Blogs That Are Too General

Kristie,

You are on the right track when you said "I think the site is too general."

Each one of your category headings is a huge marketplace. These are some of the biggest audiences online. In fact, they're so big that they are too big for one business (in most cases).

Fitness - Medical - Nutrition - Supplements - Weight Loss

When you try to be everything to everybody, you actually become irrelevant because you aren't targeting a specific audience. The search engines won't pay attention to you and you end up competing against the very largest sites in every one of the markets. You don't stand a chance.

Not only would I focus on just one of your categories, I would also dig down deep into that category and focus on just one thing - one homogeneous group that is clamoring for the same solution.

Before you choose what that one thing might be . . . do a little research online and identify where there is an unmet demand. Focusing like a laser is much more effective than applying the shotgun approach.

Whether you start over with a new site or just re-work the old one - that's your call.

Steve

Very helpful, Steve. I was afraid that's the answer I would get. I wonder if it's even possible to redo a website and make it more focused without starting over. I wonder if anyone here has ever successfully done that?

It's not that your site is too general...

There are sites like yours that make millions of dollars a month..

The idea is to have a funnel built for each category of your site...

SO lets take this post in the supplement category

New Side Effects of Glucosamine Revealed

What you would want to do is create your content in a way that would funnel them into an offer..

Example:

Glucosamine Not as Safe as You Think

Talk about how Glucosamine is touted as a cure all for joint pain that is 100% safe, but new research shows that there are some side affects, and is not as safe as it was originally thought...

Talk about whatever new way and safer way why its better

then BOOM link to an offer or lander where you get paid, and build that funnel out to sell other offers..

Then attract targeted traffic directly to that article.. the big boys doing millions a month buy it..

But your site isn't setup to convert sales, its setup for measly little ad clicks which don't pay..


Now keep in mind I am not talking theory here, I talked to some of the owners of the sites that are doing millions a month, your's just isn't setup to convert or sell.

It's more informational based here's everything for free, no curiosity and no calls to action...

Big no no if you want to make real money with your site

Even if you didn't want to build out giant funnels and make millions a month, all you'd have to do is write your content better for selling, Not just to inform, give a call to action and link to an offer

I really would' waste any time marketing that site until it's setup to convert

A perfect example of a site like your that makes a ton of money is How Life Works

Pay attention to how they do their content, it is written WAAAY different than you do yours and for good reason...

Not saying your content isn't good, it's just not written to generate MONEY which is the whole point..

Then also How Life Works is also getting targeted traffic to each post thru paid media which they can do because their content converts into sale like crazy

Thank you, Nicolasb, I printed out your helpful post to read more thoroughly and digest. You've made some interesting points. I've tried to "tone down" the promotional stuff because patients read the blog. I guess I don't want them to feel like I'm selling to them but I do want to monetize it in a non-pushy way. I'll investigate "How Life Works" and see how they do it. I appreciate your advice! It's give me a lot to think about.

Hi Kristie,

Getting super specific with 1 niche can solve your problems.

Think of it this way; when seeing a doctor or lawyer, you're almost always going to a specialist. Sure you may have a general doctor or family attorney but serious,pressing problems require someone who's spent their entire pro lives - as well as time spent schooling - learning some small niche inside out.

This specialization gives both the professional and patient or client confidence in offering and receiving the service. Think, all the different types of attorneys or MDs, then think of how you'd only go to a podiatrist, to get your foot checked out, or a bankruptcy attorney if you went belly up, financially.

No fears though As you noted, you were a bit fearful that drilling down to a niche would be the case.Just 2 weeks ago I released 3400 blog posts in a heartbeat to create a new, clear, hyper focused blog. Already, I'm seeing super targeted readers show up, and my post today had some 450 social share flares, which is not bad for a new blog.

Instead of teaching folks how to make money online, then publishing posts on 10 to 15 different topics - think, podiatrist today, brain surgeon tomorrow, general doctor on Sunday - I decided to share blogging tips (then drilled down) for people who want to retire (then drilled down) to a life of travel (then drilled down) by island hopping.

Hence the blog name: Blogging From Paradise. Since I've been blogging from paradise for 39 months straight it's a perfect fit, but I had to let go my old blog, and 3400 blog posts, which definitely brought me some success, to make way for the smart, clear move.

When you do get clear Kristie,and focus on a hyper targeted niche, ideas will hit you with ease, you'll connect with the right people,and you'll have the dominant feeling that you're doing this right, and you'll really believe in yourself. You'll also attract the perfect readers and customers with less effort because they'll know you a podiatrist, instead of a doctor who allegedly practices 4 or 5 medicines, which is both confusing, and a confidence/trust killer, in the medical world.

Hope this helps Kristie.

Enjoy your weekend.

Ryan

What you could do is create a new website for a sub-niche within a specific niche. Keep it very focused and funnel it for sale and then point to that website from the page that is very closely related to that sub-niche on your existing website. Do all the right things for the new website to make it an authority site. Repeat and rinse for other niches that you want to focus on.

Hi aleong,

I agree with a few of the comments here. You have targeted several HUGE markets, and even though it is possible for your site to get the interest from search engines etc, it is going to take a lot more work than if you were in one niche in particular, solving just one problem.

But that doesn't mean that you should just quit what you have been doing on your current site and start fresh...

I think you have a big decision to make. Start a brand new site in ONE particular niche,and redirect any traffic from your old domain name to the new website (if under a different domain name), or stick with what you have and try to make it work - if you have confidence in that.

I personally believe that great content always filters to the top - so sure there may be bigger, longer-established players than you in the field, it doesn't mean that you won't be found and that people won't appreciate and love what you teach!

The fact that a niche is crowded shows that there is money to be made in it. I don't believe it when anybody says that the big niche markets are 'too full'... If somebody releases some genuinely fantastic content that is better than everybody elses (with the right marketing), then they will take their market share. Period.

I rambled a bit, but I hope that helps in some way!

Christian

Try to choose long tail and low competition keywords

Go to google keyword planner type health then pick one of the sub keywords and focus around that. Use the h1/h2/h3 properly and categories and tags properly. Submit RSS feeds and ping it. Once or Twice a day build human real backlinks. Keep doing this and you will be fine you can't fail! Good luck!

I suggest you to look what post convert you most by looking where your traffic came and what you bounce rate through analytic. Probably if you have $$ you could hire great SEO consultant. It does cost more but it should help you in long run. Bryan Dean is the owner Backlinko. He's one seo gurus that I think can help you. I am not affiliated with him at all and I just think he is the right guy if you looking for seo consultant.

I am also running a blog that is too general as well with more than 10 categories from arts to travel. I just post almost every day of whatever topic that comes into my mind. The site is doing well and is getting consistent traffic from search engines. You did not mention if you still putting fresh content or not. Google always love fresh and unique content.

Refocus each section. Use keyword clusters that have low competition and decent search volume. Yes, they exist. Also, focus on longer content-1500 words at least. If I were you, I'd focus more on 1) REVERSE ENGINEERING your competitors' best content while focusing on strategic longtail keywords and 2) spend 80% of your time on CONTENT OUTREACH

Perhaps you could restructure your blog so that each post focuses on a specific question asked by one of your real patients. You could use the first name and last name initial of the patient (to maintain privacy) and answer the question from your viewpoint as a medical professional. This would set your blog apart from many others that are generic and allow your patients to directly contribute to your blog by submitting questions. If your patients/readers know they are likely to be featured, they might come by more.