During the birth of the bloggersphere all you needed was the ability to type; the focus was on documenting your life or passions, with little thought for design or visual appeal. We collectively opened up blogspot accounts and set about writing our thoughts, snapping pictures on our rudimentary smartphones and googling for stock images we could insert into our content (probably without permission or credit.) It was raw, it was engaging and it was very real - unlike the slick, glossy and shiny media outlets we were so used to seeing, which were becoming more distant from our own realities. I adored blogging then just as I do now; the focus was on creating your own corner of the internet and using it to express your passion points or insight (even if only a handful of people read it.) Over the last five years or so, however, the focus has moved from chucking up a bit of everything as and when you feel like it, to carefully curated platforms and social media channels that are an extension of the heart of our blogging journey. It's about a beautifully shot Instagram feed, professionally edited YouTube videos, carefully timed tweets and automated pinning - all with the objective of increasing awareness and engagement.
With the growth of the bloggersphere and increasing competitiveness, it's no surprise many of us are trying to become superstars on different platforms; it's no wonder that Instagram has become such a big focus when influencers are raking in thousands just for on...