Starting a brand new blog can be extremely exciting, but it can also be a little stressful. After all, there are lots of big decisions to make that have a long-term impact on the overall success of your blog. One of those biggest decisions you’ll have to make revolves around your blogging niche. What on earth are you going to blog about?
The decision may come easy to some, but for others, it might be a struggle. If you find yourself unsure of which direction to take your blog, consider these five questions to help you find your blogging niche:
What are you good at?
Let’s start with the easy stuff. You’re going to be most comfortable writing about the things you’re most familiar with, and your audience will have the most to gain from your expertise. Make a list of your strengths and skills. Are you a good baker? A knowledgeable outdoorsman (or woman)? An avid traveler who always manages to snag a great deal? Draw from these strengths as you determine the focus for your blog.
What do you like to write about?
A blog is a commitment. Once you choose your niche and develop your brand, it’ll be difficult to pivot. To ensure you’re in it for the long run and don’t get sick and tired of churning out new content, make sure you’re niche is something you truly enjoy writing about. Otherwise, you may be setting yourself up for some tough times ahead.
Do you want to blog for fun or for profit?
If you want to start a blog for the sheer purpose of sharing your thoughts and writing for pleasure, you have all the freedom in the world to choose the niche that suits your mood. However, if the ultimate goal is to establish your authority on a subject and convert that expertise into profit, you’ll want to be sure there’s money to be made in your niche of choice. Do a bit of market research to see if folks are willing to spend money on whatever you’re writing about. If they are, you’re golden – but if not, you may want to reconsider.
Who is your audience?
If you’re willing to let your niche dictate your target audience, that’s perfectly fine, but many bloggers are on a mission to connect with a specific audience – especially if they’re looking to generate revenue. If you want to attract 20- and 30- something female readers to your blog, you probably don’t want to choose football or knitting as your niche, as those topics might not resonate well with that group. Instead, consider your audience as you pick your niche. Ask yourself, “Will my ideal readers actually want to read this?”
Is your niche broad enough?
Many bloggers are concerned with defining an ultra narrow niche – but that isn’t always the best approach. If you’re looking to maintain your blog and keep it alive with fresh new content over time, you’ll want to make sure you give yourself enough breadth of material to work with.
Sit down with a pen and paper – or open your favorite word processor – and write out your answers. Don’t rush the process, and don’t forget to have a little fun with it. And when you’re done? Leave a comment and let me know what you decided!
