You're struggling to promote your culinary business. How can you harness social media for success?

You need to understand the market you are in and what the positioning of the venue is. This drives the content strategy. Understand the 2-3 important cohorts that go to the venue then build out content ideas that address their pain points and why your venue is the solution to their problems. Get willing staff involved in the content creation to create a relationship with the customer.

Engage Daily: With over 10,000 followers and connections on LinkedIn, I make it a priority to interact consistently. I respond promptly to comments, messages, and mentions, fostering a sense of community. This daily engagement helps build strong relationships with my followers, showing them that I value their support. As a result, they are more likely to support my business and share my content with others.

Engaging daily isn't easy, especially when there is a lot of competition out there. One tip ALL platforms give to their users is that the "quality" of your content is more important than the "quantity" of your posts. There are a lot of things about quality that you need to consider, like: clear, high resolution images; reels or photos without watermarks; clean, uncluttered visual messaging, and whether your actual content is beneficial to your audience (see "stories"/"promotions" below). Also, when it comes to quantity: CONSISTENCYis key. Better to post 3 times/week on the same days and around the same time than to have scattered, unpredictable posts (like me!).

Harness social media by: * Creating visually appealing content: High-quality food photos and videos. * Engaging your audience: Interact with followers, run contests, and offer exclusive content. * Leveraging user-generated content: Share customer photos and reviews. * Utilizing relevant hashtags: Increase discoverability. * Running targeted ads: Reach your ideal customer. * Collaborating with influencers: Expand your reach. * Building a strong brand identity: Consistent visuals and messaging. * Offering exclusive deals and promotions: Drive engagement and sales. * Tracking analytics: Measure performance and adjust strategy.

I ensure a visual feast by using high-quality images and videos to highlight my dishes. Take a look at my profile to see my content style. I consistently share mouth-watering photos of my meals and brief video tutorials. This captivating visual content not only attracts potential customers but also emphasizes the distinctive features of my culinary creations, enhancing my business's appeal.

Storytelling in under 30 seconds is hard and that's about all the time you'll get. In fact, most reels that do well are less than 15 seconds long - some as short as 5-7 seconds! Rough seas, out there. But there are ways to do it. Always consider your "STORY". Even if you are posting a 5-second video of you pulling a batch of cookies out of the oven, use simple editing tools to make those 5 seconds look fabulous! Shoot in cinematic mode, put a filter over it, and maybe add some trending audio. You can have a voiceover that says, "My clients go crazy for these cookies. I call them my Million-Dollar Moneymakers. Check out the caption for the recipe, and save this post for later!" Done.

People turn to social media to connect with others, and brands that don't show a human face often struggle to make an impact. Incorporating user-generated content can help by featuring real people. Having the founder or owner share their story adds authenticity while highlighting a chef whose cuisine attracts customers can create a personal touch. Finding a brand ambassador to represent your business can also make a difference. These strategies bring a human element that showcases emotions and builds genuine connections with your audience.

Promote, but not as in "advertise." The best way you can promote yourself is to show your expertise and share your knowledge. If you have a tip, really give us that tip! Don't be afraid to give away the good stuff; people are sick of click-bait and only getting half of what they were promised. Don't give away ALL of your knowledge, but really give some good gems, you know? You have PLENTY more. Don't be stingy. Another trend is to ask for people to comment for a "freebie," which triggers an automated process. It's a good way to promote, but I would suggest watching some tutorials on it or getting some 1:1 time with a social media strategist first. I can refer you to some of my colleagues who have solid reputations if you reach out to me.