BUILDING A REPUTATION

1. BUILDING A REPUTATION MAKING A NAME FOR YOURSELF

2. WHAT IS A REPUTATION? • HOW DO YOU GET ONE? • CITE 3 WAYS • WHAT CAN IT DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS? • ASSET OR LIABILITY?

3. CLIENT SELF-QUESTIONS • IS THE CATERER WELL RESPECTED? • DOES THE CATERER DO MOST OF THE EVENTS IN THE AREA? • ARE CUSTOMERS SATISFIED? • WOULD CLIENTS RECOMMEND THIS CATERER? IF SO, WHY?

4. ADVERTISE • REFERRALS (WORD-OF-MOUTH, ETC.) RULE OF 3 • BUSINESS CARDS • SIGNAGE • FLYERS/GIVE-AWAYS • COUPONS • RADIO/TV • NEWSPAPER • SPONSORSHIPS

5. NETWORK • BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH RELATED BUSINESSES… • SOCIALIZE AT EVENTS • USE BUSINESS CARDS • ATTEND INDUSTRY FUNCTIONS • BRIDAL SHOWS • FOOD SHOWS • FLORAL SHOWS

6. JOIN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS • CATERING OR EVENT PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS • ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST TO YOU • EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE POTENTIAL CLIENTS OR WHO KNOW CLIENTS.

7. JOURNALS & LIFESTYLE PUBLICATIONS • UNIVERSITIES • FOOD JOURNALS • CATERING MAGAZINES • OFFER CONSULTATIONS/PROMOTIONS • USE A RESOURCE –IDEAS, MODEL

8. CONTACT A LOCAL FOOD EDITOR • REQUEST AN INTERVIEW • SHOWCASE AN EVENT YOU CATERED. • INVITATION/SAMPLING GOAL:EXPOSURE!!!! (FOR YOUR TARGET CLIENT)

9. GET INVOLVED LOCALLY • VOLUNTEER • DEMONSTRATIONS • FUNDRAISERS

10. WEB PRESENCE • ORGANIZE AND SET-UP YOUR OWN WEB PAGE COMPLETE WITH • TESTAMONIALS • PHOTO GALLERIES • MENUS • BLOG • FACEBOOK • TWITTER

11. PROVIDE EXEMPLARY SERVICE • TREAT EACH CLIENT AS IF THEY (AND THEIR GUESTS) ARE A POTENTIAL REFERRAL • PERSONALIZE SERVICES • SET YOURSELF APART FROM THE COMPETITION • STAY TRUE TO YOUR IDENTITY

12. FACTORS AFFECTING REPUTATION

13. REPUTATION DEVELOPMENT • HOW CAN YOU BUILD A REPUTATION FOR A NEW BUSINESS? • WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU GET POOR REVIEWS OR A “BAD RAP”? • REPUTATION MANAGEMENT…

14. THE VALUE OF A GOOD REPUTATION • NOTORIETY • ACHIEVEMENT • VALIDATION • PROFIT • GROWTH QUOTES

15. BUILDING A REPUTATION • REQUIRES……. • CREATIVITY • CAPITAL-$$$ • TIME • EXPOSURE