Discussions
How narrow should your blog focus be?
Posted by everybodygeek • 10/21/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: blog, blog focus, blogging, niche
When reading through advice about blogging, you always see 'pick a niche and become an expert'.
Now I was wondering, how narrow should that niche be?
Some time ago, I started a blog about everything computer related. Cause I really like computers, and I consider myself an expert (it's my job).
Is my blog too general? Is is wrong to blog about many different subcategories like in my case: computers, internet, games, blogging, etc.
What's your advice? How focussed should a blog be?
Feel free to visit my blog from my profile to get an idea what I mean...
Thank you!
User Comments
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Write from your herat, the core of your knowledge and interest and CREATE your niche of passion!
www.gosmelltheflowers.com -
Same problem with me here. I just learn how to blog and find it's difficult to stay in straight line. Sometimes, I want to write something about my favorite songs, but it hasn't related with my computer and games topic.
Maybe other users can share their opinion about how narrow a good blog should be? -
I stick to poems, photos and people. My personal musings don't find their way into this blog, I might start another one for that. I think one should divide up the subjects so that people can find what they are looking for rather rapidly. -
I started mine in January earlier this year and it was all about card making. But, as I progressed I began to got back into my art and started drawing and painting images for the cards. I also started to take photographs...
Then I started to do an inspirational post with a poem and a work of art every Friday.
I started another blog purely for my paintings as I progressed into portrait and people. However, to be honest, it gets very little traffic, everyone generally follows my card blog for my artwork too. So now I just concentrate on the one, it makes it a little more dynamic as the content is updated quite frequently and I just consider that it has evolved though natural progession. In fact reading this back, it has evolved a lot, LOL. -
I think this subject can go either way....
I, myself, like the way I have set-up my blog. I blog on my thoughts, opinions and recollections. It covers a lot of territory.
You can see what I mean at: www.thoughtsonmyday.com
JB -
mine is all about my activities and my first hand experiences and things that i do and food that I eat. Just simple things, and would be somehow fitting to your title. Like mine the title of my blogsite is zelmarq's Indulgence so it means its all about my personal journey so what i write there is all about the stuff and activities. -
I don't think keeping it to varying angles related to computers is a problem, because it offers you some variety of topic.
I cover a wide array of related topics in my thrifting blog-- from decorating inexpensively, to crafts, trips to antiques malls and flea markets, and humor pieces on vintage cookbooks, decorating books, etc. The topics are all related, but they're broad enough that there's always something to post.
If you started adding, say, recipes into the mix-- or book reviews not related to computers, well, that might surprise your readers and be too broad.
But from what you describe, I think it should work. Plus you said it's the area you already know a lot about. -
Well, this is exactly what I do NOT want to do.
My blog is and always has been kind of an on-line diary. Opinions, experiences, rants, kudos, discoveries, epiphanies...just totally eclectic.
I think if I had to be squeezed into a niche my writing would dry up.-
For on online diary, that makes sence.
But there is mutch to tell about computer related stuff, that sometimes I feel it might be too much. -
Maybe, but I can almost guarantee that I won't be a visitor. Most of these blogs presume entirely too much knowledge on the part of the reader and go into minute detail about things that bore me to tears.
But don't you think there are already a gazillion computer-related blogs out there? What is going to make yours special? Do you realize that most people approach their computers the same way they approach their cars? They know how to turn it on and how to operate it well enough to do what they need to do with it...like drive to Aunt Sally's or write Aunt Sally a letter with the word processor...they know how to feed it, and how to turn it off. That is the sum total of their knowledge...and most of us don't really WANT to know more. If it isn't working, we want an easy fix laid out in foolproof 1, 2, 3 type instructions or expert advice to take it to a shop. I don't think there are enough computer sites for this kind of user and entirely too many for the technophile.
So...what is going to make your computer blog stand out against the millions of others already out there...and why would a user like me want to visit it? -
I believe that my blog is different from the million other computer blogs, because I target a very broad audience. I take my time to try to write self-explanatory posts. I try to make them accessible for non-computer experts without any knowledge, using step-by-stem instructions. And of course, they can always ask for help in the comments.
Some posts however, do require some basic knowledge. My blog is not only for non-experts. A big challenge and I hope I succeed.
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There's not wrong way for blogging. Some people say that their way of blogging is the best is because it benefits them. Not because they are right. So those technique may working or not working when used by others.
The point is write where you're strong at.
So just be you pal!
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kerjasampinganaja.blogsome.com
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If traffic is the issue the more competitive the topic, the more focused you need to be to gain traction. But it is a balancing act, too broad and no one will find you and too narrow the few that do will not generate enough traffic to be worthwhile. -
It all boils down to the objective of the blog. If it is an information blog of a specific nature, it cannot be too wide a scope to stay focus. However, if the content is those "free and easy" leisure reading type, why narrow down? Ultimately, I believe, it is the relax mode in writing that give off a frank message. Be flexible and sensible.
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anythinggorgeous.blogspot.com
mathsisinteresting.blogspot.com
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"When reading through advice about blogging, you always see 'pick a niche and become an expert'."
Why is this, seems some people like to make RULES for others to follow? I really don't like rules. Really, really!
It is your blog so talk about whatever you want to talk about. Later, when you have a bunch of regular readers, ask them what you should talk about.
Your Living Aboard Friend, Rob -
I think you should make it about whats interesting to you. If you enjoy your bog theres a good chance other people will enjoy it too. Like mine
vodkancheetos.blogspot.com -
If you enjoy what you're writing about, chances are your readers will too. I personally don't think you need to stick to a particular topic as long as what you're writing is interesting.
If however, you're still worried about it. Can you create different pages on your blog? One page for your computer stuff and others for your other interests? That way if readers are interested in your computer stuff they know exactly where to go. -
Is my blog too general? Is is wrong to blog about many different subcategories like in my case: computers, internet, games, blogging, etc.
Yes .. I think your blog is a little too general. I am not an expert on exactly what are good niches but, if I were to look at your blog .. computers is not a niche; Internet is not a niche; Games is not a niche; And, blogging is not a niche; These are not even close to the niches you hear everybody talk about.
However, they talk about it so you can be seen as an expert. A master of one, and not a jack of all trades. It is possible to become very masterful in the topics you have chosen, but your biggest obstacle would be that there are many other people and sites who are already masterful. You are unknown.
I was showing my music blog and music store to someone the other day and that word came up in conversation .. "niche". I suggested, that I just was interested in music and I never really thought deliberately that I was focusing on a specific "niche" .. just on something other people who like music or musical instruments. (I always hated that word and never heard it in normal vocabulary and conversations until 2005 which meant to me, it was a made-up word and thus I can ignore it from my brain).
That person pointed out that if I really wanted to get into a good niche ... two examples related to music would be something like .. (1) trumpets or (2) left handed instruments. The expert part of these topics would be able to be knowledgeable about all kinds of (1) trumpets and maybe identify songs or musicians that play trumpet in them .. or (2) left handed instruments of famous musicians and songs and other products needed by people who are left handed.
It seemed too hard for me to focus that tight so I don't. -
I think I almost fall into the trap of being to general that it does not have a theme. Occasional post on some stuff that is not totally related your blog is ok I felt (about 1-2%). When I started my first blog, it's on gaming tips etc, but then there are so many site around that does that...So in the end I decided to stay focus and just concentrate social games on FB platform. Site is doing ok I felt for a new blogger like me.
Main Ministry Of Game Blog URL: ministryofgame.blogspot.com
Example of a post on my blog: ministryofgame.blogspot.com/2008/10/playfish-pet-society-ways-to-get-coins....
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