Dayle Fraschilla

11th September 2011 at 1:24 AM permalink

I’ve done some professional blogging . . . as in, I’ve been paid to blog on other sites. But my blog is just that, it’s *mine*. I don’t have a niche because what I love so much about writing is that I don’t have to choose the thing that interests me the most. I love so many things and I’m passionate about so many issues. My blog is my own self-indulgence. At the end of the day after I’ve written for other people, I get to sit down and write about what’s important to me.

I have no interest in finding a niche for my personal blog because I don’t fit into any box . . . and I don’t want to!

So my opinion on the matter is that personal blogs *can* have a niche, but that they don’t need one.

I will also say that of the bloggers I follow, I read those who write about many different topics much more frequently. Those who have a niche — I’ll check up on them often, but I’m less likely to read every single post.

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Paula

11th September 2011 at 7:17 PM permalink

So my opinion on the matter is that personal blogs *can* have a niche, but that they don’t need one.

This is kind of what I have been thinking, but I just wasn’t sure. I feel like if I focused on just one or two topics, I would get bored with my blog. I like being able to write about whatever I am thinking about whether it’s books, travel, just whatever.

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Mira

17th September 2011 at 6:38 AM permalink

I think personal blogs are just that: personal. Not in a way you must blog about your life (which cna get boring), but in a way you blog about whatever you’re interested in.

I’ve learned that the topic of your post is not as important as the overall quality of writing. A well written post about a subject readers are not interested in will still make an impact. More than a sloppy post about a popular subject.

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Mira

17th September 2011 at 6:38 AM permalink

Ok. Crap. I’ve just found out I put comma instead of a dot in my url. Hope it works now.

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geeky_shopaholic

17th September 2011 at 2:55 PM permalink

Mira, I think that you are right. I am going to push the niche thing out if my head and continue to focus on my writing. I like your definition of personal blogger; it is much broader than mine.

And I fixed your url.

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Saturday Sharing – WLS, the directionally challenged, white privilege and more | I shall be a toad

17th September 2011 at 8:58 PM permalink

[...] Do personal bloggers need a niche? That’s the questioned Paula posed last week in this post. [...]

Sharon

17th September 2011 at 11:43 PM permalink

This is why I named my blog The Real Sharon because it’s where I not only talked about my life but I also talk about whatever topics are on my mind, share poems and stories, my thoughts and opinions. It’s where I can share who I am with the world through whatever I feel like on that particular day. No one’s life ONLY fits one area so why should a personal blog?
If I tried to make my blog only be about one thing, I think I would end up miserable….there’s just so many thoughts I want to write about on any given day that can’t be all fit into one little niche.

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geeky_shopaholic

18th September 2011 at 3:07 PM permalink

Sharon, I think I’ve been stuck in this mental rut where I viewed personal blogging as diary oriented. But now that I am connecting with other bloggers like myself who write about all kinds of things, I see that personal blogging is so much more than what I thought it was. Thank you for your comments they gave me a lot to think about!

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Alexandra

19th September 2011 at 11:26 AM permalink

Paula – Such a great topic to think about. I’m brand new to blogging and have no idea what I am doing as it relates to a niche or a brand of any of that rather terrifying stuff. At this moment, I tend to write more about parenting than anything else, but like Dayle, I write for my own enjoyment, so I like the freedom to touch on other topics. But I think your own instincts are great–providing a variety of content that you love and enjoy. That’s what brings readers, I think–a blogger who really enjoys what she’s doing–regardless whether it fits in a niche or not. So glad to find your blog through Dayle and I look forward to catching up on your archives! -Alexandra

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Paula

19th September 2011 at 12:58 PM permalink

That’s what brings readers, I think–a blogger who really enjoys what she’s doing–regardless whether it fits in a niche or not.

Alexandra, I like what you said there! It’s really true! When I think about the blogs that I love reading, that is definitely something that they all have in common – they all love what they are doing! Thanks for pointing that out!

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Carissa

20th September 2011 at 3:53 PM permalink

I’m not a professional blogger but I’ve read a bunch of ecourses on blogging and I’ve often wondered about my niche. I think mine.. and perhaps yours too… blogging style is lifestyle blogger. I write about my life and things that I do and things that interest me. I haven’t found my “niche” I don’t think. I stressed about it for a while but then decided that I’d write what I like to read about on other blogs and hopefully like minded blogger friends enjoy it too!

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Paula

20th September 2011 at 6:40 PM permalink

Carissa, I hadn’t considered the term lifestyle blogger before. I kinda like it!

I stressed about it for a while but then decided that I’d write what I like to read about on other blogs and hopefully like minded blogger friends enjoy it too!

That has always been my hope, to write what I like and hopefully find visitors that enjoy the same thing!

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Ava Jae

15th December 2011 at 7:26 AM permalink

I’ve read a lot about how bloggers should have a niche, but I never really worried about it because I’d already chosen to write in a niche (namely, I write about writing.) In my opinion, it does help to have a specific topic that your blog revolves around because it helps give a cohesive feel to your posts so that your readers know what to expect when they return to your blog.

In a way, I’d almost say it’s easier to write in a niche. I can’t say for sure, as I’ve never not written a niche blog, but I know it helps me when coming up with blog ideas to have a basic place to start producing ideas. What do you think?
Ava Jae recently posted..Celebrating 100 Posts

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geeky_shopaholic Reply:
December 15th, 2011 at 8:16 PM

First, thank you Ava for coming by and commenting! One of the bloggers who commented above said that she considered herself a lifestyle blogger, and I think that is a term that I like for myself as well. I write about the things in life that I enjoy, and I hope to connect with others with similar interests. And I never really have a problem coming up with ideas, they are all around me.

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