Riya Narvekar started her content creation journey on Instagram in 2016. Since then, her page @hoggilicious_ has attracted almost 25,000 dedicated followers. Now, nearly 10 years later, she reflects on how her digital journey and the online space have changed since the early days. Her path wasn’t always easy, but it was driven by her passion for food and strong determination. Interestingly, content creation wasn’t her original plan, but rather a happy accident.
Over time, Riya has expanded her content to include stays and curated experiences, which her followers have warmly welcomed. She shares her insights on building a digital brand and engaging an audience, offering valuable advice for budding creators and influencers.
The beginning
I started my Instagram page in 2016 after seeing my friends post their pictures there. I wasn’t keen on posting my own photos, but I enjoyed sharing pictures of the food I tried. Since I was always exploring new food, I had plenty of content to share. At the time, I was working part-time at a local TV channel while studying in college. I used my earnings from the job to try new dishes, which gave me more content for my page.
In the beginning, I only posted pictures because that was the trend. My phone wasn’t very good, so I could only do so much. It was the same for many others at that time. But as technology improved, I began experimenting with my content, which helped me grow. I soon realised that collaborating with businesses for promotions could bring in money, which added more value to my page.
Challenges
Many content creators face similar challenges. One big challenge for me is scheduling time to try new food, stays, or experiences. I work at a hospital, so I have to manage my page after my shifts. Sometimes, I need to schedule page-related work in the evenings, which can be difficult. But my family, especially my mum, is very supportive and encourages me to keep going.
Staying motivated and consistent is another challenge. I spend two to three hours every day working on my page, often after my hospital shifts. On my days off, I need to spend even more time creating content. There are many requests from businesses for promotions, and they often come with tight deadlines, which can make things hectic.
This level of commitment can lead to burnout sometimes. But whenever I feel tired or unmotivated, I remind myself of the reason I started: “Always remember why you started.” This helps me stay focused and continue working.
Brand strategy
I began by focusing on food, then expanded to include stays and curated experiences like events and leisure spots. This strategy allowed me to create a wider range of content and attract a larger audience. My family’s involvement in the hospitality industry has also helped me understand the field better, so I always make sure my content goes beyond just surface-level information.
When I first started making reels and videos, I only did voice-overs in one language. But after attending the National Creators Award event in New Delhi this March, I realised that using just one language limited my reach. So, I started recording voice-overs in Konkani, Hindi, English, and Marathi. This made my videos more accessible to a wider audience, as people who don’t understand one language could still follow along.
Online competition
With more people getting into content creation and technology constantly advancing, there’s more content than ever. To keep the audience engaged, creators need to keep evolving. I started with just photos and now post videos, and even with videos, I need to keep improving. Staying consistent and focusing on your niche is key to dealing with the competition online.
Future plans
I started this page as a hobby, and I want to continue. Even if I didn’t have this page, I would still explore new food and activities, so it comes naturally to me. I plan to keep it going and introduce new ideas related to my niche to keep things fresh.
A place I want to try
I’d love to try food from all over, but specifically, I’d like to visit Varanasi someday and try the chaats there. My goal is to taste and review as many cuisines as possible.
Advice for newcomers
Find your niche and stick with it. There will be moments when you feel like giving up, but always remember why you started. It’s easy to quit, but keeping it going is the real challenge. The rewards of perseverance only come to those who stay the course.
