Heyy my friend! This will be a full guide to getting customers online as a food vendor.
Look, I get it. You make amazing food—jollof that slaps, small chops that disappears in seconds, soups that taste like home. People who’ve tasted your food love it. But the problem? Not enough people are ordering.
You post on WhatsApp. You drop pictures on Instagram. You tell people, “Order now!” But somehow, the orders aren’t flowing the way you want and it’s frustrating because you know your food is good!
Let’s change that. I’m not about to hit you with complicated marketing theories. Just real, practical ways to get more customers online and grow your food business—without losing your mind in the process.
1.Make Your Food Look Like a Celebrity
You know how people say, “Dress how you want to be addressed?” Same thing with your food. If your pictures are blurry, dark, or just not appealing, people will scroll past. No one is buying food that looks questionable.
To tell you the truth, even if I know you – I won’t buy it too!
Getting customers online is about what people see when they encounter you whether through text, audio or videos
• Take your pictures in good lighting
• Use a clean background
• Show your food from different angles
Make people hungry just by looking at your posts. That’s the goal.
- Be Where Your Customers Are
Your customers are online, but where exactly? Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, X and Facebook are your best bets.
• instagram – Post mouthwatering pictures and videos. Use hashtags like #LagosFoodie or #AbujaEats (or wherever you are).
• WhatsApp– Keep your status active. If you’re not posting daily, people will forget you.
• TikTok– Short food videos go viral easily. Show your cooking process or customer reactions.
• Facebook – Great for reaching a lot of people, especially through food groups.
If your business isn’t on these platforms, you’re missing out on customers.
3.Stop Selling, Start Storytelling
Let’s be honest—nobody likes those “ORDER NOW!!!” posts. People connect with stories, not sales pitches. Instead of just selling, tell a story.
• “Meet Mama Tega. She’s been ordering my egusi soup every Sunday for two years because it reminds her of home.”
• “Remember that jollof rice that made your party the talk of the town? We’re making another batch this weekend—lock in your order now!”
People don’t just buy food. They buy emotions, experiences, memories. Give them that.
4.Use Juicy Offers That Make People Take Action
You know that feeling when you see a deal that’s too good to pass up? That’s what you want to create.
• ”First 5 orders today get a free drink!”
• ”Refer a friend and get 10% off your next order.”
• ”*Combo deals: Jollof + Chicken + Drink at a special price!”
Urgency works. When people feel like they might miss out, they act faster.
5.Make Ordering Stupidly Easy
If it’s stressful to order from you, people will leave you alone. Make it simple:
• Have a clear “HOW TO ORDER” section in every post.
• Use a WhatsApp link so people can just tap and chat with you.
• Offer multiple payment options (bank transfer, mobile money, cash on delivery).
If people have to ask too many questions before they can buy, you’re already losing them.
6. Let People See That Others Love Your Food
Nobody wants to be the first to try a new food vendor. That’s why social proof is powerful.
• Post customer reviews—screenshots of happy messages work wonders.
• Share videos of customers enjoying your food(with their permission).
• Get influencers (even small ones) to try and review your food.
When people see that others trust you, they’ll trust you too.
7. Run Some More Ads (It’s Not as Scary as It Sounds)
Facebook and Instagram ads can bring you more orders than you can handle—even on a small budget.
• Target your location (no need to advertise to people in another state). Your first customers online may just be the people right next to you in that same location
• Use a high-quality picture or video of your food.
• Keep your caption simple: “Craving delicious home-cooked meals? We deliver fast! Order now.”
Even with as low as ₦10000 or $10 per day, you can start reaching a few potential customers. You may have to spend more to reach more of them though.
This is one part I can teach and you can learn about it HERE
8. Stay Consistent (Even When It Feels Like No One Is Watching)
Let me tell you something: Marketing is like cooking—if you stop stirring, it burns.
• Post regularly (at least 4 times a day).
• Engage with comments and messages quickly—people move on fast.
• Keep showing up, even on days when engagement feels low.
The more people see you, the more they remember you when they’re hungry.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve read this far, one thing is clear: You’re serious about growing your food business. And trust me, you can.
Your food is already amazing. Now, let’s make sure more people get to taste it.
Start with one thing from this list. Maybe today, you work on better food pictures. Tomorrow, you post a customer review. Step by step, you’ll see the difference.
And one day soon, you’ll go from struggling for orders to too busy cooking to reply to all the messages.
Now, go sell that delicious food!
Heyyy , Do you want to know the great part? I’m organizing a master class that will teach you how to market your food business to get your next 299 clients online! Want to join us physically or virtually?
Use this LINK to signup!