Blogging niches - what's too broad?

17 replies
Hi guys,

It's my first time on here, so I hope I'm posting in the correct sub-forum.

I would like to start my own blog soon, and I understand the importance of sticking to a particular niche or audience. Now I want to write about three main topics, which are all fairly big - making money (which may include blogging later down the line if I do well myself, but initially things like side hustles), self development (productivity, motivation) and health/wellness (but mostly tying this to having extra energy for your business, how it translates to success, etc). I was thinking of having those three categories. However, I'm worried that if someone finds my post on a health topic, they'll see that my blog isn't in on health and fitness and that I write a lot about money, and leave...or vice versa. However, I want to emphasise how the three elements can tie together to create success. Do you think this is a feasible idea?

Alternatively, I could have two sections - one on making money, one on general success (both self development and health-related topics)?

Also, if I have such a website, do you think it'd be ok for my partner and I to launch a family lifestyle blog later down the line?

Thanks everyone!
#blogging #broad #niches
  • Profile picture of the author ritah
    The more refined your niche, the better. Try focusing in on a specific sub group of people in the success / make money field. Instead of targeting 'how to make money online' target 'how to make money online as a single mother' (i know that's a broad niche too.. but I'm expecting you to come up with a unique angle of your own here)

    By relating with a specific subgroup of people you speak directly to them and will see a much greater response. However, make money online is probably one of the most competitive niches in the space, so maybe consider a different area of expertise to focus on.
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    • Profile picture of the author themartyns
      Thanks so much! Hmm, I was thinking of targeting people who are still in full-time employment, and motivate them to do it on the side or leave their jobs. I realise it's still very broad, but at least different to the stay-at-home-mom target audience.

      Do you think it's ok to incorporate the success/health stuff or would it make it too broad? Also, what do you think of my partner and I starting a lifestyle blog (with her mostly running it) later on? I guess the main blog readers would be able to see more of my personal life, but not sure if this is an issue or not?

      Thanks again!
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      • Profile picture of the author thegreatone
        you determine how broard it goes, while making it narrow and precise on the topic the question is will they even like what you are writing about.
        a re-inventing the wheel doesn't have to be made but be creative and enjoy your writing, giving time to think about your story will help you sit happy with your result.
        best of luck
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Everything begins with your audience. The goal is to find a group of people that have a common interest, desire, problem, hobby, dream, etc. As you blog about the topic, you want each blog post to appeal to everyone in your audience - otherwise, you will lose subscribers that feel you are not speaking to them.

    How broad is too broad? The topic is too broad when it doesn't appeal to or relate to your audience. That's why I would suggest not trying to tackle multiple marketplaces as you have described you want to do. As Ritah has suggested, focus on one topic and dig deep down into that topic so you can specialize and "own" the subject. There will always be opportunities later to branch out and add related topics or "side" topics as you begin seeing what your audience wants and asks for.

    Personally, I would suggest staying away from anything having to do with making money. It doesn't make sense to blog about something that you haven't mastered yet. Let me ask you: would you buy a product on "how to make money online" from someone that had never done it?

    Do some online market research to identify a hungry audience. Find out exactly what they're hungry for and where they can be found online. Check out the competition and see what they are offering. Find "gaps" or "voids" in what is generally available. Your mission is to gather that audience and fill the void by creating (have someone else do it if you can't) a product, or becoming an affiliate for a good product.

    If you want to create multiple blogs for different audiences that's fine. But don't dilute your efforts at first. Set up one blog and get it running smoothly and drawing income for you. Then you can start a second one.

    The three topics you mentioned, IMO, each deserve their own blog. All three audiences are different groups with different needs, wants, and desires. Keep them all separate.

    The very best to you,

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author themartyns
      Thank you. Do you think it's feasible to have more than one major blog later on? Also, what do you think of my partner and I starting a family lifestyle blog later on as well?
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      • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
        Originally Posted by themartyns View Post

        Thank you. Do you think it's feasible to have more than one major blog later on? Also, what do you think of my partner and I starting a family lifestyle blog later on as well?
        First, concentrate on getting one niche specific blog profitable. If you can do that, then you will know the answers to your other questions.

        Brent
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve B
        Originally Posted by themartyns View Post

        Thank you. Do you think it's feasible to have more than one major blog later on? Also, what do you think of my partner and I starting a family lifestyle blog later on as well?

        Yes, it is possible to have more than one blog. But as Brent suggests, just start with one and get it up, running smoothly, and making money consistently before you tackle a second one.

        Why? There are several reasons:
        • It takes time to learn how to get everything in your blog selling system working correctly to pull in money on a consistent basis
        • It takes time to get traction with your audience, and to grow an audience to the size that will support good consistent income
        • If you create multiple projects from the beginning, you will make the same mistakes over and over again with each blog. It's better to figure out what you're doing with your first blog (as Brent suggests) and then all the others will be easier to run and more profitable in the long run
        • You may find you don't like blogging/selling online. You'll find that out quicker and with less investment if you stick to one blog first.
        • Multiple blogs will dilute your effort. Put everything you've got into one. Make it be successful . . . then move on. Maintaining a profitable web site (blog) is waaaay easier than creating one and getting it to profitability. So you'll have more time to put into other projects only after you pass that hurdle with the first one.
        • Once you have the first blog up and earning . . . then is the time to start branching out into related niches. Why related? Because if you're smart . . . you'll find out a second niche that resonates with your already established niche. Selling this second niche to your first audience will be a breeze if you've taken care of them well with your first project!
        The very best to you,


        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author shmol
    Do not get a head of your self.

    Focus on one blog at a time.

    You will surprised at how much work it takes to make one blog successful let-alone two or three blogs.

    If I were you, I would focus on the health and fitness blog first, as there are plenty of topics that you can write about--and promote when the time comes--in this niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author bananacode
    I agree with the opinions above, you should create your specific niche. But this is a thing: you want to write about the success and halth/wellness topic but also that reffered to money making. I think it is already interesting and unusual. So you need to focuse on good explanation and introduction at the beginning, than probably show some results of the things that you will describe but you've tried them already and it worked out. People love getting results and reading successful stories. so 1-st - good introduction and then retaining people's attention by useful content.
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  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    I agree with the comments above but just to emphasize...

    I think even ONE of those is too broad for a beginner. Making money is too broad, self development is too broad and health/wellness is too broad.

    Unless you have a lot of start-up money to hire writers or for paid advertising campaigns you don't stand a chance in any of those three broad categories. Those areas are so competitive with expert SEO's and marketers paying for exposure that you could constantly write content for a year before Google ranks any of your content on page one.

    I especially agree with Steve's suggestion to stay away from MMO altogether.

    Good for you for asking ahead of time. That shows already that you are thinking this through and that you want to make smart calculated steps.
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    Originally Posted by themartyns View Post

    making money (which may include blogging later down the line if I do well myself, but initially things like side hustles), self development (productivity, motivation) and health/wellness (but mostly tying this to having extra energy for your business, how it translates to success, etc).
    I'm going to disagree with everyone above me. Individually, sure each of these are worth their own efforts... BUT... Look at the vertical you mention.. SUCCESS, and they all fall into place and have a place.

    This is about the journey, YOUR journey... starting with the side hustle.. getting out there creating a base.. creating capital to do bigger and better things. Be it collecting pallets or spray painting address numbers on curbs whatever it is... this gets you out, gets you earning cash today.

    From this, there are lessons to learn.. how to approach your target customer. How to SELL your target customer, and then how to follow through and complete the task.

    Side hustling aint easy.. long days and hard work. "I'm to tired" makes you no money. "I don't feel good" makes you no money "My arms are sore" makes you no money. Health is a very important part of SUCCESS.

    These steps thrown together with goal setting is powerful stuff. I need to get to this so I can do this.. I need to save this much to get this piece of equipment to do this. Start with working harder.. so in time you can work smarter.

    And through the journey... you can introduce the smarter.. a passive online business, and all that that journey entails.

    YOUR blog would be YOUR story.. YOUR progression. Where you failed, where you succeeded and what you have learned along the way.

    I would say that looking at the original topic options.. they are not so broad when looking at it like this.

    Best of luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author tritrain
    Write on subjects that you're really passionate about, and hopefully have a lot to contribute. You can write on any combination of topics. You may or may not get many readers who like all three of the topics, but they will hopefully appreciate them, or at least your passion for them. And that's really what you're sharing, your passions. As far as saturation goes, yeah they're all pretty saturated. If you enjoy writing don't worry about it.

    How do you plan to tie the 2 or 3 together?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jamel Hassell
    I would advise you to focus on 1 niche at a time. If you try to cover multiple subjects on 1 given blog you will confuse your audience and they will abandon your site.

    You will need to do some keyword search on subject matters so that your topics aren't broad but more so tailored for your audience.
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  • Profile picture of the author vivek8409
    I just wanted to add that Pat Flynn mentions that sometimes being very specific in your niche can be very profitable, despite the fact that it will not attract a lot of traffic. The reason is because the people who will visit the website are be sure of what they want and are potential buyers. How do you take this comment? Thanks for sharing your ideas!
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex July
      Originally Posted by vivek8409 View Post

      I just wanted to add that Pat Flynn mentions that sometimes being very specific in your niche can be very profitable, despite the fact that it will not attract a lot of traffic. The reason is because the people who will visit the website are be sure of what they want and are potential buyers. How do you take this comment? Thanks for sharing your ideas!
      That's right.
      I'm in a gold investing niche, and I know that one guy has a website getting 10-50 visitors per day. That website makes him a few thousand dollars per month.
      On the other hand, being too much specific is not the best strategy though, because sometimes people don't know what they need until you present it to them.
      For example, web hosting business is a huge market, and a lot of marketers made millions of dollars (right, millions of dollars) promoting web hosting offers through their blogs. But their blogs are not about web hosting, they are about MMO niche, online marketing, etc.
      So, there are different approaches, so to say.
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  • Profile picture of the author themartyns
    Thanks for all of the helpful replies, guys!

    I agree that I need to narrow down on my niche. Three topics would be way too much, but what if I incorporate how productivity and wellness hacks can help to make money in certain ways? The making money section is about a side hustle, so surely it helps to be energised in addition to working a day job, etc.

    I am definitely not going to start more than one blog. However, I was just thinking whether or not it'd be a good idea for my partner to start a family lifestyle blog in a year or so. I'm just wondering if it'd be a good idea to show aspects of our life if I have an informational blog/more of a business? I guess it shouldn't affect things, right?

    Thanks again!
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  • Profile picture of the author RaduVladislav
    Maybe I get a bit theoretical here There's a technique called niche intersection, that's exactly what you described above. And if done right, it can be quite successful.

    Most important is that after you "intersect'" your niches, you should still be able to draw your audience persona (likes, fears, desires etc). Remember: the people form the niche. So not "wellness" or "make money" is the niche, but the people interested in those attributes are the niche.

    Just to give an example: you could start a blog which sells a course that teaches fitness passionates how to make money
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