Catching up with Soraya Darabi of Foodspotting

Following is my most recent attempt to re-launch From The Blue Seats as a blog of interest and influence, focused on social and new media, trends in digital business, hockey (of course), food (esp BBQ) and brewing (I like to homebrew).  I set out to re-launch in the fall with a handful of guest blogs from people I like and respect in the industry.  Here's the first.
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If you are in the social media biz and don't know Soraya Darabi, you probably should (she is one of the most influential people on Twitter).  I myself had only exchanged emails with her when the June issue of Fast Company landed in my mailbox and it was clear that Soraya was among the most important people for me to get to know as my work in social media increased.

When I first met Soraya, she was at drop.io, a file sharing service that was since acquired by Facebook.   Now she's onto her next start-up, Foodspotting, a neat service that helps consumers identify the best foods and where to find them.  What a perfect idea for a foodie like me (a devout viewer of The Best Thing I Ever Ate on Food Network).

Following is my Q+A with Soraya from September.  Please let me know what you think.

What are you up to these days?  What is Foodspotting and what got you so excited about it?

I joined Foodspotting full time in June 2010.  As cofounder and business lead, I am cementing partnerships for Foodspotting, allowing worldwide food-focused brands to connect with our users and extend their relationships beyond just the first encounter (whether newspaper, magazine, TV, website or event).
Foodspotting meets a real world need for people to find good foods around them based on visuals - it's easy and fun to use.  I'm particularly excited for the many possibilities for Foodspotting and the partnership possibilities for us. As well as future verticals we could expand into, like travel.

How would you define "GeoSocial Marketing?" 

GeoSocial Marketing is a very open term and is still new enough that there's plenty of room for creativity and definition.  In the most basic terms, it's targeted messaging with a purpose. 

Why do you think GeoSocial services are so hot among consumers? 

The rise of mobility and smart phone usage represents a huge growth in GeoSocial services. With web access readily available on the go wherever you are across the world, the need to connect with friends and family still remains. And the need to locate and share information is more important and useful than ever.

Do you think in these early stages that brands are properly valuing and engaging the opportunity of GeoSocial?

There's definitely a strong following, but potential for the space to truly explode with mainstream adoption, which is the direction that Foodspotting is shooting for.

Are GeoSocial services for all ages?  What are the current trends in usage? 

GeoSocial services are definitely for everyone - especially something as simple and visually driven as Foodspotting. A great, compelling picture will bypass barriers of age, and language. 

Where will GeoSocial be a year from now?  Three years? 

We see GeoSocial services booming in the next years and becoming a natural way of life.

Will the big platform services (yes, Facebook) dominate the landscape when they so choose? 

People will always use the Facebooks of the world, but there's definitely a need that exists for more targeted experiences.

How do you think professional sports leagues like the NHL can fully leverage the potential of GeoSocial? 

 Professional sports leagues like the NHL can use GeoSocial services to extend the relationship and engagement with fans beyond the sports events - whether televised or live. For instance, NHL teams could create guides with Foodspotting to tell fans where they can find the teams' favorite dishes in a given city.