- HubPages»
- Technology»
- Internet & the Web
How to Choose a Topic for a Blog
Choose a Topic
You Want To Create 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.
Analyze Your Reasons
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!
Do You...
Do You Want To Create A Blog?
Where Does Your Passion Lay?
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.
What Topics Are You Passionate About?
Are There Multiple Avenues To Explore?
Depth of the Topic
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.
The Usefulness Factor
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.
A Useful Site Draws Readers
Your Choices
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!
Related Articles
- How to Run a Blog Giveaway
Running a blog giveaway is a great way to create interest in your blog. A blog giveaway creates a buzz that will attract potential readers to your site. - 3 Valuable Reasons to Respond To Comments on Your Blog
Whether your blog is hosted by WordPress, Blogger, or another online platform, the comments you receive directly on your site need to be responded to by you. Reasons to respond to your blog comments include learning more about your audience, increasi
Comments
- Author
@Rebecca, glad to help, sounds like this hub is well-timed with your start into the blogging world!
Wonderfully helpful Christy. Thanks for the blogging tips. I am thinking along those lines.
- Author
@unknown spy, Thank-you! I do hope this read will be useful for anyone wondering what to focus on for his or her blog.
@Janine, Thanks for the shares! Let me know if you do start a blog and we can connect in that online world as well :)
Christy, amazing tips and advices. Very useful and helpful to the readers,. Voted up!
Christy, you gave me some real food for thought on this one and appreciate that. Have pinned to refer to this and am voting and sharing too.
- Author
@myownlife, Thank-you for the read and comment.
@Squeesh, I appreciate that!
yes awesome advices. Great
Very useful! thanks! Vote up, useful, and shared.
- Author
@cperuzzi, funny! You can still stick to the topics you like but I also suggest doing a little research for keywords and the best way to market those topics to your audience. Thanks for the laugh.
That works better than my method. Mine is similar to a commodities broker saying, "I have a good feeling about pork bellies today."
- Author
@Rolly, how nice to see you here my friend. You do not jabber; I enjoy your tales about what you have learned. I am glad you find this hub useful. Take care.
@Vinaya, Yes, building up blog followers can take time. Try to promote your posts on social media sites and find a niche or useful details for your readers. Thank-you for your compliments and for following my work! I do try hard and it is so nice to be noticed by you.
Hi Christy what a great hub this is. Makes me stop and think about the jabber I put out there sometimes. Thanks for the reminder to stay focused...
Hus as always
I created blogs to promote my online contents. Later I began publishing stuffs that writing sites would normally consider personal. Blog is a wonderful place to showcase your works. However, building readership and followers both are difficult.
PS: Christy, thanks for reading me on Maria's interview. I followed your tweet and read your article on Knoji. You are a prolific writer.
- Author
@penlady, thank-you for the insightful comment and for the shares as well. Writer's block is not welcomed!
@samsons1, What a great compliment! If I could 'favourite' your words I would :) Thanks Samson!
@Brian, I appreciate that, thank-you.
@wetnosedogs, Glad to help, take care.
Hi Christy,
You did a wonderful job in thoroughly explaining how to find a topic for a blog. Whenever you’re suffering with writer’s block, it helps to have a method to stimulate your thoughts.
Voted up, useful and shared on Twitter.
Good job!
Very interesting and invigorating. When I read your hubs I get sooo 'pumped up' with ideas. Voted up, useful, interesting and shared. Thanks so much for your style and helpful advise...
Excellent advice=voted up and shared.
Thank you for explaining further what I have been pondering.
- Author
@Trinity, if you do start blogging again let me know and we can connect there as well. As I write here you really can just publish twice a week. Thanks for stopping by!
@Marc, I was asked a similar question by a friend and wanted to help her. I realized I had a lot to say on the topic so I created the hub :) LOL you know I've noticed that about your writing lately! I still love to read your witty posts.
@lovedoctor926, So glad you enjoyed the hub. Thanks for the positive words, vote and share too - I'm smiling :)
@onlinecashdigest, Absolutely. One should not start the journey thinking that it will be an easy one! Thanks for adding that comment.
@Josh, firstly, why 3418? What is the significance? Second, Actually quite a few people have wondered about this topic. That is how I started to write it, in response to a friend's question. Thanks for the votes my friend!
@Jackie, Pleased you like the hub!
@sgbrown, three blogs, wow, good for you hon! Keep writing!
- Author
@Olde Cashmere, You leave wonderful comments, thank-you! I do try to share what I have learned to help others who write. Much appreciate, have a good day James.
@Bill, LOL I think you mean 'blog' instead of 'hub' :) I know I know me and the language.. well I am a writer after all hehe I couldn't resist~
@Teaches, thank-you for your continued support.
@Nell, Quite true, it's finding a way to stand out in the crowd. Thanks Nell!
@lsadorasThought, firstly your comment in the Q&A section had me laughing, you are so cute :) Furry creatures you say... now I am intrigued!
Awesome hub Christy! Very well thought out and explained. I’ve started a hub three times but gave up after a while. Your suggestions are great… I might consider giving it another go. Voted up and useful.
Another great hub! (where did you come up with the idea?)
I find that i only write about what pisses me off lately! I used to write about what i thought about, like the expansion of the universe, and if there is a heaven, how many other planet's people's would be in there? But lately, it's only been what makes my nerves cringe...
This is very useful. I agree. When you are passionate about something, you tap into your creativity. You have provided very good examples and questions that we as writers should ask ourselves. voted up! thanks for sharing.
Great hub. I would just like to add though that Passion or Interest should be balanced with the monetary potential of a certain topic or interest.
No matter how passionate about a certain topic you are if there is no economic potential then you won't make money on it.
This was a very informative hub Christy! You always provide us with information relevant to your readers; I mean who hasn't wondered about this topic before? LOL Probably not many of us, so I congratulate you for this great hub idea and for sharing it with us, thanks Christy! Voted up, useful, and awesome!
This is great info, I will tuck it away for when I need it. Most assuredly though it must be something of interest! Thanks! Interesting and useful!
Great hub! I currently have 3 blogs, but I use them mainly to promote my hubs. If one of them happens to take off and do well on it's own, that's great! Good information here! Voted up and useful!
Your hubs are always packed with useful tips and ways to excel. Thank you Christy for sharing your knowledge with us. This is excellent material. Voted up, shared, useful, and awesome :)
Great suggestions Christy! I gave up on my hub a couple months ago; just didn't have time to devote to it. You did a good job of outlining pre-hub thoughts.
Great suggestions for bloggers. I will take this under wing and keep for future reference as well.
Really great advice, its just finding that niche that nobody else has run dry, and as you say if people know that you are passionate about a subject then it will be so popular, voted up! cheers nell
Some more awesome advice from Christy - thank you! :) Although I must say that topics of my blog don't really depend on me, more on the activities of certain two furry creatures ;)
- Author
@TToombs08, thanks so much. I am pleased you find the information useful, great feedback!
Christy, this is a GREAT hub. I run into this wall often. Thank you for writing such a wonderful hub and very useful. Voted up and more. :)
34