Tips for Branding Your Food Truck
One reason that America loves food trucks is because of how suited they are to fun and creative branding. Because of their carefree vibe, food trucks can have much more fun with their branding than conventional brick-and-mortar restaurants. If you’re new to the food truck industry, or you think it might be time for a re-branding, here are some tips to make your brand stand out.
Create an Identity
The first step with any business branding is to create an identity. Before you can build your presence with the outside world, you must have a clear idea of who you are as a company. You can figure this out by asking yourself the following questions: What do I hope to accomplish? What are my passions? How can I differentiate myself from the competition? What do I do best? Once you know the answers to these questions, you can begin to work on the details, such as a name, a logo, a slogan, and your marketing strategies.
Choose a Memorable Name
One area to have the most fun with is your food truck name. People love catchy names with clever puns and plays on words. Just make sure that your name is compatible with your identity. First and foremost, it should reflect what you sell. If you sell tacos, include tacos in your name. Second, your name should convey your business archetype. For example, if you choose comedian as your archetype, make sure that your name is funny. If you choose eco-friendly as your archetype, find some way to make your name sound green. If your archetype is superiority, use your name to tout your food as the best around. Finally, feel free to feed on local pride by including a reference to your community.
Incorporate Your Brand Into Your Design
Once you have a name, it’s time to design your truck. Your truck design should reflect both your identity and your name. For example, a Philly Cheesesteak truck could be designed to look like a subway or trolley car from Philly. If you’ve selected a logo and slogan, those can also be incorporated into the design. And remember, your goal is to catch the eye of passersby, possibly amid the pull of other food trucks, so think bright, bold colors that really stand out.
Branding is one of the most important ways to sell your company to a distracted and discerning public. To compete, you must design your brand strategically. Be true to who you are, stand out from the crowd, and have fun with it!
Click here for more tried-and-true ways to make your food truck stand out.
