A friend of mine asked today how I decided what I would write about on my blog and if I was going to continue writing about personal development. I’ve pondered that question for awhile now … and I can say that I will branch out … eventually. One of the most challenging aspects of being a blogger is deciding what to write about.
Since my friend is thinking of starting her own blog, I decided to write one on getting started. Locating an effective topic for your blogging site can be a challenge. The on-line community is huge, so where to start? Typically, individuals will choose a specific but general topic as a way to become a part of an online community. Businesses will often use their blogging site as an effective tool to promote their business. Still others blog as a way to provide information, teach, inform, or have a voice. However you approach your blogging site, your updated post will likely fit into a specific niche. What is yours?
While it is not required at all to find a particular niche or community it is best to focus your blogging updates in a specific direction. It should be obvious that the purpose of your blog is easily understood and well defined by both you, and every visitor that lands on your blogging site. Mine is mostly personal development … although I do have many interests.
If you are contemplating your own blog, there are three specific tips you can use to enhance your blogging site. Those three specific tips include:
Be Helpful
Recognize that you will likely be able to attract and hold onto the attention of more readers if your updated blogging content offers valuable information that visitors can use. Typically, successful blogging sites avoid daily family life and other fascinating personal information. However, that is not to suggest that you shouldn’t blend in interesting content about your family if it relates to your topic and can be used to emphasize learning.
Choose the Right Niche
What exactly does this mean? It just means pick a topic near and dear to you that is neither too broad nor specific. If your blogging updates tend to be too general in knowledge, there is no focus. What action or specific information can be relayed that would be helpful to your readers. Likewise, when the topic of the update is too narrow, it will likely only be effective information for just a small handful of your online visitors. Choose instead to post valuable content that is targeted specifically to the niche market that will be appealing to the largest portion of your targeted audience.
Give Yourself Breathing Room
Selecting the best topic is one that will likely give you breathing room. By this I mean to find a topic or niche that provides you opportunity to update it definitely on a regular basis. In other words, never choose any niche topic that might be too narrow in scope to where you only get a blog or two about it. This could create a situation where you run out of the ability to generate fascinating content after just a few weeks or a couple of months. Gasp!
The simplest way of making sure you are not making this mistake is to brainstorm for any potential upcoming posts, or interesting subtopics that will bolster your niche topic. What do you know that readers would love to know and benefit from? Develop a list of ideas for your topic and if you are able to develop a long list, it is likely the perfect sign that you will always have plenty to write about.
Typically, the most interesting blogging sites are those that are written by individuals who have a passion for their specific niche topic. Choose to follow your heart, so you can write about things that interest you and other like-minded individuals. AND above all, have fun with your topic! Your blog should be fun for you!
