Running a food truck can be a challenging business. From unpredictable weather to ever-changing customer demands, it's not always easy to draw a steady stream of hungry visitors to your truck. That's where SMS marketing comes in. By leveraging the power of text messaging, you can reach potential customers where they are and entice them to visit your food truck.
In this post, we'll explore 9 effective ways to use SMS marketing to increase foot traffic and drive more business to your food truck. From sharing limited-time location updates to partnering with local businesses, these strategies are sure to help you stand out in a crowded food truck scene.
Here we go!
Table of contents
1. Share the location of your food truck
Choosing the right spots to set up your food truck can make or break your business. However, in order to have a successful food truck business, you need to not only find a place with heavy foot traffic but also tell your target audience where to find you.
SMS marketing is the fastest, easiest, and most accurate way to send the location of your food truck to customers. This is because Americans check their phones an average of 47 times a day, and the SMS open rate is 98%, ensuring that they will definitely see your message.
Here are text message examples to share your food trucksâ location:
"Catch us at the corner of Main St. and 1st Ave. for lunch today! We'll be there from 11 am - 2 pm. - Pony Taco đŽ""We're taking a break from our regular location today. Find us at the park near 3rd St. and Elm Ave. for dinner tonight! - Pony BBQ - Reply STOP to opt out"2. Deliver your deals with bulk SMS in seconds
Want to get the most out of your marketing campaigns? The only way to do this is to reach as many people as possible. Send your deals, coupons, offers, etc., to your customers via mass text messages.
Imagine you've had a slow evening at your food truck and want to clear out your inventory before heading home. With SMS marketing, you can instantly notify your subscribers of a special sale, encouraging them to swing by for a quick bite before closing time. Here are example messages you could send:
"Last chance to grab some delicious eats before we close up shop! Get 20% off your order when you show this text at checkout. Hurry, the offer ends in 30 minutes! đđđ - Pony Burgerâ"Looking for a quick and tasty lunch option? Swing by our taco truck today for a delicious meal on the go! Show this text for 10% off your order. đŽđŽđŽ - Pony Taco - Reply END to unsubscribeâ3. Share the special menu of your food truck
Marketing offers a great opportunity for small businesses to promote their holiday special products and services, and food trucks and restaurants are no exception. SMS marketing lets you easily share your special menus and offers with your customers, making their special day even more memorable. Here are two examples of SMS marketing messages you could use:
"Happy Cinco de Mayo! đđŽđš Celebrate with us and enjoy our special menu of tacos, margaritas, and more! Show this text for 10% off your order. See you soon! đľđ - Pony Taco""Love is in the air â¤ď¸đâ¤ď¸ Celebrate Valentine's Day with a heart-shaped pizza from our food truck! Order in 30 minutes and get a free dessert on us! Show this text for the deal. đđŞ - Pony Pizza - Reply STOP to opt outâ 4. Update customers via SMS
Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes you may need to make a sudden change to your food truck's schedule. But don't leave your customers in the dark! SMS marketing lets you quickly and easily notify them of any changes or cancellations. Here are some sample messages you can use:
âHi there! Unfortunately, we won't be able to make it to our usual spot today due to unforeseen circumstances. đ We are sorry for any inconvenience and hope to see you soon at our next location. - Pony Ice CreamââHey, everyone! Just wanted to give you a heads-up that we'll be closing early today at 5 pm instead of our usual 7 pm. Thanks for your understanding, and we look forward to serving you again soon! - Pony Donuts đŠâ5. Whet appetites with MMS marketing đ¤¤
If you want to make your customers' mouths water before they even step foot near your food truck, MMS marketing is the way to go! By sending high-quality images of your delicious meals, you can increase your sales and get people excited to visit your food truck. Here are a couple of MMS message examples to inspire you:
6. Announce new food trucks via bulk SMS
Getting a new food truck? Congratulations! This is fantastic news for your business and your hungry customers. It's also the perfect opportunity for some self-promotion. Send out bulk messages and get everyone excited with these sample messages:
"Can't get enough of our tasty tacos? đŽđŽđŽ We've got you covered! Our new Pony Taco Truck is coming, and we can't wait to serve up some seriously delicious eats. See you soon! - Reply STOP to unsubscribeâ"We've got some exciting news for all the ice cream lovers out there - our new Pony Ice Cream Truck is almost ready to hit the road! Stay tuned for more details."7. Partner with local businesses and announce it via bulk SMS
Partnering with other local businesses or food trucks can significantly enhance your visibility. By collaborating with others, you can tap into their customer base and reach new audiences, all while building a stronger network of like-minded entrepreneurs. One effective way to promote your partnership is through SMS marketing. Here are some examples of messages you can send out to your customers:
"Hungry for something new? Come check out our joint venture with [Business/Food Truck Name] and enjoy a tasty meal while supporting local small businesses! Text [Keyword] to [Number] for more info.""Two is better than one! We've teamed up with [Business/Food Truck Name] to bring you a mouth-watering fusion menu that's sure to satisfy any craving. Text [Keyword] to [Number] for a taste of the action!"8. Ask for support
Encouraging customers to support your small business through mass text messaging can be an effective way to increase sales and promote the local economy. Your customers can feel good about supporting a small business, and your food truck can benefit from increased revenue. Here are some message examples that you can use when asking for support from your customers:
"Your support can make a huge difference in the success of our small business. Come enjoy some delicious food and help us continue to serve our community. We appreciate your support more than you know! - Pony Burrito đŻđŻđŻ""We believe in the power of community and the importance of supporting small businesses. đ¤ By choosing to dine with us, you're helping to keep our community strong and vibrant. Come be a part of something special and enjoy some amazing food while you're at it! - Pony Donut"9. Get a review
When it comes to attracting new customers to your food truck, there are countless marketing tactics to choose from. However, the most influential factor in a customer's decision-making process is often what others have to say about your business. That's why collecting as many positive online reviews as possible for your food truck is crucial. Whether you use platforms like Yelp or Google My Business or showcase testimonials on your own website, SMS marketing can be a powerful tool for soliciting reviews. Consider incentivizing customers with a coupon or special offer, sharing your review link, and asking for their feedback. Here are some example messages to help you get started:
"We're always striving to improve our food and service, and your input is invaluable. Can we count on you to leave us a review on our website? As a token of our gratitude, we're giving all reviewers a $5 coupon towards their next order. Simply reply YES to get started! - Pony Hot Dog đđđ""Your support means everything to us! If you had a positive experience with our food truck, please consider leaving us a review on our website. As a token of our appreciation, we're giving all reviewers a free appetizer with their next order. To leave your review: ponytaco.com"In this article, we explained how food truck businesses could use SMS marketing to increase foot traffic to their food trucks. Try these effective ways and let us know if they worked for your food truck business.
Pony Express HQ offers the most affordable SMS marketing pricing if you need a business texting service to start SMS marketing. Sign up, and start using SMS marketing today for your food truck business!
Happy Texting đ¤
The Pony Express HQ Team