I Crossed Another Niche! Lessons on Blogging What You're Supposed to Blog

Let's face it. You can declare whatever niche you are in and yet you might not even be specializing into it. Take the Blogging Tips niche for example. Sure, there are a lot of us in there, but just take a couple of minutes to look closely and you will discover that quite a huge number are actually harping more about Make Money Online. Okay. So what's going on in here? Before you fall into the same dilemma, heed the following lessons.

What's 'Crossing a Niche'?

Forgive my fondness of coining terms. I just don't see a better term available in the blogosphere yet. The moment you started blogging, you where already advised to select a niche in which you have to specialize in. Now, the problem arises when you declare yourself to be in a niche yet your blog doesn't look convincingly into it. That's the phenomena of crossing a niche.

Simple way to find out if you've crossed a niche.
View your 2009 post archive and identify the the topics you write about. As a general rule, more than 50% of the post should reflect your niche. If it doesn't, well you know what that means.

Problems on Niche Crossing

The very critical problem when crossing a niche is that you tend to strike confusion among your readers. Originally, they might have followed and subscribed to your blog because they are interested on the subject, but as you veer away from your niche, the more they seem to find your content as irrelevant. That certainly isn't a good thing.

Lessons to Stay on Track with your Niche

Plan Your Content

Yes - the age old method. I believe a little clarification should be made though, this doesn't mean making a list of what content comes out for every posting schedule you have. Planning your content works to posts you specially prepare for, like tutorials, tips, tricks and special issues. Meaning posts like sponsored reviews, updates, news, round-ups are excluded from content planning.

Why this helps: because planning reminds you to come up with posts that you really have to deal with in your niche. For example, if you're on the freelancing niche, you could plan to write a tip on effective writing, next week, it would be about looking for gigs, next about gathering testimonials and so on. Content planning keeps your blog in check.

>>See my content magic secret to have a better idea

Surround Yourself With Your Niche

Subscribe to your fellow niche blogs, meet and connect with fellow bloggers, join a network if you can (like Technology, Parenting, Music blog networks etc.). The point is to associate yourself with your interests. It doesn't have to be anything much complicated. A simple tab on your RSS reader could help a lot.

Why this helps: because it constantly supplies you with relevant and up-to-date information that will boost your expertise and at the same time, promote your blog. It's a win-win situation for everyone too.

If you're on the blogging tips niche (or anything related), why not subscribe to me? :)

Really Feel the Need for a Change?

You could have started as a Blogging Tips blogger and figured out that Internet Marketing is much much more exciting (and rewarding). My advice? Go on then! Change your niche! Blogging is all about freedom and interest, there's nothing to stop you if you feel like crossing to another side. What's the point in continuing to blog anyway if you think the niche isn't for you?

In this case, here are my pointers if you feel a change should come:

Announce it. Nothing clears up the confusion faster than an official post coming from you. Tell the whole story, narrate why it has happened and most of all, make the reader think that it's a shift for the better!

Stick to it. It's bizarre to see someone change niche every now and then. The point always is to specialize what you've chosen. If you can't choose between two niches, why not just start another blog right? Consistency is the key.

Gradually adjust your blog to the change. Redo you blog banners and lay-outs if necessary. Take a look at your links and see if they are still relevant. More so, be able to quickly fill in posts aboutyour new topics.

Conclusion of Crossing a Niche

It doesn't help a bit if you cloak your blog under a niche where it doesn't really belong. Readers will see through it too and it won't be good reputation for you. Clear up your stance. Make sure you align your future posts into your real topic. If you really think you need to move into another niche, then so be it. Just make sure you finally stick with it.