Selling bakes and sweets through Instagram?

[Nathanhoward]

I sell homemade sweets and bakes (brownies, toffees, rocky road etc) and I was doing well at craft fairs but there are no more craft fairs worth going to until around September since most events are cancelled atm. I've have had only 3 sales in the past couple of months online.

On Instagram there are many similar pages to mine that are doing great even with low followings. They are constantly posting videos of them packaging large orders and sell out quick. I've tried making my page more like theres but it hasn't helped. Some of these guys sell only locally and are doing far more sales than me and I post anywhere in the UK. I've tried creating a giveaway and sending dm's out to hundreds of people who seem like they would be interested but so far only 20 entries to the giveaway. I doubt that is enough people to even get one to make a purchase.

Anyone got any good methods to help sell something like this through Instagram without paying for ads? I've got time just not money.

 

[Glen Wheeler]

Firstly, love this idea its extremely painful when you try and see nothing in return. We are currently trying extremely hard to boost our Instagram but it is a process. From our current experience, you really need to be engaging with fellow profiles in your niche. Despite these being your competitors it is going to get you some support for social. You also need to engage with any other profiles that are surrounding your niche altogether. By doing this it will boost up your page a bit more for a start. Make sure you post everyday and include a nice chunk of stories with stickers and interactive features. Due to you not being able to do ads, I can see why it is even more frustrating for you! Its hard when you post and spend time thinking of content (and baking!) to see no progress. Have you looked into using the shop features through Insta? These people who are doing 'better' than you have probably built up their Instagram even before lockdown. They might promote their Instagram when they went to these craft fairs so they have sales from both directions at all times. You don't really know anyones circumstances but this is why you want your social presence to be more powerful. It sounds like you are still trying to engage through vids and dm's but try broaden this and comment on posts (build a conversation through support; you should see some in return. Good luck! Stick at it and also try using other social media too.

 

[Alison Moore]

It's difficult to build up a online following especially during lockdown when everyone else is doing the same. As Glen says, the other people probably had a healthy online following before, so are now able to benefit from this. A lot of companies near me are doing really well selling locally in local facebook groups. Unfortunately it's a little late now, but in the early stages of lockdown, when even the shops were struggling to get hold of the essentials, people were getting quite desperate so their local greengrocers, butchers and bakers were real life savers. Are there are facebook groups local to your area where you can promote your products and then deliver locally (or have people collect from you)? Even the facebook marketplace might be an avenue for you, if there aren't any local groups.

 

[ethical PR]

I sell homemade sweets and bakes (brownies, toffees, rocky road etc) and I was doing well at craft fairs but there are no more craft fairs worth going to until around September since most events are cancelled atm. I've have had only 3 sales in the past couple of months online.

On Instagram there are many similar pages to mine that are doing great even with low followings. They are constantly posting videos of them packaging large orders and sell out quick. I've tried making my page more like theres but it hasn't helped. Some of these guys sell only locally and are doing far more sales than me and I post anywhere in the UK. I've tried creating a giveaway and sending dm's out to hundreds of people who seem like they would be interested but so far only 20 entries to the giveaway. I doubt that is enough people to even get one to make a purchase.

Anyone got any good methods to help sell something like this through Instagram without paying for ads? I've got time just not money.

Who do you see as your target market/customers Nathan?

What marketing channels do you have such as social media/website etc

What advertising are you investing in?

What key benefits have you identified for your products and why your customers should buy from you rather than one of your competitors?

For your sort of products you should invest in quality photography and video.

If your budget and time to invest in marketing is limited why not invest in promoting your business locally.

 

[Armorica]

Try to increase the frequency of posting, but do not forget about quality. Try to use different hashtags - probably it can help you to reach more potential customers

 

[Charliechops]

It could just be smoke and mirrors and they're not as busy as they portray. I now a couple of businesses local to me in a similar product category that post about how busy they are all the time but I know (and one told me this) they aren't as busy as they're making out but have to make it look like they are to their competitors.

I have a theory about giveaways. I would argue that once you start giving stuff away then people just wait for you to do a giveaway and if they don't 'win' they wont buy - they just want free stuff.

Find local cafes(now they're open again) who will buy your cakes, cream teas seem to be popular at the mo - loads of cake makers in our area are pushing this.

Be creative with your images and content and make people salivate when they see your post. Create Awareness, Interest, Desire, and Action - is on my mind when i create a post and it makes you think about your content to achieve this.

 

[Karimbo]

leaflet drops to your neighbourhood to advertise your baking services perhaps? bespoke birthday cakes, treat packs etc.

There are flyering companies that will drop leaflets, 10K leaflets for £450. 10K leaflets can be bought for around £100.

 

[Julia Sta Romana]

Have you asked the 3 people who bought from you for their feedback? Why aren't buying from you again? Why aren't they referring your products to their friends?

 

[Karimbo]

Have you asked the 3 people who bought from you for their feedback? Why aren't buying from you again? Why aren't they referring your products to their friends?

I'd imagine the current situation is a big factor, people on furlough with tonnes of time on their hands, and shortage of money is a double whammy for OPs business. Hopefulyl things will change soon.

My businesses have been in hibernation, but I used that time to produce tonnes of content.

 

[Aleksander_Gramm]

You’ve already answered your question.
>On Instagram there are many similar pages to mine

As @Glen Wheeler wrote, you should be more sociable.
I recommend you to read about "Insta algorithms" to understand how to get visibility and interactions.
Also you should think outside the box. What about your local community, local companies which work during the lockdown, neighbors etc.?

But you need to start from a marketing. Why will people buy your sweets?

 

[getsetgonline]

Regular engagement. Build a story. Make it unique and create a degree of 'exclusivity'. Handmade products with good feedback can demand higher prices if done right.

I also run a small walking/cycling tour company offering trips around the UK. We have developed a niche offering running and walking holidays long Hadrian's Wall - COVID has hurt us so we have just offered a high profile YouTuber (within running/fitness niche) a free trip to gain exposure. Instant website hits and increase in sales for later this year and into 2021.

Don't discount your own website. ALL traffic should be driven to your own website where possible.

 

[Khawar J]

I sell homemade sweets and bakes (brownies, toffees, rocky road etc) and I was doing well at craft fairs but there are no more craft fairs worth going to until around September since most events are cancelled atm. I've have had only 3 sales in the past couple of months online.

On Instagram there are many similar pages to mine that are doing great even with low followings. They are constantly posting videos of them packaging large orders and sell out quick. I've tried making my page more like theres but it hasn't helped. Some of these guys sell only locally and are doing far more sales than me and I post anywhere in the UK. I've tried creating a giveaway and sending dm's out to hundreds of people who seem like they would be interested but so far only 20 entries to the giveaway. I doubt that is enough people to even get one to make a purchase.

Anyone got any good methods to help sell something like this through Instagram without paying for ads? I've got time just not money.

Launch a competition or something or use Fb ads to give yourself initial boost

 

[OnlineMarketingPRO]

I sell homemade sweets and bakes (brownies, toffees, rocky road etc) and I was doing well at craft fairs but there are no more craft fairs worth going to until around September since most events are cancelled atm. I've have had only 3 sales in the past couple of months online.

On Instagram there are many similar pages to mine that are doing great even with low followings. They are constantly posting videos of them packaging large orders and sell out quick. I've tried making my page more like theres but it hasn't helped. Some of these guys sell only locally and are doing far more sales than me and I post anywhere in the UK. I've tried creating a giveaway and sending dm's out to hundreds of people who seem like they would be interested but so far only 20 entries to the giveaway. I doubt that is enough people to even get one to make a purchase.

Anyone got any good methods to help sell something like this through Instagram without paying for ads? I've got time just not money.

Hey, i have recently been building my Instagram business profile and i was able to achieve 1000 followers in only 8 weeks. I would comment on and react to numerous similar profiles and doing so, other profiles would begin to interact with my profile and so on this began to increase my engagement and the number of followers increased too. I would definitely firstly recommend this. I have also found a software that i have used and it is free (and no catches), it asks you some questions and then it provides recommendations, resources and tips to help you in the next stages of your business and help you grow with some ideas. I can send you the link if you are interested... just let me know

 

[Ximena Rodriguez]

I would recommend use Instagram to post a lot of content like recipes and stuff like that. Don't endorse your products directly instead let the content speak for your products. The quality content will definitely increase your reach and bring sales over time.

PS: This is definitely takes time, pls don't expect results overnight

 

[Emre Eldar]

Did you use Instagram shopping? I would think you need to post picture that is high in quality and make sure the picture make people want to taste your sweets. Then, just use hashtag cause it does help anyway and try to do shoutouts with other accounts that in similar niche with you.

 

[LockMonster]

So instagram is just the usual facebook ads. Must be other ways out there, i use google shopping, seems ok.

 

[japhyryder]

With the right photography, this is a good idea. People are addicted to sensory experience.