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What self-help niche should I start an authority website on?

by Zac The Man
27 replies
Basically, i plan on picking a self-help topic, reading 50 or so books on that topic and writing maybe 200 (2000 word long) articles on the various aspects of that topic. Basically creating an authority blog.

I'm doing this for the money so i'd like to know what would be the most profitable self-help niche to do this on? I'm not interested in the "romance" niche or the "weight loss" niche. And the "make money online niche" seems too difficult to break into. I was thinking some one of the following:
  • Depression
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Wellness
  • Confidence

Which of these is the most profitable? Or maybe you can think of another niche I have not thought of here. Any advice would be much appreciated.
#authority #niche #selfhelp #start #website
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  • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
    Originally Posted by Zac The Man View Post

    Any advice would be much appreciated.
    Here's some advice. You want to make money blogging as an authority because you have read 50 books on a topic?

    Rethink your plan.
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    • Profile picture of the author Zac The Man
      Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

      Here's some advice. You want to make money blogging as an authority because you have read 50 books on a topic?

      Rethink your plan.
      Care to explain why becoming an expert on a topic and then selling your knowledge on that topic to help people who need assistance in that area is not a good business plan????

      That's what all business is about.
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      • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
        Originally Posted by Zac The Man View Post

        Care to explain why becoming an expert on a topic and then selling your knowledge on that topic to help people who need assistance in that area is not a good business plan????

        That's what all business is about.
        Your belief that you will become an expert simply through reading 50 books is rather dubious and simplistic. It demonstrates that you don't have the requisite understanding of what's required to be an authority in these subjects.

        Many of the disciplines you mention would require training well above what you are going to find in any book. Do you really believe that you can simply read and then help people combat depression?

        Really? I find that thought incredibly depressing and I maintain that it's an extremely flawed business model.

        You're certain welcome to try. You asked for advice and you got it. I didn't realize that you were only looking for advice that you totally agree with.

        You'll go far in business.
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        • Profile picture of the author Zac The Man
          Originally Posted by OptedIn View Post

          Many of the disciplines you mention would require training well above what you are going to find in any book. Do you really believe that you can simply read and then help people combat depression?
          Well if you think about it, thats what students do in college. They read lots of books. They listen to professors (which is the same as reading books) and then after that they get their degree. They are then an expert to a certain extent.

          You can just cut out all the college crap, and just read lots of books in a topic and to be honest, you will probably end up being more knowledge than alot of people who come out of college with a degree in that topic.
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          • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
            Originally Posted by Zac The Man View Post

            You can just cut out all the college crap, and just read lots of books in a topic and to be honest, you will probably end up being more knowledge than a lot of people who come out of college with a degree in that topic.
            That comment simply illustrates that you won't be one of those people. You go right on being full of ridiculous beliefs, dismissive of reality and good advice that YOU asked for, which you obviously disdain and move ahead with your plan.

            Be sure to let us know how that works for you.
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          • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
            First of all, a couple of your topics are not self-help. They are potentially deadly, serious health issues.

            Second, why discount where the real learning takes place? It's not in class. It's during the internship, being under supervision, and dealing with patients on a daily basis. That is where the real learning and becoming an authority takes place.

            Joe's depressive symptoms don't exactly match the DSM criteria for clinical depression so what else could it be? I wonder where his dreams of being the driver of a flying bus that crashes comes in? Have anything to do with his wife's recent affair?

            If you are going to pick something to be a so-called expert, pick something where you are less likely to harm or even kill people.

            Mark


            Originally Posted by Zac The Man View Post

            Well if you think about it, thats what students do in college. They read lots of books. They listen to professors (which is the same as reading books) and then after that they get their degree. They are then an expert to a certain extent.

            You can just cut out all the college crap, and just read lots of books in a topic and to be honest, you will probably end up being more knowledge than alot of people who come out of college with a degree in that topic.
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            • Profile picture of the author Zac The Man
              Originally Posted by Mark Singletary View Post

              If you are going to pick something to be a so-called expert, pick something where you are less likely to harm or even kill people.

              Mark
              So the confidence niche would be a good idea (as i'm unlikely to kill someone with that niche :-)). You see, if you go online there are almost no websites dedicated solely to "confidence". What you have is blogs and websites on positive thinking and personal development that might have an article or two on confidence but they also have articles on procrastination, stress etc. In other words, personal development blogs tend to have articles on lots of areas of personal development rather than focusing in on one specific area.

              So i wanted to set up a website that would deal very well with just one topic. But as i intend on investing alot of my time and resources becoming an expert in that topic, i was on here looking for the most profitable one. Which (and not trying to annoy anyone) no one seems to know.

              Is there any way I could find this info out? Is stress more profitable than confidence for example? Or the other way around?
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              • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
                Originally Posted by Zac The Man View Post

                But as i intend on investing alot of my time and resources becoming an expert in that topic, i was on here looking for the most profitable one. Which (and not trying to annoy anyone) no one seems to know.
                That's because you're asking an impossible to answer question. The topics you mention aren't commodities in which you can compare the likely profits. Any returns you receive will be directly related to the value you bring. Simply knowing a lot of information gleaned by reading a selection of books on the topic won't set you up as someone to listen to or follow.

                And by the way, if you're struggling to find any websites dedicated solely to "confidence", good luck finding 50 books.
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by Zac The Man View Post

            Well if you think about it, thats what students do in college. They read lots of books. They listen to professors (which is the same as reading books) and then after that they get their degree. They are then an expert to a certain extent.

            You can just cut out all the college crap, and just read lots of books in a topic and to be honest, you will probably end up being more knowledge than alot of people who come out of college with a degree in that topic.
            No. They read lots of books...and train in heir field of expertise.

            You can't read 50 medical books and call yourself a doctor.

            You want to be an expert on depression? After you read 50 books, how many years are you going to spend treating people for depression? What studies are you going to engage in? How many people with depression are you going to talk to?

            Depression (and all the rest of the niches you list) are serious problems people have. They need real hep, from real experts who have real experience treating hundreds of other people.

            If you want to make money, sell something...but don't try to pretend you are qualified to treat real psychological problems...because you read some books.

            If you want to pursue this path, choose something in the New Age field. No training or knowledge is required there.
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            • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
              Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

              If you want to pursue this path, choose something in the New Age field. No training or knowledge is required there.
              In fact, that's probably an impediment.
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              • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
                Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

                In fact, that's probably an impediment.
                If not a major violation of the niche credo.
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          • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
            Originally Posted by Zac The Man View Post

            Well if you think about it, thats what students do in college. They read lots of books. They listen to professors (which is the same as reading books) and then after that they get their degree. They are then an expert to a certain extent.

            You can just cut out all the college crap, and just read lots of books in a topic and to be honest, you will probably end up being more knowledge than alot of people who come out of college with a degree in that topic.
            Sure you can read a pile of books, and turn it into a site on overcoming depression, and your site will be full of the same old stuff you can read about in those books, which is entertaining and inspiring and may help individuals in some small way, but overall.....

            I agree with others, a regurgitated site on depression probably won't go long term, and most visitors will suss this out over time, or through PM's and reviews on other sites, will see the "sign up for my free e-book on the 10 best ways to overcome depression" eventhough it is a cut and paste of 10 books on overcoming depression, is a bit hollow.

            I came up a site on toys and games years ago, put years of effort into it, but l also had years of failed designs, (which l scanned and shared) and one success that was sold world wide, or l had some success and years of experience.

            I freely shared all of that, and got to 100 pages of unique content, but it failed to make any decent money, and l keep it for sentimental value.

            I would say unless you have some experience, then don't bother.

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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    The list of niches you posted above have search results in the hundreds of millions. In most of those niches, the authority sites are run by medical professionals or medical organizations. That's not even counting the number of people suffering form one of those conditions who is writing about 'my journey'...

    You are proposing to write the equivalent of a SERIES of books (200x2000 word articles=400,000 words). Number of words doesn't make an authority site - engagement does. if you are only repeating what you've read - it is unlikely you will have a profitable site.

    You can become well versed in a niche by reading a lot of books - but you won't be an expert. You will be repeating what others have learned and written about - you won't have experience or practical application to refer to.

    Trying to provide assistance in a mental health niche (depression, stress, anxiety are medical conditions)....can do more harm than good.

    Instead of looking for 'what is a profitable niche' - why not look for a niche you know something about - have a real interest in and will not be bored writing about it day in and day out?

    If you believe that's a good business plan - do it. You did ask, though.
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    • Profile picture of the author Zac The Man
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      The list of niches you posted above have search results in the hundreds of millions. In most of those niches, the authority sites are run by medical professionals or medical organizations. That's not even counting the number of people suffering form one of those conditions who is writing about 'my journey'...
      Very good point. This is precisely why i'm avoiding the weight loss niche. That niche seems to be dominated now by medical/professional organizations.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    I'm doing this for the money.....

    I'd think this one through Zac. Here's why; when you do something for profits, not passion, your content tends to be lame and boring compared to self help bloggers filled with passion.

    Example; I am a contributor on Positively Positive. 2.5 million Facebook Fans. My fellow contributors are celebrities like Mark Cuban, Seth Godin and Jack Canfield. Most famous on earth in their niches. All of us landed the gig by being incredibly passionate about self help, and, our chosen niches, if differing from self help.

    Find something neat too; focusing 100% on a self help niche you feel passionate about brings in the greatest profits long term. You need a little bit o' patience buddy; which I am sure you picked up in 1 of those 50 books LOL

    All the best. Say Hi to Principle Belding for me.

    Ryan
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    weight loss niche

    I don't think 'weight loss' is a niche these days. It's a category - and there are niches and sub-niches and perhaps sub -sub-niches.
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  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    Originally Posted by Zac The Man View Post

    Basically, i plan on picking a self-help topic, reading 50 or so books on that topic and writing maybe 200 (2000 word long) articles on the various aspects of that topic. Basically creating an authority blog.

    I'm doing this for the money so i'd like to know what would be the most profitable self-help niche to do this on? I'm not interested in the "romance" niche or the "weight loss" niche. And the "make money online niche" seems too difficult to break into. I was thinking some one of the following:
    • Depression
    • Stress
    • Anxiety
    • Wellness
    • Confidence

    Which of these is the most profitable? Or maybe you can think of another niche I have not thought of here. Any advice would be much appreciated.
    I give you credit for a well crafted troll post .. that got serious responses from advanced forum members ..and you not jus running off and keeping with you line of trollish questions ..

    that way i can basically openly accuse you of not being serious with the question you put in the original post ..

    you may actually need college degrees and advanced degrees ..that allow you to put DR, MD or PHD ..in you name or title.. to be recognized as an authority in any of the nieches you put in the list ..with significant training costs ..

    I do not believe you are asking a serious question .. but just a question to see who will give you serious answers ..

    so i will actually give you a serious answer .. pretty much know one will do .. If you are healthy and not more than a few bounds over weight ..intentional spend the next year ..putting on 50 to 100 pounds with the intention of then loosing it again with an audience . putting a blog together .. a facebook pag .. a youtube channel where you cook all kinds of fatty recipes .. .. instagram..

    you can probably get plenty of support through crow funding sight by people willing to watch you put wight on as fast as possible ..

    you won't even have to buy and read 50 books .. just watch several videos on different foods .. and put a video up of you cooking it ..just tasty and unhealthy .. and yummy looking food ..on your journey to get fat fast ..do what you can to get as much attention ..

    by your post you already know how to do it.. you can probably get away with putting 30 pounds on then saying your doctor begged you to stop .. and turn around and do the weight loss part
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  • Profile picture of the author Educated To Success
    Why don't you just go for it and then you will truly know if it works, but if you're going to read 50 books and put that much time into it I'd recommend doing something you're actually interested in instead of chasing the money. You'll probably give up after the 5th book if not.
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  • Profile picture of the author InternetMarketingMadeEZ
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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by InternetMarketingMadeEZ View Post

      All these are popular topics.. and you can do keyword research to ascertain the real money topics.
      Apparently the actual crux of the conversation has eluded you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Immortal Fascist
    Just let the power spurt man, and off you go.
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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Originally Posted by Immortal Fascist View Post

      Just let the power spurt man, and off you go.
      Depression,Zac The Man.....l think that l may be your first customer.

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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by Immortal Fascist View Post

      Just let the power spurt man, and off you go.
      Off you go, where? To the dry cleaners?
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    ROFLMAO:


    All the well meaning advice posted - and the OP 'thanks" this:


    Just let the power spurt man, and off you go.

    Oh yeah - A spurt is definitely the answer.
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    From a guy named "Immortal fascist" no less. The WF just gets better and better each time I drop by. This thread delivers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Net 700
    Listen to the humming of the inner voice. Activate it and you'll receive answers.

    A pious cause that triggers an awakening.

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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by Net 700 View Post

      Everything looks spectacular because that's the way I see it.
      Isn't this the classic example of the term, 'delusion?'
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