Let’s talk for a second about getting noticed. It all comes down to choosing a niche. I know we’ve talked about it before, but it’s worth revisiting again. Picking a niche is one of the “cornerstones” to your business. It’s really important. So how do you choose?
How do I get noticed in a world of trillions of websites?
Everyday more and more websites go online ~ I don’t have the specifics on how many, but it’s a lot. If you want to get your website noticed you’re going to have to be different than the other people who are talking to your market. You are NOT going to be able to be just another generic site and expect to get traffic and make sales.
You’re going to have to be unique. You’re going to have to be you.
Here’s some tips on how to do that:
1. Think of a topic you enjoy ~ you’re going to be doing a lot of writing on this topic, and maybe video and podcasts too ~ you’re going to need to be passionate about the topic or your enthusiasm will wane an you will find it difficult if not impossible to finish this project.
2. Now that you have a topic in mind think about a more specific thing about that topic that you write about.
3. Then get even more specific.
4. Then get even more specific, and you might be at your niche.
Let’s take an example:
Say you’re into weight loss.
1. You could talk about losing weight.
2. You could talk about different diets
3. You could talk about a specific diet
4. You could talk about how you’ve lost XX pounds living a low carb lifestyle. Show people how you’re doing it, so they can do it too.
The people who are interested in living low carb will stop by your site and stay ~ the people who aren’t, won’t, AND that’s ok. That’s preferable! You don’t want to try to sell someone who is all about vegetarianism the low carb lifestyle. It just won’t work.
Do you see how talking about losing weight, and all the diets out there doesn’t make a connection with your readers? However, when you start talking about you, and your life, and your successes, and your failures and missteps people can CONNECT to that message. They can look at you and see themselves. People being able to see themselves in your words is how you build an audience, a tribe of like minded people.
Not only will those people want to read your site everyday, but they will be able to tell you exactly what they need. You’ll “get” it, because it’s something you need or have needed in the past. You’ll create it and they will buy it. It won’t be selling, it will be providing the solution to the exact problem they are experiencing. It will be easy.
Trying to sell weight loss ebooks to anyone who happens by your site is hard.
This “niching down” process works whether you’re working on an authority site or even niche sites.
Say you wanted to sell bikes online.
1. You could choose to sell every bike available.
2. You could choose to sell mountain bikes.
3. You could sell only Giant Mountain bikes.
4. You could sell used Giant mountain bikes under $100.
BAM. You see how your buyer will find YOU. If someone is looking for a Gary Fisher ~ they aren’t going to come to your site ~ and that’s ok. They aren’t looking for what you’re selling. If they are looking for a used Giant under $100 they will find you. Can you imagine how much easier those keywords are going to be to rank for?! bike vs. used giant under 100. Hell yeah.
The internet is a big place. You can make it hard on yourself and try to be something to everyone, or you can make it easy and be exactly what certain people need. Believe me, being just the right thing for certain people will make your life much easier and your readers and customers will thank you for filling their need.
PS. If you’ve already got a site up and running… it’s still not too late to niche it down. 
Blogs are an ever growing and changing art form ~ as you get more clear about who you really want to talk to simply start talking to them. More of the “right people” will start showing up and the “not quite right” people will start to fade away.
So tell me… could you niche yourself and your site down more than it is right now? Tell me in the comments, I’d love to hear what you could do.
No related posts.
Jackie, since I found your site, I think I’ve unsubscribed to about 20!!! Thank you for all you do! Awhile back I purchased the domain “newandimprovedmom.com” but haven’t used it. I’m currently building a site under my own name geared towards “mommying with depression”. What I really want is a blog geared towards “Moms who have struggled with anxiety and depression who are committed to personal development and creating their life”.
I think I could possibly use the domain I had set up for that niche. Do you think its too broad? too narrow? or not the right place to ask?
Elise´s last [type] ..Temp- grateful
Hey Elise,
That sounds like a fantastic niche! (and much needed!). Questions I would ask myself in this situation.
1. Am I part of this niche? (a mommy with depression/anxiety that wants to create a better life?).
If I am I would probably just create it on my own name ~ that way I could brand myself as THE person to come to for this info.
2. Is new and improved mom really what I’m after ~ or do I want moms to realize they are already great, but could do a little more. I would worry that “new and improved” might lead to people beating themselves up?
I don’t know… those are the thoughts I’d have and want to think about.
Perfect place to ask… AND if you want some one on one help getting this all put together, this is exactly what we’re doing over at the KISS Club.
(Shameless plug! http://www.internetmarketingformommies.com/kiss-club ~ plus this sounds like a fantastic project and I’d love to help you with it!)
I use micro niche finder to look for good keywords in any niche. I target those long but specific keywords as you’re right, they rank high.
Joe@Mesa Divorce´s last [type] ..Make the Most of a Divorce Lawyer in Mesa
Thanks for the post, Jackie! I am new to this world and definitley made the error of going for broad rather than narrow keyword searches.
I am going back to the drawing board and am going to be narrowing down jewelry to its very base keywords and see how that works for me!
Biggest thing I have learnt? You need a consolidated and CLEAR keyword strategy to feed both your SEO activities and your ongoing marketing strategy.
Thanks again – will keep y’all updated!
Michelle
“You need a consolidated and CLEAR keyword strategy to feed both your SEO activities and your ongoing marketing strategy.”
Absolutely ~ well said. There are tons of jewelry keywords I’m sure.
I found one last year for black diamond cat pendant (or something like that) talk about specific!! and there were some cute pendants that matched the kw. 
What’s more astounding in getting nichier (I know that is not a word) is that while visitors get smaller in numbers, conversion rate goes higher.
To answer your question: yes. I niched down from one of my first Squidoo lens (about my disease – asthma) and sold the best nebulizers, peak flow meters, etc. Haven’t made a lens about asthma books though.
Roth @ Yamaha Gigmaker Standard Acoustic Guitar Package Review´s last [type] ..Yamaha Gigmaker Standard Acoustic Guitar Package Review updated Fri Jul 16 2010 10-55 pm CDT
I totally agree with you. I do happen to blog about my low carb lifestyle and my subscribers are all like minded people : ) Great Post!
Jay B´s last [type] ..Low Carb Chicken Salsa and Black Bean Recipe
I totally agree with your article and the points you make. Sometimes, though, I have seen people throw up a site and it takes off like crazy, and other times someone does all kinds of keyword research and still struggles.
I wonder what kind of keyword results someone got for the term cake wrecks, for example. It’s almost like throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks. But, in the case of cake wrecks it was uniqueness that made a huge difference in her success.
Your advice and experience is very much appreciated, and I know following what you say can really help us out. Thank you!
krystal @ Help Me Lose Weight´s last [type] ..Should You Use Fiber Supplements
Hi there,
I agree with you that the right niche is a good solution; I also believe that the right niche must be accompanied by the adequate techniques and strategies, in order to see good results. And these techniques are generally valid, irrespective of niche, style or topic of choice.
Lloyd Burrell
Lloyd Burrell´s last [type] ..The Bush Mission Pointe 71″ W Desk with Optional Hutch
When you’re doing an authority site it’s just as important if not MORE important to be really specific about who your “right people” are.
Here’s a great post to help you really dig into this stuff. It’s what got me really thinking about it.
http://escaping-mediocrity.com/30-days-to-irresistible-presence/day-2-andrea-lee/
Hi Jackie
Another great Post as usual! With my selection of niche I’ve found that if I stick to my initial theme I’m running out of post topics and those I do choose are not specific to exact search keywords my potential market would use(perhaps I’m wrong in saying this and that my approach is wrong). e.g. I’ve just done a post on Friesian horses as a breed but very few are searching the words ‘Friesian horse’, although there are many searching ‘black horse’ which I’ve used as a KW. Unfortunately this is a generic term and refers to many things other than horses. I’ve thought of posting on products like ‘horse sheds’ & ‘horse fencing’ but this is once again very limited in range of subjects and affiliate products. Any suggestions that you or your readers have would be welcomed.
Finally, may I ask if, based on your posts of July 14, you are actually recommending ‘Instant Article Factory’, or merely tossing it up for our consideration?
Regards … RUSSELL
Russell´s last [type] ..Wintec 2000 – A Wide Ranging Saddle For A Wide Range Of Riders
Hi Russell,
I would say for your site if you are starting to build a community of readers, and are hanging out online, meeting other “horse” people that the keywords are not as important as the content.
When you started you were looking at it as a “niche site” however ~ it’s really turned into more of an authority site. I’d start worrying more about getting connected to other “horse friendly” people, via blogs, forums, twitter than worrrying about whether each and every post has a related keyword.
I would also not worry so much about writing only about “horse care” ~ write about horses ~ whatever you want about horses. There are a lot of ways to look at horse care ~ have you done a post on taking care of their hooves? A friend just invited us over to watch her horse “get it’s nails done” (unfortunately Hanna wasn’t home).
I’d say relax about the process a little more, write what feels good to write about horses, get more involved in the online horse community, and have fun while you’re doing this ~ it will come through on your site.
Yes ~ I recommend for those who have trouble writing articles and need content for promotional purposes.
Thanks, Jackie for great blog post..I never thought about it in those terms..I will have to get more focused and niche it down!
Alycia Cheatham´s last [type] ..SocialOomph- How Can You Make Use Of It
Jackie:
Interesting post!
There are so many different markets/niches that are available online. People need to find one or some that they like or interested in and get invovled and stick with it. Getting noticed will take a little time. Participating in the niche via forums is a great way to get noticed.
- Rick
Rick Byrd´s last [type] ..Secret Weapon To Help You Succeed Online!
Hey Rick ~ yeah forums will get you traffic, but my big point here is you have to be more specific with your site ~ as apposed to writing about generalities ~ being different and really calling the name of those who are your “right people” will get you not only noticed, but will build a following, and retain those readers.
Jackie:
Thanks for keeping me straight.
- Rick
Rick Byrd´s last [type] ..Secret Weapon To Help You Succeed Online!
That was my problem in doing OWM – I would find a product, but couldn’t find enough really tight keyword phrases to build lenses around. I think I’m getting better (like with this Pirate Costume site) now that I’m doing small product sites.
Kelly @ Pirate Costumes Plus Size´s last [type] ..Plus Size Pirate Wench
It really is about finding the strategy that is going to work for you ~ and you’re going to enjoy working with. Congrats ~ the site looks good!
Hi Jackie! Thanks for this advice. I’ve just built my first Amazon niche site and looking at your example, I think I’ve niched it down enough.
I’ve been wondering though: is it okay to not be personal with such product sites? I did take care to build the site with useful information but I am by no means an expert on the product nor is it my life’s passion.
Building product niche sites is the route I’m following at the moment. Though building a site on your passions sound real interesting too.
Fran@Eco Friendly Yoga Mats´s last [type] ..Buying the best eco friendly yoga mat
Yes it’s ok to not be so personal with the product sites ~ you have done a good job of niching that down though ~ it’s not exercise, or yogoa, or even yoga mats ~ eco friendly yoga mats is good.
(and the site looks really nice by the way.)
This is really what I needed. I have been trying to run “series” on my site, but they were to wide and unrelated. I now know I’ll have to narrow it down a lot! Is not going to be easy, but I’ll do it
Magriet du Plessis@Schwinn Hope Jogging Strolle´s last [type] ..Schwinn Hope Jogging Stroller updated Thu Apr 8 2010 10-14 am CDT
I am always wondering if my niche is really defined. I am a christian mom blogger, a real food blogger, who comes from commercial agriculture. Can that be a niche? I hope so.
Hi Michelle,
Wish you had put your link in the url field so I could have taken a look. DOH ~ I just hovered in the wrong spaceYou could even change your tag line in your header to say something like “Real food for Christian moms” ~ that makes it VERY clear who your “right people” are.
PS. I love your header ~ gorgeous.
Thank you for taking a look Jackie! Jolanthe at Relevant Designs created my header. I love it. Great idea for the tag line. I struggled with my tag line. Right now, I’m in the process of a redesign of my theme and can change it then. Thanks again for helping clarify for me.
Michelle @ Traditional Simplicity´s last [type] ..Miessence Mondays- Why Certified Organic
I’ve been thinking about this all day and have to say, I used the wrong wording here. I’m not trying to build a niche site. I want an authority site. My initial tag line was “A Simple Life in a Traditional Way” on my wordpress.com site. I think I’m talking to moms, preferably christian moms, who want to learn more about natural living, organics, real food, aromatherapy (which is under natural living I think), etc. Can this be an authority site? I came up with “Nourishment for your mind, body, and soul” bec. I want to write about ways to better nourish the three – simple living, natural living, real food, christian perspective. Am I too wide of a scope?
Michelle @ Traditional Simplicity´s last [type] ..Fats- Toss the Margarine- Buy Butter
Jackie,
I appreciate all of the helpful information I receive from your blog. I am really able to start narrowing some things down that were too broad before.
Bob@BabyPlayGyms´s last [type] ..The Advantages of Baby Play Gyms