Hello everyone, I’m thinking about writing a newsletter about Instagram reels and the trend for showing yourself eating on them. I want to understand why the algorithm loves this much, and also why we love watching other people eat. I’d love your thoughts.Do you make reels like this and why? Have they been effective in increasing followers and engagement? Or do you hate this kind of reel and can’t imagine yourself doing it? Thanks for your input!
I personally don’t like reels as they are too fast for me. I like taking the time reading a recipe or detailing a picture. I have never enjoyed watching any chefs on TV eating their creations so have zero interest in watching a stranger bite into a cake or slurp some broth on IG.
However I appreciate food photography but sadly I have noticed that recently lots of food writers or chefs have recently replaced their pictures with reels. I don’t have any patience for them.
Interesting to read your comment here as I am a newish food writer and I have struggled with being forced to do reels as it seems to be what most people want to see and I've tried to adapt but really I just want people to read my weekly 500 word recipe newsletter so it's nice to know there are still people out there who want to take their time digesting words and reading recipes!
It's so tricky isn't it? Reels are time-consuming and they're not about writing, which is what so many of us are really interested in doing. I think you will be interested to read my substack when I publish it tomorrow (🤞) X
Yes, that's exactly it! Thanks - I will keep an eye out for it. I saw you post on insta about your substack which is how I ended up here as I came to subscribe to you. Also - you probably won't remember this but I really love your Cocoa book and I use it as a coffee table book along with a couple of photography books and I mentioned that to you on insta but it was a long time ago hence I doubt you would remember :-D x
Thank you for saying this Francesca!! I’ve lost count of the number of times I get asked to start a YouTube channel for my Indian food and I always struggle. How can my armature videos compete with the million plus Indian food channels and why must I record a video when I really just want to write a story about it. Like you, it gives me hope that some people still enjoy reading
So interesting, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree, for me, but they do offer inspiration and I think that’s why TikTok is so popular. It’s not necessarily detailed instructions you get but ideas.
Good question and observation...several people I follow are now very close to the camera and eating noisily. And the do a very fast paced reel which is confusing and tiring. I guess the thinking is we’ve done videos of prepping the dish, cooking it (with recipe) so what’s left? Showing how delicious it is too eat!
I know - I think like someone said before it’s heading to TikTok territory in that the real is meant to inspire not to be an instruction that you could write down or follow in real time.
I feel like it’s just copied from tik tok so at first I watched because I was curious but now it’s just a firm no! I don’t mind outfit ones and travel ones.
No, I don’t like watching people eat. To be honest, I find it all a bit messy, as I do empty dirty plates and those overflowing mugs of ice cream etc with drips down the side. I don’t want to make this content either. (cooksdiaries on Instagram at the moment)
Interesting! I personally don't like this kind of content and don't plan to create any. I wasn't aware that the algorhythm was driving this, thanks for the info. I guess it's all about the charm of "soft p*rn" lol
I personally don’t like reels as they are too fast for me. I like taking the time reading a recipe or detailing a picture. I have never enjoyed watching any chefs on TV eating their creations so have zero interest in watching a stranger bite into a cake or slurp some broth on IG.
However I appreciate food photography but sadly I have noticed that recently lots of food writers or chefs have recently replaced their pictures with reels. I don’t have any patience for them.
Interesting to read your comment here as I am a newish food writer and I have struggled with being forced to do reels as it seems to be what most people want to see and I've tried to adapt but really I just want people to read my weekly 500 word recipe newsletter so it's nice to know there are still people out there who want to take their time digesting words and reading recipes!
It's so tricky isn't it? Reels are time-consuming and they're not about writing, which is what so many of us are really interested in doing. I think you will be interested to read my substack when I publish it tomorrow (🤞) X
Yes, that's exactly it! Thanks - I will keep an eye out for it. I saw you post on insta about your substack which is how I ended up here as I came to subscribe to you. Also - you probably won't remember this but I really love your Cocoa book and I use it as a coffee table book along with a couple of photography books and I mentioned that to you on insta but it was a long time ago hence I doubt you would remember :-D x
That makes me very very happy. Thank you. XX
Thank you for saying this Francesca!! I’ve lost count of the number of times I get asked to start a YouTube channel for my Indian food and I always struggle. How can my armature videos compete with the million plus Indian food channels and why must I record a video when I really just want to write a story about it. Like you, it gives me hope that some people still enjoy reading
So interesting, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree, for me, but they do offer inspiration and I think that’s why TikTok is so popular. It’s not necessarily detailed instructions you get but ideas.
Good question and observation...several people I follow are now very close to the camera and eating noisily. And the do a very fast paced reel which is confusing and tiring. I guess the thinking is we’ve done videos of prepping the dish, cooking it (with recipe) so what’s left? Showing how delicious it is too eat!
I know - I think like someone said before it’s heading to TikTok territory in that the real is meant to inspire not to be an instruction that you could write down or follow in real time.
I don’t watch or make reels like this. I’m really not there for that
It's so interesting that so many people say they don't like it and yet so many Instagrammers do it
I feel like it’s just copied from tik tok so at first I watched because I was curious but now it’s just a firm no! I don’t mind outfit ones and travel ones.
No, I don’t like watching people eat. To be honest, I find it all a bit messy, as I do empty dirty plates and those overflowing mugs of ice cream etc with drips down the side. I don’t want to make this content either. (cooksdiaries on Instagram at the moment)
You're not alone!
Interesting! I personally don't like this kind of content and don't plan to create any. I wasn't aware that the algorhythm was driving this, thanks for the info. I guess it's all about the charm of "soft p*rn" lol
To be honest, I *think* it’s the algorithm but I will report back!