In a time where local restaurants are struggling to make ends meet, now more than ever, food influencers can be useful for a businesses’ marketing strategy. A social media influencer has the power to affect purchasing decisions through their following, as they can leverage the relationship that they have built with their audience, to raise awareness of a product or service. According to The Digital Marketing Institute, 74% of people trust opinions that they find on social networks, and use them to guide their purchasing decisions.

And luckily for restaurants, we are in the age of “phone eats first,” or the act of snapping a picture of a meal before taking a bite. This plays to the advantage of restaurants, as it provides easily available content for influencers, and a means for organizations to share their product with a larger audience on social media.

Our team has identified the top food influencers in New Mexico. Each has been vetted by their active presence on social media and number of followers.  Don’t be fooled thinking that the number of followers moves a needle, yes, that is key. We looked beyond the numbers to find which ones mobilize their base of followers:

Haley Richards is a native New Mexican who recently graduated from Birmingham City University with a degree in Public Relations. Haley’s passion for creating and making an impact in her community inspired her to pursue this profession.

Published April 29, 2021