Build your customer database

Looking to grow your customer base? These practical promotion ideas can help get your meals into more hands - and mouths.

Why attracting customers matters

Attracting new customers isn’t just about getting one-off orders - it’s about building a database of people who know you, trust you, and are more likely to order again.

For every 100 customers who sign up, it's likely that only around 10 will become regulars. That’s why growing your reach is so important - the more people you attract, the stronger your base of loyal, repeat customers becomes over time.

How to build your customer database

If you're new or working with a small budget, start with local and low-cost promotion. These grassroots strategies are a great place to begin:

Use flyers and posters

If you have a shopfront, display signage at your counter and pop a flyer into every takeaway bag. No shopfront? Try letterbox drops, community noticeboards, or leaving flyers at local libraries or neighbourhood houses.

Team up with local businesses

Ask a nearby café, grocer or deli if you can leave flyers or promote each other on socials. You might even offer a small referral incentive for every new customer they send your way.

Leverage your suppliers

Using local produce? See if your suppliers will share your flyers, tag/promote you on social media or include you in their newsletter. It’s a great way to showcase the quality of your ingredients and tap into a like-minded audience.

Post in local Facebook groups

Share your weekly menu, order deadline, and a few mouth-watering photos in suburb-based Facebook community groups. Focus on how your meals help locals eat well with less effort.

Once you’ve built some local awareness, you could step your promotion up a notch. These next steps can help accelerate your growth:

Sponsor a local event or group

Contribute vouchers or meals to community raffles, school fundraisers or local sports clubs. It’s a great way to boost visibility and build goodwill.

Run social media ads

A small budget can go a long way when your ads are targeted to the right audience. Promote your menu and order link to people in your delivery area using eye-catching images.

Try influencer marketing

Partner with a local foodie or community influencer with a small but loyal following. A genuine recommendation can go further than a traditional ad.

Pitch your story to local media

Journalists and food bloggers are often looking for local stories. If you’ve got a unique origin story or are doing something special in your community, reach out to local media with a short pitch.