How can a food business promote itself online?

[FishBowl]

Marcela in Fishbowl Two runs Rico Mexican Kitchen, a Mexican food company which makes salsas, tamales and drinks (for now - hoping to expand on this).

If she had a clothes shop, a web page would show her clothes. If she sold laptops, descriptions of the laptops would suffice.

But Marcela's major selling point is the taste of her food, and the way she talks so passionately about it.

How could she best promote her food business via the internet, a medium which does not allow for taste?

[jrockfl]

Do you sell your product over the internet or is it just local?
Yelp is a popular web site that provides reviews on local restaurants. They also have a smart phone application that can be installed.
Give out some free samples in exchange for reviews.

[SCJeff]

You can sell them just like everything else on the internet. The best thing you can do for food though, would to have testimonials from people that have actually tried the food.

[SmoothEntrepreneur]

I am envisioning a really nice, yet simple web site. Very graphically oriented. On the front page, the main focal point would be an integrated video. It can include Marcela talking about her food in an interview like setting, the reactions of people tasting her food, etc. If you say that the flavor is the best selling point, I would do this because it will show the visitor how other people are reacting favorably to the taste -- a very nice psychological advantage for you. You can also post this on youtube and promote it as well.

[generationy]

One of the things you need to keep in mind is that social media, facebook and twitter etc., are so important to any business in this day and age. Even if you sell coffee or software. Your success is dependent of traffic and customers. Agree? So you have to go where they are. Search twitter and Facebook for conversations that are related to your business. Reach out to them. Send free samples or coupons. Make their experience warm and invitiing. After all, StarBucks brought that feeling to the public by having a "pubic liviing rooom". Right?

Promote your business using social media and then let it run itself (sales will come in then) by adding a few things to bring people to you!

Good luck!