As we continue with our series of Pakistani Expat Influencers, UrduMom also made it to our list to get her take on her journey as an influencer, who her favourite influencers are and if she has advice for newbie bloggers.
Before we delve into the interview with another favourite amongst Pakistani Expat Influencers, here’s a brief intro to UrduMom aka Tamania.
Tamania is a 40-year-old mom of two who lives in Calgary (Canada) with her husband. She was born in Pakistan and lived in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore. Tamania has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences and an MBA, after which she worked in the marketing and Telecom sector in Pakistan. She moved to Canada after getting married at 28 and continued working in marketing and communications while setting up home and learning how to make gol rotis.
SiddySays: What is your blog about? And what made you decide that this is what you wanted to do?
UrduMom: My blog started as a passion project in passing on the love of Urdu and culture to the next generation in loving ways. I started the blog more than five years ago when my daughter was 4 and my son was one year old. Since then the blog has taken a life of its own, it has given me a great community of like-minded parents and also a way to give-back to my rich heritage.
SiddySays: How did you decide to blog about (your niche) or shift towards it?
UrduMom: I have always enjoyed writing and used to contribute regularly to publications in Pakistan. When my daughter Zeynab was born, I realized I needed to teach her Urdu myself since there was no support in Canada. I used to conduct in-person Urdu story times here in Calgary to provide a warm community for other parents wanting to pass on Urdu to their children. I would also get questions from parents to share resources to teach their children Urdu. So the love of Urdu, story-telling and writing combined in my blog UrduMom!
SiddySays: How do hate comments affect you?
UrduMom: I’m lucky to hardly get any. If I do, I try to see the perspective of the commentator and reflect on my own post or actions. There is always much to learn. If it’s someone having a bad day or your standard internet troll, I block and delete!
SiddySays: Share one favouite post of yours that actually helped make a positive difference amongst your followers?
UrduMom: A post that I did the other day (post here) resonated a lot with my audience. I consider a post successful if my audience can relate to it and it makes people reflect and think. I wanted to share how everyone has a journey and we should never be ashamed of our struggles in life. True friends never care about the size of our house. Hosting is about welcoming like-minded people in our lives and not having the most lavish party in town!
SiddySays: What is the worst and best comment you’ve ever gotten about your work?
UrduMom: I love any comment when someone shares how my posts helped them: be it their children speaking better Urdu, having more pride in their heritage or a cooking hack that made their life easier! For worst comments: I honestly don’t remember or delve upon them!
SiddySays: Who are your 5 favourite bloggers/influencers in Pakistan?
UrduMom: That’s a tough one! From the top of my head without any particular order: @tamkenat, @sadafzarrar, @shehzeenr, shireengheba and @faizasaleem90
SiddySays: What do you think is the difference between a blogger and an influencer?
UrduMom: Referencing Tywin Lannister: “Any person who must say ‘I am an influencer’ is no true influencer”
SiddySays: What are the challenges you face as an expat influencer catering to the Pakistani influencers VS Pakistani Influencers in Pakistan?
UrduMom: My audience is split between the ones in Pakistan and the South Asian diaspora living in North America. I understand the Pakistani audience and have a pulse on them since I visit Pakistan often and stay connected. The only challenge sometimes is product or service unavailability in Canada. I don’t take up campaigns when I haven’t tried the product or service myself.
SiddySays: What are your views on the “blogger culture” and one advice you’d like to give to all the new bloggers?
UrduMom: I love the blogger culture since this is one field in which women are leading. It gives them a voice and space. My advice to new bloggers is to be professional, stay their authentic selves, and to keep learning. This industry is evolving fast and it’s important to spend a portion of our time in keeping up with the new skills. Consume content besides social media including reading books so that your content stays fresh! Stay consistent.
We previously spoke to Anum of The Spice of Adulting in case you missed it.
