As of July 2011, there are roughly 164 million blogs on the internet, with the number growing every day. Given this number, it may seem like a daunting task to create a profitable blog that stands out.
However, one way to attract visitors and build traffic is to focus a blog on a specific niche. By choosing a specific area of demand, bloggers can build an authority and find their place in the Internet.
The Benefits of Targeting a Specific Audience
Why choose to write a niche specific blog? Many beginning bloggers may feel hesitant towards creating this type of blog, worried that they may quickly lose content or the enthusiasm to sustain the blog.
However, there are a number of benefits that eventually convince bloggers to target a niche specific audience. By focusing on a niche, bloggers are able to become authorities in their field. This trusted reputation can lend to a number of advantages, ranging from recognition, speaking engagements and writing requests.
In addition, a niche specific blog allows visitors to know exactly what to expect when going to your site. This traffic increases the chance that readers will develop into a loyal base, giving bloggers the chance to speak to a wide audience.
5 Tips on Creating a Niche Blog
Blogging is an activity that requires time and dedication, and for bloggers to understand that it is a long-term commitment. The following tips can help bloggers get into the mindset of creating a niche specific blog:
1. Develop a Passion
Regardless of whether the individual creates a general or niche specific blog, it is important to understand hundreds of posts will be written on a particular topic. This is specifically true for niche blogs, where post after post focus on a single theme.
While writing for a niche blog, it is easy to get burnt out without passion. Therefore, the blogger should make sure that they are truly passionate about the topic, and that they possess the enthusiasm and know-how needed to maintain a blog.
2. Avoid Trends
While creating a blog, it is important to choose a topic that will last as long as possible. Take the example of a TV show: if the show lasts for several seasons and possesses a dedicated fan base, it may be a valuable topic for a niche blog. This popular topic will most likely drive traffic and interest to their blog, as well as provide valuable content material.
However, a blog that focuses on a single season show may quickly lose the ability to sustain itself. Therefore, when choosing a niche for a blog, it is vital to ensure that there is a reliable source of content.
3. Maintain Focus
It is important to make sure that the blog stays consistent and relevant to the niche. It is vital that bloggers choose a specific topic and sticky with it. If a “cosmetic dentistry” blog begins to produce content on “lead generation for bloggers“, this may confuse and drive readers away.
4. Create a Content Plan
In order to ensure traffic and a dedicated audience, one essential tip for bloggers is to create a content schedule. There are a number of reasons why bloggers should create a consistent schedule: it allows bloggers to determine which days to release content, allowing for flexibility in the future.
In addition, a schedule forces a blogger to work under deadlines, rather than vague guidelines. This will force the blogger to produce content, benefiting both the writer and the blog.
Finally, producing consistent content allows the blogger to establish themselves as an authority in their targeted niche.
5. Be Realistic
Many bloggers start a niche specific blog, with the hopes that it will become a profitable cash cow. However, like any money-making endeavor, creating a blog will require considerable time and effort.
One of the main challenges of maintaining a blog is to keep up with the pace and content schedule, making sure that readers are constantly engaged. During this “trial” period, a majority of fledgling blogs fail, unable to reach their maximum potential.
However, if the blogger is realistic about their commitment, then they can develop a successful blog with a steady stream of cash.
Rachel Hyun Kim is a writer for Resource Nation, an online resource that gives advice such as lead generation to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Rachel has written on a variety of topics, ranging from background checks to medical billing software.
Blogging Success: 53 Blogging Mistakes You Should Avoid
What Are Long Tail Keywords And Why Should You Care?
Forget Short Attention Span: Make Your Readers Stay No Matter What
5 Tips to Help You Become A Problogger
How To Kiss Your Blog Readers Warm (And Make Them Yours For Life)
Blogging with a specific niche yields great results in long term. If one knows his area of interest he can easily start a blog related to his interested niche and will never go out of ideas for writing content.
Thanks for these awesome tips. I think Create a Content Plan is the essential part of creating a niche specific blog, because we have to target the right audience.
Rachel Kim says
You hit the nail right on the head, finding the right audience for your blog is very important! Thanks for reading!
Yes there are a lot of benefits to build a niche blog, however, it is not easy to maintain it.
I chose to go with wide niche blog and it is very difficult to build loyal reader base.
Rachel Kim says
Focusing on a singular topic alone may be difficult to maintain, especially when you start running out of ideas. But its also important to make sure your blog isn’t too broad, as it may appear to be too general. Thanks for reading!
If a blog is Niche specific it will be very easy for the readers to get more out of it rather than just being general.
Rachel Kim says
Readers who know exactly what they’re looking for may find niche-specific blogs much more accessible. Thanks for the comment!
I’ve had a number of blogs in the past but only still work on one consistently and it’s because it’s a big passion of mine. I’ve really found that to be the biggest key to success because it will help you follow one of the foundational pillars to blogging- create consistently great content.
Rachel Kim says
You’ve got it right - in the end, it all comes down to content. Thanks!
Building a niche blog can be very promising in the long run. But, it isn’t easy to start one niche blog because you must at least know lots of things about your topic. Otherwise, you will end up finding clueless with what you’re doing. Remember that your visitors are looking after of the benefits they could get from you.
Rachel Kim says
A great way to summarize the article. Thanks so much for your concise words!
For niche blogging domain knowledge is the first step. After getting perfection in domain knowledge creation of research based contents is necessary but your success still demands patience of high level. This will make you realistic niche blogger.
Rachel Kim says
Ooo I should have included that in my article. Thanks for the tip!
No doubt the competition in blogging exceed day to day and relying on a specific niche is good but you need long term plan for that and also long term wait for attract visitor attraction.
Rachel Kim says
Thanks for reading! I’m glad you enjoyed the article!
It’s sad but true - having a catchy headline is half the battle when trying to attract readers to your blog. I’ve lost count of the number of headlines I’ve clicked on only to find out the article itself is barely connected to the sensational title. The Yahoo news page and the Huffington Post are especially guilty of this – I sometimes get the feeling they spend more time coming up with the headlines than on the articles themselves.
Rachel Kim says
I find that coming up with a title is the hardest part of writing articles. Proportionally, I think I spend the most time on trying to think of a compelling title. The challenges of blog writing :/
targeting a specific audience is much better than looking for a broad one…….
thanks for sharing it………
Rachel Kim says
Given the specificity of a niche blog, targeting specific audiences can help you quickly find and establish a reader base. Thanks for reading!
you can try to be a pro in your field and give suggestion like a pro , it had helped me a lot to gain some true followers who do as i tell them to.
p.s. comment luv is not working for my site here , its works every where :S , it says
”A feed could not be found at http://www.seoallrounder.com”
Rachel Kim says
Being an expert in your field is a great, credible way to get followers! Thanks for reading!
Specificity is very important in every thing we do especially in business…I am sure this post and information provided here can help…
Rachel Kim says
I hope that this post helps people who are starting a niche specific blog! Thanks for reading, and I hoped it helped you!
Rachel
developing a passion is key aspect, once you are passionate about something no one can stop you
Rachel Kim says
If you don’t have a passion for writing or blogging, then maintaining a niche blog is going to be a rough challenge. Thanks!
Blogging is very useful for any online business or sharing important information on internet. The interesting title and unique content are require for effective blog to impress users. Your given tips are useful for any blogger.
Rachel Kim says
The possible topics for niche blogs are endless, you’re really only limited by your own imagination. Thanks for your comment!
Aris says
All the tips you mentioned are a must, especially the content creation and a distribution schedule is a must too in order to be consistent.
Rachel Kim says
Thanks for agreeing! Its nice to know that my article is validated
Rachel Kim says
I agree, if the writer is well versed in his or her niche, then they’ll probably have ideas to fuel their blog for awhile. Thanks for reading!
As most already mentioned, a niche blog can really pay off in the long run, but it can get really frustrating in the beginning, as it’s not that easy to get a good amount of loyal readers and thus most of the time you won’t make much money in the beginning. But if you push through and keep it running for 1-2 years, if found them to be a great income source.
Yes, exactly. The key to effective blogging is to write for your audience. And with niche blogging, you get to foster a closer relationship with your readers. You have the chance to specify things to write according to their very interests.
Every blog should have their own niche, so you have your targeted visitors, and must be your passion so everything will go accordingly. It’s not bad to have more niches, as long as you have the main and the others will be related sub-parts.
There are some travel bloggers who are doing extremely well in their field all because its a great niche
Micheal says
I use Trends for my blogging in previous yeas, but I know now that choosing a specific niche is best for blogging passion.
When i started blogging, i knew i had to choose the niche which interested me the most. SO i chose tech niche and i am still enjoying it cuz writing about technology comes naturally to me
That is useful for anyone who is going to write blog for his or her website or product. Appropriate category is important and that is the same this post is all about.
my specific niche is gout - I try to help people who suffer with this ailment
Keith
Absolutely, passion and niche. I have started and dropped few blogs. Passion and interest is the key. I think if there is a subject or niche that you really want to learn about, this is an excellent niche opportunity. If the passion or drive isnt there you may have a hard time even remembering to post.
“By focusing on a niche, bloggers are able to become authorities in their field.” I agree. And there’s a mountain of evidence to back-up your point. Niche blogging is the best way to brand a site and standout as an authority on a particular subject.
Good information!
A number of out clients are pursuing this strategy-building a niche audience rather than trying to capture the attention of many. And, it seems to work in the majority of cases. By tapping into a specific market, a loyal audience is created and our clients get more conversions as a result.