A family pizza shop with 15+ years looking to build an online presence ( e.g. Instagram, Facebook)
- Thread starter emeline
- Start date
@emeline I do social media marketing for small businesses. A good starting point would be to create just a few accounts (not on every platform) and use something like Metricool to post to them. Some say create a schedule but I typically find sitting down and creating content for a month in advance and scheduling it.
Here's an article I wrote that might help.
How To Solve The Top 5 Small Business Pain Points On Social Media
Always here to help.
Here's an article I wrote that might help.
How To Solve The Top 5 Small Business Pain Points On Social Media
Always here to help.
@emeline Where are you located and what is the demographic profile in your service area (in other words how far do you deliver from your shop)?
Do you know what your regular customers love about your pizza? Do you know who they would tell about your pizza?
Pizza is memories. Are you connecting with new customers (pizza learners) or catering to the old timers (pizza memories)?
Know your customers and why they love your pizza.
Ask them...
Once you know who loves you, you can reach out and touch the same people.
Do you know what your regular customers love about your pizza? Do you know who they would tell about your pizza?
Pizza is memories. Are you connecting with new customers (pizza learners) or catering to the old timers (pizza memories)?
Know your customers and why they love your pizza.
Ask them...
Once you know who loves you, you can reach out and touch the same people.
god4ever91
New member
saintearistotle
New member
@emeline I assume you have a local presence, so I suggest you start a TikTok channel and start posting videos from your daily pizza making process, before and afters, etc. Those videos will make people hungry and they’ll come to you. For a general presence you can start the social account that are most relevant for your audience (you should know already who your audience is in 15+ years)
elpasoautotransport
New member
@emeline Here's an easy win:
go on the yelp forums. Grab the names of the yelpers that mostly leave 4-5 star reviews and who are elite/active. Pick 10 of them. Don't bother with the complainers. An occasional 1 star review in their portfolio is OK, but not the serial-haters.
Variation 1:
Tell them you would like to host a private party for them and their closest 3-5 friends. On you. They only pay for alcoholic drinks (you can't really give out free alcohol anyways - it's dicey to do so at least). Pizza and normal drinks are on you. You only ask for an honest review on their social media account(s).
Variation 2:
Get all ten of them to come together as elite yelpers/food critics because you value their opinion. Spare no expense. Treat them like gold, ask only for an honest review. Rent a photo booth (maybe own one anyways because that's great money if you can make the ambience to support it in your space). Help them understand what a pizza joint does to wow their customers - give them the VIP pass and insider look.
--
Either way: You treat them to the best possible pizza experience you can muster - even if it's an after hours, private event. Of course they will know that this is you "buying" their favor. They get it. But still shine on customer service, show off the Pizzaiolo's skills , don't forget their name's. Don't let your waitstaff hit on them. Real top notch stuff. Bring in the family to meet them. Offer the behind the scene's look at the kitchen. Let them help make a pie or two. CLEAN YOUR RESTAURANT IMPECCABLY before the events. TRY to do it without a full house, to make it seem more intimate and exclusive, and to avoid having to have other customers offended they aren't getting the same red carpet treatment.
Get your cameras out. Encourage them to do the same. Buy a bit of decent lighting for real foodie type photos to be taken (white box, some stand lighting, etc.). Get some branded stuff and pass it out like candy to them for pictures. Fun stuff though, like a cool t-shirt, or a really nice beer glass. Fill the first beer up for free. Be clear in your expectations and what you are offering. DON'T ASK FOR FAVORABLE RVIEWS. Ask them to be real about the experience. Let them embellish but don't instruct them to.
Get their names on a list. Get their emails. Email them the insider coupon once a month. Don't bug them about the reviews; a couple might even flake and you'll lose a small amount of money having entertained them. Follow up but never beg for a review, remind them they were a fun time in your place, and you'd love to have them back or get their feedback on how to improve.
Ask for their help in making the experience better. Don't be afraid to tell them why something is too expensive to give away to the average customer. Educate them on the economics so they get why they are paying $32 for a pizza. Write a handwritten note that tells them how much they helped you to refine your business offering. Thank them for their time, be gracious and straightforward.
Some will balk at the invitation. Some may show up and be super critical. But the 3-4 or 6-7 of them that do show up will remember you. They will buy from you. They will have made a friend, and you will have as well. This stuff doesn't grow on trees, you have to go out then and start the seed, then nurture the plant, then replant it yearly, etc. etc. Do it again once a year on their birthday - or better yet, their significant other's birthday - help them to look good and THEY WILL HELP YOU TO LOOK GOOD.
It's 4-8 dollars to make a premium pizza. You are out $40-60 for every single party you throw, but you will grab followers like you wouldn't believe. You may make the money back on premium drinks or spirits (if you have an ABC) even. Make some insta reels; post about it on your facebook. Use clips to run ads on those platforms and brand yourself as the best destination for pizza in your neighborhood.
For less than $750 you are likely to double your income for the next month, and triple it the one after. Repeat this process a few times a year strategically. 10 brand evangelists for a local small business is a BIG impact.
If you think this is a great idea, DM me, I have more. I do this stuff for a living. You just need to get creative.
go on the yelp forums. Grab the names of the yelpers that mostly leave 4-5 star reviews and who are elite/active. Pick 10 of them. Don't bother with the complainers. An occasional 1 star review in their portfolio is OK, but not the serial-haters.
Variation 1:
Tell them you would like to host a private party for them and their closest 3-5 friends. On you. They only pay for alcoholic drinks (you can't really give out free alcohol anyways - it's dicey to do so at least). Pizza and normal drinks are on you. You only ask for an honest review on their social media account(s).
Variation 2:
Get all ten of them to come together as elite yelpers/food critics because you value their opinion. Spare no expense. Treat them like gold, ask only for an honest review. Rent a photo booth (maybe own one anyways because that's great money if you can make the ambience to support it in your space). Help them understand what a pizza joint does to wow their customers - give them the VIP pass and insider look.
--
Either way: You treat them to the best possible pizza experience you can muster - even if it's an after hours, private event. Of course they will know that this is you "buying" their favor. They get it. But still shine on customer service, show off the Pizzaiolo's skills , don't forget their name's. Don't let your waitstaff hit on them. Real top notch stuff. Bring in the family to meet them. Offer the behind the scene's look at the kitchen. Let them help make a pie or two. CLEAN YOUR RESTAURANT IMPECCABLY before the events. TRY to do it without a full house, to make it seem more intimate and exclusive, and to avoid having to have other customers offended they aren't getting the same red carpet treatment.
Get your cameras out. Encourage them to do the same. Buy a bit of decent lighting for real foodie type photos to be taken (white box, some stand lighting, etc.). Get some branded stuff and pass it out like candy to them for pictures. Fun stuff though, like a cool t-shirt, or a really nice beer glass. Fill the first beer up for free. Be clear in your expectations and what you are offering. DON'T ASK FOR FAVORABLE RVIEWS. Ask them to be real about the experience. Let them embellish but don't instruct them to.
Get their names on a list. Get their emails. Email them the insider coupon once a month. Don't bug them about the reviews; a couple might even flake and you'll lose a small amount of money having entertained them. Follow up but never beg for a review, remind them they were a fun time in your place, and you'd love to have them back or get their feedback on how to improve.
Ask for their help in making the experience better. Don't be afraid to tell them why something is too expensive to give away to the average customer. Educate them on the economics so they get why they are paying $32 for a pizza. Write a handwritten note that tells them how much they helped you to refine your business offering. Thank them for their time, be gracious and straightforward.
Some will balk at the invitation. Some may show up and be super critical. But the 3-4 or 6-7 of them that do show up will remember you. They will buy from you. They will have made a friend, and you will have as well. This stuff doesn't grow on trees, you have to go out then and start the seed, then nurture the plant, then replant it yearly, etc. etc. Do it again once a year on their birthday - or better yet, their significant other's birthday - help them to look good and THEY WILL HELP YOU TO LOOK GOOD.
It's 4-8 dollars to make a premium pizza. You are out $40-60 for every single party you throw, but you will grab followers like you wouldn't believe. You may make the money back on premium drinks or spirits (if you have an ABC) even. Make some insta reels; post about it on your facebook. Use clips to run ads on those platforms and brand yourself as the best destination for pizza in your neighborhood.
For less than $750 you are likely to double your income for the next month, and triple it the one after. Repeat this process a few times a year strategically. 10 brand evangelists for a local small business is a BIG impact.
If you think this is a great idea, DM me, I have more. I do this stuff for a living. You just need to get creative.
@elpasoautotransport This is great