Boring Blogger? Discover Your Niche

These days, blogging is as much an art as it is a science. Not only do you have to provide quality content, but you must also build an engaged readership that will come back for more.

How, then, are you supposed to go from boring to engaging if you’re just starting out? Well, how about discovering your niche? Though it seems simple, discovering what you’re going to blog about is a lot more than just posting what you like. Here’s how you can get started:

Find your passion. Blogging is always easier when you’re posting things you like, since it doesn’t seem like a chore or an obligation. Essentially, when you post things that interest you, it isn’t boring, so you keep yourself engaged.

However, figuring out your specific niche or passion isn’t as easy as it looks because you need to narrow a few things down. After all, the most successful bloggers have one set stance, not a million different thoughts.

For example, say you are interested in movies. Why not translate this interest to blogging? You could review new films, explore an entire week of just watching movies from other countries, interview up-and-coming actors, etc. There really isn’t a limit once you pinpoint a specific scope. Remember, you don’t have to limit your posts to just words. Definitely include images, photos, videos, etc. The more variety you have, the better.

Is there an audience? So, you may have found a niche, but is there anyone in that niche besides you? Believe it or not, there is such a thing as being too specific. If you are just writing for yourself, it’s a journal. If you are writing for an audience, which is how you will get noticed, it’s a blog. How broad you want to take your blog is obviously up to you, but there is no point in blogging if you’re the only member of the audience.

Again, if your interests lie in film, be open to blogging about the industry as whole, not just, say,  horror films made between the years of 1960-1965. Blog about how horror films have progressed, the creative process when writing this sort of movie, makeup, etc. Bottom line: be open to broadening your scope, while still blogging in your niche.

Imitate those in your niche. As the famous saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Imitation is also how you can take your blog from point A to point B. Research famous bloggers in your niche. What makes them so popular? Is it because they engage with fans? Or maybe it’s because they post once a day? Do some digging and figure out why they have become so well-known. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your favorite bloggers, either. Chances are, they will be more than happy to help if you relay your admiration for their work.

How did you find your niche?

Author: Adrian Maynard is Vizibility’s director of marketing. He has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, many of those years in the technology industry.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.