Tuesday
Research Your Way To Riches
 When I was thinking about starting my very first blog I read what a lot of the 'experts' had to say on the matter. They all seemed to agree that bloggers should decide on a specific niche."Write about what you are interested in and know about - about - about," they echoed. So that's why I started Mike's Money Making Mission - because I had previously published a money making magazine for ten years. I followed their advice in other words. But, you know, those experts aren't really right in what they preach, and most churn out the same old party line. As an extreme example supposing your main interest is: The combined wit and wisdom of Tony Blair and George Bush. Okay, it's unlikely, but lets pretend. So you set up your blog about the handsome duo but there would problems in two ways. (1) Their combined wit and wisdom could be written on a single page - alright half a page. (2) How many people would actually want to read this? It's a bit of a limited market. Yes, you've followed the experts advice but it's not going to work out too good because: (a) There isn't sufficient subject matter to write 300+ posts a year and (b) There aren't enough people interested in the subject. This means, no matter how hard you try, it's doubtful if you will succeed - and there's even less chance of making any decent money. So much for experts!  When thinking about a niche what we should do - if we want a decent readership and/or make money - is to choose something that a lot of people want to read about. There's no reason why this has to be something that interests you or is something that you know about.I didn't realise this at first. It was only when I started to seriously think about what many people really wanted to read that I started to make worthwhile money. Nope, you don't make a lot of money with money making blogs! I started to make decent money once I set up my celebrity blogs - giving people what they want to see and read. I didn't have a clue about celebrities when I started - honest! I obviously knew a few film star and music names but that was it. I never read all of the gossip about who's doing what and to whom and so on. I've learned a lot since about how the celeb media and tabloids work - it's all a big game - and it's this that has made me money. Because it's what a lot of people want to read about - sorry, if I'm sounding like a stuck parrot! I'm not for one minute suggesting that you should start up a celebrity blog. All I'm saying is that, if you are looking for a niche, pick one that interests a lot of people - and not necessarily something that you are personally interested in.  There's a mountain of information out there, on almost any subject, so you can research your way to riches.Good luck, Mike. Celebrity Insider - Photos & News: Gossip, news and photos about worldwide celebs. Labels: Blogs, money making |
I agree with you for the most part, Mike. A lot of make money online bloggers seem to think their niche is too crowded and so they suggest that new bloggers should write on some other topic. When you think about it, though, the fact that there are so many make money online blogs and so many people read them goes to show that it is in fact a GOOD niche! It's easier to capture part of an existing audience than to create a new one out of thin air!
On the other hand, I don't think everyone would be able to maintain a blog on a topic they aren't really interested in. It's one thing to start a blog, but it's quite another to write that three hundredth post on Paris Hilton without blowing a fuse. You're right that you don't need to know much about your topic, but I think you at least need a healthy level of curiosity about the topic to keep going indefinitely.
Mike,
I beckon to differ on your 2 problem points:
(1) Their combined wit and wisdom could be written on a single page - alright half a page.
(2) How many people would actually want to read this? It's a bit of a limited market.
KennySia, a famous Asian blogger has surpass the above limitations.
However, if your intention of blogging is to make money, of course you may write on matters that may not interest you or know about. This is the same as doing your mundane day to day work.
So the bottom line is, understand the reason behind you start a blog.
bryan: Great comment! I think you are right about the curiosity bit - but earning money can be a good driving force!
doink: There are, in life, always exceptions and I was being ironical and tongue in cheek.
This being a money making blog the post is aimed at money-makers. There are, of course, other reasons to blog and, as you say, it's necessary to understand as to why we blog.
Thanks to both of you.
Mike.
This post just open up my eyes about blogging for money. I agree with everything that you write about this post.
It's just not about what you really enjoy writing about but what you think your readers will be interested in, that will give you money. However, you have to know what information you are giving to your readers, by learning. MOney can be an inspiration to learn.
Thank you so much for inspiring me.