We asked her some question related to her Instagram journey and content creation. She had some very interesting responses as we have shared below. Give it a read.

How would you briefly define your experience as an influencer so far? Share your journey with us.

DrCardamom started off as a food blog under a different name and slowly evolved into the lifestyle blog of a doctor mom who wears many hats including a simple home cooking mother. As the blog evolved, my niche slowly evolved. While I don’t consider myself an influencer per se, I know I certainly have impact on others. I do my best to maintain a level head and show my true, down to earth and relatively simple lifestyle.

What/who became your inspiration for blogging?

I’ve always shared bits of my writing here and there as well as photos. Many friends suggested I start a blog so I took the dive in November 2017 with a photo of a homemade turkey burger.

As an influencer, what do you consider your strength?

I am relatable, transparent and to the point. I don’t sugarcoat discussions, don’t display myself in the facade of perfection and try to be inclusive of everyone to the best of my ability. I find followers and many co-bloggers appreciate these traits of mine.

How do you perceive your impact on your audience? (Nationwide or globally)

Being that I consider myself relatable, my audience finds comfort in reading my posts, seeing photos on my feed and watching my stories. They are seeing the honest, down to earth, relatively simple lifestyle of a doctor-mom. They feel they have tuned in on someone they consider a friend, not someone who is trying to make them feel insecure.

How difficult is it to generate unique content?

It’s not difficult if one is true to themselves and gives credit where due. While pretty much all topics are already touched upon to varying degrees, I try to find a twist that is unique to me and my niche.

Do you face plagiarism issue in content?

Sometimes.

For successful lifestyle blogging, what aspects should be considered?

Followers are here for you but not just you. They are here to learn, see, get influenced. While your lifestyle may be awesome, don’t just share your day to day life. Find your specific niche and subcategory of your niche and focus on those so your audience knows what they can expect in general. This will keep them coming back and continue to attract more people.

What do you keep in mind while creating something? Your audience or you just do what you like?

I certainly keep my audience in mind, however try to make the content true to my niche. This being said, I throw in plenty of things that I like but which I know my audience will enjoy as well I just don’t go out of my way or out of my comfort zone

Which platform do you prefer more for public interaction based on your audience?

Instagram .

Do fellow bloggers support each other in growing?

Yes.

How do you handle negativity on social media?

Being that I am an open person, I address negativity to some extent in my Instagram stories and rarely on my feed. I have also learned to back off from people and situations if I find they are bringing the worst out of me because that can be counterproductive. Fortunately, I have not had any serious negative experiences.

How do you react to the judgmental and negative followers?

If significant enough to talk about, I address their actions in my Instagram stories. I don’t name names but the offender tends to know who they are anyway.

How has this abusive and in tolerant culture been developed on social media? How does it affect your content creation?

Alhumdulillah, I am fortunate enough to not have experienced major trolling. Still though, I have experience some negativity. It does not necessarily affect my content creation but does put a damper on spirits for the time being.

Lifestyle blogging covers many topics, which particular topic do you love posting about?

My blog is about the down to earth lifestyle of a doctor mom. The sub-topic of parenting would be my favorite.

Your platform includes audience from different cultural backgrounds and regions, how do you manage to keep your content relatable for your audience?

Bloggers tend to attract audience that is similar to them to some extent. Like myself, most of my audience has roots in the subcontinent and live all over the world. This makes it easy to connect with them from the get go. Aside from this, the various topics I blog about connect with most of my audience in one way or another.

How important it is for influencers to generate relevant content?

It’s pretty important as followers are expecting to see certain topics when following you. However, throwing in a curveball here and there is not necessarily a deal breaker. Ultimately, niche and topics do change and evolve over time. For example, toddler moms do eventually become big kid moms! Mommy bloggers can enjoy fashion and also go on vacations.

Do you consider number of followers important for a successful blog?

Honestly, numbers matter quite a bit. They indicate how far you have come, how much support you have, how strong your blog is and give validation and proof when needed especially for sponsored collaborations. The caveat is that these numbers need to be organic. Bought followers don’t bring the engagement results one is looking for.

Any advice or suggestion for upcoming bloggers and influences:

Be genuine, be kind, be respectful and supportive of one another. Practice basic manners such as “please” and “thank you”. Befriend other bloggers and be good to them. They will be your biggest supporters in the blogging world. Your niche might change multiple times and you will find this is always a work in progress, so don’t beat yourself up over not reaching whichever target you set up for yourself. While numbers matter to some extent, don’t dwell upon them. Continue to learn as much as you can and focus on producing good quality content; you will see results.

Being a business consultant, she doesn’t only use her platform to create a positive impact by talking about her personal experiences but she also helps small businesses and individuals in growing their business.

We asked her some questions related to her experiences and struggles she faced during her social media influencer journey. We loved her responses; as shared below. Give it a read.

How would you briefly define your experience as an influencer so far? Share your journey with us.

It’s been 1.5 year since i made my Instagram public and it has been a great journey so far .i wouldn’t consider myself big but i love the active community this space has become.

What/who became your inspiration for blogging?

I started writing because it was my passion. 9 to 5 corporate job for 10 years never let me do that when i was in Pakistan. So i started writing when i moved here with tips for newcomers to Canada.

As an influencer, what do you consider your strength?

“Keeping it REAL” is my strength. my people like to hang out at canadianpardesi community because I share raw side of my life and not trying to curate a perfect feed or perfect life. I share my struggles as a mom, as an entrepreneur, as an immigrant as it is which has helped many people resonate with me.

How do you perceive your impact on your audience? (Nationwide or globally)

I consider it’s great because the messages i get sharing how i made their day or how they find it relatable …makes my day. To be true it’s not about numbers.. If one person gets an inspiration or learn from content i create my job is done.

How difficult is it to generate unique content?

In the digital world we live in everyone has access to creation of content and there is so much content out there and sometimes you are in self-doubt if someone is reading your content and then you come across a message from a silent follower how your content or piece of post helped them…  To cut it short it’s difficult but you can overcome it if you create content by keeping your audience in mind and how you want to do value addition in their life with what you are sharing.

Do you face plagiarism issue in content?

Yes, because it’s an open platform and you don’t know who might be copying your content and posting it unless you come across that. There are people who take inspiration, give due credits and build their own credibility. But then there are people who would just plagiarize without feeling bad too.

For successful lifestyle blogging, what aspects should be considered?

I would say storytelling is very important in terms of Caption or images no matter what your Niche is. Make products as part of your life style, share as you use, review as per your personal experience and connect with audience.

What do you keep in mind while creating something? Your audience or you just do what you like?

Audience. I do polls every now n then to hear what people want to see in my stories or posts. It has to be what they like because giving them a flavor of what I want is not the right approach I think.

Which platform do you prefer more for public interaction based on your audience?

Instagram .

Do fellow bloggers support each other in growing?

Yes they do. The local network of content creators here have been a great support. Even virtually I have become friends with many content creators and they are there for support even I haven’t met them.

How do you handle negativity on social media?

You need to have a thick skin when you go public. I believe that muting people whose stories give you negative vibe is important but also being kind and not spreading negativity is basic. In terms of cyber bullying I say its very important to be KIND, no matter if you are a follower or  a content creator.

How do you react to the judgmental and negative followers?

I usually ignore but if its an issue that needs to be addressed i come on stories and talk about it.

How has this abusive and in tolerant culture been developed on social media? How does it affect your content creation?

Keyboard warriors is the term i use for this culture where everyone can write what they want because they have easy access. Its important to understand that being public doesn’t mean they sign up for hate comments. 

Lifestyle blogging covers many topics, which particular topic do you love posting about?

I like sharing about motherhood struggles, immigrant lifestyle, tips for gram growth and my entrepreneur journey.

Your platform includes audience from different cultural backgrounds and regions, how do you manage to keep your content relatable for your audience?

By asking them interactive questions in stories and polls each month.

How important it is for influencers to generate relevant content?

VERYYYYY IMPORTANT.  It’s more about value addition then just pictures in the moment.

Do you consider number of followers important for a successful blog?

No i don’t think. Active community is the success

Any advice or suggestion for upcoming bloggers and influences:

Be KIND and Consistent! Grow your empire on your website and take Instagram as a medium not the only medium.

We asked Saher Mansoor (running an Instagram account @saher.i.mansoor , the famous Momistadubai) a few questions regarding her experience and struggles as a radiant influencer. She is a Dubai based blogger sharing her life experiences with the world so that people can relate and have a positive impact from it.  She helps small businesses and initiating a charity drive as well to help needy people using her social media influence.

Saher had some interesting responses to the questions as shared below.

How would you briefly define your experience as an influencer so far? Share your journey with us.  

It’s been a beautiful experience with some bumps and hurdles but overall an amazing experience. it’s a journey from when i started to “MAKE MY SPACE” into the blogging world to “CREATE MY OWN SPACE” it’s been a great journey exploring myself and improving myself. Blogging helped me know my strength and passion for writing.

What/who became your inspiration for blogging?

I found many inspiring ladies when I entered the blogging world. To be honest, no one inspired me to start blogging, but a friend of mine Qudsia, a fashion blogger from Pakistan encouraged me a lot to go out and express myself. it was just one random day I decided to go public and share my day routine. With time it became part of my life and met so many inspiring ladies along the way.

As an influencer, what do you consider your strength?

My voice, my captions and my followers. My voice is nothing if I don’t have people who listen and take my word forward.

How do you perceive your impact on your audience? (Nationwide or globally)

If nothing big, I am sure I do bring smiles to many faces each day. I am very proud of this. I do feel I am able to cheer up and uplift others when they are feeling down and low. I can do this all day. i think being able to have that impact on someone’s life is a big deal. i love to hear when people say they come to my page and leave smiling. Job done. Win-win

How difficult is it to generate unique content?

For me it’s spontaneous. It always comes naturally to me. My content is always around events in my life, it’s usually around my feeling and emotions and moods. I just write it into words and people relate to the captions.

Do you face plagiarism issue in content?

its an open space, and being out in the public means your work, captions and ideas are all accessible to everyone. i do know people who copy my idea and create content around my captions or actions, but i believe.. original will always be original. its unethical to copy anyone’s work. its their hard work, their time and efforts. i have read captions on pages which are ditto copy paste from online articles. i just feel its VERY wrong to call someone’s else work as yours. one must give credits if they have taken inspiration or copied someone’s work.

For successful lifestyle blogging, what aspects should be considered?

Be real. Connect with your followers. Be authentic and true to yourself. be aware about the current issues. Educate yourself before putting anything out to the public. Always do your homework. Make your page a happy space for your audience

What do you keep in mind while creating something? Your audience or you just do what you like?

Both, I create it for my audience so I do take care of their likes and dislikes. But if its something close to my heart, I share it anyways. i use my platform also to express my feelings. so at times its just unwanted or unwelcomed caption which no one asks for, but helps me feel better when i put it out in words.

Which platform do you prefer more for public interaction based on your audience?

Instagram

Do fellow bloggers support each other in growing?

Now Yes. Initially it was hard to become part of this community but once they know about you, they are all very supportive.

How do you handle negativity on social media?

I address it. I talk about it. I expose the hater. Because if I ignore or stay quite. It means I am giving them indication to continue. Ignoring is not always a solution. Speak up

How do you react to the judgmental and negative followers?

If i have time I explain. And if I feel the person won’t understand. I don’t waste my time and energy as i used to. Now, I send back a heart and say “you are very kind “.Simple. Answer is always love no matter what the question is.

How has this abusive and in tolerant culture been developed on social media? How does it affect your content creation?

It developed and grew coz people chose to ignore and let go. No reaction is usually making the trolls stronger. One bad comment ruins my day. no matter how much i ignore it. its at the back of my head. it affects my work and mood. We are also human beings and have a heart that feels. people need to be a bit more sensitive.

Lifestyle blogging covers many topics, which particular topic do you love posting about?

Parenting, food recipes, about me and family oriented content. That’s what my life is about. My role, my passion, my responsibilities

Your platform includes audience from different cultural backgrounds and regions, how do you manage to keep your content relatable for your audience?

I just deliver and hope and pray that like minded people get attracted to my content. I cannot cater to everyone’s need. I can share what I am.good and confident about.

How important it is for influencers to generate relevant content?

Very important. Coz only then it looks like your own work. Now if I post about astronomy.. my followers will not believe its me..they know who I am and hence I create content that’s relevant to me.

Do you consider number of followers are important for a successful blog?

Yes it is. It shows the strength of the blog. However it doe not define if the blog is good or excellent.

Any advice or suggestion for upcoming bloggers and influences:

Follow your passion. Don’t buy followers. Don’t join engagement pods or shout-out pods. Build your page and relationships with your REAL followers. They will always support you and their support is bigger and better than a group of 5 -6 people. Trust your followers. Engage with them. Help them. Educate them. They will return your love with so much support that you’ll go places.