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Now it’s time to take inspiration from bakery or even restaurant websites. As you craft a website for your online bakery, keep these three key features in mind:
Write a detailed description of each menu item alongside photos. When customers see images of delectable baked goods, they can feel confident in your establishment and excited to place an order. To boost confidence even further, add ingredient lists and allergy tags. If a menu item is gluten-free or vegan, add a note for that, too.
Seamless online ordering and checkout are important for any business but they’re essential for an online-only bakery. Customers who encounter challenges when placing orders are more likely to churn. Set up your online ordering system to have as few clicks as possible, a mobile-friendly UI, order tracking, and the option to save payment methods.
Most customers love a good deal, so offer them limited time deals or seasonal sales. You can go further by implementing a loyalty rewards program with additional offers. Both techniques reward customers when they return to your business. Consider also adding upsell add-ons when a customer checks out. These may include coffee, celebratory cards, or birthday cake candles.
Marketing your online bakery business is where the bulk of your order volume will stem from. Once you’ve determined the core functionality and identity of your online bakery business, use these three strategies to spread the word:
Start by telling your social circles about your new business. Offer them samples in exchange for word-of-mouth marketing or social media endorsements. Additionally, create an email list where you can share business updates or join neighborhood apps like local Facebook Groups or Nextdoor to get the word out.
Social media platforms are among the best ways to reach new audiences. Visual-heavy platforms like Instagram and TikTok are the most valuable for food-related content. Post photos and videos about your baking process, final products, or any other unique details to help the target market get to know your brand. Utilize hashtags like #localbaker, #dessertbox, #supportsmallbusiness.
Limited-time deals create a sense of urgency. For your business, try using deal formats customers already know, like early-bird discounts or pre-orders. Label items with order deadlines to prompt customers to place early orders.
Pro Tip: Set up a stand at your local farmer’s market. Customers will love enjoying a cup of tea and snacking on a pastry as they wander the market. You’re also spreading the word about your business.
After you have a steady customer base, the next challenge is keeping them engaged. After all, returning customers are responsible for about 80% of restaurant sales. Use the following three tips for retaining customers:
Comprehensive loyalty software makes tracking, coordinating, and rewarding customers easy. You can organize your loyalty program into tiered rewards. As a guest spends more, the rewards grow more exclusive. Free delivery, exclusive flavors, or birthday surprises may be compelling offers for your guests.
Email is one of the best ways to engage with your guests one-on-one. Send discounts for joining a reward program, birthday rewards, early access to new menu items, flash sales, and more. Finally, give customers the option to opt into text/SMS messaging as it opens another impactful way to reach them.
Not only is it exciting for a customer to see their content on one of their favorite brand’s social media accounts, but it also allows you to engage with them on a personal note. Run a gift card giveaway that encourages customers to tag you in posts to have their name enter or organize a social contest to pick a unique flavor. The more you interact with customers, the stronger a connection they’ll feel to your brand.
The best way to keep your business operations smooth is to identify potential challenges and create solutions. That way, you proactively mitigate problems instead of responding to them in real-time. These are three common challenges and solutions:
As a small business using perishable supplies, it’s important to monitor storage for on-hand inventory and restock timing. One good strategy is the bake-to-order model. With this approach, you bake items as orders come in and request them. It’s a technique to help reduce waste. When shipping items, consider freezing or vacuum-sealing as options to help boost shelf life and preserve freshness.
If you allow customers to opt for delivery, you need strategies for managing delivery logistics. Maintaining the quality of baked goods and ensuring items like cupcakes or cakes arrive intact should be top of mind. You might only deliver to a certain area, allowing you to use a local courier and schedule delivery windows.
Starting an online bakery business is no small task. Slow and steady growth is the path to a sustainable business, helping avoid burnout. Begin with a short menu and limited availability, so you can also focus on growing and marketing your business. Use technology that features automated order confirmations or receipts to help save time.
Want a real-life example? If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration while planning your online bakery, take a look at these three examples:
Key Insight: These examples are large-scale operations with several employees and commercial kitchens, but they didn’t grow to their current sizes overnight. It takes time and persistence to expand your business. Right now, focus on providing the best baked goods and customer experience possible.
Here are our responses to common questions on starting your own online bakery business.
A home-based bakery business can be a good model if you’re just starting out or want to experiment with turning a baking passion into a career. You also have greater flexibility with how you manage the business.
The cost to start an online bakery, including permits, initial ingredients, website fees, marketing expenses, and a business license, ranges from $1,000 to $2,500. However, you should always prepare for the startup costs to lean toward the higher end of the spectrum.
Yes, with the proper licenses and permits, you can sell baked goods online from your home. Just ensure that you have all the legal requirements in place.
Your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover a home-based bakery business, so you must acquire a cottage food insurance policy or home bakery insurance. Depending on your state, you may be required to purchase insurance to run the business.
Starting your own online bakery business is well within reach. With the right setup, strategic marketing, and commitment to quality, your online bakery can grow fast with few overhead expenses.
Book a demo today to learn how Paytronix can support loyalty, personalization, and guest experience for your online bakery business.