Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it. ~ Julia Child
Have you used Yelp to check out a restaurant or checked in using Foursquare? If so, you’re part of the social media revolution influencing the way we interact with dining, recently profiled on Nightly Business Report. As the business of food has grown even more competitive and ad revenues for food magazines are declining, social media can serve up a distinct advantage. According to Telsey Advisory’s Analyst Tom Forte, restaurants can benefit from favorable reviews and timely user generated content. After all, reviews on sites, such as Yelp, Grub Street, and Chowhound, can provide restaurants a recipe for success.
Today’s foodies are more sophisticated and are apt to share in communicating food experiences. We’re even more engaged than in Julia Child’s day with the explosion of blogs, TV networks, and websites. Christina Grdovic, Vice President and Publisher of Food and Wine magazine, notes there’s an opportunity for additional reach in the industry. It makes sense to connect following a strategy of multiple touch points, such as magazines, web sites, apps, and newsletters, meeting food enthusiasts wherever we are.
So, have you booked reservations using OpenTable? Do you tweet about your culinary experiences? What’s your favorite food trend? Share your thoughts on dining and social media.
Vanaja R.
Copyright © 2012 My Marketing Nirvana. All rights reserved in all media.
My "Marketing Nirvana" 
shobhasky
/ Monday, July 16, 2012Food preparation has become more suited to people like me who wants her own particular favorites added to a dish.
Nancy Arter
/ Monday, July 16, 2012I agree with Cook-Tench! I also use Yelp and Open Table when traveling and when at home. Yelp is a great way to find a good restaurant when you are unsure of the area or just looking for something new. Open Table is also very helpful when making reservations for business lunches or dinners on the road. Once you have a profile established, it is so easy to access, view the menu and make or change reservations.
I think this online reviews system will allow great, up-start restaurants to more quickly establish a name for themselves. It will also make all restaurants more aware of customer service and putting out a quality product as they will not want to hear about it via an online review site — hearing potentially that they were awarded only 1 or 2 stars.
Cook-Tench
/ Monday, July 16, 2012Open Table is a great resource, especially when traveling. I’ve also used yelp – again generally when I travel. A design friend in NY just posted a long comment about a terrible experience he had yesterday at a restaurant there and it’s being shared with a lot of Facebook friends. Restaurants are under more pressure than ever before to serve up great customer service along great food.