32 Marketing Tips for Vegan Businesses
I recently found out from a Vegan Business Tribe podcast that one of the reasons that some vegan companies in the restaurant industry are not doing as well as desired is due to the availability of vegan options in mainstream cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, etc.
This fact had never dawned on me, so it really took me by surprise and I started to think about what could be done to maximize the success of vegan businesses while benefiting from the increased awareness and awakening to veganism in the mainstream.
I decided to create a list of 32 marketing tips for vegan businesses, in particular for vegan cafes and restaurants, that can help them to thrive and successfully surf the vegan wave that is surging right now. These suggestions are in no particular order.
Create a “selfie” wall (inside and/or outside) featuring a unique brand message and imagery, plus your social media handle and hashtag
Incentivize customers who tag you on social media (with a free merchandise item or a 50% discount of a future purchase, for example)
Get your company more public relations visibility in local, national and global media
Hire a Public Relations company and/or intern
Incentivize influencers (vegan and non vegan) to share their visits to your space on social media and tag you
Collaborate with local/national/global vegan organizations
Create your own unique hashtag and use it on social media
Place your social media handles on your menus, interior and/or exterior selfie wall, website; in other words in all your marketing materials
Include links to vegan organizations and vegan challenges on your website
Hire vegan employees
Train employees on the vegan philosophy, messaging, and lifestyle
Train employees on how to interact with both vegan and non vegan customers and the particularities of each customer set
Host vegan book club meet-ups
Host vegan movie events
Host vegan breakfasts, brunches, lunches, teas, dinners and parties year-round with special events on World Vegan Day (November 1)
Host vegan cooking classes, workshops
Host vegan group meet ups that you post on social media, including your local town/city/state Facebook vegan group and create Facebook and Instagram events that people can sign up for and share
Collaborate with other vegan businesses and animal sanctuaries to co-host events
Promote regular (weekly/monthly) specials highlighting a new product/offering
Create a QR code placed on your counter and tables for guests to visit your website and/or social media, inviting them to subscribe to your newsletter and follow you on social media
Keep up with the competition (vegan and non vegan) and innovate to exceed your customers’ expectations
Send out a regular email newsletter and marketing text messages featuring new products and offerings
Contribute a portion of profits to one or more animal sanctuaries and include that in your marketing to show your support for the animals
Create an appealing set of vegan merchandise with your company design/logo/messaging, etc.
Get feedback from your vegan and non vegan customers on what they like/dislilke; areas for improvement
Host a podcast featuring your personal and business vegan journey
Be a guest on other people’s podcasts and talk about your personal and business vegan journey
Write a book about your personal and business vegan journey
Write a regular blog on topics related to your product line and veganism
Become a guest blogger on other people’s blogs on topics related to your product line and veganism
Hire a marketing expert to provide additional strategies
Practice self-care so that you can cultivate patience and resilience on your personal and business journey
These are just a few suggestions that I want to offer to the vegan community in the hopes that they will serve in some way to elevate and improve your strength in the marketplace and contribute to the success and longevity of your business.
Let me know in the comments below which tips you found most useful.
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Contact me for more tips and strategies.
Best wishes,
Angel
Certified Raw Vegan Chef & Yoga Teacher
Wellness Lifestyle Coach & Author
Meditation & Retreat Leader