Almost everyone enjoys chocolate, and they have many health advantages including being a potent source of antioxidants and lowering the risk of heart disease. Consequently, if you intend to sell chocolates online, particularly on the upcoming National Chocolate Cake Day and National Hot Chocolate Day, you are giving customers yet another option.
Small businesses frequently have limited marketing resources, which can make advertising your chocolate business difficult. The good news is that you can market to your customers in a variety of ways without spending any money.
Now that we've taken care of that for you, as an online business owner you probably don't have the time to research and identify these free marketing ideas.
You'll discover a ton of low-cost and free ways to market your company in this article.
Outline
- What Is National Chocolate Cake Day?
- Can I Sell Homemade Chocolates Online?
- Was Chocolate Once Used As Money?
- How To Sell Chocolates Online
- 6 Marketing Ideas To Sell Chocolate Online
- 5 Tips for Selling Chocolate Online
- Conclusion
What Is National Chocolate Cake Day?
unsplash.com
Your favorite dessert has its own holiday, which honors the heritage and culinary excellence of all chocolate cakes. Chocolate cake has an interesting origin story for a sweet treat that is so widespread. Since its creation, the chocolate cake that we know and love today has undergone numerous changes.
Here are the dates:
January 27 - Chocolate Cake Day
National Chocolate Cake Day is indeed famous, particularly in the United States. While it might not be as universally recognized as major holidays, it has gained popularity over the years, especially on social media platforms where various national days often become trending topics.
Bakeries, restaurants, foodies, and dessert lovers all over the nation participate in the celebration. Businesses take advantage of this day to organize special offers, discounts, and celebrations centered around chocolate cake in order to draw customers and create buzz.
January 31 - National Hot Chocolate Day
Businesses like cafes, bakeries, and chocolate shops frequently run promotions or introduce unique hot chocolate flavors to mark National Hot Chocolate Day. Its visibility and popularity are also increased by the frequent recognition and celebration of this day on social media platforms and by food bloggers. National Hot Chocolate Day has found a niche audience and is widely celebrated by people who value this decadent and comforting winter beverage.
In summary, National Chocolate Cake Day presents merchants with an excellent chance to increase sales, engage customers, enhance brand visibility, and foster a sense of community around their products. By planning creative and appealing promotions, merchants can make the most out of this delicious celebration.
Can I Sell Homemade Chocolates Online?
tazachocolate.com
Yes, you can sell homemade chocolates online, but there are a few important factors to consider:
- Food Safety Regulations: Different countries and regions have specific regulations regarding the sale of food products, including homemade chocolates. You need to ensure that your products meet the legal requirements for food safety and quality standards.
- Business Licensing: You'll likely need a business license or permit to legally sell homemade chocolates.
- Online Platform: You can sell your homemade chocolates through various online platforms such as Shopify, Etsy, or even social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
- Packaging and Shipping: Consider how you will package your chocolates to ensure they arrive in good condition. Also, think about the logistics of shipping.
- Marketing and Branding: Building a strong brand and marketing your products effectively is crucial for online sales.
Make sure to do your homework to learn all the business and legal aspects involved before you begin selling. To make sure you are in compliance with all local laws, it is also a good idea to speak with a local business advisor or a legal expert.
Here are some chocolate online store examples:
1. Huel
uk.huel.com
2. BariatricPal
store.bariatricpal.com
3. Läderach – Chocolatier Suisse
jo.laderach.com
4. Magnolia Bakery
magnoliabakery.com
All of these examples were created with the Shopify platform since it is one of the best places to sell chocolates online. You have instant access to a built-in mobile commerce shopping cart, a fully hosted blogging platform, and the ability to edit your HTML and CSS. On Shopify, you can also choose from over 6,000 apps and 80 themes to customize your store.
It's an easy process. Once you open your store, you can upload mouth watering images and videos of your food and provide descriptions of each.
Was Chocolate Once Used As Money?
steemit.com
Yes, chocolate was once used as a form of currency. Cacao beans were used as money by the prehistoric Mayans and Aztecs, two of the first civilizations to cultivate cacao trees and produce chocolate. Given that they were valuable, cacao beans were exchanged for a variety of goods and services.
How To Sell Chocolates Online
Build an Online Chocolate Store
Creating a website for your chocolate business is a great way to expand the visibility of your brand, connect with more people, and simplify the purchasing process for customers. A website also enables customers to view your product offerings, learn more about your company, and get in touch with you with any queries or problems. A website can also improve your chances of gaining new clients by assisting you in developing credibility and trust with visitors.
These days, having a strong presence online is important for any business. It's best to use an eCommerce website builder and include a about us and privacy policy when creating a website.
One of the best online stores to sell chocolates is Shopify. You must first choose whether you want to sell premium chocolates or chocolates of lower quality. After that, go ahead and open a Shopify store. You can set up a well-known and successful online chocolate store with access to over 80 themes, web hosting, and analytics.
Here's an example of a chocolate business namely Hotel Chocolat that created their website using Shopify:
us.hotelchocolat.com
How to sell chocolates online with Shopify in just 5 steps
1. Create your online store
Using the name ideas generator tool to find creative and unique name ideas for your store, launch your own chocolate online store before selecting a theme you like.
2. Set up your product pages
Each type of chocolate should have its own product page. Find out how to write compelling product descriptions and take professional product photos.
3. Select your apps and sales channels
To find resources that assist you in marketing and shipping your chocolates, go to the Shopify App Store.
4. Pick your payment gateway
Utilize Shopify's secure checkout to get paid reliably using a variety of payment gateways.
Read More: Best Shopify Brands In 2023 To Inspire Your Business
5. Market your chocolate business
Market your chocolates through social media, email, and other marketing channels.
Use PageFly Page Builder app on Shopify to create stunning pages to sell chocolate online with no coding skills needed. We do have some special templates for selling chocolates.
Shopify app store
6 Marketing Ideas To Sell Chocolate Online
1. Run Ads
You can reach a larger audience and boost sales by running digital ads for your chocolate business. You can make sure that the right people hear your message by targeting digital ads to potential clients based on their interests, location, and demographics.
If you only have a tiny advertising budget, it might still be enough to run some Facebook ads! The cost per click for Facebook advertising can be very low between 0.18 to 1.85 USD or 10.26 to 105.40 PHP depending on your Facebook Ad campaign objectives.
2. Run Promotions
Online chocolate promotions can increase brand awareness, draw in new customers, and boost sales. Promotions can be strategically used to clear out excess stock, encourage repeat business, and collect important customer information because they engender a sense of urgency.
They offer a competitive advantage, particularly in industries where price comparison is prevalent, and can be connected to unique events to make a bigger impact. Promotions that are well done generate attention and feedback, which improves the reputation of your brand.
Profitability is ensured while successfully interacting with customers and generating sales for your online chocolate business by balancing the advantages with the costs.
us.hotelchocolat.com
You can check out these Shopify apps which might help you with the process:
- Discounts or coupons:
Hextom: Free Shipping Bar
Shopify app store
- Free samples:
GA ‑ Free Gift | BOGO
Shopify app store
- Buy-one-get-one offers:
BOGOS: Free gift & Buy X Get Y
Shopify app store
- Loyalty programs:
Joy: Loyalty & Rewards Program
Shopify app store
3. Social Media Postings
Tazachocolate instagram
It can be used to showcase your chocolate products, advertise special deals and events, and produce content that connects with customers. Additionally, social media offers a chance to connect with prospective consumers, spark discussions, and maintain brand awareness. It might be a useful strategy for promoting your chocolate business and getting people to purchase your products.
Ferns N Petals Facebook
For example, Ferns N Petals made this post to celebrate the National Chocolate Holiday where the audience can pick and share their favorite sticker with their loved ones.
A great way to plan your content and schedule posts ahead of time is to use VIBE. You can easily create beautiful shoppable Instagram feeds for your Shopify store, allowing your customers to shop right in your Instafeed.
4. Host a Social Media Contest or Giveaway
Califiafarms Instagram
In the Instagram post above, @califiafarms and @tatesbakeshop partner on a giveaway. Along with asking participants to follow both accounts, the brands use Instagram’s collaborative tool to post the giveaway to both accounts to boost reach.
An intelligent and cost-efficient marketing tactic is holding a contest or giveaway on social media. The number of participants and new potential leads you receive will make the cost of the prize more than worthwhile.
There are many different kinds of social media contests out there, but the fundamental concept is to demand that participants like, follow, or tag your company, or tag someone else on your post, in order to spread the word about you and draw attention to your offerings.
5. Email Marketing
tazachocolate.com
Email marketing is a fantastic way to keep in touch with your current customers and engage new customers in your business. Email marketing is one of the most dependable ways to get a good return on your marketing investment even though it isn't a new strategy.
- Put thought and creativity into your subject lines.
- Make sure every email has an offer that encourages your readers to take the next step.
- Track your performance and run A/B tests to see what copy and offers resonate with your list..
6. Collaborate with Influencers
Partner with influencers or bloggers in the food and lifestyle niche. They can promote your chocolates to their followers, providing your brand with exposure to a wider audience.
Bigdaddybsfoods instagram
For example, Snickers collaborated with bigdaddybsfoods who is an Instagram influencer with 72.9K followers to do a post promoting their products.
Read More How to Start a Chocolate Business with 8 Important Steps
5 Tips for Selling Chocolate Online
If you're in the business of selling chocolate in the modern world, you probably need to learn how to sell it online. For those who are not very tech-savvy, this can be intimidating or difficult, but it is worthwhile to put the time, effort, and money into becoming a digital wizard. If done well, selling online can introduce your company to a significant new market and generate significant new revenue.
1. Photography Matters
us.hotelchocolat.com
Invest in good photography. To entice potential customers, high-quality, mouthwatering images are necessary. To make your chocolates irresistible, display them in well-lit, eye-catching environments.
Unlike selling in-store, selling online enables you to reveal what’s inside a wrapper. It’s a great opportunity to showcase the beautiful molds, patterns, colors and shine of the chocolate itself.
2. Provide Details
us.hotelchocolat.com
The modern chocolate enthusiast is extremely knowledgeable and curious. Before deciding which treats to buy, they want to learn as much as they can. Be sure to include a ton of information and details about your products, including who made them, where they were made, and what materials they were made of. Include pictures of both the front and back of the wrapper, as well as a list of the ingredients and nutritional facts.
3. Expand your Offerings
us.hotelchocolat.com
The majority of craft chocolate lovers enjoy trying out new bars frequently. To keep your online store interesting and new, it's crucial to keep rotating your selection. Additionally, it's a good idea to provide limited editions and seasonal merchandise to spark customers' interest and urgency.
4. Customer Reviews
You can almost certainly increase your sales by including a reviews app on your website. Reading customer reviews will aid decision-making when there is an overwhelming variety of tasty items to select from. Reviews have also been shown to increase trust and give new customers the confidence to place an order.
5. Shipping and Packaging
The last thing you want is to fail at the very last hurdle after spending a lot of time and money trying to convince people to buy chocolate from your online store. To avoid damage and melting, make sure your products are packaged carefully.
alicjaconfections.com
Alicja Confections, a successful store powered by Shopify that offers a meticulously crafted experience from package to product, is one excellent example of an online chocolate retailer.
Conclusion
It takes time to establish a profitable online chocolate business. Be persistent and patient while constantly refining and adjusting to market conditions and client feedback.
As long as you take the time to learn the crucial skills needed, selling chocolate online has the potential to revolutionize the chocolate industry. You can turn your love of chocolate into a successful online profitable business and a sizable new revenue stream by putting an emphasis on high-quality products, efficient marketing, customer service, and ongoing innovation.
So unleash your creativity, heed these advice, and start down the path to sweet success in the online world.
