The Covid-19 pandemic brought most people’s lives to a halt. During this forced pause, many found new ways to express their passions. This is how ‘Foodeatzers’ came to life. Since their first post in 2020, Anand Raikar has nurtured the brand, which now boasts nearly 13,000 dedicated followers.
Anand, a businessman by profession and a foodie at heart, along with his business partner Pratik Bandodkar, is on a mission to make ‘@foodeatzers’ the go-to place for food-related content.
The beginning
During the pandemic, I was chatting with my cousins about food, and that’s when the idea of starting a food-related Instagram page struck me. At first, I struggled due to the restrictions on movement, making it hard to create content. But once the restrictions were lifted, creating content became easier.
I started by making content on my own, but soon Pratik joined me as a business partner. As a chef, Pratik brought a deeper understanding of the food we feature, adding great value to the team.
Getting engagement on our posts wasn’t easy or immediate. I spent the first year posting content without worrying about engagement, and after about a year, our posts started to gain traction.
Growth strategy
I started by posting pictures but soon realised the page's potential through further research. I began experimenting with different types of content, and even now, I keep trying new things to keep it fresh for our followers. We also align our content with the social calendar, creating posts related to current festivals, events, or trends.
Pratik and I handle everything on the page ourselves—from shooting to editing and posting. I used online resources to learn the skills needed for content creation and connected with other creators and influencers to stay updated on the latest trends.
Building the brand
Building a distinct brand identity requires effort and consistency. From developing a unique content style to understanding what our followers want, we work hard to make our content engaging. I try to cover places that our followers would enjoy visiting and collaborate with businesses to enhance the consumer experience.
Maintaining ethics in our work is crucial. Credibility is the most important aspect of our brand, as without it, our content won’t be trusted by others.
Challenges
The biggest challenge for Pratik and me is balancing content creation with our day jobs. We dedicate a lot of our free time to the page, and when deadlines are tight, it becomes even more challenging. Maintaining the quality of our content is also demanding, as we need to keep up with new developments.
The growing competition in our field means it’s crucial to keep improving and staying consistent. Without this, we risk losing our audience or fading away.
Future plans
In the future, I plan to expand the team to include people with skills who will enhance the quality of content. I also want to explore more places outside Goa to bring our followers something new from different cities or states. Our series on Pune was well received, and we believe there’s a demand for this kind of content.
Advice for aspiring creators
Patience is key. Slow and steady wins the race. Focus on a niche that genuinely interests you. You can experiment with different subjects, but eventually, pick something you’re passionate about. Consistency is crucial, as is keeping up with the latest trends. Networking with others in your field and collaborating with them can also be very beneficial.
Public service
I’m honoured to be a social media influencer for the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG). My main role is to promote government schemes that benefit the public.
