Aug 29 2007
The Importance of Knowing Your Niche
Finding a profitable niche to build a website around is important but knowing that niche inside out and upside down is the key to turning the site into a money maker. Having first hand experience with the topic you’re writing about will set your site aside because you’ll be able to anticipate what your readers are looking for and give reliable answers based on experience rather than some half arsed research and a lot of guesswork.
For example, my living in London site is aimed squarely at young people who come over from various Commonwealth and European countries (and sometimes the States) on working holidays. I moved over to London five years ago so I’m able to provide all sorts of information that I wish I’d had before I came. I can relate that getting a UK bank account is the most frustrating experience ever, give sneaky advice on getting tax back, recommend the seediest Aussie pubs to go out on the pull and point readers towards where to find cheap beer. I can relate to my target market (because I am part of it) and am able to anticipate their questions and provide information that they want. Because of this my London site has been a success.
On the other hand, if I started a website aimed at families I could provide them with generic information about the city but I wouldn’t have a clue about other things like finding schools and, um… whatever else families moving to a new city need to know. I could do some research and try to wing it but I wouldn’t be able to provide nearly as much value as someone who has recently had to move their family to London.
People can see through fakes so my advice is to build sites around what you know, not around what has the highest paying Adsense keywords. If you know your niche well and love whatever it is you’re writing about then it will show and your site will stand out from the crowd.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
I've been travelling since January 2008 living off earnings from the web. Follow me as I bum around Asia and beyond, getting up to mischief and working online as I go. 
Kirsty, great article. I like how you stressed the importance of finding a profitable niche. If you are planning on profiting from your website, it doesn’t make much sense to talk about subjects that people aren’t interested in.
On the other hand, I also agree with, “don’t build your website on the highest paying keyword”. If you are not passionate and knowledgeable about the topic you are writing, people ARE going to sense that.
You have to have both a passion and a profitable niche.
Great insight. I just subscribed to your feed.
Thanks Carl, welcome aboard.
I’ve had to write about things I don’t know about for certain sections of some of my websites and it’s painful! Plus I know it shows. I can’t imagine developing an entire slew of sites around topics a person isn’t familiar with. The keywords might be more profitable but writing new content is like pulling teeth then is it really worth it? Not for me.
…well, i don’t think my site’s a profitable niche - i’m doing it ‘cos i’m GAGA over it! I’m obsessed with mangoes. Might as well write about it - see how far my tongue can stretch.
Pocket change would be great - Deep pocket change would be fantastic - Double that and it’s ‘Sis, me and you are off to New York again, baby!!’
Hey Kirsty - just had an idea: if you ever sample any mangoes on your travels, would love for you to guestblog about it on my site. What do you think?
I think the most important thing is to be passionate about your site’s topic and it seems like you’ve made a great choice with mangoes!
I had been working on my site for 5 years before I even knew it was possible to make money with it and I would still be doing it even if i wasn’t making a cent. Might not spend quite as much time at it but who knows.
I love the idea of reviewing mangoes! Talk about a unique way to make an appearance as a guest blogger. I’m not even totally sure how much I like mangoes (shock! horror!) but I’ll find out.
First report: January from the Philippines
Yes, me & mangoes go back a loooooong way.
Hey, no pressure, if you ever do try one or a couple OR A TON!, keep me in the loop, take a pic if you want, let me know how it was for you - whether you liked it, didn’t like it, doesn’t matter - it’s your tongue, your experience. OK?
I think what you’re embarking on in Jan is brave and sounds exciting. Good on you.