Photo credit: @erinjbgood

Mistake 1: You don’t have a list

Look, we’re all stretched thin these days. But as Peter Drucker says, “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.”

You don’t need fancy catering software to get started with list-building. Start by compiling your past corporate catering clients and most loyal customers.

Mistake 2: You don’t reach out to any leads or loyal customers that you do know of

Back in the day, it was easy to drop off a tray of donuts, some swag, and your catering menu to a target office building. If that’s not an option for you these days, you may be wondering how to grab the attention of an office manager over the phone or email.

That’s why you need a playbook for what to say, and how to find your target contacts, in a post-pandemic world.

Mistake 3: You’re still taking orders over the phone

Maybe you’ve always done it this way. Maybe you’re not willing to turn down any business that comes your way post-COVID. But think about all the inaccuracies with phone orders (not to mention frustrated customers who can’t hear you through a mask).

Even emails to a general inbox are easy to get lost in the shuffle.

Luckily, there are a handful of affordable digital tools that let you take orders or custom requests. At the very least, start with a basic Google form or talk to your POS provider.

 Mistake 4: You’re inconsistent with how you market your catering services

Instagram, Facebook, Yelp, website, email newsletters, Google My Business, oh my! There are so many places to spread the word digitally (and in person), but it’s overwhelming to think about the “marketing stuff” when you’re trained in the kitchen.

Put together a plan to organize and schedule your monthly marketing/promotions. If you get creative and build relationships, you won’t need a huge budget to advertise.

The goal is to get people talking and create an easy, frictionless ordering experience.

Mistake 5: You’re not following up with past customers

This mistake is common, but it’s the easiest to fix! If you’re tracking past catering orders (see #1), you can create a simple follow up system to generate repeat business and referrals.

Ready to learn the system for catering success?

If you want to know how to build your catering target list, what packages to offer, what to say, and how to set up all the logistics, check out the Catering Comeback bootcamp!