I'm currently reading How to Build a Successful Blog Business by Collis Ta'eed. Wow, talk about in-depth & thorough! (I'm working my way right through, but I can't wait to get to the case studies at the end to see it all in practice. Word on the street is that they are worth the price of the ebook alone.)
Anyway, Collis touched on something important for new bloggers: Before you start a blog in a popular niche, make sure you have a unique angle!
A large niche is good in the sense that you know there's a market for it, but it's not-so-good in the sense that it's hard to stand out.
I think what happens for a lot of us (myself included) is that we find a blog and think, "Hey, I could do that!" Next thing we know, we're setting up a blog just like the one we've seen.
This is not all bad, of course, but if your goal is to make an income from your blog, standing out is key.
1. Do Your Research!
Collis provides some great, practical ways to research a niche and find out whether or not it has monetization potential, but in my opinion, one of the best places to start is to simply hang out and watch a bit.
See what well-known bloggers do in that niche. Check out the other blogs they link to. Follow them on Twitter and see who they communicate with.
Knowing your way around a niche and seeing who's involved is good to know because it will help you fine-tune the "thing" that will make you different from the rest. That "thing" is what you're after.
2. Ask, "What's missing?"
This question is exactly how BloggingWithAmy.com was born. There are a gazillion blogs about blogging and making money blogging. What I noticed though, is that a lot of them say things like, " Wanna start a blog? Great! You'll need hosting and a domain and then here's how to do it…"
Not a lot of them explained how to go about choosing a domain and how to purchase & set up hosting in a step-by-step way. So, even in this huge niche, I decided to tackle the basics where a lot of people seemed to get lost (like I did when I first started!).
As you're hanging out in your potential niche, continually ask yourself what's missing? What are people looking for? What are you looking for? Read comments, get involved in forums, Twitter and Facebook and keep your ears peeled for hints about what people want, but can't find.
3. Narrow Your Niche
Consider focusing on a niche of a niche, instead of the broader niche itself.
Someone who has done this well is Stephanie from Keeper of the Home. She recently ventured into the coupon/deal blogging niche (a HUGE niche), but at Saving Naturally, she focuses on deals for organic & natural products only. It was a smart move, especially when being green and going organic are so popular.
How can you refine your focus? Sure, you may have a smaller pool of potential readers, but you might be able to gain a quick following too.
4. Change Your Target
Another coupon/deal blogger, Carrie from Springs Bargains, has chosen to focus locally and blog about deals in her city. She lives in Colorado Springs, CO — a large enough city so there are lots of potential readers, but small enough so that there aren't a whole lot of well-established bloggers catering to the same group.
Not only are her readers loyal, but she has also been able to make IRL (in real life) contact with them via fun events and meetups she's planned. She's also been able to rise to the top of her local niche without an overwhelming amount of competition.
Is there a way to make your blog especially useful to a smaller (but not too small) group in your larger niche? What can you offer them that they aren't getting anywhere else?
5. Do Something Different
Bloggers tend to copy what other bloggers do. This is absolutely valuable in many ways, but it's not so good when it puts your blog right smack in the middle of average.
So, instead of just watching what someone else in your niche does and following suit, brainstorm ways to do things differently.
- Do most bloggers in your niche write long posts? Why not keep yours short?
- Do most bloggers in your niche write words? Why not vlog?
- Do most bloggers in your niche post a few times a week? Why not post every day?
Or maybe you could start a unique feature or incorporate an interesting twist — something no one else has done or something you saw someone in a different niche do that you think might work in yours.
You may have heard of The Pioneer Woman. 
Way back when, she was one of many bloggers blogging about their lives as a mom. But one day she started recounting the tale of how her (a city girl) and her husband (a cowboy) met and fell in love; her readers ate it up. Coupled with her outstanding photography and love for cooking, she subsequently rose to the top of her niche…and the entire mommy blogging world.
What hasn't been done before? Try it and see if it propels you to the top!
6. Don't Be Afraid to Change Your Plan
It could be that after you hang out a while in the niche you've chosen, you may suspect you'd have a much better shot at success in a different niche altogether. In that case, go for it!
7. Be You!
Gone are the days when you could jump into blogging and have a good chance of "making it" simply because there wasn't a whole lot of competition. There are millions of blogs currently and countless new blogs are started every day. In order to be found, you're going to have to stand out.
Be creative.
Be useful.
Be yourself.
What's your unique angle?
Disclosure: I am compensated for purchases made via the referral links in this post.
Great post Amy!
This is spot on — and I can't read to read this book as well!
You'll have to let me know what you think after you finish it!
Ooops – submitted my comment too early.
I think an interesting question related to this would be: HOW NARROW IS TOO NARROW?
I know this has come up with some of the blogs out there, and I'd be interested to see what people think.
I think it's an excellent question. Collis talks about it in How to Build a Successful Blog Business so you'll read good stuff there, but I think a good starting question is to ask yourself if you could realistically churn out a steady stream of valuable posts on the subject over a long period of time.
Great article Amy…I really resonate with everything you said.
I'm currently struggling with this right now. I want to blog about what I love and focus on my strengths, but I still feel too broad. I guess I thought it would be easier to find my niche.
I have a great group of readers and subscribers, and I do get lots of positive feedback but I just feel like I'm not doing anything extraordinary to rise to the top.
I've got to get my thinking cap on and get creative!
This comment encouraged me, because as of 2012 (the next year) I have seen you featured on http://www.moneysavingmom.com – looks like your thinking cap helped.
I have been lurking here for what seems like forever and had to finally chime in. First, I have to go get this book!
Narrowing my niche has made a huge difference in my blog. At first, feeling so limited was a real drag, but I am learning to make it work for me. In my case, I am a book blogger and there are tons of blogs that focus on young adult fiction. I don't read that and the pond is too big anyway. I have made it a point to say that I do nonfiction and in a month, I have double subscribers, gotten more attention from authors/pr people.
I will never be afraid to switch or tweak my niche again.
Great perspective! Thanks for jumpin' in!
This has inspired me to put my thinking cap on. In the frugal/coupon niche it's really hard to stand out, but I've been trying to do so for months. Unfortunately, what ends up happening in my case is I don't want to be like every other blog so I just don't blog at all. Ever see the same deal posted on over 10 blogs? Yeah, I don't want that to be me. (Unless, of course, I was the first to put it up!)
Thanks for another great post!!
I can so relate to Whitney! I am a new blogger and I have a passion of for saving money with coupons and deals. But I, too, have found that the niche for that is extremely big and everyone shares many of the same posts and resources. I didn't want to have the same things on my blog. I am looking to be unique so that I will stand out more in the niche that I have chosen. So I broadened my niche topic to raising a large family, saving money with coupons, advice on motherhood/parenting, along with some fun and humor.
I have been wondering if that is too broad as well, or if I should go in a different direction with my blog. This post has really come at a great time for me! Thanks Amy!
If anyone has some advice, I am definitely open!
After rereading your article here and pondering what you said, the only unique angle that I could come up with for my blog is the fact that I am probably one of the few large family, mom bloggers that is married to an artist. Being married to him for 22 years and the 9 years of homeschooling, has really given me a love for the arts! We studied it a lot in our homeschooling, plus I am surrounded by it at home too. My kids are also budding artists. So I am thinking that a unique angle may be being a mom of a large family, living on less, but also focusing on the arts, such as my husband's art and the work of moms in the blogoshpere that are artists or craftsmen. Maybe have an artist/craftsmen of the week post and start selling space on my blog for ads of their websites, after I build up a following, Lord willing. I have also heard of a website called Open Sky that sounded like it may be good for my blog. Sound good?
You're talkin' to someone who has very little knowledge about the arts, I'm afraid! But I do homeschool (half-time) and understand the importance of the arts, so you might be on to something. I recommend you hang out a bit and do some research and see if there are others in the homeschooling community who have a similar emphasis. Look for a hole you can fill!
I am really more in the large family niche than the homeschooling one, since I am no longer homeschooling (not that I don't still have a heart for homeschooling and homeschoolers). I really want to be an encouragement to those ladies/moms who are in the art/crafts business since I know what a struggle that can be, since I am married to an artist who is trying to get his name out there.
I will definitely take your advice and scope things out in the large family blog niche!
I recommend checking out Raising Olives & Smockity Frocks — popular large family bloggers.
I'm a believer that sometimes the WAY you say it – your voice as a blogger – may make you stand out. Go back to your example – The Pioneer Woman. I bet you I could find other bloggers in her niche that have written about how they met their husband or romance. But it's not just her choice of story to tell – it's the way she told that story. She has some mad storytelling skills!!
Here's another example: you. Amy, you know a HECK of a lot about how to blog successfully. And I would wager there are a lot of people that know roughly the same amount you do. But you know what? You write very, very well. You have a knack for laying out the information in easy-to-understand posts. Your posts make me "get it" where others in your niche have fallen short. You've also arranged your posts in a way that makes sense to most people.
I may be rambling, so let me end with this analogy:
If your blog is a song, make sure you pick a beautiful melody. But make sure you sing it well, too.
Totally agree.
Thanks for the encouragement.
my blog I feel is evolving. initially it was a wedding planning blog, then a blog about our 6 month travels after marriage, now that the travels are winding down i'm trying to figure out how to narrow my niche when it just about "life." I know there are a lot of successful journal/life type blogs…I'm still trying to figure out how to make mine stand out.
Thanks for sharing…very informative…and the last poster is right, you do have an excellent, simple way of explaining things!
Thanks Ruthy.
My advice: Just experiment!
Thanks for this info, it really helps a lot. I saw so many cooking blogs, but no one had it fromt he angle of someone who really does not like to cook. So, my blog is all for mom's like me who hate to cook, but have to. I have been cooking several times a week and then posting the recipes and how I changed it or what I felt about it. It's helping me to start to 'like' cooking b/c I'm excited to share my experience.
Love all your tips!
Oh! You're speakin' my language!! I cook because I have to. I think I'll head over to your blog for some inspiration…
I hope you find some! Since starting the blog, I'm pretty sure I've cooked in the last month more than I have in my lifetime!
My fridge is full and my husband and son are happy!
Ah, Kristy, you are talking to me. I'm going to check out your blog right after this comment….I hate cooking, but must do it anyway.
I'm a vet, so I blog about pet health. There are some other blogs like this, so I did flounder around trying to find my place at first. What worked for me was coming up with a theme for each day of the week. That way, my readers know what to expect and it helps me come up with topics as well. Since doing that, my blog has REALLY taken off!
Thanks for everything, Amy, I check back about once a week.
You have a great blog (and post). I have just started my second blog. The first one was more of a personal thing for me. I have been looking at all your posts and they are great. I can't wait to get home and read them more carefully and hopefully apply some of your useful information to my blog. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!!!
So glad you stopped by!
Amy, I am so glad that noticed a hole in the learning to blog niche. Because I seriously spent hours googling so many questions about basic, simple stuff. It made me feel so stupid that all these other sites assumed I knew what they were talking about.
What a relief to find your site that takes me through every little step.
One problem I find about my Niche is that sometimes I want to post random things, but then I realize that it is not on topic at all. so I don't.
how much leeway do you think readers allow before they move on?
I think it depends on your niche…and your readers. I highly recommend experimenting. Try a post here or there and see what kind of feedback you get (emails, comments, etc.). If something seems to work, go with it!
Very good post- I found you from skipping around blogs and ending up at moneysavingmom.com
My friend Heather and I started a bargain blog a year ago… I guess our niche is that we are in our twenties sans children (most other bargain bloggers all seem to be moms haha). We have a lot of young adult/college followers with the general priority of:
1. Save money on groceries
2. Spend saved money on cute shoes
Gotta love it!
I really like your site, I'm going to share it with my partner- we have just now started to branch into the area of "monetizing" and are completely unsure of what we are doing and how to do it. We're out of our comfort zone, but if nothing else it will certainly be a growing experience!
So glad you stopped by Jessica! Be looking for a post on monetization soon!
Amy,
I know you are so busy, but any advice to a newbie would be so greatly appreciated coming from you.
Ive been following your site and have found it soooo useful. Im new to the blogging but not new to parenting. I believe I have found a niche for mine as well, but we'll see. I have a large family that is blended from divorce with kids ages 4-19. Yes, preschool thru college. We have a beautiful family and the love that comes through is definately noticed by all. Ive been doing parenting so long that I came up with a lot of shortcuts and traditions that Ive started and believe can help other moms who find it so hectic to just balance the everyday demands. Heart and humor helps with it all. Ive been trying to sit back and read as much as I can but my blogs Im following are taking alot of my time up and away from my family. Catch 22…you want to be successful, do the research, just dont forget about…the laundry, dinner, schooling, partner, yourself etch
Whew — as you can tell from my latest posts, I'm still trying to figure this out myself! But, I think "slow and steady" is the way to go. I try to make a list of the most important blogging things I need to do before I jump on the computer, keep "office hours" and then tackle my tasks in order of priority.
Just landing here, after you linked to it in the Lessons on Blogging and Business series.
This is a frustrating thing for me (finding my angle, my unique place in my niche.)
For one thing, I feel like my voice was stronger, my audience more involved and interactive and my traffic was better at my starter blog (Bring Good Home – a .wordpress blog). When I made the move to my own self hosted wordpress site two years ago, changed my blog name and combined all my blogs into the new one (home, homeschool and faith) everything changed. At first it was just as good, then it was even better, then it was really bad, now it's so-so. My audience participation and stats are all over the place. I *do* feel lost in a sea of blogs. I don't want to worry and fret over things like blogs when there are so many more important things out there. Especially since I've backed off the gung-ho making it a business approach. I'm not worrying about it, so I just kind of ignore it and keep writing, thinking that if someone reads it, they read it, if no one reads it, oh well. But sometimes I can't help but just think that I must have made some blogging no-nos along the way. =p
Amy, I agree that finding your niche is key to success. For people who aren't sure what makes them different or how to express it quickly and succinctly, they can try the Elevator Pitch Studio at Buzzuka. It helps discover the facts, feelings and finishing touches they need to say it in seconds and get found.
This was an informative blog post. I'll take the points into consideration when I start by website; I'm still developing it.
By the way, I think the information presented could be applied to freelance writers who pitch/query publications. It's important to 'pitch' a unique angle that a publication's editor and 'target audience' will find interesting.
Yes, I agree. Great point. Thanks, Amandah!
I have read through almost all of the comments, but I hope I am not repeating one. I don't have a blog, but you have captured the creative side of my brain. (I found you through Pinterest.)
One thing that I really don't like about a lot of the blogs is this: When I am searching for a recipe or crochet pattern, and find what I want, I have to read through 3 paragraphs of information about the bloggers family, and kids, and pets, or how the blogger came to put the recipe together.
I have already spent an hour just finding the recipe, so I scan quickly trying to find out where the information can be found, and often have to click several more links before I finally get to what I want. I wonder if this is as common as I think it is.
Quick question, Amy. How to you create those lovely quote images with your website name? I'd love to do something similar, but have NO idea where to start.
By the way, I love your blog. Lots of helpful stuff here!