Orlando Industry Highlight Restaurant Bloggers
Interview by Chris "Chip" Redmond with Transworld Business Advisors Orlando
Bloggers and Social Media Influencers are a fairly new marketing tool brought on by the rise of Social Media. Marketers for the longest time worked on Print, Radio, and TV ads until the rise of the internet. So many smaller businesses have moved their minimal promotional budgets to general or extremely targeted social media campaigns. Bloggers cover any and all industries and categories, but many tend to be one’s dedicated to products or establishments. For many, it starts out by talking about their favorite things, places, exercises, or food. We tend to look to others for their opinions and suggestions or we wouldn’t have sites like Yelp, Angie's List, Facebook, TripAdvisor, and others. Bloggers are sometimes invited to soft openings, official launches, menu changes, but most of the time just pick and review based on their likes, relationships or areas.
This week we interview Michelle Sanchez with MadeInOrlando. Michelle has been posting restaurant blogs since early 2017 mostly in the Milk District of Orlando in Orange County, Florida. I for one can't wait to go on her Pizza Tour! I hope you get a little look into Michelle's world and what one foodie decided to do with all her restaurant photos on her phone.
What got you into starting an internet blog? Did you do anything before this?
Michelle: I’m originally from rural Virginia. Going into town was a big deal and family event while I was growing up. Now living in the Milk District in Orlando, Florida allows me the opportunity to walk around and enjoy restaurants as we have so many in a small geographic area. Have always been a foodie and moving to my area of Central Florida, I got the idea that I wanted to try all the restaurants in the area near me. With so many around and many opening all the time, I got me wanting to try them all. At first, I was only taking photos and not posting, sharing, or doing anything with them until my husband talked me into putting them online. Once I started to put them up, I started the MadeinOrlando website. It really started to come together after my first organized event. I enjoy putting on events in my local events for local small businesses, one of my early favorite events was in a local Lucky’s Supermarket. I have always had marketing ideas that I could share with local small businesses. That event was one where I invited all of the Orlando based companies that were currently being actually sold on in my local Lucky’s store to have a sampling day. It was hard work, but made me very proud that I could organize and manage my own event.
Did you get past any fears or obstacles for you to start this adventure/blog?
Michelle: I had to overcome a fear of failure. Fear to reach out and have people trust me, fear of doing things on my own. When events were being planned and managed, I had to step up and become a director and manager of the events, which took me out of my comfort zone. I had to learn how to adjust for events on the fly and that tested me and helped in my growth.
What would you say is something that is misunderstood or not known about your industry?
Michelle: I would say it has to come down to the amount of time that it takes. For me, it’s about the experience as I don’t get paid. I would prefer to do these things with my friends, a lot of times It’s more of a one on one situation. Being just me alone and talking to a room full of people it was a bit stressful the first few times, so being alone and the amount of time that I have to dedicate to my blog.
Do you consider yourself a marketer or promoter, or are you a foodie who wants to share the joys of
the restaurant world?
Michelle: Definitely a foodie! Until the blog I wrote about what I like and what I like to do, now I like to write about my area and the great food that it has to offer. It’s more about exploring the area where I live and the amazing restaurants and people that run them.
Do you set up your postings or are they impromptu and off the cuff?
Michelle: I just have a list of places where I want to try. Sometimes I just want a certain thing or place. For me is about areas and traveling around. It could just be a chef that I would check out or those favorite items that I like around the corner.
What is your favorite Pizza Restaurant? Who has your favorite pizza?
Michelle: Can I say three? 1803 Pizza Factory due to closeness and it’s great California style pizza, Pizza Bruno, and Pizzeria Del-Dio.
http://www.pizzeriadel-dio.com/
Most areas have a food that they are known for, what would you say is Orlando’s signature item is?
Michelle: No Orlando does not really have one, just Micky Mouse ice cream bars if I had to give an answer.
What experience has your blog offered you that you would not have had if you were a normal patron of a restaurant?
Michelle: I think of my self as a normal patron, I have however been given the opportunity to meet people and learn their stories on a one to one level. Getting to know people personally has been the greatest thing above being a regular customer. The story and that relationship with that Chef or Owner that I got the pleasure meet make want me to support them and their brand even more. I get that experience to learn their story which is priceless. That relationship drives me to share their story.
If you were to open your own restaurant up what category would it be in? What would your signature dish be?
Michelle: Ice Cream Store for Sure! My Signature would be a cookie butter ice cream with something crunchy!
Best quote from our talk:
“I didn’t make money from my events; I was happy to support local businesses and grow from the experience.”
www.madeinorlando.blog is a fresh look at some new and classic restaurants and venues in the Central Florida area. I love her passion to support her local community.
Micelle has a great blog and other social media accounts and you should follow her and check out her favorite locations and chefs. Please share and like her posts!
https://www.instagram.com/madeinorlando/
https://www.facebook.com/MadeInOrlando/
Transworld has Restaurants, Food Truck Businesses, and Caterers for sale! We can list your business in this category or any other!
Please contact Chip if you have any questions about Transworld or the services that we offer.
407-326-6990 or chrisredmond@tworld.com
Check out the other interviews here!
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