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Foodie Instagram Trend: Make the Most Out of It! [INFOGRAPHIC]
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A study by Maru/Matchbox shows that 69% of millennials take a photo (or a video) of their food before eating to share it on social media. This ‘foodie’ trend is something that restaurateurs can definitely use to promote their restaurants — for absolutely no cost.
As our source state in their article headline, Instagram has definitely changed the restaurant industry. How exactly can one seize the trend to get a restaurant business going among tough competition?
Let’s find the answers from the following real life cases. An infographic is also available at the end of this page, which includes The Anatomy of a Viral Restaurant.
1. First of all, embrace it.
Back in 2013, a diner recalled a story to the New York Times where they had been chastised for taking a photograph in New York’s ultra-exclusive restaurant, Momofuku Ko. Ko had a strict no photography policy at the time.
Fast forward to 2017, and that rule is pretty much ancient history. Ko now runs a successful Instagram account where patrons regularly upload photos to Yelp and tag themselves at the upscale restaurant.
2. Splurge on decor.
If you’re opening a restaurant in 2017, it would be exceptionally wise to factor in the impact of social media. When two San Francisco entrepreneurs, Madelyn Markoe and Jessie Barker, decided to open up their first restaurant, Media Noche, the concept was up in the air. They settled on giving their designer one instruction. “We wanted to be Instagrammable.”
It turned out to be a brilliant business decision. Between the unique floor tiles and eye-catching exterior mural, Media Noche attracted a small army of Instagrammers from all over the world. Other restaurants who have invested in an Instagram chic decor have also seen huge payoffs, not only with more customers, but customers who buy more per head.
Samantha Wasser, co-founder of by Chloe, a popular vegan eatery, noticed it immediately. After opening another location in Boston, she reported her initial findings to Grubstreet.
“The check average was so high because it was everyone’s first time coming in, and they wanted to try everything that they had seen before. It for sure comes into play because people eat with their eyes.”
3. Help foodies do their duties.
The founders of Dirty Bones, a London restaurant, realized that customers could essentially become free billboards for their new venture.
“More and more people are also using Instagram to help them decide where to eat, so as a restaurant group it’s key for us to make sure that people are getting the best possible shots of all our dishes and drinks,” Dirty Bones told Mashable.
To encourage ample social sharing, Dirty Bones has created “Instagram kits” for diners which comes with an LED light, a clip-on wide camera lens, a selfie stick, and a charger.
4. Use it for quality control.
For other restaurant owners, Instagram is a novel way to ensure quality control. Dean Jankelowitz, co-founder of Jack’s Wife Freda told Grubstreet, “When we’re looking at Instagram, we’ll notice if the egg yolks aren’t balanced correctly, or the sauce isn’t right. We can tell what’s missing from the shots. It’s amazing to be able to see that without being present at every single table.”
Branding and interior design certainly play big roles in maximizing your restaurant business. Having a brand look and feel that is relevant and an interior design that is catchy and Instragrammable surely will earn you a spot in your target audience’s minds, hearts, and —more importantly now than ever— Instagram feed.
Interested in restaurant branding and interior design? Here are some articles regarding the topic:
• Café Branding and Brand Personality
• More Than Just Good Food: 10 Ways to Spice up Your Restaurant Interior Design
• The Psychology Behind Great Restaurant Design
Last but not least, as promised, here’s an infographic shared by our friends at Fundera.com that examines the impact that Instagram has had on the restaurant industry.
