How to Choose a Niche Topic for your Blog

The approach I’ve taken to build a business around blogging has been to build multiple blogs around niche topics. I describe the reasons for this in my post One Blog Many Categories or Many Blogs?but I regularly am asked about how I choose my niche topics to blog about. In this post I’d like to outline a few questions that I tend to ask myself when considering a new topic. I hope it helps:

Are You Interested in the Topic?

A friend of mine explained it this way recently:

“Probably the best place to start thinking about what your blog should be about is to consider what YOU are about.”

Perhaps that’s a slightly awkward way of saying start by identifying your own interests, passions and energy levels for topics. While it might be tempting to start blogs based on what other people are interested in or what makes commercial sense there is little logic in starting a blog on a topic that you have no interest in. There are two main reasons for this.

Firstly if you want to grow a popular and well respected blog it can take considerable time and you’ll be needing to take a long term approach to building it up. As a result it’s well worth asking yourself ‘can I see myself still writing on this topic in 12 months time?’ If you can’t I’d suggest finding another topic.

The second reason is that you readers will quickly discern if you are passionate about your topic or not. Blogs that are dry and passionless don’t tend to grow – it makes sense really as no one wants to read something that the author doesn’t really believe in.

Is the Topic Popular?

While the blogger’s interest is important it’s not enough on it’s own to build a popular blog. Another crucial ingredient is that people WANT to read information on the topic you’re writing on. The law of Supply and Demand is what most business students are taught in their first semester of of studying economics and it comes into play here also. You might be interested in your topic but unless others are also you’ll always have an uphill battle in building a highly read blog.

Of course keep in mind that you are writing in a medium with a global audience of many millions and as a result you don’t need a topic that everyone is searching, just one that some people are searching for because even it’s something that even a small percentage of people have an active interest in it can be a lucrative area.

Is the Topic one that is growing or shrinking?

Also keep in mind that popular topics change over time. Obviously it’s great to get on a topic before it becomes big rather than when it’s on the decline. This is not easy to do of course but predict the next big thing that people will be searching for and you could be onto a winner.

Get in the habit of being on the lookout for what people are into. I constantly ask myself ‘what will people be searching the web for in 6 to 12 months?’

Keep an eye on what people are into and what the latest trends are. Do this online but also keep an eye on TV, magazines, the papers and even the conversations you have with friends.

What competition is there?

One of the traps that some bloggers get sucked into when choosing a topic is to go for the most popular topics with no regard for the competition that they might face in those markets. The chances are if you have identified a niche that you think is ‘hot’ at the moment that someone else will have also. It’s demand and supply coming into play again – for any level of demand for information on a topic there will only be a certain number of sources of that information that will be needed on that topic.

The web is becoming a more and more cluttered place and sometimes it feels that there are no niches that are left open to blog about. While this is true in some of the more popular topics – remember that you don’t have to go for the topic that everyone is searching for. In fact sometimes it’s some of the less popular topics that have little or no competition that are the best earners.

I have one friend who after years of attempting to do well writing about gadgets swapped to ‘ride on lawn mowers’ (a topic he’d been researching for a purchase he was making). He was amazed to find that after just a couple of months of writing on his new topic that it was doing significantly more traffic (and making quite a bit more) than his gadget websites ever had.

As I’ve said many times before on this blog – become a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond.

What is the competition neglecting?

This is a great question that is obviously related to the last one on number of competition. It attempts to find ‘gaps’ that are not yet filled. While your competition might have the advantage of an established audience, you have the advantage of flexibility and can position your blog very quickly to fill a gap in the niche that you might observe – in doing so you create a sub-niche within the larger topic.

Will you have enough Content?

One of the key features of successful blogs is that have the ability to continue to come up with fresh content on their topic for long periods of time. Conversely, one of the things that kills many blogs is that their authors run out of things to say.

Answering the question regarding whether there is enough content can be done on two levels:

• 1. Do YOU have enough content within YOU as an author? This really comes back to the question we asked above about your passion, interests and energy for the topic (so I’ll leave it at that).
• 2. Do you have access to enough other sources of content and inspiration? There are many web based tools around these days that can help you in coming up with content. Some places to check out on your topic to see what news is about include Google News, Topix, Yahoo! News, Bloglines, Technorati and Blog Pulse (among others).

Are there Income Streams on the Topic?

Not everyone will need to ask this question if their intention is not to build a blog that has an entrepreneurial edge to it but as this blog is on the topic of making money from blogs I’ll address it.

If you are interested in earning an income from blogging you will need to also factor in some investigation of whether the topic that you’ve chosen has any obvious potential income streams. As I’ve written previously, there are many ways of earning money from blogs – however the problem is that not every topic is going to be suitable for every potential income stream. For example, contextual ad programs like AdSense and YPN work really well for some topics but hardly earn anything from others (you might like to read my post on finding high paying ads on AdSense to explore this topic). Similarly some blogs do fantastically out of affiliate programs (the key is to find affiliate programs that match your topic closely) and others are better suited to impression based ads (those with high traffic levels).

Choose a Niche

At this point it’s time to choose a topic for your blog. It’s probably unlikely that you’ll find the perfect topic on all of the fronts above. While it’d be great to find a topic that you’re passionate about that just happens to have massive demand and no competition – but the reality is that most topics topics that you come up with will have at least one weakness to them. Don’t let this get you down – there comes a time when you just need to make a decision and start blogging. The key is being aware of what the weakness is so that you can work to overcome it.

PS: An Example

ProBlogger.net itself is an example of the process I’ve outlined above. While blogging is a topic I had (have) a real interest in and which is quite popular the weakest link of this blog is the fact that so many other blogs write on the topic of how to blog better. The other problem was that there were not too many lucrative income streams on the general topic of blogging. There are lots of AdSense ads for different blog tools, but they pay very little.

As a result of this I narrowed my niche slightly to focus upon making money from blogs (something I didn’t see many others writing about a year ago). This narrowed my potential market slightly but meant I could carve out a niche and potentially make a name for myself in the area. The other side benefit of narrowing the topic was that it also increased the income potential of this blog. Contextual ads on this topic pay a little more and there are other potential income streams (like consulting work) that a more general topic of blogging might bring.

About Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse is the founder and editor of ProBlogger Blog Tips and Digital Photography School. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitterat , Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.

Rules on Etiquette The Measure of a Lady

Rules on Etiquette

The Measure of a Lady

As most of us know, throughout the Victorian period there were strict codes of conduct that must be adhered to if you wished to be considered a lady or gentleman of good breeding.  Light on Dark Corners gives a complete list of do's and don'ts to ensure that you were always on your best behavior, when in the company of others who had also read the book.

Hints and Helps on Good Behavior at all Times and at all Places

1.  Cultivate a happy temper; banish the blues; a cheerful saguine spirit begets cheer and hope. 2.  Be trustworthy and be trustful. 3.  Do not place a light estimate on the art of good reading and good expression; they will yield perpetual interest. 4.  Study to keep versed in world events as well as in local occurrences, but abhor gossip, and above all scandal. 5.  Banish a self-conscience spirit - the source of much awkwardness - with a constant aim to make others happy - remember that it is incumbent upon gentlemen and ladies alike to be neat in habits. 6.  The following is said to be a correct posture for walking:  Head erect - not too rigid - chin in, shoulders back.  Permit no unnecessary motion about the thighs.  Do not lean over to one side in walking, standing or sitting; the practice is not only ungraceful, but it is deforming and therefore unhealthy. 7.  If the hands are allowed to swing in walking, the arc should be limited, and the lady will manage them much more gracefully, if they almost touch the clothing. 8.  A lady should not stand with her hands behind her.  We could almost say, forget the hands except to keep them clean, including the nails; cordial and helpful.  One hand may rest easily in the other.  Study repose of attitude here as well as in the rest of the body. 9.  Gestures are for emphasis in public speaking; do not point elsewhere, as a rule. 10. Look the person to whom you speak in the eye.  Never under any circumstances wink at another or communicate with furtive looks. 11. Before introducing a gentleman to a lady, remember that she is entitled to hold you responsible for the acquaintance.  The lady is the one to whom the gentleman is presented, which may be done thus:  "Miss A, permit me to introduce you to my friend, Mr. B." or :Miss A, allow me to introduce Mr. B."  If mutual and near friends of yours, say simply "Miss A - Mr. B." 12. A true lady will avoid familiarity in her deportment towards gentlemen.  A young lady should not permit her gentlemen friends  to address her by her home name, and the reverse is true.  Use the title Miss and Mr. respectively. 13.  Ladies should be frank and cordial toward their lady friends, never gushing. 14.  A lady on meeting a gentleman with whom she has a slight acquaintance will make a medium bow - neither too decided nor too slight or stiff. 15. If a young lady desires to visit any public place where she expects to meet a gentleman acquaintance, she should have a chaperone to accompany her, a person of mature years when possible, and never a giddy girl. 16.  A lady should not ask a gentleman to walk with her.

A Complete Etiquette in a Few Practical Rules

1.  If you desire to be respected, keep clean.  The finest attire and decorations will add nothing to the appearance or beauty of an untidy person. 2.  Clean clothing, clean skin, clean hands, including the nails, and clean, white teeth, are a requisite passport for good society. 3.  A bad breath should be carefully remedied, whether it proceeds from the stomach or bad teeth. 4.  To pick the nose, finger about the ears, or scratch the head or any other part of the person, in company, is decidedly vulgar. 5.  When you call at any private residence, do not neglect to clean your shoes thoroughly. 6.  On entering a hall or church, the gentleman should always precede the lady in walking up the aisle, or walk by herside if the aisle is broad enough. 7.  A gentleman should always precede a lady upstairs, and follow her downstairs. 8.  On leaving a hall or church at the close of entertainment or services, the gentleman should precede the lady. 9.  A gentleman walking with a lady should carry her parcels, and never allow a lady to be burdened with anything what ever. 10. If a lady is travelling with a gentleman, simply as a friend, she should place the amount of her expenses in his hands, or insist on paying the bill herself. 11. Never carry on a private conversation in company.  If secrecy is necessary, withdraw from the company.  12. Never sit with your back to another, without asking to be excused.  13.  It is as unbecoming for a gentleman to sit with legs crossed as it is a lady. 14. Never thrum with your fingers, rub your hands, yawn or sigh in public. 15. Loud laughter, loud talking, or other boisterous manifestations should be checked in the society of others, especially on the street and in public places. 16. When you are asked to sing or play in company, do so without being urged, or refuse in any way that shall be final; and when music is being rendered in company, show politelness to the musician by giving attention.  It is very impolite to keep up a conversation.  If you do not enjoy the music, keep silent. 17. You should never decline to be intorduced to anyone or all the guests at a party to which you have been invited. 18. To take small children or dogs with you on a visit of ceremony is altogether vulgar, though in visiting familiar friends, children are not objectionable.

Etiquette of Calls

In the matter of making calls it is the correct thing: - For the caller who arrived first to leave first. - To return a first call within a week and in person. - To call promptly and in person after receiving an invitation. - For the mother or chaperone to invite a gentleman to call. - To call within a week after any entertainment to which one has been invited. - You should call upon an acquaintance who has recently returned after a prolonged           absence. - It is important to make the first call upon a person of higher social position, if one is           asked to do so. - It is proper to call after an engagement has been announced, or a marriage has taken     place, in the family. - For the older residents in a city or street to call upon the newcomers in a neighborhood,  is a long recognized custom. - It is proper, after removal from one area of the city to another, to send out cards with     one's new address upon them. - To ascertain what are the ascribed hours for calling in the place where one is living, or     making a visit, and adhere to those hours is a duty which must not be overlooked. - A gentleman should ask for the lady of the house as well as the young ladies, and leave   cards for her as well as the head of the household.

Etiquette in Your Speech

- Don't say Miss or Mr. without the person's name. - Don't say pants for trousers. - Don't say gents for gentlemen. - Don't say female for woman. - Don't say elegant for everything that pleases you. - Don't say genteel for well-bred. - Don't say ain't for isn't. - Don't say I done it for I did it. - Don't say he is older than me, say older than I. - Don't say she does not see any, say she sees nothing at all. - Don't say he calculates to get off; say he expects to get off. - Don't say he don't, say he doesn't. - Don't say she is some better; say she is somewhat better. - Don't say where are they stopping; say where are they staying. - Don't say you was, say you were. - Don't say I say, says I; but simply say I said. (try that one three times fast) - Don't sign your letters yours etc., but yours truly. - Don't say lay for lie; lay expresses action; lie expresses rest. - Don't say them bonnets, say those bonnets. - Don't say party for person. - Don't say it looks beautifully, but say that it looks beautiful.

Etiquette Between Sexes

I. A LADY SHOULD BE A LADY - A lady should be a lady, and a gentleman a gentleman under any and all circumstances. 2. FEMALE INDIFFERENCE TO MAN - There is nothing that affects the nature and pleasure of man so much as a proper and friendly recognition from a lady, and as women are more or less dependent upon man's good-will, either for gain or pleasure, it surely stands to their interest to be reasonably pleasant and courteous in his presence or society. Indifference is always a poor investment, whether in society or business. 3. GALLANTRY AND LADYISM - should be a prominent feature in the education of young people. Politeness to ladies cultivates the intellect and refines the soul, and he who can be easy and entertaining in the society of ladies has mastered one of the greatest accomplishments. There is nothing taught in school, academy or college, that contributes so much to the happiness of man as a full development of his social and moral qualities. 4. LADYLIKE ETIQUETTE - No woman can afford to treat men rudely. A lady must have a high intellectual and moral ideal and hold herself above reproach. She must remember that the art of pleasing and entertaining gentlemen is infinitely more ornamental than laces, ribbons or diamonds. Dress and glitter may please man, but it will never benefit him. 5. CULTIVATE DEFICIENCIES - Men and women poorly sexed treat each other with more or less indifference, whereas a hearty sexuality inspires both to the right estimation of the faculties and qualities of each other. Those who are deficient should seek society and overcome their deficiencies.  While some naturalIy inherit faculties as entertainers, others are compelIed to acquire them by cultivation.

6. LADIES' SOCIETY - He who seeks ladies' society should seek an education and should have a pure heart and a pure mind. Read good, pure and wholesome literature and study human nature, and you will always be a favorite in the society circle. 7. WOMAN HATERS - Some men with little refinement and strong sensual feelings virtually insult and thereby disgust and repel every female they meet. They look upon woman with an inherent vulgarity, and doubt the virtue and integrity of all alike.  But it is because they are generally insincerelly. from http://www.geocities.com