We all know that chocolate is a great way to connect with friends, family members and other loved ones. It’s also very effective for building relationships with business associates. While it’s true that chocolate is often thought of as a romantic gift, especially this time of year – chocolate is also a great connector. Everyone appreciates receiving chocolate.
That’s why more and more businesses are using the power of customized chocolate to promote their company and build goodwill. All kinds of businesses use chocolate to get the word out about the services they offer or the products they sell — from tech start-ups to hairdressers, trades to non-profits.
The thing about chocolate is that people truly love it any day of the year. As a business marketing tool, it is memorable, sensory and customizable.
So how can you use this sweet treat in your business marketing plan?
Here are just a few ideas.
How Can You Use This Sweet Treat in Your Business Marketing Plan?
1. Customized Chocolate Coins and Bars
Business owners spend a lot of time and energy coming up with the visual branding of their business.
Indeed, the best brands have logos people recognize instantly, even without the company name: logos intrinsically tied with the business they represent.
Whether you are just starting out or have been established for awhile, the goal is to get your brand “out there.” Customized chocolate coins and chocolate bars are a simple, affordable, effective way to do so.
Hand out these sweet treats at special events tied to your business after ordering them in bulk with your logo directly engraved onto them. Then package them in a box with an attractive custom cover.
People will connect your business with this generous treat, making them more likely to think about your company the next time they unwrap a chocolate bar or crave quality chocolate. It’s such a cost-effective way to advertise your company, you’d be nuts not to do it!
2. Chocolate Giveaways
We all know by now that social media has taken over the world. Love it or hate it, it’s nearly impossible to avoid. As a business owner, you might as well use it to increase your company’s success. But you have to get creative to stand out from the noise.
A great way to do that is with giveaways. Valentine’s Day is perfect for this! Create something like a gift basket – with a gift card for your products or services, a few customized chocolate bars that have your logo engraved on them, maybe some other products from partner businesses so that you can cross-promote. Next, get your followers to tag themselves and a friend for a chance to win this great package.
Think about how far it can go from there! Your company reaches new audiences in no time. If even a fraction of those new eyeballs convert to sales, that’s money in your pocket and another step up the mountain of success. All it took was enticing people with a bit of chocolate and some thoughtfully curated gifts. It’s that easy!
3. Chocolate to say “thank you”
Customer appreciation goes a long way. Think about the last time a company went out of its way to say thank you for your spending hard-earned cash at their establishment. Case in point: my mechanic sent me a hand-written thank-you card out of the blue, and I am now a client for life – and tell all my friends about it.
Saying thank you to clients and customers with even the smallest gesture is a great way to keep them engaged and thinking about your services or products. Yes, it’s transactional, but that’s the nature of business. Go the extra mile; it will pay off.
And the best way to do this? There are lots of ways, but chocolate is one of the best. Placing delicious, high-quality chocolates beside the bill at a restaurant, having custom chocolates on hand for clients while they get their hair cut, or sending out Valentine’s Day cards with a customized chocolate coin to thank customers are all delicious, effective options.
Do whatever you can to stand out from the competition. Better yet, make that effort fun and exciting. Whether taking advantage of events like Valentine’s Day or creating a marketing frenzy on social media, using chocolate to promote your business is a memorable way to give yourself an edge. Yes, love is in the air on Valentine’s Day, and so is success for your business venture!