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Please help, I can't decide. Whats the best topic to make an Affiliate review blog site about?

by marc100
27 replies
Hi Ive been frozen by over analysis for 2 months now and I need some advice. I keep going in circles on what to do. Im tired of thinking and I need to pick a topic and dive in. Financially I need to start making some new money in 6 months or Im in trouble.

My past experience is in review blog but I only want to make 1 blog and focus on that so it grows faster, I dont want to make a bunch of blogs.
I want to work hard to grow it and then eventually hire ghost writers to help post more. Then I want to put affiliate products on it. Here's the ideas I had:

1. A t-shirt review blog. I can't design funny tees (yet) but I can sell others. I like funny Tshirts, they're so mega popular and most people are designing them but not really reviewing them. I could sign up with Snorg, Busted, amazon, cafe press, etc, review their tshirts on my site and grow it that way. Theres an endless amount of shirts to review. But I'll only make a few dollars per sale.

2. A review site on fashion accessories: With "Accessories" I will never run out of new products to write about and hire writers to write about bags, shoes, jewelry, watches, ties, everything. I could start out with womens or mens and then expand to do both. Sign up with a fashion network to help me grow traffic faster.

3. A blog about video games. Review new video games coming out and post videos with the new games. Huge competition to get noticed, but and endless supply of content to write about and traffic.

4. A blog about computer accessories. Reviews on laptop cases, cords, computer peripherals, how to's.


5. A blog about camping. There's so many things to talk about with camping and always new products to review. Can expand into other outdoor niches.

6. A finance blog about financial hardships, getting out of debt, bankruptcy. Sell offers for new credit cards, leads to refinance mortgages etc.

7. Forget all of that and become an SEO consultant or content marketer. I will always get paid and only work on other peoples sites, but the stress level will be high and I hate stress.
I can go to the local small businesses and offer SEO services for their websites to help get them traffic.


So those are the ideas in my head. I go around and around. Yesterday I went around in a circle and accomplished *Nothing* and it was heartbreaking that Im stuck.
Id love any thoughts. thanks
#affiliate #blog #decide #make #review #site #solid #topic
  • Profile picture of the author SMworkcafe
    Are you actually paying attention to the demands of the market?

    Learn how to use the tools to get this happening for you.
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    Cheers!

    - Sana.

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    • Profile picture of the author marc100
      Originally Posted by SMworkcafe View Post

      Are you actually paying attention to the demands of the market?

      Learn how to use the tools to get this happening for you.
      Thats a good article, I didnt know about surveys. Thank you
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarevok
    I think all of those ideas have potential really, so maybe it all comes down to financial feasibility IE - what your end users are buying most of. (Target research, just like what SMworkcafe says).

    But please heed my advice, because I've failed with more blogs than I believe just about anyone on the planet (rofl).

    Pick something you LOVE talking about.

    What's something you want to be around, and pick an end user who you LOVE.

    If you can't talk and rant about your topic, then you may just lose interest before you draw a dime of profit.

    Just my humble $.02, and I wish you the best.
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    • Profile picture of the author marc100
      Originally Posted by Sarevok View Post

      I think all of those ideas have potential really, so maybe it all comes down to financial feasibility IE - what your end users are buying most of. (Target research, just like what SMworkcafe says).

      But please heed my advice, because I've failed with more blogs than I believe just about anyone on the planet (rofl).

      Pick something you LOVE talking about.

      What's something you want to be around, and pick an end user who you LOVE.

      If you can't talk and rant about your topic, then you may just lose interest before you draw a dime of profit.

      Just my humble $.02, and I wish you the best.
      I really believe that's true, you need to pick something you like.
      Its like throwing a party, which type of person do you want to invite to be there? Im glad you think they all have merit, that helps me
      Ive been in a vacuum with no one to ask so to hear from someone else helps
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      • Profile picture of the author webmarketer
        From your list:

        1. Search themes on Adwords GKP.

        2. Get niches/subniches from the themes.

        3. Get long tail keywords (check searches/day or mo, competition, commerciality) per niche/subniche.

        4. Compare each long-tail for profitability--per niche/subniche.

        5. Build a site around your chosen niche/subniche long-tail keyword.

        6. Use the rest of the long tails, in the same niche, as topics for supporting articles.
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  • Profile picture of the author flugjoshi
    I totally agree with Sarevok! You should not choose a topic based on your hobbys and things you like. Only then can you produce valuable content that people will actually read and share.
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  • Profile picture of the author razorz18
    I think, review the product you are expert and have use before is the best way to promote something because you could be the best testimonial they could have and honest review which not biased to brand or anything that you recommend. Then email to the owner of the product you recommend to alert them about your review.
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  • Profile picture of the author hardworker2013
    Your biggest problem is that you are focusing on too much ideas at the same time, no
    wonder you are confused. I fell in that trap when i just started IM.
    The most important thing is your keyword research you should see if the demand in terms of search volume is there and find the keywords that are profitable and that has a low competition then you create a blog based upon those keywords.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    I'd say to NOT do anymore research. You've wasted 2 months doing research.

    Make a decision. Today. Start. Today. Adjust as needed.

    After you get some experience under your belt, you can then branch out into other things.

    Seriously just make the best decision you can and if you can't then flip a quarter several times or draw straws.

    The lamest topic with the least potential has more potential earnings if you start than just sitting there wondering what to do stuck in park.

    Good luck.

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author marc100
      Originally Posted by webmarketer View Post

      From your list:

      1. Search themes on Adwords GKP.

      2. Get niches/subniches from the themes.

      3. Get long tail keywords (check searches/day or mo, competition, commerciality) per niche/subniche.

      4. Compare each long-tail for profitability--per niche/subniche.

      5. Build a site around your chosen niche/subniche long-tail keyword.

      6. Use the rest of the long tails, in the same niche, as topics for supporting articles.
      Thank you for the great advice, and to everyone else who made great suggestions like this. I don't know why I didn't think of doing keyword research. I do it always for domain names but not for topics to write about.
      Doing it now, appreciate it.

      Originally Posted by Mark Singletary View Post

      I'd say to NOT do anymore research. You've wasted 2 months doing research.

      Make a decision. Today. Start. Today. Adjust as needed.

      After you get some experience under your belt, you can then branch out into other things.

      Seriously just make the best decision you can and if you can't then flip a quarter several times or draw straws.

      The lamest topic with the least potential has more potential earnings if you start than just sitting there wondering what to do stuck in park.

      Good luck.

      Mark


      So true, totally agree. Especially that last sentence. It reminds me of a Russian saying "
      "If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one."
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  • Profile picture of the author kk075
    Originally Posted by marc100 View Post

    So those are the ideas in my head. I go around and around. Yesterday I went around in a circle and accomplished *Nothing* and it was heartbreaking that Im stuck.

    Id love any thoughts. thanks
    You're not stuck at all...you are complacent. Honestly, any of those ideas will work....or you can come up with an entirely different list of things that you can do. Why? That part is easy....anyone can say, "Someday, I'm going to build the first casino on stilts in the middle of that Atlantic Ocean, name it as its own country and create my own laws."

    See how easy that was? Great idea.

    The execution, on the other hand, is incredibly hard. That's what separates the 1% in business from everyone else, and you have to be willing to take action to have any chance of success. So just pick something- #6, #2, #9...whatever....and get to work researching the competition, how you'd lay out the site, where you'd get traffic from, etc. I don't even know what those #'s correspond to because it doesn't matter....taking action on a HORRIBLE IDEA is still a lot better than doing nothing.
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  • Profile picture of the author ArielT
    Athother niche you could consider is hosting affiliate program

    I hope you find a niche you feel comfortable with
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  • Profile picture of the author Sparhawke
    How about a blog about indecision?
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    “Thinking is easy, Acting is difficult
    And to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world ~ Goethe”
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  • Profile picture of the author kazimuhith
    Stop everything and ask yourself " What do I really LOVE to do?" . Start off from there .... But make sure you build a list of whatever niche you decide to be in ...
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      I think few, if any, of the topics listed in the OP have a good chance...UNLESS you are extremely well versed or expert on the topic.

      I'd suggest you approach from a different angle. You are standing and looking out at the hundreds/thousands/more of niches and products trying to choose ONE. Won't work.

      Look back over the past six months at what YOU HAVE PURCHASED OR CONSIDERED PURCHASING ONLINE for your personal use.

      For example - in the past month I have

      - looked for and purchased storage products for college dorm rooms

      - purchased a new and highly advertised dog food online to try it out

      - looked for a dog leash a friend had that I really liked - found the brand website and ended up buying several things - spent over $100 on first visit

      - Got a dog bite last week while working with an animal that had been abused. Looked online for waterproof bandages so I could keep the finger wound clean and still go swimming!

      - Looked for and purchased new "throws" (mini-blankets) for the new couches and bought two 'velvet' blankets on the same site.

      - was given a new blouse I really liked so looked up the brand and bought 2 more in different colors (from an affiliate site, no less)

      - looked for new snow boots and cold weather hats/scarves online - bought grommet ring curtains on a window fashion site (affiliate site again - $80) - and on and on

      Also - (added) - my son bought a bar refrigerator and expensive bar stools from an affiliate site last week. My grandson bought backpacks/computer case/supplies for college online last week. People are BUYING online - you just have to position yourself to sell to them.

      Any one of those purchases could have resulted in a new niche to work in - new products to sell - new markets to explore.

      USE YOUR OWN SEARCHES/PURCHASES/INTERESTS/CURIOSITY - and find niches that way. Don't try to think of what 'other people' might want - look at what you want and find niches you understand and can identify with. Chances are if you are looking for a product - so are other people.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Do yall think a blogging about t-shirts could do well?
        No. People either buy t-shirts or they don't. I can't think of any reason to go read about t-shirts on a blog. It's not like tshirts are hard to find - everyone and his brother is selling tshirts now (or trying to).
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        Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
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        If liar's pants really did catch on fire, watching the news would be a lot more fun.
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        • Profile picture of the author marc100
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          No. People either buy t-shirts or they don't. I can't think of any reason to go read about t-shirts on a blog. It's not like tshirts are hard to find - everyone and his brother is selling tshirts now (or trying to).
          See that where I get confused. You said those probably wouldnt be a success in any of those niches but in your examples they were essentially the same things. You wanted something, researched it, and bought it. Blanket, blouse, storage, dog leash, dog food, snow boots, mini fridge.

          Is it the fact that its a BLOG about non-necessary topics you're objecting to and an ecommerce store would be better? Just confused about what direction to shoot for and what to avoid.

          Im using the blog for SEO. But would it be better to just put a store up and use the product description like a blog? Is that what you mean?
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          • Profile picture of the author professorrosado
            You and most get confused.

            Probably, what Kay is trying to convey is that the ONLY thing that will make you stand out from the crowd is YOUR OWN PASSION about the product you are writing about on your blog.

            Therefore, an eCommerce site is NOT what Kay is alluding to in response to your OP.

            Your BLOG should be based on products that YOU like in order to entice the visitor to go from "just looking" to "gee, I am convinced, let me buy this now!"

            But what I warn you about is the following: many blogs exist expressing passionate views of this or that product, but most of the Internet does not find their way to the blog. Just ask or look around this forum and note the number of folks with passionate websites not making successful incomes from it.

            You need to resolve your confusion with the reality that you need to get skilled at finding and attracting traffic within, at first, one niche and then add other niches according to, yes, your interests. Once you achieve success at this skill, then I suggest it is time to have a blog for conversions.

            But if you're into hobby blogging - then what I just said was crap and silly!
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      • Profile picture of the author onSubie
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        I think few, if any, of the topics listed in the OP have a good chance...UNLESS you are extremely well versed or expert on the topic.
        Some good stuff. I was going to say something similar.

        All of your niches are "viable" but none are in "desperate" niches where people are actually searching for help, solutions and products.

        As Kay said, it will take a long time to build a reputation and authority and grow a following before any of your niches can be meaningfully monetized.

        There is a reason so many scammers populate hot niches like make money online, diet, weightloss, etc. Those markets will buy any miracle product that promises to solve their problem without any work. And they keep buying product after product looking for the "secret".

        You don't have to go into a competitive scammy niche but you do need to consider your market's problems and how hungry they are for solutions.

        Instead of jumping right to the niche you want to exploit- look at larger hot markets and see if you can find a way of tying it to one of your existing niche ideas.

        Think list building and how you will grow your audience. How will you engage? How will you monetize?

        If you want to grow one authoritative blog you will need to network with your peers and competitors. Facebook, YouTube, guest blogging, podcasts, etc.

        Beyond finding areas that people are interested in, you need to find markets that people are really buying in.
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post


        - Got a dog bite last week while working with an animal that had been abused. Looked online for waterproof bandages so I could keep the finger wound clean and still go swimming!
        Kay,
        I think I would want a Home Testing Kit for Rabies

        Do they sell those ? lol

        Seriously, Did the dog have his vacs ?
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  • Profile picture of the author marc100
    Do yall think a blogging about t-shirts could do well? I've never seen a t-shirt blog make it up Technorati thats why I was wondering how profitable a t-shirt blog could be
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    • Profile picture of the author kk075
      Originally Posted by marc100 View Post

      Do yall think a blogging about t-shirts could do well? I've never seen a t-shirt blog make it up Technorati thats why I was wondering how profitable a t-shirt blog could be
      Anything can be RIDICULOUSLY successful if you have enough passion behind it...even T-Shirts. I've never bought from Threadless personally but I'm a massive fan and I do subscribe to their blog. Watch this-

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  • Profile picture of the author Astrodo14
    Really, You don't have to think a lot or get many choices to begin a blogging. You can blog about anything. In my opinion, any topic will work in long term. It doesn't matter you write about sports shoes, cars, movies, making money, or anything because every topic have its own market. But remember you must write a lot of posts before your blog could be successful, why don't you choose a topic that you already interested in?
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  • Profile picture of the author josh wu
    there are two ways you can do with your review sites:
    1. follow your passion
    2. meet market demand
    OR you can meet the market demand and also is what you love to do, looking for your last point of offer seo service to local business.

    why not you do a review site about seo software, seo methods or seo guide, thus you can use this review site to build up your authority, then use this kind of authority to cross promote your seo service with the local business. on the other hand, seo niches will be popular to next few years to come, and some affiliate program about the seo automation software pays really good.
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  • Profile picture of the author gaffg
    If you like to gamble try a niche within casino or maybe bingo or lottery
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    http://gaffg.com - Gambling affiliate programs
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  • Profile picture of the author Kenmuise
    Dude...the biggest mistake I made (and wasted years on) was worrying about the money. I FINALLY picked a niche and a topic that I loved, wrote about it, reviewed products honestly, and then did a little outreach. In my 5 month and I'm working on pulling in my second $500 month. Not great...but growing and I love doing it every day. Never at a loss for content, ideas, and motivation. Pick something that you love. It doesn't have to be easy...just an interest that you have that you know about and go to town. Then find others with blogs and forums and contribute to those like a Mad Man (adding value). It'll happen. But you have to do it. JUMP IN, dude. Don't chase money. Chase satisfaction. I truly believe that. Before you know it you'll be starting a how to start an affiliate review site that you love blog and making money from people who come in here. As long as you're honest...with them and yourself.
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