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On July 1st, 2014, a horrific and tragic event happened in Feltonville, Philadelphia when a food truck exploded, injuring 13 people, including 2 critical injuries. Sadly, the two people who were in critical condition died on July 24th. From all of us here at FoodTruckr.com, our prayers, thoughts and condolences to all who were involved in the explosion, and especially the families of Olga and Jaylin Galdamez. Because of the recent events, we thought it would be appropriate to have an expert come on to the show to educate us on propane tank safety, since it appears the explosion was caused by a propane tank. Stuart Flatow and his colleague J.J. McCoy from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) us today to talk about what happened and how we – all of us – can prevent this kind of thing from happening. You’ll learn about what to look out for with your propane tanks, and other important safety checks that we should all be doing from time to time. You can never be too safe, and it only takes a minute or two to prevent disaster. Right-click here to the MP3 file Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) Website PropaneSafety.com UsePropane.com CBS Article about Explosion in Philly Thanks for Listening, and Please Help Out the Show! Again, please do your due diligence on propane tanks that you use! All we want here at FoodTruckr.com is for you and those around your truck to be safe. Thanks again, and please share any comments you have about this episode below. Please be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. If you’d like to help us out real quick, please leave an honest review and rating in iTunes here. Thanks again, and we’ll see you in the next episode of FoodTruckr School! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS017- Food Truck Propane Safety with PERC appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this episode of FoodTruckr school, we’re happy to welcome Patrice Perkins, a Chicago-based attorney who blogs at Creative Genius Society and also Creative Genius Law. Patrice gives us the low-down on all things legal when it comes to your food truck. Although law isn’t a topic food truck owners typically love to discuss (primarily because it’s the law in different cities that makes it difficult to operate a truck sometimes!), Patrice drops incredible knowledge bombs about things we should all be paying attention to. Here are some of the questions addressed in today’s episode: What can food truck owners do to positive legal changes in their own cities? What are the most common laws that aspiring food truck owners should keep in mind? What are the most common mistakes food truck owners make legally? (Hint: most food truck owners aren’t doing what they should!) Where can one find affordable legal services and help? (Including free legal help!) What should one do when action is taken on them legally? Hopefully you won’t ever need to worry about that last question, but it’s important that you know what to do just in case. Right-click here to the MP3 file Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode Creative Genius Society Creative Genius Law Street Food Artistry Chicago SCORE.org Thanks for Listening, and Please Help Out the Show! Please be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. If you’d like to help us out real quick, please leave an honest review and rating in iTunes here. Thanks again, and we’ll see you in the next episode of FoodTruckr School! Cheers! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS016- An Education in Food Truck Law with Patrice Perkins of Creative Genius Law appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

Today, we’re extremely happy to welcome an amazing guest on the show who has a major influence in the LA Food Scene and the growth of food trucks in general! Shawna Dawson co-founded the LA Street Food Fest, founded Artisanal LA (a really cool community event ing artisanal food entrepreneurs), and also runs Sauce LA, a marketing and PR group for chefs, restaurants, and small businesses. She also worked at Yelp in 2009 as a Director of Marketing/Community Manager. She was right there when food trucks were taking off in Los Angeles in 2008, and as a result of her ion for food and her entrepreneurial spirit, she’s helped to shape how we all view food trucks today. You’ll hear her story, how the LA Street Food Fest started (and set the bar for other food festivals around the nation) plus several incredibly valuable tips for those who are starting their own trucks, or already have a food truck of their own. You don’t want to miss this one! Right-click here to the MP3 file Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode LA Street Food Fest Artisanal LA Sauce LA Thanks for Listening, and Please Help Out the Show! Please be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. If you’d like to help us out real quick, please leave an honest review and rating in iTunes here. Thanks again, and we’ll see you in the next episode of FoodTruckr School! Cheers! Photo credit: Mark Krynsky About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS015- Food Truck Marketing Tips and The LA Food Scene with Shawna Dawson appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this episode of FoodTruckr School, we welcome Felix and Scott from Kitchens On Wheels, a company that has been helping build food trucks for over a decade! We talk about a lot of important things when it comes to your actual truck, including how to get the right truck, what equipment you need, and we even get into a little bit about the branding of your truck and social media. In This Episode, We Also Cover… Thoughts on how the industry has changed since ten years ago, and where it’s headed. The #1 most important part of your food truck business that will determine exactly what equipment you need on your truck. How to potentially save money on food truck equipment. Mistakes people make when getting started and choosing a truck. Plus a whole lot more! Right-click here to the MP3 file Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode KitchensOnWheels.com Thanks for Listening, and Please Help Out the Show! Please be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. If you’d like to help us out real quick, please leave an honest review and rating in iTunes here. Thanks again, and we’ll see you in the next episode of FoodTruckr School! Cheers! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS014- What You Need to Know about Your Truck with Felix and Scott from KitchensOnWheels.com appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

Food trucks live and often rely on social media, but what about a food truck’s website? How important is a website for your truck, and what are the best practices for running a useful site that actually helps your business? In this episode of FoodTruckr School, I’m happy to welcome Brian Casel from RestaurantEngine.com, a website and platform dedicated to helping restaurant and food truck owners create a perfectly suited, mobile-responsive website with all the bells and whistles for those in this industry. In This Episode, You’ll Find Out About… Whether or not websites are all that important for a food truck. Where a website fits into the overall strategy for food truck marketing. The best practices and tips for getting the most out of a food truck site. What items should be located “above the fold” – shown on a screen before visitors have to scroll down. How involved we should be in website analytics, and the important deg for mobile s. The importance of having great images on your website. Plus more! Right-click here to the MP3 file Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode Restaurant Engine (referral link!) Thanks for Listening, and Please Help Out the Show! Please be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. If you’d like to help us out real quick, please leave an honest review and rating in iTunes here. Thanks again, and we’ll see you in the next episode of FoodTruckr School! Cheers! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS013- All About Your Food Truck Website appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

The most popular article on FoodTruckr is one titled: 50 Food Truck Owners Speak Out: “What I Wish I’d Known Before Starting My Food Truck”. In fact, this was the very first post ever published on the blog! In today’s podcast, I wanted to re-highlight some of the those insights for you. If you’re thinking of starting a food truck of your own, or you’re relatively new to the industry, this will serve as a way to prepare you for the road ahead. By hearing what others wish they knew before they started, you’ll be better equipped in your truck and be more successful moving forward. If you’ve been in this industry for a while, I’m sure you’ll nod your head in agreement as you will have experienced one, or even all of these things in the past with your own truck. Right-click here to the MP3 file And in case you didn’t know, the ROAM Mobile Food Conference is happening in San Antonio, Texas this year! It takes place on November 8-9, and we hope to have some of the FoodTruckr team there. We hope to meet you there if you can make it! Thanks for Listening, and Please Help Out the Show! Please be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. If you’d like to help us out real quick, please leave an honest review and rating in iTunes here. Thanks again, and we’ll see you in the next episode of FoodTruckr School! Cheers! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS012- What I Wish I’d Known Before Starting My Food Truck appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this episode of FoodTruckr School, we’re very happy to welcome Tony Fumarolo, owner of Rig-a-Tony’s, a relatively new Italian food truck that serves the community of Fort Wayne, Indiana. As a young and new entrepreneur on the scene, Tony shares a ton of invaluable information about his recent start, including some of the road blocks that food truck owners go through when getting started, and several tips about what’s been working well for him lately too. As most of us know, a lot of the U.S. has seen one of the worst winters in recent years, and Tony shares how that has affected his business, and what he’s done to stay afloat. This was one of my favorite interviews to date, and I’m sure you’ll feel the same. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Rig-a-Tony’s Main Website Rig-a-Tony’s on Facebook Rig-a-Tony’s on Twitter Good Stuff Design Co. Bravas Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening (And Help Out the Show!) Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. To help you out even more, please be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. If you’d like to help us out real quick, please leave an honest review and rating in iTunes! You can leave a review here.  Thanks again, and we’ll see you in the next episode of FoodTruckr School! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS011- A Successful Start (and a Cold Winter!) With Tony from Rig-A-Tony’s appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this episode of FoodTruckr School we have a very educational chat with Jessica Capistrant, one of the co-founders of the Phoenixville Food Truck Festival in Pennsylvania. Food Truck festivals are events that are not only a great way to sell a ton of food in a short period of time, but they’re also an amazing way to grow and introduce your business to new customers – customers that can become life long fans and evangelists for your truck. In this episode you’ll learn about: How to find out about food truck festivals in your area. What you need to do to get involved. Typical costs and requirements in order to participate. Tips and strategies to make the most of your Food Truck festival experience. Plus a lot more! Links and resources mentioned in this episode: The Phoenixville Food Truck Festival Main Website Phoenixville Food Truck Festival Facebook Page Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening! Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. Also, be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. Cheers, and thank you again for your ! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS010- What you Ought to Know About Food Truck Festivals appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this episode of FoodTruckr School, I’m very happy to introduce you to Craig Barbour, owner of the Roots food truck in Charlotte, North Carolina. Craig’s background in the catering industry became very useful after starting his food truck, because his business has since expanded into a very successful catering company. Beyond that, Craig and his team also hold classes to share recipes and get people involved in the creation of his food, which is awesome! If you’re interested in perhaps going down the road of starting a catering business along-side your food truck, or even expanding into classes (which sounds fun – but also imagine how that can help your brand!), then this is an episode you definitely DO NOT want to miss. More Specifically, in this episode you’ll learn about: How Craig got started in the food truck industry. What made him decide to do event catering, and the differences between on-truck and off-truck events. How holding classes play a role in relationship building and marketing within his business. Details about how he’s built his team to serve all of these components of his brand. Fantastic strategies and actionable advice related to all of the above. And more! Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Roots Food Truck Main Website Roots on Facebook Roots on Twitter Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening! Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. Also, be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. Cheers, and thank you again for your ! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS009- How Craig Expanded His Food Truck Business into Catering and Classes appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

On today’s episode of FoodTruckr School, I’m happy to welcome Matt Finkenbiner from the Minnesota Department of Health. Matt is here to help us understand more about the process of health codes and inspections and requirements for your truck – because before you can get your truck on the street to sell your food, you will be submitting information to your city’s health department, which is a process that isn’t talked about very much online. Every city has different health code regulations and licensing requirements, but Matt sheds a lot of light on what the process is like, from submittal to approval and more. We talk about the biggest mistakes most food trucks make, and Matt also gives a ton of tips to help expedite the process and make it easier for everyone. Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening! Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. Also, be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. Cheers, and thank you again for your ! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS008- Understanding Health Codes – A Conversation with Matt from the Minnesota Department of Health appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this episode of FoodTruckr School, we’re very excited to welcome Jessica and Liza from Bowled and Beautiful, a food truck you may recognize from Season 4 of The Great Food Truck Race! Jessica and Liza went home early from the competition, but after the show they couldn’t imagine life without a food truck any more, and their ion and drive helped them become the first pair after the show (besides the winners) to get their own food truck business up and running! Since then, Bowled and Beautiful has been successfully providing amazing cuisine among the streets of Los Angeles, California. In this episode, we talk about how they were able to get their truck up and running so fast, the challenges they faced on the show and after starting their business, and thoughts on work/life balance as a food truck owner – especially since both Jessica and Liza are single moms. More Specifically, in this episode you’ll learn about: Exactly how Jessica and Liza were able to get a food truck up and running after they lost the competition on The Great Food Truck Race Strategies that are working right now to help them grow their business and keep customers at their truck, including something interesting they do on Facebook that I haven’t see very many trucks do. How they’ve been able to create relationships with other food trucks in the area and what that does for their business. The truth about working on a truck and being a parent – and how to combine the two. Plus a whole lot more! Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Bowled and Beautiful’s Website Bowled and Beautiful on Twitter Bowled and Beautiful on Facebook Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening! Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. Also, be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. Cheers, and thank you again for your ! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS007- Jessica and Liza from Bowled and Beautiful Talk Getting Started and Work Life Balance as Food Truck Owners appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this episode of FoodTruckr School, we chat with Brett Chiavari from BC Tacos, one of the most popular food trucks to reign South Florida! He’s also recently opened up a brick and mortar restaurant of the same name, and we get the insider scoop on how and why that happened, and how he’s able to manage both his truck and his new restaurant at the same time. Brett has an amazing story, especially being so young, and his advice for those in the food truck industry is just as good. More Specifically, in this episode you’ll learn about: Exactly how Brett got started in the food truck industry. How and why he opened up a brick and mortar restaurant. The challenges that come with working on both the food truck and the restaurant, and advice to overcome those obstacles. Tips for hiring staff to help you with your food truck and/or restaurant. Plus a whole lot more! Links and resources mentioned in this episode: BC Tacos Website BC Tacos on Twitter BC Tacos on Facebook Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening! Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. Also, be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. Cheers, and thank you again for your ! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS006- From Food Truck to Brick and Mortar Restaurant with Brett from BC Tacos appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

This episode of FoodTruckr School is a bit different—Pat’s not here, so the team at FoodTruckr HQ took over! Matt Gartland, Nicole Farley, Jonathan Wondrusch, and Mindy Holahan held a roundtable discussion just for you where we shared insights on everything from developing customer relationships to the origin story behind the FoodTruckr brand. If you’ve ever been curious about the team at FoodTruckr, this is your chance to find out who’s who—and most importantly, to find out what we’ve learned by studying hundreds of food trucks over the past several months. We’ve got the scoop on making the most out of your online presence and your daily customer interactions. Right-click here to the MP3 file You can learn more about some of the topics discussed in the podcast in these FoodTruckr blog posts: Basics for building your web presence and branding Social media best practices Why storytelling matters How to use an email list On caring for your customers And of course, don’t forget to check out the awesome FoodTruckrs we mentioned—these rock stars are always on our minds: Kogi Buttercream Urban Eats Thanks for Listening! Thanks for taking the time to listen to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Matt, Nicole, Jonathan, and Mindy were all so excited to share this time with you—but never fear! Pat will return in Episode 006 with a very special guest (a successful FoodTruckr who is truly an inspiration for all you truck owners out there!). Be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so that you don’t miss any of the action. Have more questions for the FoodTruckr team? Tell us what you’d like to know in the comments below or on our Facebook page and we’ll give you an answer! image by Dell’s Official Flickr Page About the AuthorFoodTruckr is the #1 online destination for current and aspiring food truck owners looking to succeed in the mobile food industry. Self described “food truck devotees,” the FoodTruckr team enjoys reading about successful entrepreneurs, salivating over photos of burritos on Twitter, and long walks through food truck parks. Chat with FoodTruckr on Facebook or check out the FoodTruckr School podcast for more awesome tips to level up your business. The post FS005- Customer Service Tips and Marketing Insights from the FoodTruckr Team appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this episode of FoodTruckr School, we talk with Matt Berkland from Truckily.com about best practices and tips for sharing your location on social media. How often do you share your location? How much time do you give your customers to locate you? What do you include in a tweet versus what do you share on Facebook? All of these questions, and more, are addresses in today’s episode. In addition to that, we get to learn more about a sweet social media tool called Truckily! Truckily helps us better manage our multiple social media platforms for our truck, all in one spot. It’s about convenience, but it’s also about giving you more time to devote to your truck and customers. More Specifically, in this episode you’ll learn about: Why it’s a huge mistake not to collect your customer’s email addresses. The psycology of email and why it’s the the #1 form of communication online . Specific examples of what you can email your customers – things you probably didn’t think of. Why only relying on social media is playing a very dangerous game. Specific tools you can use to take your social media efforts to the next level. What you can do right now to get started now with your email marketing campaign. Plus so much more… Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Truckily (use code foodtruckr for special access to beta tools in the software!) Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening! Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. Also, be sure to subscribe to FoodTruckr School on iTunes so you can get new episodes directly ed to your mobile device or computer! You can subscribe easily by clicking here. FoodTruckr School has recently been featured in the New & Noteworthy section in iTunes, and we’ve have climbed as high as #12 in the overall business section! Thank you for your , and we appreciate your time and your honest reviews and too! We’re here for you, and happy holidays! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS004- Best Practices for Sharing Your Location and Using Social Media with Matt Berkland from Truckily.com appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this third episode of FoodTruckr School, I don’t have a guest on the show with us this time around, however I pose a very important question to all food truck owners out there: Why aren’t you asking your customers for their email addresses? The only logical answer here is that you just don’t know how important it is, which is why I’m here to tell you. Yes, I know you have a Twitter and a Facebook , and those things are important (and I share a couple of extremely useful tips for getting the most out of your time on those social media platforms too), but your customer’s email address is the most important asset for most businesses, and it’s no exception for those in the food truck business either. Why? Because think about it – when you email someone, you’re ing them directly. The only thing your message is competing with is other messages in one’s inbox, and we all know how we often can’t leave any emails unanswered. For some of us, it’s the first thing we check when we wake up in the morning – or we have notifications on our mobile devices that let us know the moment a new email comes out way. With social media, you’re competing with tons of noise and  when you update a status or share a tweet, you’re only sending your message to a fraction of your overall following – and I talk about why that’s the case during this episode too. More Specifically, in this episode you’ll learn about: Why it’s a huge mistake not to collect your customer’s email addresses. The psychology of email and why it’s the the #1 form of communication online. Specific examples of what you can email your customers – things you probably didn’t think of. Why only relying on social media is playing a very dangerous game. Specific tools you can use to take your social media efforts to the next level. What you can do right now to get started now with your email marketing campaign. Plus so much more… Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Tweriod BufferApp Aweber MailChimp Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening! Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. Please let us know what you think about this episode in the comment section below! Thank you for your . We’re here for you! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS003- Dear Food Truck Owner, Why Aren’t You Asking Me For My Email Address? appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

In this second episode of FoodTruckr School, we chat with Chris Adams from Rocketman Creative, a branding expert and strategist who helps food trucks new and old establish their identity and focus or re-focus their branding efforts for maximum impact. It’s so much more than just deg a cool logo – there’s an entire culture that can be created based on how well your brand is established. Think about brands like Apple or Starbucks – powerful brands with cult-like followings that people are proud to , and will often go out of their way to. After listening to this episode, you’ll know exactly what it takes to create a brand that succeeds, and have a marketing education that will help you stand out from the crowd. And the best part – this podcast, as always, is free! More Specifically, in this episode you’ll learn about: The important elements that need to exist before even a logo or any designs. 4 core elements of an outstanding, memorable logo. The true definition of brand and the most important word that you need to know that relate to it. Characteristics of food trucks with poor branding, so you don’t make these same mistakes. The importance of the “tone” and “flair” that you have within your brand. The exact step-by-step process Chris uses to help food truck owners shape their brand. How to validate your food truck business idea before you spend money on a truck. Positioning and developing your “unique offering” and personality as a food truck. How to craft your menu to truly your brand and message. The secret of “easter eggs”. Plus so much more… Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Rocketman Creative (Chris’s website) Boston Food Truck Alliance Position by Al Reis and Jack Trout (Amazon.com Link) Boston’s Baddest Burger Super Q Smart Brand Flight Plan FoodTruckr Edition (Free Workbook !) Right-click here to the MP3 file Thanks for Listening! Thank you again, for listening to this episode of FoodTruckr School. Truly, we hope you don’t just listen, but you also take action and actually think about your brand, what it means and how you might be able to improve it. Thanks to Chris once again for his expertise and strategies, and if you have a moment, please let us know what you think about this episode in the comment section below! FoodTruckr School will be on iTunes in a couple of weeks, and at that point you can leave a rating and review on iTunes too. Until our next episode, thank you for your . We’re here for you! About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS002- Food Truck Branding – From Logo to Design, Culture and Customer Experience with Chris Adams appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.

We at FoodTruckr are extremely happy to welcome you to the very first episode of FoodTruckr School! FoodTruckr School is a podcast dedicated to helping you take your food truck business to the next level. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a veteran in the business, we’ve got a whole lineup of incredibly valuable, entertaining, motivational and educational shows for you. And we’re not just interviewing owners of other food trucks and sharing their journey and success stories. There may be some of that, but the purpose of this show – our job – is to teach you something new to help your food truck business flourish. We plan on interviewing everyone from branding and social media experts to health inspectors and even food truck patrons. Anyone and everyone that has something to do with helping you succeed. In this first episode, I’m happy to welcome Mike Swaleh from Tikka Tikka Taco. Mike and his team were the second place winners from Season 4 of The Great Food Truck Race on The Food Network. Mike’s first time on a food truck was filmed on the show, and since then he’s learned a ton about what works and what doesn’t in the food truck industry. He also gives us a behind-the-scenes of what it was like to be on The Great Food Truck Race, as well as what he’s doing now to help raise money for a food truck, since they didn’t win first place and take home a truck of their own. More Specifically, in this episode you’ll learn about: The inspiration for Tikka Tikka Taco and its fusion cuisine. How Tikka Tikka Taco landed a spot on The Great Food Truck Race Mike’s biggest lessons learned when he stepped foot into a food truck for the first time. What Mike says you should know before starting up a food truck business. How the Tikka Tikka Taco team is taking social media to the next level. Tips for building a great team and culture within your truck. What crowdfunding is and what it can do for you. Plus a whole lot more! Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Tikka Tikka Taco The Great Food Truck Race IndieGoGo Kickstarter Right-click here to the MP3 file Help Tikka Tikka Taco! As Mike shared in this episode, he and his team are raising funds to help pay for their food truck that they were so close to winning. As I write this post, they are currently one-third of the way there, and they need your help! Please click on the button below to help kickstart their campaign and get a little something in return too! Click Here to Help Tikka Tikka Taco! A huge thank you to Mike for sharing a little bit of his story and incredible insight into the Food Truck business from a very unique perspective. Mike, if you’re reading this, we wish you all the best of luck, and I’m 100% certain this isn’t the last time we’re going to hear from you. And a huge thank you to YOU – the listener – for checking out the first episode of FoodTruckr School. We promise there is much more to come, including our next episode when we interview a Food Truck branding expert and designer who has worked with several trucks in the Boston area, who has a lot to share about what you and your brand can do to increase your bottom line. Until then, please subscribe to the blog by entering your email address below, and get our free eBook to help you quickly take what you do on Twitter and Facebook to the next level. Here’s to you and your food!   About the AuthorPat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn. The post FS001- Tips, Strategies and More with Mike Swaleh from Tikka Tikka Taco and The Great Food Truck Race appeared first on FoodTruckr | How to Start and Run a Successful Food Truck Business.