Manu Raj Sharma likes to take his followers on a journey

With the content he creates and the stories he narrates, Manu Raj Sharma hopes to show people places the way he saw them on his visit.

Being true to your content goes a long way in helping a person garner an audience online. It is important to be authentic and engaging. Manu Raj Sharma believes in the power of content that holds the attention of people and helps it know the influencer better. He feels the process is driven by the quality of pictures, an element that plays a significant role. In conversation with Social Samosa, he tells us more about being Vegetarian Sharma.

Looking back, where did it all begin?

After my first solo trip to Istanbul and Cappadocia, with my constant updates on the places I visited there, I got many DMs and emails from people wanting to know about my itinerary. I wrote my blog that eventually helped many friends and others to plan their trips. Since then it's become a habit.

What's in the name?

I never thought this name will actually become parallel to my identity on a digital platform. I come from a very small town in Rajasthan called Bundi and there, almost everyone I know is pure vegetarian. After moving to Bangalore and then Mumbai for work, it turned out that I was the odd one out. Then I started getting an interesting line of DMs from followers about my fitness, how I manage to maintain a decent physique despite being vegetarian as sources of protein available to us are limited, and most importantly, how I survive on solo trips being a vegetarian.

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

I'd say I've been fortunate in being a little different in the field of fitness, travelling and grooming. I think it's largely because I take my followers with me on a journey. The most common message I get while I am travelling is to keep posting as they're seeing these places through me. I update every big or tiny thing I see, visit and/or experience which is unlike many bloggers as most of them post only one picture of theirs from one city or country.

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

The content I write, the pictures I post or even the blogs always have a personal touch to them, taking people into my way of seeing the places that I have visited. It comes naturally when you're writing or sharing just as your telling a story about something that actually happened to you.

How do you make moolah with your efforts?

I haven't really mastered this art as yet but there have been a couple of collaborations with brands.

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

Since my work, travelogue and fitness are being recognized now, I'm still in the nascent stage to fall into the algorithm of big brands but so far during all my associations, I have written my own reviews about the products. There were even one or two that I denied as I couldn't connect with the product/service.

Also Read: Subhashish Mandal and the tale behind The Bald Eagle

One instance/experience that made it all worthwhile

When I was appreciated by a prominent personality from the industry and was told to start my own YouTube channel as it'll be great.

Weirdest brand brief/request ever

It was for a beard perfume. The product was nice and I was amazed to see how far we've come in men's grooming.

If not blogging, you would be?

I also work in sales for a reputed TV channel.

A day in your life...

Just another day in the life of a bachelor-with-a-pet!

Message/tips for upcoming bloggers

The quality of your pictures is very important to catch eyeballs — yes, but focus more on being true to the content because that's what holds people to get to know you better.

Your Favorite Influencer

Nas Daily and Bruised Passports.

The Future you foresee for your Personal Brand

It is a dream to see Vegetarian Sharma become a go-to name for people wanting to explore the unknown and stay fit.