I did think that blogging was a kind of a niche in itself; kind of a geeky sharing thing that came without having to worry too much about fitting in or being pushed into one particular area.
But the more I discover, the more I realise that most people to seem to fall into some particular niche; blogs about food, recipes, frugal housekeeping and becoming slimmer, blogs about photography or art, blogs about computers, design and blogging, blogs about faith and spirituality of one kind or another. Blogs about having children – and the difficulties of not being able to.
It kind of takes me back to the awkwardness of my early teens, shuffling from one foot to the other at the edge of a frozen hockey field, hoping someone might want me on their side.
But it isn’t even that simple. It seems to demand a flourish, an announcement. A declaration that from here on I will blog on just one thing.
That wasn’t what I’d intended at the start. I thought this would just be a place to put down a few thoughts and some ponderings on the little corners of my life. I didn’t realise that I was supposed to be segmenting myself off, and I just started to create a little jumble of things that kind of reflect me.
I’m taking part in a project over at The Sits Girls that promises an improved blog after just 31 daily exercises; we’re looking at content, viewers, design – all the sort of things that it takes to build a good blog.
Four days into the 31, we were challenged to explore our own niche and to find some aspirational blogs that we could draw some ideas from.
The last time I kept a blog, things were fairly simple. There were two types of female bloggers; there were the jaunty, happy-go-lucky, independent girl blogs breezing along with their deliciously irritating self-confidence. And there were the other type; the blogging’s-better-than-therapy girls, over-sharing and living out every moment of trauma live online. Or at least that’s how I remember them. I was never quite sure where I fitted in then either.
I’m at the start of exploring bloggers who I might build some bonds with and finding blogs that I know I’ll want to go back to. I’m trying to look out for people of a similar age and outlook, partly because I already follow quite a few people who are a little different to me. SitsGirls is proving to be wonderful for that, although it’s a procrastinator’s dream to be able to get lost in them all for hours on end.
I don’t know where I fit. But that kind of feels OK for now. It’s taken me a long time to feel properly comfy in my own skin. I don’t feel I should stitch it differently just to match a particular crowd, and I think that has to count for blogging too.
And (to kind of prove a point, and also to do a post with internal linky things in which is another of our challenges) although my recent posts have mostly been based around the 365 Project that’s become a great hobby, I’ve also written fairly recently about
My work with homeless young people
And Going home
On my way to 40 too!! Yeah! Or not. Looking forward to exploring your blog.
Hello Heidi, Thanks for coming over. I’ve added you to my reader and look forward to learning more about you – you seem to have your hands full looking after your family and pets (and the snake – you’re so brave having a snake!).
Eu com 45 suplico á Deus mais alguns anos de vida para que eu
possa apreciar escritas e post, como este.
obrigado por extraordinário trabalho
Melhor
Helio.
Being an Aussie bloke, I don’t think I fit into any of the Niches you mention. But hey you go with the flow and get the best you can out of everything you do and it all comes out all good. Loved reading into your soul with this reviere! Great writting.
Thanks so much. I think it’s too easy to get caught up in worrying too much instead of just getting on and creating new pieces.
You hit the nail right on the head. I am a little concerned that my blog section is not focused enough. It’s a tough call as the blog is part of a bigger site. For now I’m flailing but I hope to gain focus as time passes.
I like your style here, it gives a better insight into you.
Ah the niche, this is something I struggle with also. I am not a PF Blogger, a book blogger or a mommy blogger and I hate being typecast as a career blogger. Whenever I sign up for any kind of blogging course I get stuck at step one “determine your niche.” I can’t go on to step 2 “write an about me page” because I don’t have a niche. I like your idea being a blogger is a niche.
So here we are 6 months later, do you feel you are any closer to your niche? What are your thoughts?
I’ve changed my mind lots – I waver between wanting to pull myself into a particular niche but knowing that I’d find that tough.
I can see that people who have a strong focus in one area would have a particular kind of readership – writing a blog about puddings, for example, would mean that people would visit just for that. But I wanted to have something more personal about me , and I think that a wider range of topics possibly makes it easier to connect with others in a friendlier way.
But I’m still unsure. In an ideal world, I’d have about five blogs – but I’d never manage to keep them all going.