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TLDR
Every local food business owner knows how competitive the market feels today. Customers are no longer just scrolling through menus. They expect updates, special offers, and real reasons to choose you instead of the shop down the street. At the same time, big chains like Starbucks or Dutch Bros beside your shop keep raising the bar with their new drinks, deals, and rewards.
Per Diem posts give local businesses a way to play in that same space. These visual posts sit right on your mobile app’s homepage, catching your customers’ eyes the moment they open it. They make it easy to promote things you could never push effectively before, like last-minute events, under-the-radar menu items, or time-sensitive deals, all while guiding people straight to an order or link they need.
In this article, you will find 10 smart and practical ways different types of food businesses are using these posts to increase visibility and drive more sales, along with ideas you can put into action right away.
How Food Trucks Can Leverage Posts
Food trucks thrive on being where the crowd is, but getting the word out quickly can be a challenge. People may love your tacos or burgers, but if they do not know where you are parked today or what’s on the special menu, you risk losing out to a competitor nearby. Per Diem posts give you a direct way to keep customers informed and excited in real time.
1. Highlight Upcoming Stops with Clickable Calendars
One of the best uses we’ve seen from food trucks is sharing their event or location calendars through posts. By adding a visual schedule right to your app’s homepage and linking it to a detailed calendar, your followers can see exactly where you’ll be and when. This removes the guesswork and keeps fans chasing your truck wherever you go.
2. Spotlight Exclusive Day-Only Specials
Another smart approach is promoting one-off, location-specific specials. For example, if you’re testing a new brisket slider only available at Friday’s brewery event, a post with an irresistible photo and a “Preorder now” button ensures you sell out quickly. These posts build excitement and urgency, something many food trucks couldn’t communicate this efficiently before having this feature.
Why every food truck needs a mobile app in 2025
How Coffee Shops Can Leverage Post
Coffee shops often rely on repeat visits, but standing out in a world where customers have endless latte options is not easy. People want to know what’s new, what’s on offer, and what perks they’ll get for coming in today. Posts make it simple to put those updates front and center, instead of hoping people discover them on their own.
3. Share Limited-Time Discounts and BOGO Deals
Many coffee shops use posts to promote app-exclusive discounts. A good example is Vali Coffee, which highlights friends-and-family deals and weekly buy-one-get-one offers directly on the homepage. Seeing those promos right when the app opens nudges customers to order immediately instead of scrolling elsewhere.
4. Introduce New Drinks or Seasonal Favorites
You can also treat your homepage feed like your own Starbucks activity feed. When you roll out a pumpkin cold brew or a new matcha latte, a bright post with a tempting photo lets you build hype without needing a big ad campaign. Customers often check their apps first thing in the morning, so this quick exposure can spark an impulse stop before they head to work.
How Restaurants Can Leverage Post
Restaurants often see big spikes during lunch or dinner rush, but slow periods can hurt overall revenue. The challenge is getting people to think about you even when they are not actively planning a meal. Per Diem gives you a simple, direct way to put fresh reasons to order right in front of them.
5. Promote Time-Sensitive Lunch Combos
One of our best restaurants, Masala Wok, uses posts to highlight daily lunch specials that need to move quickly. Imagine a post at 11 a.m. showing a “Grilled Chicken Bowl + Drink for $10, today only” offer with a one-tap “Order Now” button. That single prompt can turn quiet hours into steady midday orders without relying on ads or flyers.
6. Highlight Low-Selling Items or Underrated Menu Picks
Every menu has a few dishes that do not sell as well as they should. A short, enticing post like “Today’s hidden gem: Our slow-roasted turkey sandwich, packed with flavor, just $8 for lunch” can spark curiosity and boost sales of those underappreciated items. It is the easiest way to give love to dishes that might otherwise go unnoticed.
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How Ice Cream Shops Can Leverage Posts
Ice cream shops thrive on fun and impulse buys, but new or seasonal flavors often get lost unless customers are already inside the store. Your activity feed can help you capture attention at just the right moment, turning casual scrollers into paying customers.
7. Highlight Seasonal Flavors and Drive Pre-Orders
One of our Colorado Springs ice cream shops, Josh & John's, is using posts this season to promote their limited-time Fresh Peach flavor. They’re letting app users know exactly when it launches and linking directly to their site so fans can secure their orders ahead of time. This builds hype and ensures they sell out quickly without relying solely on in-store foot traffic.
8. Boost App Engagement Through Rewards
Their IceCreamometer Rewards program is another example of smart post usage. They craft posts with engaging lines like "Your next scoop might be free – check your rewards now!", paired with an easy link to the loyalty page. This encourages customers to return for repeat purchases and increases the average order size.
For local shops that struggle to write punchy, action-driving text like this, Per Diem offers built-in AI writing help. It suggests clear, appealing headlines and descriptions tailored to each post, making it simple for any merchant to grab attention and turn casual browsers into buyers.
How Bakeries and Cafes Can Leverage Posts
Every baked good has a story, and posts make sure it gets told before the first bite. A picture of fresh cookies or a simple “Order Now” button can do more than a menu ever could. This is how local bakeries and cafes keep their treats top of mind in a crowded app space.
9. Drive Direct Sales With Irresistible Visuals
Bakeries thrive on impulse orders, and homepage posts make that easy. Some of our top merchants like Chip City use this feature to showcase their warm, freshly baked cookies with a direct “Order Now” button. Customers see what they want, click once, and get their treats delivered without navigating the full menu. It’s a simple but powerful way to turn appetites into instant sales.
10. Make Events and New Launches Unmissable
Bakeries also use posts to highlight catering options for birthdays, meetings, and special events, linking directly to external ordering pages for quick bookings. One of our franchisees, Crema Gourmet, builds hype for new product drops by pairing strong visuals with catchy headlines such as “Your New Favorite Tumbler Just Dropped – Limited Quantities Available.” This keeps customers curious and ready to act.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should I create a post?
It depends on your business, but most merchants see great results with 2 to 3 posts a week. Regular updates keep your brand visible without overwhelming your customers.
2. Can I schedule posts in advance?
Yes, you can plan your posts ahead of time so they go live exactly when you want, making it easier to manage promotions or seasonal campaigns.
3. Do I need professional photos for every post?
High-quality visuals help, but you don’t need professional photos every time. Clear, well-lit shots of your food or drinks taken on a phone can work perfectly for grabbing attention.
4. Can posts really make a difference in my sales?
Yes. Businesses that actively post see more repeat visits and higher order values because customers are constantly reminded of new items, deals, and reasons to order.
Final Thoughts
The most successful local brands don’t just wait for customers to find them. They put themselves in front of customers with updates that spark cravings and curiosity. Whether it’s a limited flavor that sells out fast, a low-selling sandwich that needs love, or a seasonal drink that deserves the spotlight, posts make it easy to share what might otherwise get overlooked.
Great images and catchy words turn simple app visits into real orders. And if writing isn’t your thing, Per Diem has an AI tool that helps craft scroll-stopping headlines and descriptions that drive clicks. The result is a steady stream of reasons for customers to pick you over the shop next door, again and again.
If you are ready to turn your app into your best marketing space, start posting today and see the difference it makes for your business.
Sign Up Now and Start Posting
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