There’s been a whole load of online hoo-ha lately about bloggers. The twitterverse has been a minefield, and there are debates left right and centre about what bloggers are supposed to do and how they’re supposed to be. I thought about adding my twopenneth… but decided not to go there yet! Instead, I thought I’d have a little chat about something else blogging-related that’s puzzling me at the minute. That being ‘blog niches’. (Let’s just say I’m in the midst of a blog identity crisis of sorts these days, ok!)
The internet powers that be (read: all the blogging tips advice that Pinterest has to offer) say that having a niche/theme/area of expertise is the key to all successes. The internetting holy grail. The be all and end all. Don’t have a niche and a super specific target audience? Forget it! Thou shalt choose thy niche and thou shalt stick to it.
It makes sense, of course. People will follow you because they know what they’re signing up for. If we’re talking Insta, I won’t deny that a perfectly curated grid of landscapes looks hella more impressive than a random pretty landscape slotted between food and outfits and selfies (guilty). A grid of similar ‘anything’ is more eye catching than a mishmash! And if we’re talking blogs, of course you’re more likely to follow if the top 10 posts have all been right up your alley. The next 10 probably will be too. Brands see you as consistent and your readers are probably *mostly* in one demographic. Ish, anyway.
But… what happens if you can’t decide on a niche? I’m an 18 year old girl who loves clothes, loves to travel, is a maths geek, makes things, enjoys fitness, is an extrovert but likes a quiet night too… what niche you gonna put that in huh??? I guess considering these photos you could call my niche ‘teenage knitter and sunset afficionado’, but I’m not sure about that one.
Even if I could decide on a box to tick, I just wouldn’t want to limit myself by committing to it. The same way I don’t want to limit myself to only posting pastel coloured photos on Instagram – then WTF do I do if I go somewhere beautiful but it isn’t pastel? I don’t feel like I’m the kind of person that fits a niche very well in general tbh. In life, never mind blogging. God help me.
Not only am I clueless as to what niche I could choose, I don’t think I actually want one. Think it could get kinda boring after a while, you know? Maybe that makes me a jack of all trades and master of none, but whatever. I’ll probably do outfit posts forever and a day, but I still can’t imagine doing them every day. And personally, I prefer reading blogs where each post is a surprise too – as long as it seems genuine, then if I like you in one post, I’ll probably like you in them all, whatever you’re wittering about that day.
I don’t know what’s more important, basically! Obviously if you’re just blogging for personal fun as an online diary then to hell with niches, write whatever you want. But if you’re also trying to make a ‘thing’ of this blogging lark and want to be taken seriously (which I’m not gonna deny, I do!) then it’s worth considering what’s best for your blog. And if you’re anything like me, reaching no conclusions on the matter and continuing to share anything and everything that vaguely falls under travel, fashion, and lifestyle, with a few other topics thrown in for good measure. Handknit cropped tops, for example.
Speaking of which, here’s one I made earlier 😉 One that you can make for yourself with my free pattern, too! Told you I couldn’t get enough of these quick little projects. Was the perfect comfy outfit for a warm summer evening stroll.
On a final note, I’ll add that I wrote this post a couple of days ago and scheduled it, guessing I’d be in an, ahem, *delicate* state this morning after celebrating/commiserating my A-level results. Luckily celebrations were in order! Since I didn’t have a university place or anything riding on these grades (find out why I’m not going to university here) I wasn’t too stressy about them until Thursday morning, but was very happy with A*AAA anyway. Also surprised considering how much of a car crash some of the exams seemed, but happy! Now to drag out the celebrations a little while longer. 😀
lily kate x
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9 Comments
Antonia
19th August 2016 at 11:10 amI used to have a “niche” but it just didn’t feel right. Just as you said we are not just the one thing. Now when I write about everything that I feel passionate about I realized that I’m so much more happier with my blog. I find that my content is now much better (although there is always enough room to improve) and I feel inspired to keep going.
Congratulations on your A-levels results! xo
lily kate
20th August 2016 at 10:22 amI can imagine a niche is hard work! A blog is supposed to be fun so why make it a chore eh? Your blog is great!
Thank you so much!
Antonia
21st August 2016 at 6:07 pmYeah and it’s so much easier to just write about anything you like. You don’t feel obligated to write just about the certain topic.
Thank you very much! xo
Emerald
21st August 2016 at 12:45 amWhat a lovely, sparkly blog! Just popped here from a FB share on Not Dresssed As Lamb’s page. I’m enjoying reading your posts and your thoughts on blogging, etc.
Love your tops and well done on your exam results.
lily kate
21st August 2016 at 10:42 amThat’s so lovely of you to say Emerald! Catherine’s share was so kind. So glad you like my blog and thoughts, thank you!
Max
3rd September 2016 at 5:43 pmNiche, huh? You do have a consistency to all of your blog posts, simply because you wrote them all. I wouldn’t worry about it. I think that crafts have kind of retreated to the background, and maybe you lost some of the real hardcore knitting followers, but your knits can usually segue into outfits nicely, except for the knit cacti, of course. Hmm. I may have gotten off track in my comments. Anyways, all those all white and pale instas make me despair and feel all messy and garish in my own style. But your blog and your photos do have a certain visual style that pulls it together. I like the enthusiasm and variety.
lily kate
6th September 2016 at 10:45 pmI’m glad you think there’s some consistency! I’d like to think my writing style is fairly consistent but then again sometimes I write ranty blog posts when I’m in a bad mood. 😀 I probably have lost the hardcore knitters, but my life’s different now so oh well!
I wonder how people can pull off the all white neat and tidy instas sometimes haha, I try my best but mine will never be so neat I don’t think. Visual style pulling it together is exactly what I’d like my blog to come across as – thank you!
Amy
3rd March 2017 at 6:03 pmNah I don’t like niches, too restricted and too fake I find. But yeah if you’re going to be taking blogging further then I suppose it makes sense :S
lily kate
12th March 2017 at 7:21 pmToo much like hard work to keep to! How do you come up with endless ideas in only one niche? I can see why it makes ‘blogging for business’ easier but just wouldn’t work for me 🙂