I will be the first to admit that I struggled with this when I started blogging. I wrote about every subject which came to mind but all on the same blog. When I went back to look over things later, it gave me a bit of whiplash from all the varied subject matter. In my defense, I started this blog anonymously and didn’t share it with many people close to me because it was a place to unload. When I decided to focus this blog on changing careers, it was both therapeutic and difficult to determine which posts to remove. Nonetheless, I felt I had to pick a niche so readers would know what to expect when they came here. Later, I altered the subject matter again to focus on changing careers to become a writer, and a writing career will likely remain the topic of this blog long term.
Sometimes your niche is going to be obvious. You may be an expert in a particular area, and you know how you need to direct your content or merchandise. Other times, it is a work in progress because your business is growing as you do. I’m interested in several different topics so I have plans to create multiple blogs so each one will have a different niche. If you run a store, you may begin with one type of merchandise and then find that another would sell in your area. You may adjust your merchandising to cater to that niche.
Understanding what sells and what doesn’t is a big part of picking your niche if it is a business, and understanding what your passion is will help you determine the niche of a side project. At present, I have a blog that’s a business and a blog that is a passion project, but they each have a niche. I have a third blog with a different subject coming up behind the scenes, and I have ideas for at least three more blogs with their own topics. I’m learning to concentrate similar content together to draw readers interested in specific subjects.
If you just want to use your blog as an online journal, there is nothing wrong with that. I did that for several years, and it was a good way to release tension and anger. However, I want to make a living with writing, and I understand it will take work to get there. Pick specific topics. Cater to readers’ needs. Do my research. Give people entertaining and informative content. Whatever your business is, pick the niche that works best for you and build on it.
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Inspirational Verse for the Day:
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:14, NLT)
All Things Subject to Change 