There’s one problem I’ve noticed that seems universal among each blog coaching client I work with — something that is both at the fundamental core of blogging and one of the most difficult things to define about your blog:
Choosing your blog’s niche and focus.
When I started my blog, I was an expat living in Japan, but knew I didn’t want to write a travel blog. A majority of the blogs I followed were DIY blogs, but I wasn’t into the idea of doing crafts everyday, either. I had a lot of ideas and nothing that seemed to tie them into anything cohesive. So I wrote about everything. All the things. My blog was a hodgepodge of anything that interested me. Now, I share much more specific topics and have a more narrowed niche, which has done wonders for building my blog and growing my audience. Today, I want to share some tips for narrowing your blog’s niche, making all those random topics work together in unison, and appealing to your specific audience.
First, what do you want to write about?
Welp, this is a no-brainer. List out some topics you actually want to write about. Don’t worry if they align well together. Just write out the things that you’d enjoy spending hours each week sharing with your readers.
For example: Self-development, happiness, art, DIY projects, community, creativity, travel, inspiration/empowerment, blogging tips, business tips, design, home decor, my life, my dog, goal-setting, and fashion.
Put your topics into similar groups
Now, go back through your list and look for the ways in which some of your topics connect. You definitely don’t need all of your topics to connect, but try to combine them into 3-5 mini groups.
For example, from my list above, I would combine “art, DIY projects, creativity, design, and home decor” into one group.
Think of an “umbrella” category for each group
This is one of the most important steps! Once you’ve created your groups, go back and think of a word that encompasses each of the items within that group. It might be a word from the group itself, or you might need to think of something else. This word should be general, simple, and easy for your readers to understand. In my opinion, this isn’t the place to get creative with funky titles, since you want your readers to immediately understand what your blog is about when they see your main categories listed on your site.
For example, my “art, DIY projects, creativity, design, home decor, and fashion” would become “Creativity.”
Now, you have the main topics for your blog, and you also have the sub-topics that encompass that main category. I find this very helpful when I write my blog posts, because it gives me a lot of topics to write about, but I’m able to easily relate them to both one of my main topics and one of my sub-topics. Also, if you’re stuck on what to write about, sometimes all it takes is looking at your list of sub-topics to get inspired.
But what if your blog’s topics don’t…connect?
In all of the blog coaching sessions I’ve done, my clients are perplexed about what to focus on, when in reality the topics they’re already writing about have the potential to work well together. For example, maybe you want to write a travel blog, but you also love cooking and fashion. Why not share cultural recipes and your eclectic fashion sense? Think about how your topics connect, but most of all, think about who your audience is. It’s okay to write about a few different topics, because your readers are complex people with a myriad of interests. Many of the most popular blogs out there, such as The Huffington Post and Buzzfeed, have lots of topics they focus on, but their topics are still targeted at a specific audience, which makes their posts feel relatable and relevant.
Maybe your audience is mainly self-employed women in their 20s who like to travel. What kinds of things would someone like that be into? In reality, you’ll have a range of different people who visit your site, but try to think about who they are, what they do, what their interests are, and how you can help them. Remembering who your audience is can be hugely important in deciding which topics to focus on. Don’t know who your audience is? Ask! Google Analytics has great tools for doing this, but I’ve also learned a TON about my readers by holding an annual survey, too (like this one!).
Deciding what to focus your blog on can feel like a daunting task, but it really doesn’t have to be! Think about how your interests connect and how you can use them in a way that is meaningful and useful to your specific audience. Keep your list of topics and sub-topics handy so you can refer to it whenever you go to write your next post. You got this!
This is really helpful Melyssa. I know I need to try an exercise like this. When I started my blog I thought it would be all about triathlon training, but the more blog the more I realize I like writing about DIY, creative living and sharing recipes. I think there is a way to make a cohesive blog but I will need to take some time to maybe revamp my key idea.
Glad it got you thinking, Ursula! 🙂
Hi Melyssa! In the last two years that i’ve been blogging, I continuously go back and forth between beauty and [Hawaii] lifestyle. In the past, i’ve seen reader surges when I talk all things beauty, but I also love sharing tid and bits of my lifestyle. I would say that I have a hard time having a healthy balance of a focus since I go back and forth a lot. I don’t want to stop writing about lifestyle just because no one reads/comments/interacts with it. The step-by-step you mentioned is really helpful since I am going through another one of those focus phases. Thanks so much! xo – Jessika, http://www.jessclassy.com
I’m glad it could help, Jessika! I just popped over to your blog and I think you’re doing a kick-butt job of delivering useful, great content! Do you think you’re not seeing interaction on your non-beauty posts because you’re not connecting with the right people? It looks like you have a cool mix of self-development articles, too. Maybe networking with more bloggers who write about self-development would be a good way to get more interaction on those posts. 🙂
Thank you for the great advice!
I think about this everyday!
Sometimes I think that’s why my numbers are low. Like, really low.
But, the truth is I enjoy writing about everything that I put on my blog. And, I don’t think I want to change that.
Thanks for the helpful post!
Hata
I think that if you enjoy what you’re doing and you don’t want to change it, then you’re doing exactly what you should be. 🙂
This is a great idea. I have wrote down subtopics then went off topics from there. I think it’s great to think about what we won’t write about it as well. thanks for the tips.
Very good point, Jessa! I haven’t honestly considered much of what I won’t write, but that’s a great idea.
This post was definitely for me. I have felt like my blog post topics have been everywhere. Slowly but surely, it’s coming together. I felt like it would have happened a lot quicker if I had a consulting session with you haha. I think the light bulb that went off in my head was when I created my subtitle (which still needs polishing because I’m a perfectionist lol). Although it’s only been a week since I have been blogging consistently, that subtitle has helped not only to write relevant to the purpose of my blog but has helped me stay motivated to write. Not having a focus has left me like, “OMG what am I even doing here” many MANY times but having a purpose in writing (and in life, really) is a fantastic motivator. 🙂
This makes me so happy to read, Mary! I think your blog’s subtitle is spot on from what I’ve seen from your blog over the many months I’ve known you! Seems like you’re headed in an awesome direction. 🙂
Hi Mel! I’m loving that you’re doing blog consultations now…I’m verrrrrry close to officially launching consultations myself, so I might just have to consult you for advice on consulting! HA!
My overarching goal for my blog is to inspire. On a deeper level, I aim to inspire in fashion, beauty, love, and life, so my categories are divided as such. If I can provide some inspo on weekly outfits, beauty how-to to best-utilize little time, relationship must-haves and/or new thoughts on life’s bigger stressors and moments, then I’ve done my job!
lovelovelove,
Erica
cominguprosestheblog.com
Sounds like you know what you’re doing! 🙂
Definitely going to pin this!
doitfortheirony.blogspot.com
Thank you so much! 🙂
The post came at the perfect time! I’ve been working on focusing my blogs purpose and trying to specify what I’m going to write about. I’ll definitely be using your tips.
Great to hear, Emily!
Good post, friend! It’s so nice to hear information like this. I am finishing up ‘Blog Life’ from A Beautiful Mess and they went over this same idea and it was very helpful.
I never thought about writing a list to have handy to see if what I am going to post fits in with my larger focus. However, I think that is a really good idea and I’m going to try that and see how it helps.
That’s good to hear that the Blog Life course covered something similar! 🙂 I hope having a list is helpful to you — it definitely is for me. 🙂
I definately need to put some time into this. I know my MAIN focus – which is photography – but I have the hardest time decided what to write about. It’s strange opening a new doc and feeling lost – writing has always been my strong point.
Interesting! If writing is usually your strong point, what have you written about in the past? Or what kind of writing has come easy to you?
Mel,
Your advice is the exact same that I give my clients– assuming they’re not trying to start a niche business. For most bloggers, writing about a variety of topics is not a problem, as long as you make it easy for your readers to find the things they want to read about.
I offer segmented email subscriptions so people can pick and choose the type of content they want to receive.
I think it’s cool that you’ve been doing blog consultations. You clearly have some great wisdom to share!
Brittany
I’m glad our advice is on the same page, Brittany! I think you’re right, that the most important thing is that your readers can easily find what appeals to them specifically. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I drew a mind map, so similar idea, and it works great!
http://www.sweetwordsprettypictures.com
Very cool idea!
i honestly dont know what to focus on, i basically write about my interests. i dont know if that is being focused or not
If writing about your interests is something you enjoy, I think that works just fine 🙂
Mel, this is great advice! When I re-launched my blog back in July, I still had a hard time finding my focus between writing about personal experiences and providing advice for professional women. However, in the last month or so, I’ve found I can tie the two together because I’ve discovered many young professionals share the same thoughts/experiences as me. Making this change in my blog’s content definitely helped me attract more readers and relate to more people! Thanks for sharing another great post! 🙂
That is so awesome to hear, Olivia! 🙂
You’re amazing. This post is, too.
You’re amazing-er. 🙂
This is such a helpful post! Your blogging tips are some of the best I’ve read! Thanks for sharing!
Aw that means a lot, thank you!
Love this! Definitely bookmarking. Great tips, Mel! I love how you tie so many things into one, showing that even if you have a niche you can still have a focus.
Thank you Kai! Glad to help 🙂
I love these tips, Melyssa! I also found that one of my focuses was creativity, which grouped design, art, and DIY posts all together. I think narrowing down a focus can be a struggle for bloggers but I think it’s so important for cultivating the vision of your blog and what direction you want to go in. While i like to blog by categories, for example, making sure I have a variety of posts each week from design to travel to life each week, I also define my posts to make sure they are more so aligning with the vision of my blog. If something doesn’t fit into a category, but relates back to the vision or mission of a blog, I think that is a good way to go!
I love that you brought up your blog’s mission — that is an excellent point and great place for anyone to start when thinking up content.
This is such great advice! I’ve struggled with feeling like I have a “hodgepodge” blog as well, but after reading your post, I think (hope) my blog is about adventure, curiosity and knowledge!
Those sound like great things, Megan!
I have issues with this one – I feel what I love to talk about the most is travel, but personally I get bored with blogs who ONLY talk about travelling. So I personally don’t want to fall into that…so I try to incorporate a bit of expat life, etc. into the mix! But then it turns into a lifestyle blog, which is such a large umbrella!
True! But then I think of the question — “why do people go to your site?” And in your case, it seems like it can be answered by saying, “because they’re interested in a traveler’s lifestyle or travel tips,” which doesn’t seem like too large of an umbrella. I think if you keep it to travel/expat topics, that’s great! 🙂
Very helpful post! Thank you.
Glad to help, Lisa!
This is quite perfect Melyssa!! Learning how to “talk about all the things” yet keep it together is something we all struggle with and your method definitely puts it into perspective and makes it seem doable for the blogger who has been around for more than a year and could use a little re-structure and a more defined and cohesive focus (ME!).
So glad to hear that, Kele!
Great post! I actually read it a few days ago and on a whim it inspired me to write a post that suddenly came to mind, and that post has gone over really well so far. 🙂
That’s awesome to hear, Crystal! 🙂
Thanks for this awesome blog post, Melyssa! I’m currently re-inventing my blog so to speak as I’m slowly getting back to the blogging groove. This post definitely helped me figure out my blogging categories and sort of narrowing them down – even though I still feel like there’s a lot I want to blog about. But this way I sort of know what kind of ideas I should brainstorm.
Glad it helped, Pinja!
Oh wow so you and I are basically each other’s digital dopplegangers! Replace Japan with France and you’re content description is the same as mine (in theory – in practice at the moment I only write about creative work)
I’m wondering though, when you don’t have an audience yet, should blog to your ideal audience, or blog in a way that is sure to attract new readers and then just cater to them? I often get caught in that debate (that I have with… myself haha) because growing a community of readers is important – I mean, connection right? Above and beyond writing because I enjoy it, I love the conversations my blog starts with people, the meeting of the minds that happens in the content.
but days where I have none at all, I wonder if I shouldn’t just stop writing about certain topics, since no one cares about them but me. But then again, I enjoy writing about them. It’s kind of confusing. Has that ever happened to you Melyssa? Really wanting to write about something people don’t necessarily want to read?
Hi Eliza! I get caught in the same dilemma! If I don’t have a huge audience, how do I narrow it down?
Stacey | Grace Believer Blog
Hi, Eliza! I know commenting a 2-year old comment maybe crazy but I just hope somebody would read this.
Anyway, any new bloggers though they don’t have a definite audience yet since they are so fresh in the moment, should start their blogs in a niche with a clear audience in mind. At least, when they want to adjust their blogs from hobby to business, it wouldn’t be that hard enough.
If you start with eclectic audience like a lot would say “explore to where you’re comfortable” it’d be okay but take note, if you’d like to convert your blog to business, you need to somehow delete unnecessary blog posts that aren’t consistent with your blog. This is to earn the authority of the niche when time comes you’re on the top with high traffic. I hope this makes sense.
Godspeed,
Mecyll
http://www.bitchychicken.de
This was an excellent post Mel, I often wonder if my blog is too general so it’s given me some food for thought.
Lyndsay | Fizzy Peaches
Glad to help, Lyndsay! 🙂
Hi Lyndsay!
Just stalked your site :] I actually love all of the topics! I’m definitley interested in keeping up with more of your crafting and home decor! xo
Hi Mel, my name is Nanda, is my first comment here. I’m loving your blog since I founded! I’m looking for suggestions and advices on my new blog. It’s a little different. I often see people doing amazing jobs and making a difference, so when I turn 20 I decided to value them. So I created this blog to put all these incredible people together. I called Inspire. But I’m always in contact with beauty, fashion, creativity blogs, so I wish my audience also was for young-adult women, like me. I wish they could be more well informed about important things that are happening out there in a lovely, pleasant and simple way. What do you think? I would love to know your opinion. Thank you! The link: inspirem-se.tumblr.com
This is such a great post, for new bloggers and bloggers looking to rebrand. It’s important to have a plan in place for your post content before even starting your blog otherwise you’ll just flounder and flop like a dead fish, constantly wondering why your blog won’t grow. Thanks for sharing!
– Elle Ay Esse
http://www.eae-design.com/
Exaaaactly!
Wow, just wow! Thank you so much for writing this post! Right now I’m struggling with my blog because I realized I didn’t have a niche and I felt very demotivated about it… I decided that I really need to find my niche, in order to get back on my blogging feet. I’ve been reading some post about this, most of them very inspiring, but until now your post as been the more useful. I was feeling completely lost, even reading those others posts.. I was telling myself “yeah, they sure have a point… but how can I find my niche?”. While reading your post, instead, I’ve already started to feel like I can actually get out of this mess in my head… I’m excited because through your words I feel I may be finding myself… I still have some thinking to do, but you made that a lot more easier!
Thank you so much, you’re the best!
Ellie from indiellie.com
Wow, Ellie! Thanks so much for your sweet and thoughtful comment! It truly makes me so happy that you found this helpful. Thanks so much for reading, and good luck narrowing down and figuring out your niche! You got this, girl! 🙂
This has honestly been one of the hardest things for me to do for my blog. I’ve been blogging for over two years now, and I have such a hard time giving up some of my passions. But now I’m finally going to try to commit to creating a niche for myself. Thanks for the tips!
Katie | http://www.thoughtcouture.com
Aw, it really can be very difficult, especially when you’re passionate about so many things (happens to all of us!). Glad this helped, Katie 🙂
I want to start a blog; I’m in the process of learning about how to start it up, creating your unique name and figuring out your niche. I’m having the hardest time figuring out what the purpose of my blog would be (ex: am I self-help blog, lifestyle or just unique?). I’ve narrowed down my niches or passions to: relationships/love, college struggles (subcategories would be handling money, balancing school, work, and social life, etc) and maybe throw in my passions for traveling and fashion. I feel like I’m everywhere and so, I’m not really sure what category my blog could be put into.
All of those feelings are completely normal when you first think about starting a blog, Jasmine! Maybe you should just jump into blogging about the topics you mentioned, and slowly narrow down what you enjoy writing about most until you find the niche that works for you. Good luck, girl!
I am trying to figure out what my focus for my blog should be but I am kinda all over the place. I know I am good at taking nature shots, and I like being photographed (fashion), but then I am also into decorating (planner decorating and scrapbooking). However, I don’t know how I can make a blog that will be useful for my audience. I’m a graphic design major so I love anything artsy…not so much explaining how I came about doing my art work. What and how should I narrow down what my blog is about and how do I know what my audience needs or who my audience is?
Many thanks,
Thays
http://www.sillycrazylove.com
Hi, Thays! It sounded like you’re having a hard time looking for your blog niche. Here’s what you can do to connect all these interests — photography, fashion, decorating, plus, you’re a graphic design major — you’re into artsy stuff. But, you’re not into art work. To narrow your blog niche, you have to figure out your “avatar” or the target audience you want to blog about. Like Melyssa said in this post, what makes the blog posts relatable though they’re not. Let’s say, your target audience is the crafty women between 24-39 years old. Make your blog for this market. All posts should be relatable in this age group and in this age bracket. I hope this is helpful.
Godspeed,
Mecyll
http://www.bitchychicken.de
What food for thought! There’s a fine line between blogging about all the things we love but making sure the focus is narrowed. Thanks for the tips!!
Corinne
http://www.breathedreamlove.com
Thanks for stopping by Corrine! Glad it could help 🙂
I thought I had it all figured out, but lately I’ve been feeling ‘all over the place’. This blog post definitely helped me feel a little bit better about the direction I want to take. Thank you Melyssa!
thank you
Thank you! 🙂
your blog posts are seriously so helpful and you are so generous with your wisdom! thank you for sharing!
So happy to hear that! Thank you so much for reading and commenting Lauren! >_<
Thank you for the advice. The main topic of my blog is everyday moments that are precious to me.
That’s awesome! Thanks for commenting 🙂
I know mine is probably so lame. But Mine is being a mommy and getting through those hard things as a mom. Such as doing research on baby products, getting through pregnancy, making it through the first day alone with baby or babies. but also providing and sticking to a schedule and how important it is to spend those moments with your kids. I guess my big chip in the bag, is providing information to mom’s so they don’t waste more time doing it themselves.
Hey Mariah! I’m loving what you wrote about your focus. There’s so much good that you can do to help other moms, and it’s not lame at all. 🙂
I contacted you today and I received this link to try to decide, but I’m still lost. There is a lot going on, starting with the fact that I just loat my job and that I can’t decide my niche @.@ #GoingCrazy
Have you tried asking our private Facebook community for help? If you ask your questions in there, I’m sure someone will be able to help you or that you’ll find the inspiration you’re looking for. Good luck!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/blogandbizbffs/
Hi Melyssa, thanks for this wonderful post.
However, I’m planning to start a website to help people get over their fear of public speaking. What I’m wondering is whether this niche is too focused? And will I be able to regularly find blog topics?
That sounds like a fantastic idea! I believe you’ll be able to come up with plenty of blog post ideas and if you’re ever feeling stuck, this post might be able to help you:
https://melyssagriffin.com/generate-blog-post-ideas/
Good luck my friend! 🙂
Hi
I’ve been going back and forth. My current career niche ( wine ) or a strong hobby ( which I’ve edited 10 times till now on audiophile sound reproduction) or another area I know a lot about. I know a great deal about 3 subjects but am not a supreme and DEFINITIVE “expert” per say on any them. I’m thinking of starting with the hobby article as it’s already finished.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
If you’d like to eventually monetize your blog, I’d say choose the most profitable niche. Do your research as well as keyword research and figure out which of those three niches people are spending the most amount of money in. From there you put your head down and grind. Good luck!
Hi, I’m in a predicament. In the past I’ve tried writing many blogs and lost interest. I’ve finally stumbled upon a topic I love and could write about all day given the chance, cars. The problem I’m having is I’m currently modifying my car and I want to write a diy for mods and mechanical fixes, but I’m only working on one car. I would also like to write about car shows, etc that I attend. I’m really stuck on hoe to do this.
Hey Jessica! Now that you’ve found your niche, it sounds like you need to narrow in even more. Here’s a post I wrote a little while back that might be able to help you right away:
https://melyssagriffin.com/choose-a-focus-for-your-blog/
Good luck!
I’ve got what I’ve been calling a lifestyle blog, but I’m not entirely sure that’s what it is. I love writing about Travel and Food mostly, but recently I’ve thought about adding product reviews to it as well. Do you think that would be a mistake, seeing as it’s not connected with the other two topics at all? In a way I love writing about different things, but sometimes even I get confused as to what my blog actually is!
Hey Sophie! Travel and food is always fun but you don’t want to include too many topics into one site. If you’re a bit confused, then your readers may definitely feel the same way. Have you given this post a look? This might help clarify things for you:
https://melyssagriffin.com/choose-a-focus-for-your-blog/
I’m really struggling with this, but I think I’m making things more complicated than they actually are. I know I want my blog to focus on enriching my life by trying new things as a cool nerd and a single person, but I also want to discuss things like society & culture (pop culture, current events), arts’n’crafts/DIY, budgeting, and creating a home although I’m single (if that makes sense).
I’m not sure how to narrow all of this down, but if I’ve read your post correctly, would it make sense to have a blog with main focuses like Society & Culture, Lifestyle, and Creativity?
Thank you for sharing so much insight though!
Hey Kay! I totally get how tempting it is to make our blogs inclusive of all of our interests but it’s important to really focus in within your niche – both for yourself and for your audience. If you haven’t checked it out yet, this post might be able to help right away:
https://melyssagriffin.com/choose-a-focus-for-your-blog/
Thanks Melyssa. Great insights and very helpful since I am soon starting my own blog.
Yay! I’m so glad this was helpful for you, Malvika! Good luck and please keep me posted on your progress. 🙂
Hi Melyssa. your post really helped. I’m in the process of starting a blog, but like many others, I am having a hard time figuring out what I would want my niche to be. I would love to post about many things from relationship advice to food to health and even personal experiences. So I was thinking about making it a lifestyle blog. But is that still too broad?
Lifestyle blogs can be tricky because it’s easy to lose focus and provide organized value. If you want to take this path, I would really focus in on what you think will provide the most value to your readers. Here’s a post I wrote up that might help with that:
https://melyssagriffin.com/choose-a-focus-for-your-blog/
Good luck!
Hi Melyssa, this post is really helpful. I followed your advice to group the topics under a general idea. I realized it’s easier said than done but I think I might pull it off. Thank you!
Awesome! You’ve got this, JD! 😀
Thanks Melyssa! Great tips here (as usually, I’m coming to learn). I started my blog in November and in just a short period of time, I’ve come to see that it will be best for my blog if I try to shave it down to just a few topics. Right now, I’m grouping kids/parenting/homeschooling/missionary/life abroad together as one sort-of-related category, but I’ve also recently been thinking of adding another category for helping mom bloggers with their writing. I feel it’s still connected as my target audience is moms, and these days many moms are trying to make a go at blogging or other at-home work that may require strong writing skills. Still working out the details, but I’m excited! Thanks for this!
Sounds like you’re providing your audience with exactly what they need! Best of luck to you, Meredith! 😀
I am in the early stages of creating my blog. I have my topics narrowed down to these: (twin) motherhood, interior design, organization, and party planning (I also wanted to include language/linguistics but I just don’t think it works here). I can generalize all of my topics with “home and family,” but I was hoping you would have a better term that’s one word or phrase instead of two terms connected by “and.” Thanks!
Hey Jenna! If you haven’t checked it out yet, this post might be able to help you pick the perfect name:
https://melyssagriffin.com/choose-perfect-name-blog-business-free-worksheet/
This is such a helpful post, Melyssa! I’ve tried tips that you mentioned here. And in result, I got several topics that I actually wanted to use in my blog, such as blogging tips, digital marketing, college & productivity (I’m a fresh grad), self care, and motivation. Do you think I could combine and write about these topics in one blog? Also, I was thinking to have millennials as my target readers. I’d really appreciate your thought & opinion regarding this problem! Thank you!
I’m so glad this post was helpful for you, Vinny! In regards to combining all of those topics into one blog, I would recommend giving the post below a read before mixing them all together. Good luck!
https://melyssagriffin.com/choose-a-focus-for-your-blog/
Hi Melyssa, I’m in the process of starting a sewing blog, but have a hectic lifestyle with 3 young kids and dont sew all the time so not sure I would have enough posts for sewing only, I feel that I would also like to share quick healthy recipes, and even makeup and style on occasion but still concentrating mostly on sewing and tutorials. Would this lot go together? Or should it be narrowed down. Also my blog name was originally made by imaan to connect with the sewing side of things but because I want to deviate and talk about other topics Im not sure if that name would work for all those topics or should I just stick with my own name to be more generic, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou, imaan
Thanks so much for your comment, Imaan. I would recommend focusing in and blogging about just sewing if that’s the niche you are working to monetize. Here’s a post I wrote up that explains why I’m recommending you home in:
https://melyssagriffin.com/choose-a-focus-for-your-blog/
Good luck! 🙂
I’m so glad I found you! I’ve been reading through your posts and I’m finding it so helpful! I’ve been blogging on and off for several years (mostly off, to be honest). I struggle to find my focus and my target audience and have even changed my blog name several times. I like blogging about Style as a full-time working Mom who travels for work, so some “office outfits” and “weekend outfits” to include style photos of my daughter. But I also like to blog about travel tips, post photos of family outings and vacations, and occasional brunches that I host — so I feel like I am all over the place! I’d appreciate any thoughts on this 🙂 Also, are you still taking on blog coaching clients? If so, I would love more information! Thank you! xx
Hi Jonilyn! I would recommend focusing in on just one topic and here’s a post I wrote up that explains why I’m recommending that:
https://melyssagriffin.com/choose-a-focus-for-your-blog/
At this time I’m not able to take on any coaching clients but I’ll be sure to let you know if anything changes. 🙂
Hey Melyssa! I appreciate this article because it gets my brain processing in the right direction. However, I get stuck at a certain point. I am a Christian blogger whose blogs are about my personal journey and what I have learned about God. I like help people make connections between their ups and downs and how God can help. I just don’t know how to drag a theme form that. Also, does this fall under a lifestyle blog? Thanks!
Hi Shana! Yes, I would definitely consider your blog more of a lifestyle blog if you are sharing stories from your personal journey. I’m not exactly sure what you’d like your audience to focus on but try to think about how you can best provide value to them and that should help you narrow in on a focus.
Hey! Ok. That makes sense. I will continue to brainstorm. I think I’ve finally figured out my tagline and that is helping me to narrow my focus. I’m almost there.
Hi Melyssa! Any thoughts about a blog about small business entrepreneurs? Focusing on success stories, tips, resources. I’m a former business reporter and editor at newspapers and I’m wanting to build a writing, editing and content biz from a home office. I’d like to make some money from it.
Hi Charles! That might do well but if you can niche down even further, that might serve you and your audience better. For example, what kind of small businesses? Good luck!
Charles, I really like your idea! I’d love to hear more about it! I’m working on a book chronicling a 2 month backpacking trip across West Europe having never before flown on a plane. I’ve got some crazy stories like randomly meeting some Irish football hooligans in Limerick after touring a castle, then later having a celebrity be in my tour group in Rome. Perhaps I could help you by sharing a couple stories from my book? Feel free to add me on Facebook! 🙂
This article is pure genius! What a great idea for narrowing your focus and actually figuring out what to blog about. Thanks for this post!
Woo hoo, awesome Dave! 🙂 Thank you for reading 🙂
I write a travel blog but I also love writing people’s stories. Do you think a blog about traveling to build relationships would work? WHO would my target audience even be?
I love that, Sarah, that’s a perfect way to niche down from a very popular, crowded niche (travel as a general topic). I think this would be an exciting subject for anyone that loves travel, but the fact that you’re focusing on a very specific topic within travel will attract an audience 🙂
Could this be monetized in any way
Hi Sarah, I think most niches can be monetized. You’ll have to determine what the ‘problems/struggles’ are for someone that visits your site, and figure out how you can solve those problems for them through a course!
Hi Sarah, I absolutely love your idea. I have a dream about incorporating this concept into something bigger in the future. I love telling stories, and want to inspire other people to have adventures of their own. In fact, it’s what is driving me to finish writing a the autobiography of my travel experience. Feel free to add me on Facebook. Perhaps we can inspire and encourage one another!
Hi Melyssa. your post really helped me. Thanks!
You’re welcome! Thank you for reading 🙂
Hi Melyssa! Wow, I can’t believe I found this post. It really connected with me completely! I’ve wanted to blog, and have written a couple, but they are always vastly different. I never thought about doing what you suggested. Thank you so much. I feel like I can actually make something work soon! God bless.
I love hearing this Tim, this is definitely the quickest way to grow an audience, since they’ll come to know that you’re the go-to guy for the topic you blog about 🙂 Good luck!
Hi Melyssa,
Your information is very useful to me to create and develop my nick blog.
Thanks for sharing your information.
So happy to hear that, Harish 🙂 Thank you for leaving a comment.
So helpful! I was just looking for a perfect article to learn more about niches and here, I found yours 🙂 Thanks, Melyssa for always writing such engaging content that has a huge impact.
Arfa
Yay, I love hearing that, Arfa 🙂 Enjoy the process. It’s fun coming up with a niche!
Hi Melyssa,
I’ve been reading a lot of your blogs tonight to help me brainstorm on my info product. Great, super helpful content – thank you!
I wanted to ask your opinion. My blog focuses on feminine lifestyles, personal growth and marriage. (Feminine lifestyles including home decor, some beauty, easy recipes, etc.) My main purpose with my blog is to promote healthy relationships and getting to a happy version of yourself so you can put your best foot forward in all you do. I loop in lifestyle because I feel self confidence and empowerment can stem from the lifestyle you live.
My initial info product I’m thinking would be about getting to happier place in your marriage. However, I’m wondering if my topics are too broad, and if I should stick to only writing about relationships/personal growth on the blog? Since that’s what my info product would be? Am I going too far off topic by writing about home decor hacks and the like?
As I prepare for an info product, I just want to ensure my efforts are efficient and will all go towards selling my product. Certainly don’t want to create “fluff.” I gwt overwhelmed quickly when I think about the product and how not all my blog posts could promote it.
Thanks so much in advance for any thoughts!
Cheers,
Lauren
http://www.modwife.co
Hi Lauren 🙂 I love the themes you focus on inside your blog. Self-confidence and empowerment are so important. If you’re focusing on preparing an info-product about getting to a happier place in your marriage, the content on your blog should reflect that topic (at least as a main category – you can use that as a content upgrade for all of your blog posts that reference marriage and relationships!) I do think lifestyle blogs have a harder mountain to climb with monetization and niching down is truly the best way to develop a raving fanbase, but if you are not looking to monetize, I think your gameplan sounds perfect! 🙂
Hi Melyssa,
Thanks so much for your feedback and insight! You’re right, I’m realizing a lifestyle blog is a bit difficult to monetize. Darnit that that’s my passion. 🙂
Have a very happy Thanksgiving!
Cheers,
Lauren
Thank you Lauren! I still think it’s important to write about what you’re passionate about, but sticking to one specific topic (that you’re still interested in!) is usually the key to growing more quickly 🙂 Good luck.
Hi,
I have been Reading a lot of your articles about niching down and the works but I find it hard to do. I am a student trying to become a elementary school teacher and am one of those people that can’t choose on a niche. First I thought to write a blog about my life as a teacher, what it entails, school work but also things I do outside of school such as books I read or things I use or do( not school related). But I feel that it is to much. But how can I niche down? Groceries Michelle
Hi Michelle! I love the idea of you honing in on a specific element of teaching that you consider your expertise and also your passion 🙂 When you do become an elementary school teacher, is there a particular grade that you’ll be teaching? You could focus all of your content on that specific grade, and include your lesson plans, reading lists, classroom decor, etc. I think you can totally have fun with it 🙂
Hello Melyssa,
Thank you for this post. I really don’t know what my miche is. Since I don’t know so much about traveling, make-up,recipes, or fashion.
I love writing stories (novel kinda) and just writing about my day or week in a very creative way, or just coming up with any random stuff. I’m not sure who will be interested. I don’t know what to do anymore. It’s a big struggle.
I think the most important thing, Peggy, is to find a topic you really love, that you could write a ton of blog posts about. I invite you to have a solid brainstorm session, and write out the different niche ideas you have, and 10-20 blog post ideas for each one. Notice which niche gets you excited, that you seem to have a lot of ideas for. 🙂 Let that guide you. Good luck!
Hey Melyssa! So I just went through your article because I have SO MANY things I want to write about and I think I’m too broad. So I made a list of things I’m interested on the left, and put them into 3 categories like you said. I then gave each category an overall “title”. Are you saying that I can use all three of these main topics in my blog and also the sub-topics? Or do I have to choose ONE of these three categories?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/aff8ad66f8c36aa31b347af460ea82f730b0487e2b92fc742ec96877a15926a1.jpg og,
Hey there, Susan! 🙂 Is there a way you could merge any of these 2 topics together? For example, your niche/focus could be creativity as a family (sharing DIY projects for families, creative life/cleaning hacks that relate to being a Mom, or creative hacks that apply to parenting).
I think if you blogged about all of the topics you listed, your blog would be far too broad. It’s important to focus on 1 key topic that’s niched down. So for example, instead of blogging about yoga (a very general topic), you’d blog about “Yoga After 40” or “Yoga for Pain Relief” etc.
I am originally from the Philippines but work and live in Qatar (Middle East). My top 5 page visitors are from the Philippines, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, USA and Singapore (not in order). I blog about family, finances and travel (cuts across all nationalities, right?).
Should I focus writing for the Philippine nationals (in and outside the country)? But, some of my topics will be related to living in Qatar.
Should I focus writing for the “expat audience”? This would mean Philippine nationals living outside the country (not necessarily in Qatar) and other expats living in Qatar.
Should I continue writing for a broad audience? Won’t there be “focus”? I am doing this right now.
Hey there, JR! I always, always recommend niching down, and that means who you are targeting, too. If you live in Qatar, and plan to write more content catered to that audience, I’d align your focus there.
I have two niche ideas that I’m interested in writing about, but I’m struggling to figure out which one would work best to build a large audience with!
For what I’ve seen, there’s too many blogs on Creative Writing (which is what I studied) and too little online for Studying Abroad (I am Chilean and studied in London and loved the experience).
I’m actually so confused as to which one to choose because I’m scared about working hard and having too small an audience! Do you have any suggestions that might help me choose?
Hi Andrea! These are both amazing topics, that I think you could niche down even further (i.e. Studying Abroad in London).
I recommend choosing a niche based on your passion and expertise. Your chosen niche should be a topic you wouldn’t ever get tired of talking about. Good luck. 🙂