Finding my niche?

[Rookie27]

Hi,

So one of the things I learned from this forum is I've gotta know who my audience is. My niche, you know? But then, I started my blog with the idea of dumping whatever was in my mind in it. And someone here said my blog is a musings blog. Haha, I kinda like how that sounds. But what do you guys think? Isn't randomness good?? (Yes it is! XD)

Anyways, the reason I'm asking this is that I've noticed that musings blogs take a really long time to build a following...

[knubbl]

Hi Rookie,

the problem with blogs about random stuff is that it's hard to find people that are interested in what you write about. Think about it this way.
The likelihood of one person being interested in one of your topics is high. But the more topics you add the fewer people will be interested.
I mean as long as you have a topic that you stick to it's good but if you just post random stuff than it's hard for people to follow your blog. Is that your blog in your signature? If it is then you could of course write about the fun of boredom. What you do when you are bored etc.

Hope this helps

[ChickenFreak]

I started with a multitopic blog, but when it became clear that almost all of my readers were there for the perfume posts, I split it, keeping the main blog for the perfume and starting a new one for the "whatever I feel like".

Now it's looking like most of my readers for the "whatever" blog are there for the garden posts, and I'm thinking vaguely of doing another split. But until I can assure that I post three times a week on gardening, I'm resisting the temptation.

So my point is that you could blog on whatever you feel like for a while, but if you eventually find a topic that either you or your readers enjoy the most - you could focus your main blog on that topic and move the other topics to a new blog.

[Rookie27]

I see... well, I'm not sure I know what topics my readers are interested in yet. Don't get a whole lot of comments. I guess my blogging just sucks as a whole. Huhuhu...

And yeah, I usually write when I'm bored.

And when I say musings blogs take a long time to build a following, I mean blogs like this: (F.O.A) - Freedom of Association. It took him 5 years but he now has almost 300 Blogger followers and almost a thousand Facebook fans. Another example is this guy: Frust Tapi Malas. But he mostly blogs in Malay so I don't think you guys can read his blog and understand it.

[Andy Perkins]

My opinion is that most readers expect a blog to have an overarching theme. That doesn't mean that it can have only one topic - but that almost all of the posts are related to a central theme.

The problem with random posts is that you want readers to come back - but they never have a sense of what they're coming back to. Imagine if your favorite restaurant switched cuisines at random - so that you'd never know what to expect. After a couple of tries, some of which you liked and others you didn't, you'd probably stop going.

Same is true with a blog's readers.

I'm in the marketing research business so my suggestion would be to ask the readers what they think. Use a simple satisfaction questionnaire like the one described in the link and you'll be amazed at what you can find out about their preferences. And at how that information can help with your content creation.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by Andy Perkins

My opinion is that most readers expect a blog to have an overarching theme. That doesn't mean that it can have only one topic - but that almost all of the posts are related to a central theme.

I agree with the above sentiment.

When finding your niche ask yourself some of these questions, for example:

(1) What am I particularly knowledgeable about that I could keep writing about it for a while...

(2) What are my hobbies?

(3) What do I really have a passion for?

(4) What is unique that I could say that will attract readers to listen to me?

When I was looking for a niche, I knew that there was only one topic that would work for me (my blog is in my siggy) but I did run through some of those questions in my head.

[Rookie27]

Damn... so many things to think about. Thing is, when I started my blog, I wasn't sure what I was gonna blog about. Was just learning the ropes. I thought in time I'd figure out what I'm gonna blog about. But no, I still have no clue.

And hi Melody. Haha, seems you keep forgetting me. Of course I know your blog! Seen it couple of times already. Thing is, I'm not sure I can blog about a particular subject on a weekly basis. Sighs. What I'm particularly knowledgeable about? Nothing I guess. What I'm passionate about? Not sure either. Damn, it sucks to be a young adult.

Is it okay to say that what I'm trying to sell is my personality? That sounded really obnoxious didn't it? Haha.

And thanks Andy Perkins, I'll try to incorporate the questionnaire ASAP. Would really like to know what my readers think.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by Rookie27

Damn... so many things to think about. Thing is, when I started my blog, I wasn't sure what I was gonna blog about. Was just learning the ropes. I thought in time I'd figure out what I'm gonna blog about. But no, I still have no clue.

And hi Melody. Haha, seems you keep forgetting me. Of course I know your blog! Seen it couple of times already. Thing is, I'm not sure I can blog about a particular subject on a weekly basis. Sighs. What I'm particularly knowledgeable about? Nothing I guess. What I'm passionate about? Not sure either. Damn, it sucks to be a young adult.

Is it okay to say that what I'm trying to sell is my personality? That sounded really obnoxious didn't it? Haha.

And thanks Andy Perkins, I'll try to incorporate the questionnaire ASAP. Would really like to know what my readers think.

Well I did seriously ask myself those kinds of questions as I started to blog. It doesn't suck to be a young adult. I've seen your random blog and I think it's a fine effort. Yours is the blog where you got rid of the music, and I commented that folks like me wouldn't mind having a larger size font to read.

I do admit, it's easier to associate a blog to a bloggeries user when there is an overlap in his or her name. So like ChickenFreak has a blog with Chicken somewhere in the url. Somehow, I have a hard time remember "the fun of boredom" unless you nudge me with threads like these. (And by all means, I welcome being nudged to go look at blogs).

Since last time I saw your blog you've added some new posts, and I don't know if it is just my imagination but it looks like your ads have gotten larger.

I think that if you find a niche, it will make it easier to have targeted ads on your site, though you've probably read enough of my posts to know that I'm no fan of ads at all.

Just keep at it. You'll figure it out. I'm waaaay older than you. It took literally being a Starbucks customer since 1989 to have a niche and have enough to write about.

[Rookie27]

About the font size, I'm using Blogger and I'm using the "Normal" font size. The next step up would be too big for me. For some reason Blogger doesn't let you choose your font size manually. It's like, Normal then Large and Largest.

No, it's not your imagination. If it makes you feel any better, I just removed my Amazon ad. Personally, I just find it stupid if I don't monetize my blog. After all, I'm only an unemployed student. So if my blog can earn me some cash it'd be cool. But by no means am I blogging for the sole purpose of making money. Sides, it's not like my ads are making me a millionaire. So far I've only earned 80 cents. Haha.

I do hope I find my niche soon since it seems to be so important.

And if it wasn't for my father having a friend who is a lawyer I don't think I'd warm up to you other lawyers. Haha. I now know you guys aren't so tight.

[Rookie27]

Oh and no offense, Melody. Sometimes I don't phrase my words right...