Industry Knowledge and Quality Help The Granola Factory Thrive Online

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I’m Calvin Virgilio, and I’ve always been surrounded by the food industry. My parents, Robert and Suzanne, started The Bethlehem Inn, a cozy bed and breakfast in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, way back in 1988 (pictured below). Over time, our family business expanded to include a local bakery and a wholesale granola company called The Granola Factory.

What set us apart and made us successful was the top-notch quality of our products. But when I graduated from college and came back home to lend a hand to the family business, I realized that having an online presence and a clear marketing strategy would take us to new heights.

When you’re in business, it’s really important to earn people’s trust, I said. Nowadays, if someone wants to know more about your company, they usually go online and search for information or look you up on social media. So, having an online presence is crucial to gaining trust with customers.

As our business grew, we realized the need to expand our online presence. We now have an official website, Twitter and Facebook accounts, a blog called the Granola Factory Baking Bits, an email newsletter, and pages on Google Local Plus and Yelp.

In 2010, we were fortunate enough to receive some national attention when Rachael Ray, a famous chef, showcased our delicious honey pecan granola on her show, The Rachael Ray Show (see picture below).

The Granola Factory may not have as many followers on Facebook and Twitter as some bigger food companies, but I believe that quality is more important than quantity.

Here’s the thing: you can’t magically go from having a hundred followers to having thousands overnight. And even if you could, those followers might not actually care about your product enough to share it with their friends or become repeat customers.

So, here’s what I do to build a strong and loyal online following for The Granola Factory. We sell our products online and in stores across six East Coast states, so it’s important for us to have a good online presence.

I’m always trying to find the right balance between creating great content, promoting our products, and interacting with our customers. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it in the end.

When it comes to my role, I strive to create awesome content for our blog and email newsletter that you’ll actually want to read. Our content features all sorts of cool stuff, like delicious recipes. Some of these recipes use our amazing granola product, while others highlight seasonal items from our bakery (check out the picture below!). We also do giveaways and other fun posts that I know I would personally enjoy on the many food blogs I follow.

It’s important to find the right balance when communicating with our customers. We want to be consistent, but we don’t want to overwhelm you with irrelevant things. After all, we don’t want you to automatically delete our emails or scroll right past our posts. We value your time and want to provide you with content that you’ll find interesting and helpful.

While social media and blogging have been useful tools for us, our website is where the real magic happens. It’s the heart and soul of our online presence. Here, you can learn all about our company, place orders, and find local stores that carry our awesome products. Our website is a valuable resource that serves as a hub for all things related to our brand.

When I started working with the company three years ago, building an online presence was a completely new experience for me. But let me tell you, the one thing that has made all the difference is having a deep understanding of the food industry.

If you want to succeed in this business, even if you’re just involved in marketing or the business side of things, you have to know your food. Otherwise, no one will take you seriously. Trust me on this one.

For me, that means keeping up with food blogs, knowing the big names in the industry, and even learning how to whip up some delicious dishes myself.

Believe me, it’s a lot easier to reach out to a blog and make a pitch if you’re actually familiar with their content. Instead of just blindly contacting someone, take the time to read and understand what they’re all about. It makes a world of difference.

Let me share a valuable lesson that applies not only to the blogging and social media world, but to other industries as well. It’s all about the power of learning from others.

So, here’s the deal: you can actually gain a lot by simply following what others in your industry are up to. Trust me, it’s not just about sharing information, but also about soaking in knowledge.

For example, let’s say you’re into blogging or marketing. Take a peek at what your industry peers are doing. See what they’re up to and pick out the things you like. Then, let your creativity shine and put your own unique spin on it.

It’s like a treasure hunt for ideas! And by adding a dose of your own creative flair, you’ll make it your own and stand out from the crowd.