Wrap Up: Your Favorite Coffee Marketing Strategies Of 2021

We explored 18 marketing strategies in 2021 for coffee shops, roasters, and online stores. Here were your top picks.

It was another roller coaster year for the coffee industry. Vaccines brought back some normalcy to customer behaviors, the emerging labor movement and “Great Resignation” produced new operational challenges, and new variants are still keeping us on our toes.

In the midst of it all, I heard stories of coffee brands continuing to innovate and thrive. More and more companies built a more mature online presence and sales engine. And even in the throes of covid spikes, new shops started popping up like they did pre-pandemic.

Since we all learned the basics in a trial by fire last year, in 2021 I focused on creating a smaller number of more in-depth newsletters on coffee marketing topics this year. 18 to be exact. 

Using data from the email service provider and the website, it’s clear which pieces were the most-enjoyed of the year:

The Top 5 Strategies Of 2021

1️⃣ How To Write A Coffee Subscription Landing Page

I knew this write-up on creating a not-boring and conversion-optimized landing page would be helpful, but I didn’t expect it to become the top-read article of the year. A big thank you to everyone who shared this with team members and friends around the industry. 

2️⃣ The Coffee Marketing Pyramid: An Industry Framework

If you only read one piece, I hope it’s this one. The Coffee Marketing Pyramid is the 80/20 of my branding and copywriting work in the coffee industry, and it’s no surprise to me that it received a warm response.

3️⃣ Coffee Branding Analysis: 24 Brands to Draw Inspiration (+ Why They Work)

If you’re looking for coffee branding inspiration, look no further than this monster analysis, which I enjoyed working on with my sister. We took a deep look at how twenty four different coffee companies differentiate themselves with interesting and compelling brands. 

4️⃣ Don’t Sell Coffee Subscriptions, Sell Memberships

I saw more and more companies offer subscriptions to customers this year, but I didn’t see many examples of programs that are truly different or ‘sticky’. Most subscriptions are just copycats. I wrote this article to explore ways to go from a me-too program to one that generates meaningful business.

5️⃣ My 6 Coffee Writing Rules That Generate 2 Million Visitors Every Year

Everybody wants to generate organic traffic through a blog, but the cards are stacked against coffee brands with limited resources. This article walks through my must-follow rules for creating coffee-specific content that attracts eyeballs and serves the business.

Coming Soon in 2022: Three Updates

2022 is going to be an exciting year.

Firstly, I’ve written every lesson of the eventually-to-be-released brand messaging and copywriting course for coffee companies. This workshop-style course is the summation of years of working with coffee companies to clarify brand messaging and get their marketing out in the world in a way that’s truly compelling to customers. I had hoped to release it this year, but becoming a first-time father turned out to be more rewarding for this rotation around the sun.

Secondly, I’ve been slowly working on a small, secret project that I hope will be a sales driver for coffee roasters that offer wholesale. Most companies don’t know how to get the word out about wholesale offerings for cafes, restaurants, and offices, and I know this will help.

Thirdly, and most excitingly for me, there is something very, very big on the horizon for Q1 of 2022. Can’t spill the beans just yet, but if you’ve found any hint of value from this newsletter, I know you’ll love the news when it’s ready to be shared!

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