A new virtual marketing trend from the U.S. is bringing  restaurants and food bloggers together. The idea is that groups of consumers exchange their experiences about eating and drinking issues online via social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or Flicks. Restaurants which want to use TasteCasting for testing new products or services invite the networked team members to a free sample meal or drink. The test group then posts their opinion on the internet and – ideally - recommends the restaurant with blog posts, Twitter messages (tweets), photos or videos. All of the test persons’ postings are also linked to the TasteCasting website. So far, the service is still free of charge for both parties. Online advertisements are being planned in future to finance this service.   

PROS:

Restaurants receive direct feedback on their food and services

Similar to market research focus groups

Win-win situation for consumers and restaurants

Viral spread and promotion for free

CONS:

Viral spread of negative experiences/negative buzz