Have you recently started blogging? Or maybe you have been blogging for a while? If your answer is yes, you have probably heard of the word, “Niche”. For many bloggers, that five letter word is the bane of their blogging existence.
There are two types of blogging styles, the Lifestyle blog and the Niche blog.
The Lifestyle blogger writes about anything. Their audience is there because they love the blogger’s personality. Readers do come and go, and monetization opportunities can be more difficult.
The Niche blogger writes about a specific area. They have an audience because the blogger solves a problem for them. Readership is steady, and readers often turn into customers.
There is nothing wrong with either blogging style, both are quite popular. However, if your blogging plans include profiting from your writing efforts, then you might be better with choosing a niche blog.
Here Are 5 Steps To Define Your Niche:
1. Discover Your Passion
“Passion is king! Only when you breathe it in, can the transformation begin.” ~ M. A. Tohami
Think for a moment about something that energizes you. Something, that when you put your heart and soul into, it ignites a fire and spurs you into action. That’s passion.
When you are passionate about something it’s hard not to talk about it. You want to share it with everyone around you. It doesn't come and go, it stays with you for the long haul.
Questions to ask:
- What resonates with me?
- What do I love to talk about?
- What do I love to write about?
- What catches my attention?
Feeling passion for your niche is important. Your passion will show in your writing, in your efforts and your authenticity will shine through.
2. Pinpoint Your Skills
Skills are an accumulation of your talents, attributes and knowledge. When they all come together they form your skill set.
While educational experience plays an important role in identifying your skills, don’t forget to take into consideration your life experiences. Some of the best chefs in the world never had any formal training.
Questions to ask:
- What am I good at?
- What do I know a lot about?
- What do friends/family come to me for advice on?
When you write about what you know, you already have a knowledge base to start with. You will feel more comfortable writing about what is familiar, than if you have to learn a new skill set.
3. Identify Your Audience
Identifying who you are writing for is a key aspect of defining your niche. Without a target audience, it can be easy to get side tracked with your writing.
Create one person who you are writing for. Ask yourself:
- What are they passionate about?
- How old are they?
- Where do they live?
- What do they need?
When you have a targeted audience, you have an audience that you understand. You will know who you are writing for. And your audience will come to know what to expect from you.
4. Solve A Problem
“Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.” ~ Henri Kaiser
People often look to the internet to solve a problem. It might be something as simple as, “Quick supper ideas.” Or more complex such as, “How do I increase traffic on my blog using Pinterest?”
Niche blogs help to solve problems. From food blogs to parenting blogs, they all provide solutions to life’s problems.
When choosing your niche, ask yourself:
- How can I help?
- Is it a common problem?
- Do I have a solution?
- Could I potentially make money?
By providing helpful and informative information to your readers, you will gain credibility in your niche. This, in turn, will lead to social proof and potentially open up your blog to affiliated marketing.
5. Establish Your Goals
Setting goals with your blog will help you to stay focused and lead to greater productivity. You want to be able to set goals that are achievable, yet aggressive. Goals that will assist you further along with your blogging experience.
When setting goals, ask yourself:
- What do I hope to achieve?
- What do I want to provide?
- Where do I want my blog to be in 3 months, 6 months, or a year?
Be as specific as you can. It's a good plan to revisit your goals every month to make sure you are still on task.
Review your goals and look at what you are having success with. Write down what is working for you, and why you think it is working. Also take note of what isn't working for you. You may need to adjust your goals so your blog can move forward.
Benefits Of Niche Blogging
The benefits of niche blogging far outweigh the process of deciding on a niche. Blogging in an area that you are passionate about will assist you in staying on track, bringing in a loyal audience and allow your self-confidence to bloom.
Niche blogs provide a greater opportunity to monetize your blog. Create credibility for yourself, which could possibly turn your blog into a business.
To Sum It Up
As a blogger, defining your niche might be the most difficult task you face. However, it is the most important one.
Discover your passion, pinpoint your skills, identify your audience, solve a problem, establish your goals, and reap the benefits.
When you are a niche blogger, the joy never ends.
Have you defined your niche yet? If you have, what process worked for you? Have you noticed any changes after you defined your niche?
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