Tastecasting: A Grass Roots Effort

When I first read the word “Tastecasting”, I had to stop and give it some thought. Sounds like taste testing or webcasting or broadcasting…or all of the above? Interestingly, while looking into it, I came across a very intriguing web site: Tastecasting.com.

Social media, networking, blogging, and all other nuances of 21st century technology are enough to make one question whether or not Over the Hill still constitutes the ripe old age of fifty. Rather, it seems to me most people over 30 are feeling Over the Hill when it comes to being technologically savvy, not to mention struggling to make meaningful connections with 42% of people (i.e. consumers) online already engaging in social media platforms.

Enter, Tastecasting. Here’s how it works: the web site hires a team of connected bloggers, tweeters, and youtuber’s who come to your restaurant, sample your food, drinks, and whatever else you want to promote - all for Free. In exchange, these Techies gone Foodies will create an online buzz about your restaurant by sharing words, video, and photographs from their experience with the thousands of people they communicate with across the social media platforms they use daily.

So…you provide the food, they provide the buzz. Not to mention you can use their media for your own purposes too. It’s sort of like having a professional Marketing Team sitting in your dining room. Word of mouth travels fast, word of good food travels by text, tweets, and video even faster. All restaurateurs have to do is request a Tastecasting from their restaurant. You pick the date, time and number of team members you are willing to provide for and they do the rest.

It’s my thought that this sort of event could be beneficial for all involved. Sure, one could reason that tastecasting isn’t guaranteed to deliver anything really, but then again, what’s there to lose? Any publicity is good publicity, right? By the way, this web site was started to promote small businesses, not hurt them. Critical comments are kept strictly to the constructive criticism category with emphasis being primarily on positive aspects of the experience.

Wow, what time, money and headache could you save by hiring a professional social media marketing team that works for free food? Can’t wait to see how this one takes off…