Only one month after our previous blog on finding a job online, we have discovered our dream career. Let us present you: The Food Influencer. If you have checked Instagram lately, you probably know what we mean. Influencers are people that share experiences with their many followers on social media channels such as Instagram and Pinterest, or that write their own blogs on a certain topic. This trend arose in the fashion and art industry. Now, guess what food influencers do? They get to write about new restaurants and new recipes and can shamelessly post pictures of delicious food that they most likely got for free (or they even got paid for eating it). Tell us, what more could you wish for.
Meet for example Bonnie Tsang, also known as @bonnietsang , or Krista Simmons aka @kristasimmons professional foodstagrammers located in L.A.. In an interview with L.A. Weekly, they describe their life as food influencers and the benefits that come with it. If you just take a look at their Instagram profiles, you will be amazed by how good pictures can transfer these exquisite meals such as plates filled with olives, fried sea food, homemade pizza, fresh bagels, colorful macarons, creamy shakes, grilled beef, stuffed donuts, cute cupcakes, crunchy waffles… Oops, we got distracted for a moment. Back to business, traditional email advertising does no longer seem to work for restaurants. The audience it can reach is no longer sufficient for most of them and they start to rely on social networks and more in particular, on food influencers, to spread the message. Some restaurants even organize special events, such as brunches, solely for influencers. The foodstagrammers get their meal for free and in exchange they post pictures of their platter online. Seems like a good deal to us!
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| Bonnie Tsang Instagram |
In order to create most value for their customers, authenticity and transparency are ought to be the most important aspects for an influencer. Bonnie states that she would not recommend anything that is against her values or against her own opinion, even though the restaurant might have invited her. Further, the foodstagrammers tend to include the hashtag #sponsored or #sp in order to let their fans know when they were compensated for making a post. Therefore, to us it seems like a reliable source of information even though the influencers might not be professional food experts. According to the numerous followers, that trust is something they share as well. In our opinion, you could compare this with websites such as TripAdvisor, except that pictures are used which gives you a visual idea of the food and therefore, adds superior value. Furthermore, food influencers have the ability to directly interact with their followers and thus many people get the feeling they can actually connect with them and maybe even feel as if they know them. Through this more personal bond, these foodstagrammers provide word-of-mouth to their fans, which also leads to brand awareness for the restaurants they represent. In our opinion, it could be compared to a friend who sends you pretty pictures of his/her food, you would be keen to try that as well.
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| Krista Simmons Instgram |
We believe that this trend will still grow and in the process it can target different kinds of food lovers: those that are only interested in healthy food and those that like everything as long as it tastes good - that would be us. It would also offer opportunities for people who are doubting where to go for dinner, they can just follow their favorite local foodstagrammers and pick a restaurant based on their pictures and recommendations.
Definitely some food for thought. It is a fun way to get restaurants and their food promoted and you can instantly start mouth watering in front of your phone or computer. Forget about getting in shape, round is also a shape!
Jana & Valerie
Source article: http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/las-food-instagrammers-are-spicing-up-restaurant-marketing-5513665
Source picture Bonnie Tsang: https://www.instagram.com/bonnietsang/
Source picture Krista Simmons: https://www.instagram.com/kristasimmons/
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