Choosing a niche is an important first step for any blog or business.
A niche not only helps you figure out what to post about but also makes things easier for your readers. They will know what to expect and will start to come to you for that information.
Think about it, a niche helps you narrow down your target audience as well.
It makes marketing easy.
Be a specialist.
This is a HUGE benefit to choosing a niche. When I want to look for fashion advice, I look at fashion blogs. If I want to learn a makeup technique, I search for makeup bloggers and vloggers.
I wouldn’t go get business advice from someone who hasn’t launched a business and blogs about shoes. It just doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t see that person as a specialist because they have not proved to me that they know their stuff.
If you consistently blog about one topic (or a combination of similar topics) then you start to be seen as an expert. You get to display your skills and your knowledge. You build trust.
Know your target audience inside and out.
When you consistently blog about one topic, you know the problems that might come up.
Let’s take a food blogger who only makes vegan recipes, she will know without a doubt that her target audience is either vegan or wanting to become vegan. She has experienced the struggles and problems that arise when wanting to make that change. She can create posts that solve those problems.
She can talk straight to her reader.
Marketing is easy.
When you know your target audience, you can easily market to them.
You can create really targeted groups for Facebook ads. You can speak their language and really resonate with them.
You will always know how to market your blog or business. If you are a cat blogger, your ads or messages wouldn’t discuss purses.
By creating an ad that speaks to your audience’s needs, you will position yourself as an expert and become the go-to person for that topic.
I have too many ideas that I love.
This is a common objection I get when I tell someone to niche down. And trust me I get, I have so many interests.
But I suggest you start somewhere, even with a lifestyle blog. When I relaunch my lifestyle blog, I will be discussing fashion, beauty, home decor, and just general life stuff. But the connecting thread will be me and my interests.
For this blog, I thought it was more important to niche down as I want to turn it into a business. My niche is basically blogging and online business, but my focus is a bit more design focused. I gave myself a niche while still giving myself some options. But you will never see a fashion post on this blog, that will be saved for Lately Lindsey!
Choosing a niche.
When you choose a niche, make sure it is something you actually love and enjoy because you will be less likely to quit (especially when things get tough).
Ask yourself these questions:
- What are your hobbies?
- What are things you enjoy to do and bring light to your life?
- What are your favorite things to talk about?
- What are you knowledgeable about?
- What topics do your friends consistently ask your advice on?
- What do you love to give advice on?
Basically, finding a niche that you love and are already knowledgeable is the best way to go.
If I started a blog talking about politics, I would not be able to keep that going because that is not something that is of interest to me. It isn’t something I enjoy on a daily basis.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a niche can be a little daunting at first.
But remember this, nothing is set in stone! You can always change your mind. Just because you start off one way doesn’t mean you can’t expand and grow and even change.
Do you have a niche? What do you blog about?