(Newswire.net — November 21, 2017) — They say that a picture speaks a thousand words, but how can it tell you where to go to find your favorite food? It actually can. It can tell you where to go, what’s happening and what to buy!
Say you’re in love with the tasty treats served by a certain food truck. You love their tacos. They make the yummiest tacos in the world. They taste so good you have dreams about cilantro. The thing about food trucks is, they tend to stay in one place for a while, and then all of a sudden, they are gone. You arrive at the parking lot where they were parked a week ago, cash in hand, ready to exchange your money for a plate of delicious goodness, but the food truck isn’t even there!
What are you supposed to do when this happens? You love their food. You want it badly, but you can’t find it. Well, there is a way… by checking Instagram!
Direct to Consumer Marketing
You may not be able to find your beloved food truck when you’re simply equipped with intuition, but you better believe that you’ll be able to find it online. That’s because today’s advertising is dominated by social media. Mobile businesses often use Instagram to inform users where they are and what they’re doing so followers are always kept in the loop.
But let’s get back to the food truck that specializes in yummy tacos. Maybe they found a new parking lot. How would you find them? You would simply go onto Instagram and follow them. They would post a photo of their location – and maybe a fabulous picture of their authentic tacos – and then you’ll find out exactly where to go in order to get your fix.
Food trucks often do this, as do chefs working in restaurants. And then there are also pop-up markets. Oftentimes, organizers get a group together and post s picture with the date and location to their Instagram account. They then show up with the goods; and followers show up with their wallets. Now that’s direct to consumer marketing!
Geo-Targeting Locals
But it’s not just images that helps people find good food. Instagram’s algorithm can also play a massive part helping consumers navigate the local market. This is why hashtags are so important. In fact, geo-targeting is one of the most overstated elements of modern marketing.
There’s a reason why local restaurants show up in the search results when you type in a food-specific keyword. It’s because the restaurant or food truck has hash-tagged their profile with a local keyword and/or type of food. So if you (the consumer) are looking for a new restaurant, you can simply type in your city and see if there’s a place nearby that sells the type of food you want. You can then use pictures to see inside the restaurant, assess the dishes, and decide if it’s what you are looking for.
The Modern Storefront
Instagram is the modern restaurant’s storefront. And like any storefront, it needs to look the part. A big part of this is having an active following. Many restaurants and chefs buy Instagram likes to get a head start – after all, Instagram is a big popularity contest. The algorithm will then reward those who are the most active, receive the greatest level of engagement, and contribute to their community. And generally speaking, the best food will make people talk. Therefore, as a general rule of thumb, the best restaurants will be those that not only make great food, but are the most active online.
Fundamentally, Instagram is a place where every chef can have a voice and opportunity to market directly to customers; it’s a place where customers can find exactly what they’re looking for and how to find it. So if you’re a foodie looking for some quality eats, best sign up for an account. Who knows what tasty delights are coming your way!