Defining Your Blogging Niche

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Something super important in blogging is defining a niche. Niche can be defined as “A position or activity that particularly suits somebody’s talents and personality or that somebody can make his or her own”. I’ve been blogging for about 5 years off and on and I feel like I’ve finally found my blogging niche. I’ve started a few blogs in the past that just weren’t in my niche. I didn’t feel like I was building my personal brand, which makes it super hard for readers to connect.

To define your blogs niche sit down and make a list of topics you have experience in or that you really like to write about. Write down everything that comes to mind. Really think about your personality and the things that make you who you are. Once you’ve spent some time on this list start to narrow it down. Keep narrowing it down until you get to your top 3-5 topics. Now look at those topics and make sure you can create quality content around them. Maybe cooking is one of your topics, but you really don’t see yourself blogging about recipes or food. In that case I would remove cooking from your list. You want to make sure your top blogging topics are ones that are important to you, but are also ones that you can consistently create quality content around. For some reason this was always hard for me. I think the reason it was so hard was because I was trying to blog about what everyone else was blogging about. Once I let my voice come through and only blogged about what I wanted to blog about it was so much easier and the content came flowing.

After you have your 3-5 topics defined make another list with actual blog posts that pertain to that topic. For example if one of your topics was recipes add actual recipes that you know you could blog about. If one of your topics was fashion add actual outfits that you could go out and photograph or topics relating to fashion that you could write about. Sometimes it even helps to see if you could create a month’s worth of content around those 3 topics. If you can imagine a ton of content around those topics, then you’re in your sweet spot.

I used to blog about so many random things and I felt like my readers we’re confused about who I was as a blogger, because I was confused myself! Once you narrow it down and focus on who you are and what you like to share with the blogging world, blogging becomes so much more fun!

If you have more tips please leave them in the comments. I love growing with this community!

 

31 Comments

  1. Susete on July 17, 2015 at 11:30 am

    I’m not sure if I have found a niche. I am new to blogging and am just writing about my life, things I learn, family and faith intertwined in there. Would love for you to check out my blog and tell me what you think!

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on July 17, 2015 at 12:09 pm

      Hey Susete! I don’t see a link to your blog or I would totally look it over! It sounds like since you’re narrowing it down to a few things that you have a niche 🙂

  2. Leah Ann on July 17, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Great post! I too am a new blogger and have yet to really understand why I’ve done it other than something to share with my family and keep a digital baby book for my son. Or if I even want to turn it into something other than that. Would love for you to tell me what you think as well! Your little boy is precious BTW!!

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on July 17, 2015 at 1:48 pm

      I think a mix of all of the above would be perfect! It’s always best to share your life and the things that inspire you!

  3. Heydy on July 17, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Hi!love this post.

    I started my blog about 4 months ago and am yet to find my niche. Can you check out my blog and see what stand out to you?

    Thank you so so so so much !

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on July 17, 2015 at 2:37 pm

      I love the mom/family posts because that’s what I’ve been incorporating a lot lately. Find out which posts your readers respond to the most and continue to post those types of posts!

  4. Paw on July 18, 2015 at 3:07 pm

    Incredibly good advice! You must have had brilliant parents…
    Seriously – very good points made. Niche is where it’s at. Always play to your strength.

  5. Liz on August 8, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    Definitely great tips. And I love the coffee cup in the photo!!

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on August 8, 2015 at 12:04 pm

      Ha, thanks Liz! It’s from North Detail, formerly Neatly Noted.

  6. Lyn on August 8, 2015 at 6:04 pm

    Thank you for this post! I’ve been struggling with this lately, myself. When I first started blogging, years ago, it was about my journey to better myself as a person and overall adult human being. But over time, it progressed more into a bunch of posts about my personal interests. I think my niche is really taking people on the journey with me as I try to be more productive and less lazy, using my blog as that friend who holds you accountable and creating a community based on others trying to do the same thing. I’m starting to get back to these roots and I hope it will help regain the focus and passion I once had.

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on August 10, 2015 at 11:21 am

      It sounds like you have great direction with your blog! Keep it up Lyn 🙂 Thanks for your comment!

  7. Tori Gabriel on August 10, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    Great post. I blog as a hobby and I think my “niche” is lost in the thousands of other parenting blogs out there. 🙁

  8. Chocolate Mama Loves Vanilla on August 10, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    I always enjoy when I get to read what works for other bloggers! You can never get enough information! As a new blogger, these tips are always a goldmine to stumble upon! Thanks for the quick read! 😀

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on August 10, 2015 at 4:12 pm

      You’re welcome! Thanks for your sweet comment!

  9. Brita Long on August 10, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    For my first few months, I had some general ideas for blog topics, basically posts that were easy for me to write because I was passionate about those subjects. After I had a few months of experience, I analyzed my stats to see which topics resonated most with my readers. This helped me narrow my focus, although I’m still happy with the “Christian feminist lifestyle” genre. Some of my posts are more for me than for my readers, like my goal-setting posts, but I try not to have too many of those.

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on August 10, 2015 at 4:13 pm

      Yes- great strategy!

  10. Monica Bruno on August 10, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    Hi Lee Anne, I’m actually trying to figure this out myself right now. I know two topics that I own (running & writing), but I need to find another one or two to blog about. My daughter is autistic, and I have written about some of those struggles before, so autism may be another topic I add (however, I don’t know if I could come up with a bunch of content around that). I’m also a yogi and I meditate daily (but, I feel like those topics are too common and overdone). Anyway, I still have some work to do. Thanks for your post. BTW, I’m an Austinite, too! 🙂

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on August 11, 2015 at 9:52 am

      Awesome, to run into more Austinites! It’s hard to narrow it down, but once you do it is so much easier!

  11. Emily on September 2, 2015 at 9:38 am

    This is such good advice! I had an old blog that I had to abandon because it was completely all over the place! I now keep a list of blog posts related to my major topics exactly like you recommended and it is so helpful! 😀

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on October 5, 2015 at 9:57 pm

      Yes, that’s such a good idea!

  12. Brittany on September 2, 2015 at 9:38 am

    I love this tip. Without a focus it can kind of feel like you are all over the place. Love your blog by the way it has a really pretty layout! I am a fellow Texan too, but I am in North Texas. I love Austin!

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on September 2, 2015 at 9:41 am

      Awe, thanks Brittany! I need to explore more of Texas. I’ve been so stuck in the Austin bubble since I moved here!

  13. Caitlyn Battelle on September 2, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    Hi Lee Anne! I feel like I have to almost reexamine my niche every so often as I evolve in my writing! I understand what you mean about being confused about your niche though. I still feel this way sometimes, even though now I pretty much have a feel of my content area. Great topic & post! 🙂

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on September 2, 2015 at 12:35 pm

      Thanks Caitlyn! I agree. It evolves as you evolve!

  14. Julie @ Girl on the Move on September 2, 2015 at 3:20 pm

    Great tips on defining your blog niche…and so important!!!

  15. Christina on September 2, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    I started my blog in April and I’m just now getting it all figured out, with what niche I belong in etc. I was all over the place as well and I felt it was super confusing but it’s also so hard to find a niche and bring it all into that. Thanks for the advice!

    • leeannefoltz@gmail.com on October 5, 2015 at 9:57 pm

      You’re welcome! Thanks for reading!

  16. Kris on December 21, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    Great post! Currently in the process of figuring out my niche. I love writing but I have a hard time narrowing things down!

  17. Kris on December 21, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Great post! I’m currently in the process of figuring out my niche. I love writing but have a hard time narrowing it down!

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