Be consistent, interact, stay connected: Vishakha Bhuta, 1TeaspoonLove

A mother to a 5-year-old and a freelancer, Vishakha Bhuta shares her journey with '1TeaspoonLove' and passion as a food influencer.

Vishakha Bhuta is living her passion with a foodtastic journey. The multi-tasker shares two cents of her wisdom and journey in the sojourn for food, travel, and design.

Looking back, where
did it all begin? 

I’m a mother to a 5-year-old and also a freelancer. My life always revolved around food. Eating different cuisines from all over the world and cooking up the same at home has been my passion since I was very young. I was away from Mumbai for 7 years (lived in China) and that’s when I started cooking a lot, hosted pop-ups for friends there, baked cakes and more.

I used to post my home-cooked meals and restaurant dishes on my personal page along with travel pictures. Then, I thought to dedicate a page to food and started 1teaspoonlove on Instagram.

I was unaware of the blogging world until 3 years ago. I was offered reviews while I was still in China. Once I moved backed that year, I started living my passion.

What's in the
name? 

1teaspoonlove is not another random name. A lot of thoughts went into it. The theory behind the name 1teaspoonlove is whatever you cook or do in life, do it with love.

Put your heart and soul into it. And this is very important when it comes to cooking. It’s very important to add love to your food. Make it with love and that transfers to people who eat it.

What is your USP in this cluttered space? How does your content give you an edge?

I only believe in one thing, honesty. It’s really important to be honest with your work, yourself and the audience. I do my best, I don’t care about the number but believe in creating good content. Sometimes I might not be myself or post for the heck of it… my mood clearly reflects in my captions.

I am not rigid. I post whatever I feel like. I connect with the audience.. My content connects with the audience. I think this is how it gives me that edge. And if talking about USP, honesty and self hard work it is.

Please take us through
your content creation process. How do you stay relevant and relatable?

My content is all about food most, a little bit of lifestyle and travel. As I said, I don’t follow any particular pattern. I will post what my heart says. Captions too depend on my mood. If I’m not in the mood to write long ones it’s short, basic and to the point.

I’m a free bird, nothing can cage me. The same is with my content. But it’s always relevant. I won’t post anything and everything. I will definitely pick up which is appealing to the eye or if I know that would connect my audience with it.

How do you make moolah with your efforts?

I don’t earn a lot, but I do earn some with campaigns and collaborations. Since I’m a recipe developer as well, a lot of brands approach me for that.

Some influencer activities do pay decently. But it’s all peanuts. Still, a long way to go.

How do you maintain
editorial objectivity with the influx of brand briefs?

Collaborating with some big brands is sometimes a very complex process. You have to follow their guidelines, make changes as per them, keep getting the content approved, be relevant. It’s a very tedious process. A lot goes behind it.

Sometimes the changes and the brief, and the expectations can drive you nuts. But if they are paying you well and selected you for it, then they would definitely want something good out of you and giving it to them is your duty.

One instance/experience that made it all worthwhile

The only thing I remember which boosted my confidence and showed me a path is being selected to work with an Australian Spice brand.

I don’t know how they found me but one day I received an email asking me to develop recipes for their spice brand. This was a turning point for me.

Weirdest brand
brief/request ever

Honestly, never come across anything like that yet. Luckily I’ve worked with all sensible brands.

But if I still had to give one then it would be the two videos I did. One for Hindustan times and the other for Monginis where I was asked to dance which was something I would never do. I was also requested to participate in a competition and to eat a pastry at one go. It wasn’t weird but too funny.

If not blogging, you would be?

I’m an interior designer by profession. So for me, it’s only two things. Designing or travel and food. Right now I’m pursuing my passion.

Also read: I only collaborate with brands I use or can relate to: Ann Geo

A day in your life...

There are many days - good and bad. A good one was the day my son was born. If it has to be besides this then it’s the day I started living my passion.

Message/tips for
upcoming bloggers

Please be honest with what you’re doing. Don’t jump into something because it’s the most in-thing right now or causes you to want something free.

Nothing is free in life. You always have to pay in some way. No one will help you for free either. Not even your best friend. Hard work is the only way to success. There are no short cuts. Create your own content. And you need to spend from your pocket too.

Your Favorite
Influencer

I don’t have any favorite influencers, but a few do inspire me a lot. Those who started with nothing and now reached the top with their hard work.

Be consistent, interact, stay connected. Do your best and leave the rest.

The Future you foresee
for your Personal Brand

I don’t know what the future holds for me but there are a lot of things I want to do. Like start my own workshops, host pop-ups, have my own retail food brand, travel the world, own a small café and just grow beautifully.