How to Choose a Topic for a Blog

You are raring to go. You have read numerous blogs, successful and not, and feel this publishing platform is one that you want to pursue. Right on!

There is just a slight hurdle you need to overcome first - you are unsure what topic to focus on for your new blog.

Here are solutions to help you narrow down a topic that will work for you on your own site.

Your reasons to creating a blog may be financial in nature, reflect your desire to share information, or provide a way to create new connections. Whatever the reason, you want your new site to be successful in terms of your own definition of "success". Think about how your interests for blogging can best be matched with your blog focus.

For example, if you wish to build connections for your tailoring business with a blog and raise brand awareness, your site could focus on tailoring tips and include your business details; you could realistically generate buzz for your company. You would be less successful at promoting your business if your blog is unrelated in topic, such as a poetry blog. Not that there's anything wrong with a poetry blog - I have one myself!

Another great way to choose a theme for your site is by asking yourself where your passion lays in your daily life. Sounds off on a tangent? No.

With this question you are brainstorming ways to link your blog to your lifestyle interests. If a subject is interesting to you on a daily basis then you will excited to contribute to that topic online. After all, most successful sites publish posts two to three times a week.

The consistency in publishing builds readership and keeps content fresh for readers. You do not want to dread creating posts - so write about a topic that genuinely interests you!

As well, when you write about a topic that meets your interests, readers feel that excitement within your posts. You do not have to say "I love this subject" in order for readers to get that feeling from you. Readers can also sense when a writer does not really know what he or she is talking about, so choose a topic in which you do consider yourself to be knowledgeable.

Another way to decide on a topic is by looking at the depth of what you might write about on a weekly basis. You want to create a site for a subject that has several avenues that you can explore with your posts.

Let's continue with the example of the tailoring business. On your site, your posts can explore:

• How to pick sewing patterns
• Stores that offer great discounts on sewing notions
• 5 top sewing machines for beginners to buy

The list goes on. There are many avenues within the broad subject matter that you can take the reader. Consider depth when you choose the topic for your site. Keep the theme broad enough that you can explore the possibilities in the lengthy time that you operate the site.

Another consideration is one I call "The usefulness factor". Does your topic fill a need in the online world? Remember that the Web is overflowing with blogs and you want yours to stand out and be successful, no matter how you define success.

Ask yourself:

• Will readers want to regularly read about this topic?
• Can I create numerous posts about the topic?
• What type of readers do I want to attract on my site?
• Would I want to read my own site? Put yourself into the reader's shoes.

The answers to these questions will help you narrow down exactly what works for YOU.

Remember that the topic you choose for your blog has to work for YOU. While your friend may have a successful travel site, if you are not interested in writing about travel then it is likely not the best arena for your own site.

Choose an area that is of interest to you, has a variety of areas to explore for posts, and fills a current need on the Web. Now let's get writing!