This is a question I get asked probably once a week. Sometimes it comes from those who have a blog and wonder what to write about. This time around “What Should I Blog About?” was more in reference to starting a blog and choosing a topic or niche.
How To Choose A Blog Niche
This is the first important step for the rest of your life. I’m kidding, although some do look at it this way. The great thing about blogging is the low cost to do it. If you choose a blog that doesn’t work out it’s not a huge loss. So being overly concerned with choosing the right type of blog is spent energy.
With that said, you shouldn’t jump into anything with out doing some planning first. Take these tips into consideration when choosing a blog niche as they will help you to choose a blog that fits who you are.
1. What Do You Know? – We all have a different set of knowledge skills and levels. Everyone knows more about a particular topic then someone else does and even if you have equal knowledge you have a unique personality and can present it differently then another. Maybe you have years of PR experience or have been scrap booking and know the ins and outs of it, go with what you know. By choosing a blog niche about a topic you are familiar with should give you tons of fresh content.
2. What Do You Love? – When it comes to blogging you almost have to be passionate about it. After doing it for sometime you will inevitably hit a wall, where you’ve either exhausted your enthusiasm or never fully committed to begin with. Those who’ve chosen a topic they have passion for will get past the wall and continue, those who didn’t will give up. When choosing a blog niche it should be a topic that you love and have a passion for.
3. What Interests You? – A great way to choose a topic or niche is to blog about what interests you. This could be a hobby, craft, celebrity gossip, or jams and jelly’s of the world. Whatever you have an interest in there is sure to be many others who do also and will be looking for information about it. On the flip side, writing about a topic you have little interest in will only make it harder to come up with new content and your blog will die.
4. What Do You Want To Share? -There is nothing wrong with choosing yourself as a topic. The personal blog is still probably the most popular niche. If you go this route you should probably have an interesting life to write about. I think I can speak for everyone one in that we’ve read enough blogs about what you had for breakfast. However, if you had breakfast with the President, now that is blog worthy. Choosing a personal blog as your niche can pose problems with getting readers so be aware of this.
5. Would You Do It For Free? – Most bloggers will never make any money blogging or at the very least lunch money. Even if you do manage to make money at it you need to look at it as “would I do this for free?” If you answer yes that’s a good heads up your on the right path towards choosing your blog niche. Blogging takes time and a certain amount of devotion. Your going to have to give without the possibility of monetary rewards.
6. Are You In For The Longhaul? – Blogging isn’t a short term deal. In order to build your blog to a ceratin level of popularity it’s going to take time. This is one reason to put thought into choosing a blog niche. Will it be a topic you can see yourself writting about 2, 5 , 10 years down the line?
7. How Competeive Is It? – You may hear this other places, to avoid popular niches. I don’t so much agree with that, otherwise no one would start any new blogs. If you choose a very popular niche you need to know it is and be aware it’s going to take lots of work to be ahead of the others. There is room for your unique and I stress unique, voice to be heard. If you don’t have it in you to compete then choose a less competitive niche but don’t let it scare you off.
I agree that blogging is not short term. So many blog I was looking at in the last year have just ceased to exist. It seems like people are quick to assume the money will flow immediately once a blog is live. The reality is that you are trying to compete with millions of blogs and you need to work hard and constantly to build a brand for your blog.
You have some great points that all bloggers, new and old should think about!
Aman@BullsBattleBears´s last blog post..Friday Close
I think Would You Do It For Free? is a really key question. I can just imagine how many less crappy/abandoned blogs we’d have if more folks would anser that one honestly.
Dennis Edell´s last blog post..Understanding The New Rules Of SEO
yea, I’ve recently stumbled upon a bunch of blog sites that are selling their domain and leaving the blog world..wish more people would do it though..there is so much congestion of nonsense in the online world..
Melody´s last blog post..Logo Design Process for Trudy Thomas
I think it will happen. We are in the middle of everyone exploring blogging and giving it a try. I believe soon many more will fall by the side and fewer will start up.
You are right on about the need to be unique in a popular niche. But, I think there are always ways to find what the top people in the niche are missing and fill in that spot. You don’t necessarily have to compete with them so much if you just complement their work with your own.
I catch myself sometimes just posting about marketing like the rest of the crowd, then I go back and try change it up and add more personal touches to make it come from a woman’s point of view and nclude why I feel the way I do. I think being yourself and letting your personality shine through helps draw you out of the crowd and keeps it fun for you to write.
Maybe that’s why there are so many abandoned blogs out there…they just didn’t have any fun at it.
True, not everyone can cover everything. There is always a need to be filled and a view to be written.
I bought my blog, so I was kind of stuck in a certain niche. But I was prepared for what I was getting into, and If I hadn’t bought this blog I would of picked the same niche back a year ago. Now a year later I want to branch out and blog about different subjects than what I’ve been into. I don’t think we are locked into anything and that is maybe where some people get it wrong. Instead of quitting I say pick a new niche and try it out see if you are more interested in that niche. What should I blog about? Blog about what ever turns you on and what you know can make you happy and make you money. I also agree with Coree ,I know I have fun with my blog and I think my readers/followers realize that in my writings. If your heart isn’t into it then people will know it.Keep it honest and true to yourself.
jj-momscashblog´s last blog post..From a Coma to My Blog
That’s the great thing about blogging is you can choose to do as many as you can manage and supply info for.
Hi, Michael:
Sorry for not coming around these here (your parts) sooner. Nice blog! As for niche and what to write about, yes this is super important.
Because blogging is hard work, man. Just imagine 2 years from now and all that you’ve said and or written, yet blogging is an ongoing thing. You’re never done, you know. So picking a niche one TRULY likes and or knows something about is the only way to sustain a blog over time.
I like your niche selection ideas above…and would add that if one is a good writer, a good marketer, and or a good community builder – revenue will follow auto-magically. It will. But you do need one of the aforementioned skills. LoL.
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No worries Missy. I know how hard it can be to comment on EVERY blog out there. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I have to agree with being a good writer and marketer.
JJ @MomsCashBlog: Interesting story you have. Where did you buy your blog, and are you satisfied with the purchase?
Very curious to hear more.
Missy (from G34 Media)´s last blog post..Which Twitter Directory Do You Use?
There is nothing wrong with choosing a popular niche as long as you believe you can do it better. This means doing a bit of researching studying others who are tackling the same niche and taking notes such as what you believe they are doing wrong and how you can improve on their efforts.
Sire´s last blog post..Passive Income With Your Own Online Store
I think it definately comes down to blogging about what you love. Because if you dont, then chances are you wont stick around long enough for it to become a success!
Tom – StandOutBlogger.com´s last blog post..Free Niche Blog Idea: CAKES (Traffic & Search Stats Inc)