these five marketing strategies, though, as well as the common coffee marketing mistakes outlined above, you’ll be off to a great start and will surely see your business thrive.
In addition to having a great marketing strategy, you also have to have great coffee to sell. If you’re looking for high-quality coffee beans to purchase for your business, we can help at ICT Coffee.
Contact us today to learn more about our beans or to place your first order.