Blog Posts for Caterers (Tons of Examples!)

Many might be thinking: okay, it’s 2019—why blog when there’s video? Are blogs even relevant? Do people even read anymore?

I don’t mean to get overly excited here, but YES, blogs are still important! Especially the ones with quality, high-ranking content that matters to your clients. (P.S. You’re reading a blog at this very moment!)

As a matter of fact, 47 percent of buyers have viewed between three to five pieces of content before engaging with a sales rep. More interesting stats:

• Over 409 million people view blogs every month.
• Companies that publish 16+ blog posts per month generated 4.5x more leads than companies publishing 0–4 monthly.
• Websites with blogs have 97% more inbound links than those that don’t.
• The average word count of top-ranking content (in Google) is between 1,140 to 1,285 words.

Blogs aren’t going anywhere for now. They continue to be one of the most valuable tools out there to drive traffic to your website, present your brand and who you are, showcase the work you’re really proud of, increase your search optimization and most importantly, build trust with your clients. Yes, they drive traffic to your website AND increase SEO.

At the end of the day, the connection you make and the relevant information you share (not mass produced, keyword-stuffed content) is what will draw people closer to you and keep them coming.

So, what are the different types of blog posts?

While every blog post should have its own unique flavor, they roughly fall under one of a few different categories. Some of them are brand boosters and get-to-know-us pieces, while others share exciting news, new menu items or the latest trends, provide useful information or spur your clients’ imagination for their own exciting events.

Regardless of the purpose of the blog post, though, it should always aim to make the human on the other side feel comfortable. It is, after all, a trust-building tool. When your brand voice and catering experience is communicated in the most authentic way possible, it has a much stronger chance of reaching people. Not to mention, building that knowledgeable presence makes you stand out from competitors. And consistently standing out is what converts casual online passersby into real-time leads.

Blogging for various audiences

Anyone who has worked in the catering industry long enough knows that it’s a niche business, so whatever information that gets released into the wild interwebs needs to be specifically tailored to fit caterers’ various audiences. We are all aware that corporate event planners and couples have completely different goals and timelines. So the intent and tone of every post should match the needs of the clients you’re speaking to.

Here are the most common kinds (and examples!) of catering blog articles:

Shine on with event spotlights

I begin with event spotlights because they are probably one of the best ways for your clients to see and understand what it is that you can do and the unique spin you give. It’s incredible to see what so many planners, entertainers and countless other talented individuals can pull together around a client’s vision. Spotlights get your online prospects to feel like they’re actually present, taking in all the excitement and special details.

Weddings

• Rustic Romance in the Barn at Mader Farm—Those barn doors though!
• An Emotional Wedding at Harvard Art Museums—The day was full of symbolic and deeply intimate details. Did we mention it was at the incredible Harvard Art Museums?
• Jonathan and Joseph’s Big Summer Day at Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club—You’re gonna love the grooms’ entrance in this one.

Fundraisers

• 20th Anniversary Gala in Boerner Botanical Gardens—This was an extra special event spotlight because we interviewed the gala organizer.
• Garbage Bag Gala at Marian House—A fashion show full of…garbage?

Corporate

• Hawaiian Luau Party for a Job Well Done—These employees really ran with the tropical theme.
• Philly Corporate Dinner Party Goes International—The stations from around the world were a big hit during this corporate client’s big diversity panel.
  

Increase search traction with venue roundups

Some of you work with a LOT of venue partners, or maybe you are that venue! Venue roundups, or blog posts that present a snapshot of several venues and their highlights, offer a digestible understanding of the variety of spaces available for an event and what you can do for guests to make that vision come to life.

These posts often determine a specific number of venues in their headline and a specific location. They’re especially designed to help with search.

• 10 Historic Boston Wedding Venues
• #1 Reason to Book a Corporate Event at These 7 Milwaukee Venues
• Sweeten Your Season With These 8 Chicago Holiday Party Venues

Build relationships with guest posts

This is your chance to really connect with the third-party folks you work with on events and let them take the stage for a second. You may know how to talk about catering coherently in your sleep, but it is possible there are other topics that escape your grasp. Allowing your vendors to talk about their expertise will not only strengthen your relationship and show them that you trust them, but it will also give you both exposure while offering more depth to your clients.

• Seating to Make the Most of Your Seasonal Feast

News announcements

Keep your clients up to date with timely information. New menus, venue updates, staff hirings, new lines of service, facility expansions, awards—any recent happenings are fair game to share. Keeping your clients in the know shows you’re actively engaged in your company’s growth and excited about sharing with them.

Tell the world about your new menu

Menu announcements can be short and sweet or they can also take a deeper dive into the selections, what’s new and how they can be paired.

• Feast on Catering By George’s New Corporate Menu
• Tasty’s New Full-Service Menu to Be a Hit at Your Next Event

Share awards and accomplishments

Did you win an award that you’re really excited about? Write about it! Be sure to provide who was involved, what the submission entailed, how many others participated and the decision-making process.

• Tasty Catering Named a Psychologically Healthy Workplace Honors Recipient

Facility changes

Is your facility sporting a fresh look? Excited about the brand-new tasting room or fire pits? Tell us about those additions and renovations.

• The Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club Gets a New Look

Informative posts

These are articles that showcase just how much knowledge you have on a topic, provide important resources or present people with inspiration. This is also a good medium for you to capture the food and design trends in your corner of the world. Oh, and FYI—trend pieces are by far some of the most read posts.

Share a theme inspiration

We could all use a little inspiration. Menus, creative flair, game ideas and more!

• Plan a Festive Cinco de Mayo Office Party
• Rock Out at an Epic Milwaukee Summerfest-Inspired Picnic

Represent your city & boost your street cred

Boost your local SEO and create a post that offers people things to do and places to see. Perfect for those who are planning destination weddings and want to plan an entire vacation around their trip or offer options for their guests.

• Plan Your Destination Wedding in Austin, Texas
• Top Things to Do in Newport Through Fall 2019

Flex your knowledge with trend pieces

• San Francisco Catering Trends to Keep an Eye On
• Enchanted Winter Wedding Trends
• Our 5 Favorite Wedding Food Trends of 2018

Tips and resources

Tell us your best tips! There are plenty of planners on the hunt for new ideas, and couples are in need of budget resources.

• 10 Secret Wedding Reception Tips From Real Planners
• Where to Splurge and Save When Planning Your Wedding

Answer the questions everyone likes to ask

You know those questions that you have to answer over and over again? Clear the air once and for all in a blog post.

• Phoenixville Foundry FAQs: Things to Know About Your Wedding Venue
• Vermont Wedding Catering: Top Questions Couples Ask

Brand-building posts

Then there are the blog posts that offer a closer view into your world, who your employees are, what community groups you support and care about or the company important history that connects you to your present.

• A CEO’s Thank You for the Last 30 Years
• 50 Years Through the Eyes of the Zillis
• Sensational Throwbacks: Celebrating 40 Years in Business

Conclusion

Blogging is still one of most powerful ways to connect directly with your clients as well as keep your brand in the spotlight. Posts should align with timely initiatives and business goals and be promoted via social media—that’s all essential. For companies really looking to make an impact online, it’s important to take a deeper look at the information you want to share and determine the best format to share it.

What kind of information do you want to share? We’d love to learn more about your blog needs. Do tell us!

More articles you might enjoy:

• 10 Venue Website Must-Haves for Venues & Caterers
• Language Is Everything in the Age of Rapid-Fire Information
• All About Hosting: What Caterers Should Know About Their Custom Site