Evolution of Food Blogging: From Kitchen Creations to Digital Revenue Streams
Origins of food blogging started in 1997, when Chowhound an online discussion forum, began as a digital gathering place for food lovers in New York. It served those individuals looking for regional and hard to find foods not part of the mainstream culture. It steered American consumers influence towards local delicacies. Since then, food blogging has evolved, and it continues to do so. In Year 2009, worlds first food blogger conference was formed, its objective to cater food bloggers, writers, social media influencers, food brands and PR companies
In the current landscape of Online Influencers, Food Bloggers are also turning into influencers, turning food blogging into a commercially viable occupation, forming a relationship between food bloggers and restaurants. Equipped with smartphones, social media profiles and blogs, bloggers have a significant impact on the restaurants business, Food bloggers are equivalent to professional critics.
Food Blogging involves writing traditional and contemporary recipes, reviewing food at different locations. As per the reports, In the first quarter of 2022, food blogging was the most lucrative niche. Food Bloggers use SEO (Search engine optimization), food photography, as it has been shown adding pictures to the post increases the likelihood of “Strong results”. Food bloggers actively use social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest feeds to creating an Information source and interlinks for their blogs.
As per the report, the topmost topic covered by food bloggers are recipes, followed by restaurant reviews, and healthy living. COVID Pandemic caused evolution in food culture in Instagram, people habitually took photos of food before eating it, documenting, process of entire dish making, creating a new opportunity, and growing platform for food bloggers.
Ways food blogging Evolved
Food and Travel Blogs-
Advent of Internet made it possible for anyone to share their experience from any part of the world virtually through internet, now a food blogger travelling the globe, could share their experience through food and travel blogs where bloggers research, visit new places and provide reviews and information regarding places, experience and quality and uniqueness of food
Social Media-
Nowadays, users don’t search for the new restaurants on Google rather they look at reviews on Zomato, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Food & Beverages businesses reach out to influential bloggers to target audiences and to increasing customer engagement, there presence reviews in social media help bloggers to reach out and gain new content consumers
Hospitality-
With the tools at hand, food blogging is just not about advertising food quality but involves entire meal experience the restaurant offers including atmosphere, service décor etc
Food Vlog–
Latest trend is food vlogging, which is presenting audience with videos about food. Vloggers would record themselves, preparing the entire dish on camera and presenting the edited version to the content consumers
Marketing-
Blogging has become important tool for restaurants, they hire influential bloggers to attract audiences and build their reputation, with time blogger gains influence over some of the restaurants audience by consistently posting quality content
Conclusion
Compared to early days, Food Blogging is interlinked with social media, restaurants, marketing, and advertising. Mobile phones, and other technologies have provided bloggers to provide Personalized experiences to the content consumers and with the effective use of social media there are now ways to attract new content consumers, and to become an influencer. Relationship between Food Bloggers and restaurants have become very important with the development of Information technology. Customers choose to trust the opinions of bloggers when it comes to deciding their next visit to a restaurant.