The Foodpreneur #005
Welcome to our inaugural edition of the Community Corner for The Foodpreneur. In this segment, you’ll hear from real businesses in this industry, each of whom will explain things that helped them grow, or mistakes they’ve made. If you’d like to contribute to this segment, we’d love to hear from you, too!
This week’s Community Corner is brought to you by Brento Box, a heat-and-eat business operating out of Phoenix, Arizona. Here’s what Brento Box founder Brent Imbornoni had to say about the social media strategy he’s found tremendous success with:
Brento Box: Crafting Authenticity in a Sea of Artificiality
Once businesses realized that social media can help them grow, it was only a matter of time before artificiality became all too common. Now that the novelty of social media in general has worn off, customers are constantly bombarded with soulless “content” that fails to resonate and connect on a meaningful level. For small businesses, especially those in the heat-and-eat niche, this poses a significant challenge. With limited resources, they often struggle to make their voices heard amidst the noise created by large corporations with dedicated marketing teams. I was determined to avoid that, and instead focus on building a reputation as a beacon of authenticity and genuine connection.
The Artificiality Crisis: A Struggle to Resonate
In the fast-paced world of social media, it’s easy for businesses to prioritize quantity over quality when it comes to content creation. As a result, the user feeds are inundated with generic and repetitive posts that lack any genuine human touch. This flood of content makes it difficult for small businesses to stand out and forge meaningful connections with their target audience.
When it comes to heat-and-eat businesses, this struggle is even more pronounced. They face the challenge of trying to compete with large corporations that can churn out content at an unprecedented rate. As a result, the value of their content diminishes in the eyes of consumers, making it challenging to build brand loyalty and engagement.
A Breath of Fresh Authenticity
We approached things in a radically different way. Instead of hiding behind a faceless brand, we chose to humanize the business. We introduced the actual, real people who are positively impacted by the brand—the employees, the chefs, and the happy customers. By showcasing the faces and stories behind Brento Box, we helped create a sense of trust and connection with audiences.
A big part of this was putting our mission and values front and center. We positioned ourselves as more than just a food delivery service. Our raison d’être is to promote healthy eating and a balanced lifestyle. I shared personal stories that I went through, a journey about transforming my own health—physical and mental—through wholesome eating. The response from our audience was overwhelmingly positive. People resonated with this authentic struggle and success story, making it easier for them to relate to the brand—and making them curious about what we offer.
Messaging and Brand Awareness: Quality Content Matters
In an era where content creation is king, we quickly understood the importance of producing high-quality content that reinforces our brand identity. Instead of churning out endless product promotions, we focused on providing valuable and informative content to their audience. We put the time and effort into building well-crafted recipes, nutritional tips, lifestyle advice, and personal, humanizing stories out there. Not only do these provide value, but they also positioned us as experts in the healthy eating niche.
This approach helped us cultivate a dedicated following among an audience that may have been otherwise unaware of our presence. By consistently delivering content that resonated with their core values and the needs of their customers, Brento Box built positive recognition and appreciation within our niche.
Wrapping Up: A Call to Authenticity
In a world where artificiality dominates, I think businesses in our niche should do our best to serve as an inspiring example of how authenticity can create a genuine connection with an audience. Here are some recommendations that worked for us, and that I think will work for many of you, too:
- Humanize Your Brand: Introduce the people behind your business and share stories that showcase the positive impact your brand has on people’s lives.
- Embrace Your Mission: Clearly communicate your mission and values, aligning them with what your core audience cares about.
- Focus on Quality Content: Instead of overwhelming your audience with an abundance of mediocre content, prioritize quality over quantity. Provide valuable and relevant information that resonates with your target audience.
As a heat-and-eat business owner applying these principles, you can forge genuine connections with your audience and differentiate your brand in a sea of artificiality.
Take Action
Visit Brento Box’s main website and immerse yourself in their authentic approach to connecting with customers. Follow their Instagram account to stay updated with their latest content and see firsthand how authenticity can transform a business in the digital age.
Remember, authenticity isn’t just a marketing strategy—it’s a way to build lasting relationships with your customers and make a positive impact on their lives. Embrace the power of authenticity, and your heat-and-eat business may just find itself thriving in a world craving genuine connections.
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