Whenever I read posts about blogging two of the main things they mention are content and niches. Content is a no-brainer, if I don’t have blog posts why would you come to a blog? But a Niche is a different thing. A niche provides a category for your blog. The only problem is that I was having problems pegging my niche. Do I really have a niche-less blog?
This is an updated version of a post created in September, 2018.
Thinking about this subject came up when I had to fill out a form for a blogging conference that I attended in September 2018. With my friend Elena, we went to Activate: EBA Live 2018 which was hosted by Elite Blog Academy. I was excited to attend my first blogging conference. But one of the things I needed to do to prep for it was to fill out a form that asked me about my blog and my blog niche.
There were a lot of options to choose from but none of them fit my blog at all. I write some travel posts, but I’m not a travel blogger. I write some blogging posts but I’m not a blogging blogger. (How do you like that alliteration?) And I write some posts about midlife, but I’m not really a midlife blogger.
Some of the categories that I could pick from were fitness, faith, craft, fashion, relationship, mommy/daddy, education, retirement, books, photography, and even finances and personal development among others. But I certainly don’t fit into any of those categories.
I blog about starting over and trying new things. I blog about creativity and creative inspiration. And I blog about setting goals and creating Vision Boards. Not a single one of these subjects were on the list of niches. I eventually picked midlife because I personally am in my midlife and most of my Starting Over interviews are about midlife women who are starting over after a fulfilling career or an empty nest. But I really didn’t feel comfortable saying I was a midlife blogger when it’s not my main topic.
Then I read somewhere that if you don’t blog about all the other categories that you are probably a lifestyle blogger. Say what? I blog about creative inspiration and trying new things. How is that lifestyle? But according to MediaKix, a lifestyle blogger is someone who “…writes, creates, and publishes (multi)media content on various aspects of their daily lives.”
Is that really me? I guess?? When I write about creative inspiration I share what works for me. When I write about Vision Boards, I share how I create mine. And when I write about Starting Over and trying new things, I’ve also include posts on new things that I’ve tried.
But still, for some reason, the broad term “lifestyle blogger” didn’t feel like it fit me at all. My friend Elena told me to not get bogged down by what my niche is but to focus on my ideal reader, my customer Avatar. Basically, the person that I’m writing the blog for. That one person that I speak to. She pointed out that my ideal reader was all that I needed to worry about, but if I needed a label then I was a midlife lifestyle change blogger.
Hi, my name is Jennifer and I’m a midlife lifestyle change blogger and vision board coach.
Really good points Jennifer – maybe there should be a niche for the nicheless! I personally hate sticking labels on people and what they do so don’t see why a blog should be any different although, I guess, some like to have a good idea of what a blog is about. I love variety so tend not to stick to any one category when looking for interesting blogs to read and follow.
I like variety too. I have my main categories, but it doesn’t mean that I’m going to stick only to those subjects.
Jennifer – I totally know what you mean about the ‘niche’. I’m struggling with that too. I love that you are much more established and intentional in your posting categories than I seem to be. But I do think the most important thing is to keep the audience in mind.
I happen to be midlife, but I do think your posts can resonate to a far broader audience too.
It took a bit before I honed in on my specific areas to write about. It was a combination of having a blog breakdown – I was trying to copy so many other people that I stopped blogging. I had to figure out why I wanted to write and who I was writing for. That’s when it clicked for me and I figured out what I wanted to write about. I, of course, reserve the right to write about anything else, but I have my main core.
Great post Jennifer. I empathise completely.
I’m in the same boat. I too am nicheless. Or rather my blog is. I also became dispirited and stopped blogging for a while. I’m contemplating getting back into it now. Do you feel like you’ve found your audience?
Yes. I stopped blogging for a while as well a few years ago. It was when I was trying to copy all of the other bloggers. When I realized that I was doing it and doing it very badly, I just stopped. Then I started looking at my posts to see which ones got the most views and the most comments and realized that they were also the ones that I liked writing the most.
Thanks Jennifer. You’ve inspired me to try again ?
I’m glad. It’s been a bit since I’ve seen a post from you.
I don’t feel like I fit into a niche box with my blog either. Are you looking forward to the blogging conference?
Rachael | https://rachaelstray.com
Welcome to the world of “lifestyle blogger” you are in great company!I’m excited about the blogging conference. I’ve never been to one, although as a yoga teacher I’ve been to several of those conferences! It’s always an opportunity to learn so much jammed packed into just a couple of days.
It’s amazing to me how often we don’t want to classify ourselves (label, niche…gosh forbid, a stereo-type) and yet we actually quickly will label every one else. It’s how we survive. Literally.
As I was reading your post, first I was thinking that how to start over, vision boards, being creative, setting goals, etc. are all about personal development. As is dealing with change. Those are also the blog posts I tend to gravitate to, even though I’m new to your blog. But I think towards the end I landed on Mid-life Lifestyle Blogger. Personally I think change in that descriptor is repetitive (although I know blog title is about change)… a mid-life lifestyle is all about change – from body changes to empty nesting to retirement.
I believe people return to your blog because they want to read similar things to what they experienced before. That is usually a combination of your blog’s identity (niche) and your tone of voice.
BTW – where did you find out about a blogger’s conference? and please do blog about it… as a Mid-life Lifestyle opportunity!
I know. We are quick to label others while feeling like we don’t fit into a box. For some reason, I wanted to fit into a box…probably because the blogging conference was asking the question. But I do like your assessment that the word “change” is redundant because that’s what midlife is all about.
Some of my favorite bloggers have written about the Elite Blog Academy and their Activate Blogging conference which is how I found out about them. I will definitely write about the experience and maybe include links to other blogging conferences that I find.
Whatever your niche is or isn’t, we enjoy reading the blog! And hopefully you’ll fill us on on a few pointers after your conference. Have a good time!
Thanks, Tom. I definitely plan on blogging about my experience.
Hi Jennifer, I remember being overwhelmed when I first started blogging because I wasn’t defining my niche. I always enjoy your posts and thoughts and I’ve come to the conclusion that we should write what we feel. If I’m promoting an Ageless Attitude then I need to write that way. I aim it for Midlife Women but perhaps it could be for Women of all ages? Thanks for making me think! Have a beautiful day.
I agree that your blog is perfect for the Ageless Woman and can be enjoyed by all women.
Thanks Jennifer. I’ve just pinned and tweeted via this week’s BBB post. Have a great week!
Ideal reader, right here. Really, categories might make it easier to seat you at a table at a conference. But I haven’t once had a reader/visitor/follower to my blog as “what niche do you belong in?”
I always felt I didn’t have a niche either!
Yep. You fall into that wonderful world called “lifestyle blogger!”
I started as a food blogger, then went lifestyle and then travel/lifestyle for women over 50. In other words, I write about whatever I’m doing or what comes into my head. It just evolves over time and I like it that way.
Yes! This post absolutely speaks to me. I’m a very similar blogger. I like to say that I learn…and then I write about what I learned. After a good year of blogging, I am “niching down” and I can say that I now write to help midlife women rediscover their self-priority and live a life with the perfect mix of fun and relaxation – and filled with purpose. Whew! So glad I no longer need to think about my niche that we all seem to need, so they say. I’m hoping to go to Activate next year, so now I’ll know which category to check. So, how did you like Activate?
This is one of the big reasons I distanced myself from Shop Girl in a way. Except I had a niche just no audience avatar. But a mommy/orlando lifestyle blogger may be an oversaturated concept but at least I’m enjoying it. 😉
I believe that the first thing you have to do as a blogger is enjoy it. I know there are plenty that go in with business plans and blog purely from a money making perspective. But where is the community in that? Where is the wine, cheese, and laughter in that.
You inspire. You inform. You entertain. You educate.
I’d say you are a fantastic, well rounded blog!
And now I blush.
I think this has been a thing for so many of us Jennifer, and it did really put me off blogging until MiMi woke me up to the fact that it doesn’t matter. There were so many ‘experts’ at one point, banging on about stats and niches I think I lost my way. But through MiMi’s encouragement, I got my mojo back and I don’t care about stats this time around – it’s wonderful being free of all that stuff and just writing for pleasure!
I was surprised by how many other bloggers felt they were nicheless too!
The best part of this is that you started a group!
Thanks, Carol!
With so many people out there advocating the need for a niche blog, it’s easy to want to try. So while I do have a niche, work related blog, my main blog continues to talk about any and everything. Thanks for creating a group. I hope to connect with more non-niche bloggers there.
I see so many things about the best blog niche’s to make money, but I want to write about what I want to write about. I’m glad you joined us!
I’m so glad I have a lifestyle blog in the Baby Boomer niche. So many people I know who have exclusive travel blogs don’t know what to do with themselves until travel opens back up again. My blog includes travel whenever I can do it or when I explore Los Angeles where I live. In the meantime, I have a host of things to write about. Having a narrow niche can be limiting and, to be honest, as a blogger, can get boring after a while.
I think “lifestyle” is too wide a field. But I do see you as baby boomer/travel blogger. I think of my blog as more inspirational, but there doesn’t appear to be a specific niche for that unless you’re a faith blogger…which I am not.
Well, thanks for this post! Now I finally understand that my blog has lost its niches. Or maybe never had any niches. It’s a nichless blog.
I’ve written most about retirement and money, retirement and investing, money, why the “save for retirement” message will never work with young people, my garden, frugality, thriftiness, the future of cars, the future of oil companies, the future of land when sea waters rise, the tax consequnces of Brexit for U.S. investors, why North Korea does some of the things it does, and I guess a boatload of other things.
Now, where do I find that niche? Ha ha, in my dreams…
If you ever feel like you need a tribe to call your own, then join us on the Niche-Less Blogger Group! We’d love to have you.
Thanks for replying.
I have a moral objection to Facebook, unless there is a non-Facebook venue…
Sorry, at this moment in time, we’re just starting up in FB, haven’t thought about creating an avenue anywhere else yet.