This week, we distill insights around Foodspotting -- a crowdsourcing platform that is changing the way people discover food. 50+ thinkers and planners within MSLGROUP share and discuss inspiring projects on corporate citizenship, crowdsourcing and storytelling on the MSLGROUP Insights Network. Every week, we pick up one project and do a deep dive into conversations around it -- on the MSLGROUP Insights Network itself but also on the broader social web -- to distill insights and foresights. We share these insights and foresights with you on our People’s Insights blog and compile the best insights from the network and the blog in the iPad-friendly People’s Lab Quarterly Magazine, as a showcase of our capabilities. For more, see: http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

1. crowdsourcing | storytelling | citizenship
People’s Insights: Volume 1, Issue 37
Foodspotting

2. What is Foodspotting?
Foodspotting is a crowdsourcing platform that enables people find and
recommend dishes, not just restaurants. Foodspotters can share photos
of their favourite dishes, and foodseekers can discover new foods.
foodspotting.com/

3. Changing the way people discover food
Foodspotting was founded with vision of one day replacing restaurant
menus. With 2.3 million photos uploaded, Foodspotting is now aiming to
recommend new foods based on personal preferences.
1) techcrunch.com/2012/02/01/with-redesign-foodspotting-aims-to-be-the-pandora-for-food/
2) fastcompany.com/1802722/can-app-tell-you-what-you-want-eat-foodspotting-trying

4. Originally for foodies & photographers
Foodspotting stands out from other social networks with its emphasis on
food and photography. Originally, the platform catered to foodies &
photographers, giving them a place to share photos and discuss food.
1) play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foodspotting
2) foodspotting.com/blog/posts/186-your-ultimate-guide-to-slr-foodspotting-with-ultraclay

5. Useful for travelers
Travelers soon adopted Foodspotting as a tool to find food in new
locations, to satisfy cravings for specific food, and to discover new foods
in their local neighbourhoods.
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foodspotting&hl=en

6. Now, for all foodseekers
In Feb 2012, Foodspotting shifted focus from photo-sharing to broaden
its appeal. Now, Foodspotting emphasizes features including food
discovery, photo menus, recommendations from brands such as Zagat.
technologizer.com/2012/02/02/foodspotting-its-not-just-for-food-photographers-anymore/

7. Taking photos of food
Foodspotters find themselves taking photos of food for various reasons:
to capture and share a beautiful dish, to enhance their blog posts or
restaurant reviews, or to document their meals.
1) plus.google.com/117421021456205115327/posts/XrHHCQTE5pa
2) techcrunch.com/2011/08/10/foodspotting-million/

8. Criticism: Taking photos at restaurants
Several people criticize this trend of taking photos at restaurants, finding
it rude, distracting and offensive – as people spend more time on their
phones and social networks they neglect their dining companions.
1) brandchannel.com/home/post/2012/08/21/To-Cell-or-Not-While-Dining-Out.aspx
2) xojane.com/tech/people-photographing-food-at-restaurants

9. Does Foodspotting have enough users?
While it has a rich database of 2.3 million photos and an enthusiastic
community, Foodspotting has received criticism for not having enough
users and content beyond certain hotspots like San Francisco.
technologizer.com/2012/02/02/foodspotting-its-not-just-for-food-photographers-anymore/

10. Importance of mobile experience
Android app users of Foodspotting are unhappy with the user
experience, and for some, the issues faced while uploading photos,
accessing photos and tagging locations could be a deal breaker.
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foodspotting&hl=en

11. Competition from other social networks
Foodspotting uses APIs from other social networks to create a richer
experience for users, and offers its own API. But this means users can
choose to access Foodspotting from other apps, and vice versa.
1) gigaom.com/2012/05/17/foodspotting-wants-to-ensure-you-dont-need-yelps-app/
2) webpronews.com/foursquare-integrates-foodspotting-other-apps-into-its-core-service-2012-06

12. Is Foodspotting here to stay?
While Foodspotting is popular amongst foodies, and is constantly
innovating to deliver value, most people agree that the future will be
tough as more and more competitors emerge in the online food space.
forbes.com/sites/kellyclay/2012/03/15/watch-out-yelp-and-foodspotting-iphone-app-chewsy-
actually-helps-you-find-food-nearby/

13. More People’s Insights Weekly reports
Every week, we dive into one topic for discussion on the MSLGROUP
Insight’s Network and discuss insights and foresights, in three key
areas: crowdsourcing, storytelling and citizenship.
Crowdsourcing Storytelling: Citizenship
Mahindra Spark the Rise @MarsCuriosity #Kony2012
For more reports, visit: peopleslab.mslgroup.com/peoplesinsights/

14. Read People’s Lab insights and foresights
The People’s Lab team shares the insights and foresights from the
MSLGROUP Insights Network on the People’s Insights weekly blog and
the People’s Insights Quarterly magazine.
MSLGROUP Insights People’s Insights People’s Insights
Network weekly blog Quarterly magazine
50+ MSLGROUP planners We deep dive into Every quarter, we will compile
share and discuss inspiring conversations around one the best insights from the
projects on corporate project -- on the MSLGROUP network and the blog in the
citizenship, crowdsourcing and Insights Network itself but also iPad-friendly magazine, as a
storytelling. on the broader social web -- to showcase of our capabilities.
distill insights and foresights.
For more, visit http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

15. Coming soon: People’s Insights Annual
Report
In early January 2013 we will publish the People’s Insights Annual
Report, in which we synthesize our insights from throughout 2012 and
provide foresights for business leaders and change-makers for 2013.

16. People’s Lab: Crowdsourcing Insights &
Innovation
People’s Lab is MSLGROUP’s proprietary crowdsourcing platform and
approach that helps organizations tap into people’s insight for
innovation, storytelling and change.
For more, visit http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

17. For People’s Lab
solutions, contact
pascal.beucler@mslgroup.com