One of the major problems with blogging is the struggle to find your niche. Original content is what makes a blog unique and worthwhile.
It is what makes a blog a must read’. It is what makes someone subscribe to your RSS feed.
Bloggers who get to break stories’ or have the first scoop’ on the latest news have incredibly large audiences. The same holds true for bloggers with name recognition who provide original opinion or analysis pieces. Both types of bloggers are the movers-and-shakers of the blogosphere, often shaping what others blog about (as I mentioned on Friday).
The problem is that based on the size of the blogosphere, there are only so many niches to go around. Some of the niches are also just too small. Thus, millions of bloggers who are not part of the upper echelon of the blogosphere often are speaking in a vacuum.
Fortunately, businesses, organizations, and a good number of individuals can avoid this blogosphere struggle because many of them already have captivated audiences – they already have found their niche in the real world.
For example, a health and wellness business with a relatively established customer base could use a blog to speak about the benefits of new products or tips for healthy living. A pastor of a church could connect with his congregation throughout the week and not solely on Sunday mornings. Authors could also make the ideas behind their books much more alive’ – just look at what the Freakonomics guys are doing.
This struggle really boils down to how you add value to your readers and to the larger blogosphere.
While I am quite happy with the progress I’m making on this blog, I know I have not arrived. I’d like to know what you think about my efforts. What would make this blog a must read’ for you? What types of posts do you like best? What could I change to make it better?
Any thoughts are most appreciated – constructive criticism is welcomed.
Ken Yarmosh is a consultant who helps organizations get the most out of their technology investments. He works with technology users and creators across various industries, focusing on technology education and strategy. With over 7 years IT experience, Ken has worked with small businesses, non-profits, federal agencies, and multi-million dollar companies.
His online efforts include acting as the Editor for the Corante Technology Hub and authoring the TECHNOSIGHT blog.
