Are you an entrepreneur looking to generate some side income from your culinary or baking hobby? If so, you are not alone! Thousands of people have turned their homemade food into profitable businesses, selling things like cupcakes and wedding cakes online and at farmers’ markets.
If you’re interested in starting your own home-based food business, here are some tips on how to sell your homemade food online, plus what steps you can take to start making money with your baked goods today!
1) Package Carefully
Packaging food is an important part of selling your product online. Packaging can help make your product look more appealing and professional, giving it a more professional appeal. It also helps protect the food from breaking or becoming damaged during transport.
There are many methods for packaging your homemade food, such as wrapping in wax paper or plastic wrap, using containers such as mason jars or buckets with lids, or even adding a bow around the top of the container for an extra special touch!
When packaging anything in the glass you want to make sure that you use enough packing material so the item does not break on its way from one place to another.
2) Choose Right Shipping Method
When shipping homemade food, it’s important to decide which type of shipping method will work best for your situation.
There are many different services that you can use when shipping your food, but you must choose the right one to get the most bang for your buck.
For example, if you’re just starting and don’t have a lot of items to ship, it might be better for you to go with the ground or priority mail. If you’re going international though, it may be more efficient for you to use an air freight service like FedEx or UPS.
3) Packaging Accessories
Packaging is an important part of selling your homemade food online. You want to make sure that the product looks appetizing, and that it’s easy for customers to understand what they’re ordering.
Packaging can be as simple as putting a label with your contact information on the outside of a container or as complicated as custom-making packaging for every dish you sell. However, there are some things you should consider when designing your packaging:
- What size will fit best in people’s kitchens?
- Do you need special storage containers?
- How do you want your food packaged for individual servings?
- What kind of material will work best for shipping and storing?
Once you’ve answered these questions, start brainstorming design ideas and get ready to get creative!
4) Have a Clean Website
Create a website for your business to help it stand out in a crowded marketplace. Creating a visually pleasing site is as simple as using the right fonts, imagery, and color schemes.
Start with a clean layout that incorporates pictures of the products you offer, short descriptions of your store or brand, and contact information. Be sure you also provide clear shipping costs and accept all major credit cards.
5) Branding with Color and Logo
The first step in making your brand is deciding on a color and logo. This will be the image that you send off with your homemade food items, so it’s important to make sure it’s something you like. You can use any colors and fonts you want, but in general, people should choose something that matches their product.
For example, if you’re selling cakes then choosing a pale pink or light blue might be best. If you’re selling chips then maybe a dark brown or purple would be a better choice.
The logo should also match the branding of your company; for example, if your logo has water droplets on it then perhaps choosing to have splatters of paint with different colors on it would work well as a logo for your homemade foods company.
6) Use Detailed Product Descriptions
There are several ways you can sell your homemade food online. One is by developing a blog and engaging in social media; another is by selling on sites like Etsy, eBay, or Amazon.
You can also create an online store with a content management system such as Shopify or BigCommerce and sell your products through the website itself.
The key is to be unique and stand out for people to find you when they’re looking for something specific!
7) Incentives for Customers (Free Shipping, Discounts, etc.)
There are many ways that you can offer incentives for customers. For example, a popular incentive is free shipping.
This way, the customer does not have to pay for shipping when they order from your website. Another popular incentive is discounts on products.
For example, if you sell food products, then you may want to offer a 10% off discount code or a buy one get one free deal.
You can also give away coupons and gift cards. When running a contest, make sure that the winner gets something in return (i.e., prizes). Finally, it’s always good to send thank-you emails after purchases have been made– this will remind the customer about your business and help them feel appreciated!
9) Communicate with Customers During Shipping Processes
The shipping process is one of the most important parts of the customer experience. It’s also a great opportunity for customer service. A lot goes into shipping food, so customers will want to know more about it before they place an order.
What should they expect? How long will it take? What happens if there’s a problem? What should they do if something goes wrong? These are all excellent questions that you should answer when communicating with your customers during the shipping process.
8) Professional Photos
If you have a product that is difficult to photograph, a food stylist can help you create professional images that showcase your product beautifully. For example, my client wanted to sell her homemade popcorn on her website.
The first set of pictures we took for her was too busy and hard to see the popcorn itself. After consulting with my food stylist, we created these images that highlight the deliciousness of the popcorn while also looking natural and inviting. With professionally styled photos, people will be more likely to buy what they see on your site!
10) Free of Charge Business Resources
Many sites provide free resources for people who want to start a food business and sell their products online. Some of these sites include:
Business.gov is a site run by the United States government that offers general advice on starting a business and information about federal regulations related to starting your own business.
They also offer an extensive list of links to other helpful websites on topics such as how do I start my bakery, how do I get my food truck licensed and inspected, etc.
The USDA’s Small Business Hub provides information on various aspects of running a small business including starting, financing, marketing, and more.
The Fynd Platform is the best way to create an online store and sell your products globally. We offer a wide range of tools for all levels of experience, from novice to expert.
Conclusion
Selling homemade food online can seem like a difficult task, especially if you’ve never done it before. However, with the right set of tools and strategies, it can be incredibly easy and rewarding. You just need to know what to do! This list of 10 ways how to sell your homemade food online will help you get started with the right mindset and a firm grasp on how to properly reach your audience and even turn them into repeat customers. If you want to know more about selling your homemade food online, keep reading below!
