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Stick To Your Niche?

This post was most recently updated on July 28th, 2016

Do You Stay In Your Own Niche?I hear a steady chatter about why, as a blogger, you must always stick to your niche topic. 

I agree that it’s important to have a well defined niche.  There are times, though, when you can actually expand your focus by exploring other niches, particularly ones that are related to your own.

Bloggers often stick to their niche almost exclusively.  

They only visit and comment on blogs with their niche, they only promote their articles to focus audiences within their niche, and they only write about topics clearly limited to their niche readers.

They usually do this for SEO purposes.  They want to rank only blog posts that are pertinent to their niche, are tagged only to niche-focused topics and keywords, and only back-link within their niche.

I think it’s important to “focus” on your niche.  I think it was probably more important when only such things were important for blog and page ranking.

Today, though, we work within a different blogosphere.  

Keyword and relevancy metrics are no longer the only thing to consider.  Some would argue that they’re not even important any longer, though I think that’s a bit rash.

What I can tell you for certain, is that your blog and post rankings will now be weighed very heavily by search engines on your ability to build relationships and engage with people.

At the heart of building these relationships is your ability and willingness to reach out to your readers and give them incredible value, with a strong sense of sincerity.

Now those are no easily measured metrics, but ones you need to conform to nonetheless.

Many commenters on my last post, Create Your Awesome Authority, remarked that “I never heard that term before” … referring to “awesome authority.”  Actually,  it was just the title of my blog post, but I kind of like the term, too, and have actually decided to make it the topic of my next premium webinar.

That’s because the very concept of “awesome authority” as I developed it, seemed to be foreign to many folks.  So it really got me thinking.

Maybe not everyone understands the importance of building relationships first.  Maybe they stick to their niche first, engage their readers second.

But the very first thing a blogger needs to do, is give to others.  Share the knowledge you have, things you have just learned that.  

That’s cool.

Share valuable information with your followers and knock their socks off.

Don’t tie yourself into knots trying to stick to your niche.

Just offer great value with sincerity, and I think you’ll be surprised at your uptick in rankings, and more importantly, in the elevation of your credibility.

Another thing is to learn.  Yes, boys and girls, we must be on a constant learning curve. That means we need to actively curate information that will, in fact, rise to the level of actual “value” to our readers.

This usually requires researching information that does not lie strictly within niche.

The biggest thrill I get is when I go to a blog that is out of my niche and learn something new.  This not only saves me time in searching out things I’m interested in but also teaches me …  and I love learning!

Most of all, I then need to show my readers how that information is useful to them, even though it may not be strictly within my niche.

But how are we going to keep ourselves in the know about things that have little to do with our tight little niche?

I dare to say, to accomplish this, you must get out of 
your niche from time to time.  Read people’s blog post in related areas, and learn from them.  

This is how you are going to expand your relationships.  

For example, if you are the creator of a fantastic WordPress plugin, and you want to expand it’s exposure
beyond your tech-centered “web developer” niche, where are you going to start?  

Begin by engaging with those that are already actively engaged in those related niches you want to target.

You might start engaging with bloggers, for instance.  Or, perhaps network marketers.  These are people that are not in the web development niche, but certainly can see the value of your plugin.

You will probably pick up some great things to share with your own niche from these “outsiders.”

For instance, if you get involved with some self-development folks, you might end up writing a post about inspiration.  

What’s that go to do with web development.  

On the surface, very little, but with a little thought, you’ll realize it actually has a lot to do with it.  

And your “inspiration” post may help your web development audience more that you would have thought.  

That means, you’ve gone outside of your niche to procure value for folks within your niche… get the picture?

Now, rather than sounding like I’m just ranting about this, let me show you how it has worked for me.

My audience is focused on my niche, which is blogging.

But I routinely get people on my blog from different
niches.  We even engage with each other on social sites.  

In fact, my relationship with many of these people actually helps me develop better quality posts, with higher value for my primary target audience… bloggers.

Let me mention but a few of the bloggers I have built this kind of relationship with.

 

Marquita Herald:  When I go to Marquita’s blog, there is time for reflection, time to grow within myself because she is all about inspiration.

Now, don’t we need inspiration as bloggers?  In life?

Sure we do, so I’m an avid reader of her blog.

Kumar Guaraw:  I never met Kumar, I wouldn’t be able to keep my blog running so smoothly.

Now, I’m not an affiliate of his Krishna World Wide hosting company.  I can tell you, though, that once I switched my hosting management over to his company, the look and functioning of my blog was greatly improved.  

I am not one to fiddle around with c-panels, plugins, and all that stuff.   My journey does not include stopping my life and important online work, in order to fix things that I don’t even understand.  

Now, I know I’m safe because Kumar actually contacts me when he finds something going wrong with one of my blogs.  Come on now… who else does that?   

His blog is fantastic also.  Talking about giving value,

Kumar always writes great content for people and I always learn cool things on his blog.

Then I turn around and share that information with my blogging-niche readers, and they love it!

 

Enstine Muki:  Enstine actually does write a lot about blogging (my niche), but most of all he does a lot of interviews.  

He just created a plugin called  “MyComment Authors”  

Check this one out my friends.  

And talk about go-giving… Enstine does many interviews on his blog that share the great things other online folks are doing.  

When he posted a blog post interviewing me, I received so many new visitors.  His friends are mostly technical folks, but at least I can learn from them and become engaged with people I would have never met.

Most importantly, once again… I can learn techie things that I would never have known, and share the information back to my readers when it is relevant to blogging.


Ravi Chahar of  “Blogging Love:”  Ravi teaches me so much about plugins and WordPress structure.  

He always writes a step-by-step tutorial showing how to use various plugins, and so much more.  

Like I said before, I am not about fiddling around with plugins, but I gain the necessary jargon relevant to them so that I can ask my blog creator if I need them or gain a “working knowledge” of them for myself… and for my followers.

 

Arleen Harry:  Arleen writes a blog called Garret Specialties.

She writes great articles about how to promote your business.  She keeps me updated with the latest from her niche.  

Now, the Garrett Specialties blog offers tons of promotional items for your business… from pens to hats and way beyond.  

Again, I’m not an affiliate here, but if I want to purchase something with my brand on it for customer appreciation, I know I can get right over to Arleen’s business site to get a great, tangible product.

I did this sort of thing with my offline business, and heck… why not do it with an online business?  People love getting a tangible product in the mail.

 

I’ve given you just a few examples of great bloggers I know that are outside of my niche.

Once again, the key here is not exactly WHO you turn to, but that you make the effort to get outside of your niche once in a while.  

Find interesting and relevant blogs to follow that are outside of your niche a bit.  See what’s going on there that might help your business, and of course, that of your readers.

Your Blog Is A Sales Funnel

So, I ask you my friends.  What do you think?

Is it better to just stick to your niche, or do you reach out to others for engagement and for learning something new?

-Blessings,

Donna

Donna Merrill
Donna is a well known blogger and creator of "Blogging Magic" - an intensive guide to blogging. "Blogging Magic" is for beginners who are trying to figure out how to bring their blogs to life with tons of visits, comments and social media interaction. It's even for advanced bloggers looking to reach new levels of authority and engagement with their audience.

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104 Responses to Stick To Your Niche?

  1. Deian Isac April 29, 2021 at 4:51 am #

    Donna, looking back at this post, what are your thoughts on niching down? Do you still recommend it to any blogger, and businesses in general? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

    Deian Isac recently posted.. 5 Reasons Why you Shouldn’t be Afraid to Niche Down

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      April 29, 2021 at 3:10 pm #

      Hi Deian

      Niching down is what I’d probably call “narrowing your niche” or picking a “micro-niche.”

      It means to not over-generalize.

      I think it’s really one of the most important things to keep in mind.

      I wrote an article on why you should start a niche blog, and I think it basically gets down to “niching down.”

      Or, if you already have a blog, think of how to niche it down!

      So yes, critical stuff to focus on, and I thank you for bringing it up here.

      Stop by again 🙂

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Easy ways to teach an online courseMy Profile

  2. Donna Merrill
    Twitter:
    September 13, 2014 at 11:14 am #

    HI Karmakar,

    You are most welcome!

    I did check it and it is looking good! I also wrote you on your blog lol!

    -Donna
    Donna Merrill recently posted..Coaching For Online EntrepreneursMy Profile

  3. Karmakar
    Twitter:
    September 12, 2014 at 4:52 pm #

    Hi Donna

    Thanks for clearing my doubts… 🙂

    BTW… I have taken your advice and removed digg digg from my site and have installed Flare like your’s..

    So, just a request if you find any time later today please check whether it’s working for your mobile device or NOT…

    Regards…
    Karmakar recently posted..Zero Backlinks Vs Quality Content – My Ranking Experiment resultMy Profile

  4. Donna Merrill
    Twitter:
    September 12, 2014 at 12:09 pm #

    Hi Karmakar,

    It’s fine to drill deep into a niche like SEO, just keep in mind that people in niches outside of yours are your most likely prospects for doing business.

    They’re the ones that don’t know SEO like you do, as the expert. So when you interact with them, give a little advice to help them solve their SEO related problems, you are branding yourself as the expert.

    It a dog training blogger wants to use SEO methods to improve his page ranking, he wants to find and SEO expert to help him… not another dog trainer. So SEO is a perfect example of a very focused niche that needs to get outside of its little club of other SEO folks, and chat with bloggers, network marketers, internet marketers from all types of niches. They all have at least one thing in common… they want their pages, posts and articles to find an audience in the search engines.

    Good luck! Sounds like you’re heading in the right direction.
    Donna Merrill recently posted..Coaching For Online EntrepreneursMy Profile

  5. Karmakar
    Twitter:
    September 12, 2014 at 11:15 am #

    Hi Donna…

    Wow… It is an eye opener… But along with that it has raised so many question in my mind… Please pardon me for asking such silly questions:

    1. when I decided to start my own blog I have selected SEO as my comfort zone. That is why I have selected the Keyword in my Domain name to make people understand what this blog is about; and according to that I am trying to build my network inside the so called “Niche”.

    But, after reading your post it made me think that it is also “OK” for me if I visit “Dog Training” or “Gardening” Niche as they might need SEO suggestions and I can get followers and future clients from there.

    Am I thinking right?

    2. It is much easier for brands like your’s or Angela Mccall or Adrienne Smith who has their blog name set in some neutral way which can help to cover any aspect of online business without diluting the brand features.

    But how people like me can achieve that with targeted names?

    Regards…
    Karmakar recently posted..Zero Backlinks Vs Quality Content – My Ranking Experiment resultMy Profile

  6. Deborah A. Ten Brink
    Twitter:
    September 8, 2014 at 7:58 pm #

    Hello Donna:

    I see that you have so many worthwhile comments above that it actually becomes difficult to add to the conversation — what has not already been said? 🙂

    What my “take away” is — to build relationships (both within and outside your niche), help provide knowledge and value by providing content that solves a problem or challenge others may be facing, and learn along the way.

    I can always tell when I’m on a blog that is only trying to sell me something or is written for SEO and that’s it. Blogging, and doing it right, is an art a skill. I think it’s worthwhile to learn. It should be fun, educational, and informative.

    I look forward to learning more from you!

    Deborah
    Deborah A. Ten Brink recently posted..Why? For The Love Of Photography!My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      September 12, 2014 at 11:42 am #

      Hi Deborah,

      Your “take away” is right on the money! We need to build relationships both inside and outside of our own niche. As we can help others provide content to solve their problems, they too can do the same for us.

      The blogging world, when done correctly is an amazing place to learn, and yes, it should be fun, educational and informative.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Coaching For Online EntrepreneursMy Profile

  7. Cararta
    Twitter:
    September 1, 2014 at 12:12 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Just to get it out of the way, Love that Mayura, a great friend and Techie…Can lead you step by step..holding your hand right through the mud Pit!

    Agree with you on this one..Relationships outpoint keywords and commenting in your own niche only by miles.
    Have many Facebook friends not in my niche, but what you learn is that we all have
    similar needs and sometimes even similar problems, so it is nice when someone shares
    something that was helpful to them and it turns out to be helpful to you.

    I have a problem with learning: I’m eaten up with curiosity when I see or hear about something new or different, so I end up spending valuable work time “learning” instead of doing.
    But back to your post..it really is essential to be well rounded and the best way is to read some of almost everything and NOT insulate yourself into one niche.
    Cararta recently posted..Sugar: How Does Exercise Control DiabetesMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      September 12, 2014 at 11:39 am #

      Hi Carata,

      You said it all in the last line of your comment that the best way is to read some of almost everything and not insulate yourself into one niche.

      Some people are under the impression that they have to “stick to their niche only” and how far will that get them really?

      Going beyond our niche helps us to be well rounded people!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Coaching For Online EntrepreneursMy Profile

  8. Mayura
    Twitter:
    August 27, 2014 at 5:41 am #

    Hi Donna,

    As always, you mentioned the right word – Focus 🙂

    Focusing on our niche(s) when writing on our blogs is vital. Expanding is fine, as long as the topics are relevant. Isn’t it? I did the same and it was working great for me. But if we restricting ourselves to hop on blogs same as our niche as a reader, then we are missing out opportunities. Especially, the potential of building awesome relationships.

    Most of my favorite blogs I read are out of my niche and I really love reading and interacting with those awesome bloggers. Else I wouldn’t have met Harleena, Sylviane or even you in that case 🙂

    On top of all, I love that I could explore the unknown I have never thought of peeking at and learn from them. They changed my life for good too. Like you helped me to win the battle with procrastination. Nothing would have happened if I decided to stuck in comfort zone commenting on blogs same as my niche.

    I’m grateful we are friends today and isn’t that enough to prove your point? 😉 Thanks for writing such a wonderful post, Donna.

    You have a wonderful week there dear!

    Cheers…
    Mayura recently posted..How to Disable Autoplay Videos in FacebookMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 27, 2014 at 2:51 pm #

      Hi Mayura,

      Good to see you. I too am grateful we have met. You are the person I tell my friends to visit when they have some kind of technical problem I don’t understand 🙂

      Going out of our niche and learning so many things from other bloggers sure is a blessing!

      Hey that’s how I met you (clapping hands)

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Building TrustMy Profile

  9. Donna Merrill
    Twitter:
    August 25, 2014 at 10:47 am #

    Hi Sherryl,

    Great point! For many years I have (and still do) an off line business. The example you have given is perfect! There are so many factors in running a business, and we need to know who’s who….where we can get a venue, etc.

    It’s all about connections to make it work. Sometimes, if I had too many clients, I would refer them out to my friends that could help them. People were so puzzled. Why are you giving away business? He He..I wasn’t at all, but rather giving them what they needed. Then they would come back, so impressed that they became my loyal clients.

    All these off line principles pertain to online business. We all learn from each other. And if I get a client that needs something that is out of my league…like hosting a website, I know exactly where to send them. If they need writers, I have a list for them too to choose who they resonate with.

    So it is important to build relationships with others, get to know them well and know what they are good at. This way a client can have the best I could give them.

    -Donna
    Donna Merrill recently posted..Building TrustMy Profile

  10. Sherryl Perry
    Twitter:
    August 24, 2014 at 9:42 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    What struck me about this post is that (as I read it) I saw so many parallels between running our businesses online and running them offline.

    First, it is about relationships. In the face-to-face world, we may join organizations and associations that are specific to our industry but that’s not where we stop. Successful business people also join Chambers of Commerce, local business organizations and networking chapters. It’s through those clubs and groups that we form relationships in different “contact spheres”.

    When I was a member of BNI, (Business Network International), one of the first things that I learned was that every chapter needed members that could support each other. For example, caterers, florists and event planners were a contact sphere. Another example was bankers, insurance brokers and mortgage brokers. Not only could people within those spheres pass referral business, they could also learn from each other.

    I believe that those same basic principles apply to the online world as well. We can all learn something from each other.

    Thanks for another great post. There’s so much to learn here and the conversation in your comments is valuable as well!

    ~Sherryl
    Sherryl Perry recently posted..Big Companies Use Neuromarketing to Influence Buyers. Can You?My Profile

  11. Erika Mohssen-Beyk
    Twitter:
    August 24, 2014 at 12:30 am #

    Hi Donna ,
    I like this sounds like the whole is getting more
    human and not depended only on Google and SEO
    In the past we had little shops and we knew the
    people in there ,we knew this is a baker or
    painter or.. and we had conversation about
    other things as well ,if we needed something
    we went were we knew we get help and can trust .
    Now this seems to come to the blogging community.
    We are human and need to build relationship not
    only in the special niche .
    Thank you ,Donna
    Erika Mohssen-Beyk recently posted..Are You In Pain ? Natural Remedies For Headache and MigraineMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 24, 2014 at 3:28 pm #

      Hi Erika,

      I love your analogy! I only wish there were more little shops! But I digress…Yes, with blogging, I can go to a health blog, to a technical one to find what I need. Just like those little shops!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Building TrustMy Profile

  12. Christine Adindu
    Twitter:
    August 22, 2014 at 10:20 pm #

    Great information Donna. Your are right about Stick To Your Niche. I find myself drifting from time to time. Lately I am learning to stick to it, no guarantee for me, but I am always learning from other bloggers.
    Christine Adindu recently posted..How To Achieve Success In Your Affiliate Promotion ProgramMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 24, 2014 at 3:22 pm #

      Hi Christine,

      Nice to see you here. You said it all that you are always learning from other bloggers. As a blogger that is one thing for sure! We learn as we go!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Building TrustMy Profile

  13. Dee Ann Rice
    Twitter:
    August 18, 2014 at 5:37 pm #

    Donna,

    I think the future of blogging is in relationship building. I also think going outside of our niche is an important part of that.

    I agree with Adrienne also when she says that we are lucky being in the blogging niche because everyone with a blog wants to know what we are blogging about.

    When people from other niches come to our blogs and comment we have a great chance to recipocate and comment on their blogs.

    I think it is ok to write a post every now and then that is not within our niche but for the most part I think posts we write should be in our niche.

    We are always free to go ourside of our niche to comment. When we do this we expand our knowlege and make ourselves a better person.

    Great post.

    Dee Ann
    Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Evergreen PostsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 18, 2014 at 10:19 pm #

      Hi Dee Ann,

      Yes indeed, going out of our niche to comment does expand our knowledge and makes us better people.

      I also agree 100% that the future of blogging is building relationships. It can be out of our niche as well as in our niche. As long as we comment on blogs, and share them, we start making relationships with others.

      I find that when it comes to marketing, we do need a target market. And they can be people way outside of our niche because we have something they need to learn.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Talking To The WorldMy Profile

  14. Arleen
    Twitter:
    August 18, 2014 at 1:51 pm #

    Donna- Thank you for mentioning me that is so sweet of you. Wouldn’t you know it I have been away on vacation and just checked out your site today. I never thought that would happen, I would be mentioned by anyone. My forte is selling and doing a blog every week is hard, not coming up with the ideas, as you ever knows me, I do not have a lost for words, but putting it to paper or to the internet does not come easy for me.

    I have felt that building relationships which you have been preaching since I found your blog site is what takes you to the next level. Your kind help of how to get started with a blog group I will never forget. I now have a following. Yes I try to relate to my niche target group, but at the end of the day we all can learn something from everyone. Truthfully I would get bored being in my niche group only. Growing and learning from others is what keeps us fresh.

    Thanks again Arleen
    Arleen recently posted..How the Ice Bucket Challenge Increases Awareness for ALSMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 18, 2014 at 9:58 pm #

      Hi Arleen,

      Nice to see you after your vacation! Hope you had a good time. I had to mention you my dear because you are out of my niche in a way.

      But the products you offer do come in handy, especially for those who are doing off line businesses. Many online marketers work both on line and off line.

      Plus..just think if an on line marketer went to your site and purchased some customer appreciation things, mailed them to the actual people. How wonderful would that be?

      Very memorable indeed!

      As for blogging yes many of us come up blank with new ideas. It is not an easy task because it takes dedication, and persistence. I am so happy to know that you got to the “next level” by building relationships. It’s the only way to go!

      Yes, we do have to step out of our “target” group because you never know who is reading your blog, even if they don’t comment. It is a great way to do passive marketing.

      Glad you liked this post!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Talking To The WorldMy Profile

  15. Nathaniel Kidd
    Twitter:
    August 18, 2014 at 12:46 am #

    Donna,

    That is an awesome list of some incredible bloggers and I truly see your point. If we just stay within our niche as bloggers we are losing out. I probably connect with more bloggers outside of my niche than in my niche. Now I am not saying that is the correct way to go but I surely have built a lot of wonderful relationships and I have learned a lot about blogging and so many other things already.

    This is how I met you so I know t works and works well. When I can go to another blog and learn something and provide some value it motivates me as well as challenge me. I love it. You can tell when people are commenting for SEO purposes and it is not a good feeling. There are also times I have learned something from bloggers and have been able to implement that into my blog posts which is also exciting.

    Thanks Donna for your very insightful post.
    Nathaniel Kidd recently posted..Three Frugal Tips to Save on College CostsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 18, 2014 at 12:05 pm #

      Hi Nathaniel.

      I am sure glad you liked my list of bloggers! It is fine to go our of our niche and meet new people. And yes…that’s how we met lol!

      We each have something of value to share. It may not be in our exact niche, but we can apply it to our life….to our business!

      I agree that we can tell when people are commenting for SEO purposes. Not a good feeling at all.

      The blogging world is a wonderful way of learning and meeting others.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Talking To The WorldMy Profile

  16. Lisa
    Twitter:
    August 17, 2014 at 10:52 am #

    Hi Donna, this is a very timely post for me as I’m debating whether to narrow my niche after reading Ryan’s eBook Blogging from Paradise. It’s really made me think that I should narrow mine since I focus on 3 topics – blogging, social media and SEO though they are related. I tend to stick to those 3 and sometimes add causes as long as I can get the social media angle in with the causes. I like to help spread the word on causes via social media.

    I do comment on many blogs even if not within my niche, but most are in my niche, I’d say the good old 80/20 rule on that one.

    I think if you can provide something helpful for your readers and it’s slightly off the niche you should write about it. Anything to help the readers should be #1 for any blogger.

    Have a great day Donna.

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 17, 2014 at 2:01 pm #

      Hi Lisa,

      I think that blogging, social media and SEO go hand in hand. Since SEO is not such a hot topic since Google changes, maybe stick to blogging and social media? Hmmm If we blog, we must be on the social media sites.

      Social media changes quickly so writing about that will always give you great topics. And as for blogging, there is never enough we can give to our readers…especially the new kids on the block.

      I too think that if there is something a little off topic on our niche, we can stick it in there. Some of the posts I wrote about an experience I had did quite well.

      Thanks for coming by,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  17. Dr. Erica Goodstone
    Twitter:
    August 17, 2014 at 12:49 am #

    Donna,

    What a wonderful post. You have clearly explained what many of us who have been involved with blogging “tribes” and groups have discovered. I learn so much from people who are not in my niche, as long as they are writing educational and informative posts. When people are just selling on their blogs, I leave quickly.

    Many people I know will only connect with people within their own niche. I have started a new Facebook Group for therapists to share each others’ blogs and pages and events. One potential member only wanted to have a sub-group for her micro-niche. How ridiculous. She ended up missing out on all the potential connections, insights and comments and social media shares from her peers.

    There are times to stay within your niche but certainly not all the time. I am so happy to have connected with so many people writing about many different topics. When my new web site needed a bit of tweaking, Nile Flores came to the rescue. I had been reading her blogs about techie stuff for years, so I knew that she knows her stuff and I knew I could trust her.

    And Donna, I love the way you praised some of the people who have served you through their blogs and unique knowledge and talents.

    Warmly,
    Dr. Erica

    Warmly,
    Dr. Erica
    Dr. Erica Goodstone recently posted..A Call to Bring Healing to the World Through Talk and TouchMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 17, 2014 at 1:57 pm #

      Hi Erica,

      Thanks for sharing what is going on in your Facebook Group. It is a fine niche and to create a micro-niche is really getting off point! Glad you said NO! Different groups have different rules and we have to play by them.

      There are some blogging groups I am in that are so fantastic, we ended up meeting on Google+ hangouts to really get to know one another. Others, drop and run, so It’s not worth the time to be in them because no one plays by the rules.

      Indeed it is important to be in a diverse group because we get to know like and trust each person that has good content. In your case, it is so great that you know Nile, so she could fix your blog.

      All the best!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  18. David Merrill 101
    Twitter:
    August 16, 2014 at 9:18 pm #

    I think, Donna, that hanging out with folks in different niches is an excellent way to maintain a clear perspective on what you do in your “home” niche.

    If we’re only talking to people within our niche all the time, we don’t see what we’re doing from an outside perspective.

    It seems like the whole obsession with only communicating with people strictly within our niche was born of the Google metrics that ranked pages partly on the basis of backlink relevancy. So if you have a blog about cooking, and someone from the dating niche leaves a comment on your blog, it’s scored as an irrelevant backlink.

    I don’t think the Google world is wired that way so much anymore, but bloggers hold on to that kind of training rigidly. Sure, it’s a good idea to do the bulk of your work within your niche, but that’s unnatural. It only makes common sense that you’ll have some interactions with “irrelevant” folks, too.

    And it does look like Google and the other search engines are starting to tilt toward common sense and normal interaction instead of artificial metrics that sometimes force contrived interactions for the purpose of ranking.

    I’m glad you brought this topic up, because too many people are confused by it.

    And some of bloggers you’ve linked to here, have some pretty cool sites!
    David Merrill 101 recently posted..Building Relationships | First Niagara Bank ReviewMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 16, 2014 at 9:43 pm #

      Hi David!

      Thank you for your input on this topic. Yes, I do agree that sticking to our own niche was blor from Google metrics that ranked pages to backlnk relevancy. Great example you have given here about that.

      I too don’t thing Google pays much attention to this anymore also. It’s more about our social interactions with others.

      So we have our blogs with back links, but more importantly, sharing others on Google+ is a notch on our belt!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  19. Neena
    Twitter:
    August 16, 2014 at 6:27 pm #

    Hi Donna,
    It is always important to keep up to date with your interests even if they are not in your niche.

    There will always be an opportunity to weave this knowledge into your writing and it is what makes you unique.

    If a niche is large – like yours for example – blogging, then your readers are coming to your site for more than just blogging advice (there are millions of sites in this niche).

    They are coming to your site because of your individual perspective on this topic. And that perspective is shaped by all of your other interests.

    Niche is important but variety is too.
    Neena recently posted..Create A Portable Blogging OfficeMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 16, 2014 at 9:38 pm #

      Hi Neena,

      So true, we need to keep up to date with so many things even if they are not in our niche.

      Yes, my niche does cover a lot because it is all about blogging and social media. So there is so many things that I cover.

      But as much as I stray from technology, many of my readers are techies. Now when I go over to their blogs I’m kind of ADHD. I do struggle to read through to get a good understanding. I’m not one to do it myself when it comes to plugins, and such, but it does come in handy when I call my Blog provider to have the language to talk to him.

      I just love learning! Even if it is a challenge sometimes!

      Thanks for stopping by,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  20. Donna Merrill
    Twitter:
    August 16, 2014 at 12:57 pm #

    Hi Atish,

    Sticking to our own niche on our own blog is great to do. But we have to extend ourselves to bloggers that are not specifically in our niche in order to build more relationships.

    Many thanks for stopping by,

    -Donna
    Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  21. Atish Ranjan
    Twitter:
    August 16, 2014 at 7:17 am #

    Working in a niche and sticking into it can be really tough in the current trend of blogging because sometimes we attract to many other niche because they seem to be more lucrative but yes sticking to one niche is good to work because this gives benefit in long run.
    Atish Ranjan recently posted..P3 (Plugin Performance Profiler) – Analyze Your Plugin ImpactMy Profile

  22. Brenda
    Twitter:
    August 16, 2014 at 4:59 am #

    We live in a time where technology is continually changing. What was popular last week is old hat today. However, it is important to define your niche and understand what is important to them. Just be aware that the people within this niche can and do change as you progress.

    Thanks for the great article – very thought provoking

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 16, 2014 at 12:50 pm #

      Hi Brenda,

      So true with technology…it changes so fast and it’s important to keep up with it. Great point here that we need to be aware that people do change as we progress.

      The changes are quick, and awareness is the key!

      Thanks so much,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  23. Liz Delaney
    Twitter:
    August 16, 2014 at 2:34 am #

    Wow. Such a popular post. And I can see why.
    Many thought-provoking statements.
    I can see that staying in one’s niche is important, but, in order to keep learning, you may have to go outside to get the value to bring back in.
    I love to constantly learn new things, but it has to relate back to your niche in some way. Whether it is mindset stuff, technical stuff or learning from masters in your niche, it is paramount to build relationships with others.
    Otherwise you become an island in the middle of a very lonely ocean.
    Liz Delaney recently posted..IBO TUBE is cool…My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 16, 2014 at 12:48 pm #

      Hi Liz,

      I love the analogy you have given: “Otherwise you become an island in the middle of a very lonely ocean”

      You have said it all in that statement. Yes, we do need to connect with others, learn from them, and they learn from us.

      Ahh the beauty of the blogging world!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  24. Adrienne
    Twitter:
    August 15, 2014 at 8:29 pm #

    Hey Donna,

    I definitely agree with you but I think we have it best though. Because we do blog about blogging, any niche that has a blog can learn from us. On the other hand, I get tired of reading and learning about blogging at times so I need a little outside inspiration every once in a while.

    I had this discussion today with a new subscriber that I called and had a nice chat with. She was saying herself that she didn’t want to just stick within her own niche because the one she’s in is food. Who doesn’t love food right! So most of the people outside her niche will be interested in what she shares so it doesn’t hurt to make those types of connections. She’s also here for pleasure only and just wants to meet some wonderful people so her intentions are definitely good.

    You are right about us getting inspiration from other niches for posts of ours. But people like the ones you’ve mentioned here we can still learn from them and then share our knowledge with our readers.

    I think for the most part we should stick without our own niche but like you, man it can really get old after a while so it’s just really nice to change things up.

    Great reminder for us Donna, thank you and I so agree with this 100%.

    You and David have a great weekend.

    ~Adrienne
    Adrienne recently posted..The Real Truth About Blog CommentingMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 16, 2014 at 12:46 pm #

      Hey Adrienne!

      Yes, you and I are in a good position where we both talk about blogging. So, that can encompass many things.

      As for your subscriber that writes about food…who doesn’t like food? lol. I follow some great blogs about vegetarian food and appreciate the content. I want to keep myself healthy and do learn so much when I go to their blogs. Heck, I even purchased some cookbooks from them.

      I always say that our blog is our business. As business owners, we have to have a wide array of interests from being healthy to knowing something technical. We are the tool and need inspiration from some of those inspirational bloggers. Etc.

      That’s how I see it! Branching out to others is not only great for us as a learning curve, but when it comes to selling something, they may need our products, and we may need theirs.

      I love the blogging world!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  25. Nile August 15, 2014 at 5:30 pm #

    I didn’t always stick to my niche prior to 2009 and ranked very well. I removed a lot of the non-business things to my extremely personal site and it didn’t hurt at all. I’ve contemplated starting life experiences in relation to social media for business because some of my oldest readers mentioned that they missed those type of posts. Frankly, I hadn’t realized that they weren’t that personal. So… looks like I have work to do.

    There are bloggers out there though that have a very random and wide range of topics…. some are well ranked and have a lot of traffic and engagement. So, there are some oddballs out there that don’t quite fit today’s mold in the blogosphere.
    Nile recently posted..Podcast Presentation: Making Money With WordPressMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 16, 2014 at 12:39 pm #

      Hi Nile,

      Listening to your readers is so important. What they want is what you have to give! Sometimes we have to take a turn in the road on our blogs, but we do write for our readers! If they want more of one thing or another, we have to give it to them.

      As for engaging with other bloggers, there are always some great ones out there that we can learn from and be a part of their engagement.

      Oh yea…those oddballs out there that are spamming all the time….I keep away from them like the plague! lol.

      Thanks for stopping by,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  26. Mark
    Twitter:
    August 15, 2014 at 4:59 pm #

    Fabulous post Donna!

    You certainly have made the case for expanding and bringing value why you do it!

    I’m definitely in your camp about learning new things and constantly being exposed to new extremely helpful sources, that if you only remained in your particular niche, would probably never happen!

    Just by becoming a student and customer of yours and having constant access to your current and past blog posts, has introduced me to some many other extremely qualified and dynamic entrepreneurs and bloggers etc!

    And had I not first become a customer and student of yours, there’s a 99% chance, I would have never had a chance to meet all of these other fabulous marketers/entrepreneurs!

    Thanks!
    Mark recently posted..Three Extremely Critical Business Lessons Jogging During A Severe Rainstorm Taught Me!My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 16, 2014 at 12:35 pm #

      Hi Mark,

      Thank you for your sweet words! I remember that was one of the first things we had talked about…reaching out to other bloggers!

      It doesn’t matter what niche they are in, because it is all about sharing and learning.

      I’m so happy that your blog is growing!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  27. Nanda Rahmanius
    Twitter:
    August 15, 2014 at 4:01 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Interesting and awesome article!

    For me, I prefer to share the knowledge that I have just achieved. I don’t want to limit myself to just stick to the blog that has the same niche with me. If I can still learn, I will continue to learn, even though its a different niche. 🙂

    As you said, sticking with a niche aims to SEO benefits. Indeed, building a good relationship with others is a great thing.

    Thanks for sharing this with us, Donna.
    Do have a wonderful week ahead.

    Nanda
    Nanda Rahmanius recently posted..10 Tips For Writing SEO Friendly Content (Part 1)My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 16, 2014 at 12:33 pm #

      Hi Nanda,

      I do feel exactly the same as you Nanda. If we just relate to people in our own niche, it does get quite boring. Stepping out of our niche, and reading other blogs helps us in so many ways by learning.

      I can go to a foodie blog and learn how to eat better to improve my own health. What does that have to do with my niche? Just about everything because I am my own business and part of it is being healthy. And that is just one example.

      Thank you for your input,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  28. Ryan Biddulph
    Twitter:
    August 15, 2014 at 2:44 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Although I stay on topic most times I post I do travel a bit outside of my niche on my own blog. I may write just about my travels – even though I run a blog relevant to sharing blog tips – because that’s part of selling the dream. Sticking to your niche programs your readers to expect certain content yet moving outside of the niche here and there keeps things interesting and inspires your readers from a different angle.

    As for comments/other blogs, oh yes I definitely go outside of my niche. Like you and Kumar, I’d have never made any real progress on the backoffice or design side of things on my old blog or on Blogging from Paradise unless I ventured out of my niche to meet Phillip Dews. The guy has been a blessing to me because he’s done so much work on my blog and has helped me in so many ways.

    You can seize what life has to offer by meeting folks outside of your niche. Of course, I spend most of my day connecting with folks who run blogging tips-themed blogs, because that’s where my ideal reader and customer lies, but I dig meeting new folks from outside of my niche as well as strengthening bonds with old buddies from different fields.

    Awesome points here Donna.

    Thanks so much for sharing. I also love how you featured each blogger; I know Marquita and Kumar but need to network a bit more to connect with these other awesome folks.

    Thanks much, tweeting in a bit.

    Enjoy your weekend.

    Ryan
    Ryan Biddulph recently posted..How 2 of my Famous New Jersey Buddies Teach You How to Become Wildly Successful BloggersMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 15, 2014 at 12:10 pm #

      Hi Ryan,

      Yes, sticking to our own niche on our our own blog is a must. Yes..we can stray a bit, but for the most part, we need to brand ourselves so that people hear our name, and know exactly what we are all about.

      Going out there and commenting to other blogs out of our niche is a joy! The relationships we can make are endless. And as we do this, we start having our own mini-community of bloggers to engage with.

      We learn from one another, and best of all, we can do some real networking when it come to marketing. We build that know like and trust factor.

      So, If someone comes to me and needs to have their blog re-vamped, I send them to Kumar because I know they will be in good hands. What’s in it for me? A good relationship!

      It is all about working together without the word “competition” in mind. I just had a PM from a blogging buddy from years ago. Although I wasn’t interested in the product he was selling I did look it over and put him in my roledex. So now, if someone needs that product, I send them over to him.

      Giving without expectations, is the best way one can build a business.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  29. Jeff Sollee August 14, 2014 at 11:47 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    I think you bring up a great point here! Why should we have to be limited to sticking to our own niche?

    I have the problem of never writing for SEO… Truth be told, as much as it might hurt me… I don’t really care about SEO. I much more care about people and forming relationships with them.

    I like how you suggest to loosely stick to your niche. I feel like there is so much to learn from other people, no matter what niche they are in. If the “almighty” Google punishes me… So be it!

    Even if I am not technically in the “blogging niche” I still love to come here, because I still need to learn how to blog… Just like one day I might visit a Dog Training Blog because I have a dog and want to teach her a new trick, then pop over to a self help and motivation blog to pick up tips on how to stay focused.

    If my pages don’t rank on Google, that’s fine, because I now have joined a brand new community of great and like minded people!

    Great insight Donna, I always look forward to reading your posts!

    Have a wonderful day and all the best!
    Jeff
    Jeff Sollee recently posted..Is Complaining Sabotaging Your Business?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 15, 2014 at 12:01 pm #

      Hi Jeff,

      I have the same outlook as you – I write for people and don’t pay attention to SEO, never did! But I can be found on the first page of Google at times. Even from a comment I made on a blog.

      How does that work? Beats me! And frankly, I don’t care because I like the one to one connections I make with people.

      I look at the community of people I hang out with as a wonderful gift. As I blog hop every day, there is always something new to learn, always inspiration from others, and best of all, always new people to connect with.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  30. Don Purdum
    Twitter:
    August 14, 2014 at 2:43 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    This is really a thought provoking subject for me! I recently had a conversation with a client who felt they had tapped out their small niche in terms of connecting.

    I had to help him see that there is a huge audience out there in our niche, he was just thinking about his niche all wrong.

    How about people who are interested in what you do and has access to a whole different audience you were completely unaware of.

    How will you find them?

    I think you offer a great suggestion for that. In fact, your article was powerful for me as I was writing mine this morning I included this article as a link and a quote.

    The context is networking and how offline networking is similar to online networking and being a resource just like Google is a resource.

    I saw you mentioned Enstine Muki above. He’s a great example of this! He is a connector, networker, and resource for both other bloggers and his audience.

    What a win-win!!!!!

    I have learned to identify people who serve the same audience I do but in a very different way. If you can identify them you just opened up a whole new audience.

    I hope you have a great finish to your week Donna!!!

    ~ Don Purdum
    Don Purdum recently posted..Are You Someone’s Google? A Strategy To Grow Your Online Influence and BusinessMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 15, 2014 at 11:46 am #

      Hi Don,

      I first want to thank you for mentioning me in your awesome article you have written. I’m honored!

      Yes, no matter what business we are in, we need to get out there and meet new people.

      If we stick too closely to the niche we are in, it will do us no good in the long run. Blogging is interrelated with so many things from marketing to just plain old fun.

      Getting out of your niche and going to other bloggers that have different niches is not only beneficial for us to learn, but when commenting, others start to notice you. “Who is this guy that markets and is commenting on a great recipe?” That kind of stuff!

      This is how relationships start, even from one stinking comment! People will find you and friendships start to evolve.

      Again, I appreciate being featured on your latest post!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  31. Angela McCall
    Twitter:
    August 13, 2014 at 6:28 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    I’m really not too gungho about SEOs. And so this rules of Google to stick to your own niche, I have never understand. In the beginning of my blogging, I have never really stick to my own niche. I have visited blogs different from my niche.

    If you are to connect online and you need to attract new clients, how can you do that if you only stick to your own niche? For instance if you are a “Life Coach” if you only attract commenters who are in the same niche and you are in the same business, who will be your clients? You cannot be coaching to each other coz you’re in the same profession.

    Another good example is, I’m a Graphic Designer. If I’m only connecting to fellow graphic designers, how can I get clients? They’re not going to hire me as a client coz I already know how to design my own blog or vice versa. But for other businesses who have no knowledge of this area, can be more attractive. It compensates for what they are lacking and do not have. It’s like business exchange.

    It’s like in the real world, not everyone can be doctors! If everyone are doctors, there’ll be no patients coz everyone can cure themselves. Same analogy applied on the niche subject.

    So I dunno why Google puts so much emphasis on sticking to your own niche.

    I’m glad somehow they’ve changed their algorithm coz it’s all about NETWORKING online with different people in different niches. You know I have clients totally different from my own niche. And to me I have benefited much more in building “relationship” with each one rather than concentrating on sticking to your own niche! Anyway dear, have a great week…xoxo

    Angela
    Angela McCall recently posted..The Naked Truth of Paid Social Media JobsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 14, 2014 at 11:47 am #

      Hi Angela,

      Thank you for writing such a great analogy illustrating the point of this post! How can one market to their own niche? We need to get involved with people we can help. So that is why we need to spread out to just about every niche.

      The main reason I had written this post is because some of my new clients have leaned to stay in their niche, use SEO like crazy, and follow the old patterns.

      Things have changed and I just had to shout this out for those who are still stuck in the old ways. It is a relationship market out there and I’m so glad Google has changed.

      I too, never put emphasis on SEO, and all that stuff fro the beginning, even though my mentors at the time were having a fit over it. he he he

      Have a great week!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  32. Mi Muba
    Twitter:
    August 13, 2014 at 2:32 pm #

    Hi Donna

    Very well researched and instructive post with quite interesting points on niche and its related matters.

    There are two types of niche. One is called mainstream niche which include health, environment, fitness, politics sports, simple living etc

    Second type is corporate niche it includes all business related niche including blogging, internet marketing, plugins, web development, leadership etc

    Just like other industries, all the struggling bloggers of same-niche support each other by resharing posts and encouraging with commenting.

    But here one mistake I usually observe which you also pointed out. We take the feedback of our same-niche bloggers as feedback of our target audience. This is a little confusing.

    The buyer of WordPress plugin is not a blogger on blogging niche. The actual buyer is most particularly from mainstream niche who don’t have much techie knowledge on blogging.

    Every requirement in both types of niche is quite different. Even for social media sharing the first type requires very human face while second type equally needs a business approach. This I am saying because I have one blog each from both types of niche.

    Thanks a lot for sharing another awesome post on quite a relevant topic.
    Mi Muba recently posted..10 reasons why you must earn huge money with Google AdsenseMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 14, 2014 at 11:41 am #

      Hi Mi Muba,

      Thank you for your input on this topic! Well said my friend.

      I like the point you raised when you wrote: But here one mistake I usually observe which you also pointed out. We take the feedback of our same-niche bloggers as feedback of our target audience. This is a little confusing.

      As a marketer we must never take the feedback from our same-niche blogging friends as feedback to our target audience.

      When I do market my product it is not to people who know me. Instead I research a target audience that will need what I’ve produced.

      I always exclude my friends when placing an ad because they already know me. I do however let them know what I’m doing via my blog and social sites.

      So true when you pointed out different business approaches. The social media type does require a human face and that know like and trust factor. The second type does need a business approach.

      Thanks again for adding such value to this post.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  33. Andrew
    Twitter:
    August 13, 2014 at 12:46 pm #

    Hey Donna,

    Great post here. It is important to sometimes go outside of your niche.

    At one point in time, my thinking was “This person talks about Personal Development stuff and I talk about start a business and blogging. No point in building a relationship with that person because the audiences is different.”

    However, my thinking was totally incorrect. Many bloggers need inspiration and motivation and just plain old advice. If I were to build a relationship with that blogger in the PD niche, there’s plenty ways that we could help each other – because the audiences are not that far apart.

    I think … actually, I know I have to do this more. This post was a real gem. Apart from that PD niche, I do mingle with other bloggers in other niches. Ravi and Enstine for example, I go to their blogs all the time. Harleena as well even though she has a self development blog, she is still in my niche.

    Great blog and it actually did motivate me to start reading outside my niche because I could learn so much from those other bloggers I believe. Thanks for this again, Donna.

    Have a great rest of the week.

    – Andrew
    Andrew recently posted..An Open Letter To All Bloggers Who Are Struggling To Keep Their Blogs AliveMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 15, 2014 at 10:46 am #

      Hi Andrew,

      Many people were taught to stay in their own niche of bloggers and did have the same feeling as you.

      But blogging is all interrelated with all kinds of subjects from personal development to technology and everything in between.

      Also visiting other blogs that are out of your niche not only helps you learn as you go, which is a great thing, but also builds relationships.

      Leaving a good comment, as you always do, on a blog that is not in your niche will peek interest from readers of who you are.

      In turn, you will build traffic to your blog. It is a win win situation!

      It is good to know that this has motivated you!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  34. Neamat Tawadrous
    Twitter:
    August 13, 2014 at 12:36 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Great post and it came at the right time as honestly I was thinking about the same thing.

    Why just limit ourselves in one niche? I mean why not expand our circle and at least have an idea and learn about other niches. Some niches are interconnected somehow someway. I totally agree with your point of view.

    I do visit blogs different than my niche and I have built great relationships and that is priceless. I learn other things outside of my niche but are also helpful. I love personal development blogs, I find them inspiring and I learn a lot from them. I also visit technical blogs where I learn to fix or add something to my blog or social media profiles. It’s all helpful. We all need each other and learn from each other.

    Thanks Donna for writing about this topic and it affirmed what I was thinking. Have a great day.

    Be Blessed,

    Neamat
    Neamat Tawadrous recently posted..How To Overcome The Guilt That Comes From Taking A Vacation!My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 13, 2014 at 1:46 pm #

      Hi Neamat,

      You sure said it all! Going to other niches benefits us in so many ways when it comes to learning. I can name a blogger that I know for a good recipe to a blogger that is totally technical.

      It sure comes in handy, especially if someone comes to me with a question I cannot answer. I will tell them to go to someone’s blog. So people do appreciate it.

      I just read your latest post and want to wish you a very happy vacation!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  35. shiwangi shrivastava August 13, 2014 at 10:15 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Awesome information you are spreading. I love the subject more than SEO you are giving priority to relationship which many people cannot think of.

    I really admire blogging as well for building relationship with other fellow bloggers and we get to know people from all the corner.

    Keep sharing your beautiful ideas as it educates us.
    shiwangi shrivastava recently posted..Askme App: Best option to stay updatedMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 13, 2014 at 11:28 am #

      Hi Shiwangi,

      Because Google’s algorithm has changed, relationships and social media is so important now.

      So many people were used to SEO, and now they have to change. I’ve been meeting many that were taught this method and now are in a frenzy because of the changes.

      This is why we need to get out there and not stay in one niche. We need to spread out to other bloggers with different niches than our own. Build relationships, and engage on the social platforms too.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  36. Di
    Twitter:
    August 13, 2014 at 7:47 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Love this topic, its your topic that I have thought about several times.

    I love to learn.

    I love to visit blogs of varying subjects and enjoy the ones that are personal, where i can really hear the personality of the person come through.

    I have noticed that people who are teaching blogging aspects through their blog often don’t comment on anything other than other teaching type blogging sites…

    I really like what you said about how the SEO aspect has changed and its more about the sincerity that is felt in the blog post.

    Great post Donna I hope everyone gets to read and absorb your blog to not only spread the love but to also to open up the blogging world. As you said to read a personal development blog may help us to learn something that can be a bonus to our blog. To read a raw food blog may help someones health issue and again help their blog. We just never know hey! of course don’t waste time but to add variety of reading does add variety to our thinking and a depth to our personalities

    Thanks Donna, I seemed to of gone here… trust it makes sense and is of value
    Di
    Di recently posted..internet livingMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 13, 2014 at 11:18 am #

      Hi Di,

      Thank you for your input on this topic. You seem to love meeting new people and learning. That is the heart of a blogger.

      Confining yourself into one niche would be so boring I think. It is all about making relationships.

      And as we do, we help one another. This can even go to our marketing. I have a product you need, you have a product I need.

      How do people purchase products? Well they know like and trust the person that is offering to them.

      So not only is it a great learning curve, but also a great way to market.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  37. Carol Amato
    Twitter:
    August 13, 2014 at 12:31 am #

    Hi Donna,

    What an interesting topic – awesome discussion here, so had to chime in. 🙂

    I couldn’t agree more that it is important to continue to serve your target audience, the one you create content for and also to continue using on-page SEO as well as off-page SEO, but as you said, relationships are of paramount importance.

    Google has always wanted bloggers to write for humans and not for search engines, but the days of keyword-stuffing and gaming the system is definitely over.

    The difference now is they have made algorithm changes to reflect this which resulted in many people getting slapped. Good thing is I’ve always written with my readers in mind and to solve the problems of my readers, period.

    I’ve never really been gung-ho about keywords and ranking for certain search terms. Yes, that’s important but my primary goal has always been to provide content that will help my readers, subscribers and customers.

    Awesome point you made about giving first. Absolutely the whole gist of it is giving first. So very true, Donna and it would be wonderful if more people would take your advice.

    You’re right, many markets are related to each other and when engaging in one outside of our own, it bridges the gap and develops relationships that can benefit both owners and their audiences.

    I love to network with other business owners outside of my niche and do so quite frequently. I’m familiar with a few of the folks you mentioned, mainly Enstine, and Kumar, but will need to check out the others you mentioned – thank you! 🙂

    Thanks for sharing this, Donna – got me thinking for sure, and will definitely check out the folks you mentioned to increase my networking even more. Appreciate it!

    – Carol Amato 🙂
    Carol Amato recently posted..How to Save Time Commenting Online (and Keep Your Sanity) VideoMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 13, 2014 at 11:03 am #

      Hi Carol,

      Thank you for adding so much value to this subject. I for one am so grateful that Google changed the algorithm because I never was one to do keyword research, and SEO stuffing.

      I simply wrote for my readers. I remember the old days when that SEO stuffing was put into a blog post and I couldn’t even understand what the content was about. It was unreadable and I was left scratching my head on those blogs.

      It is all about relationships and spreading out to other niches is something I’ve always done. I just enjoy it. When I first started I was “told” to stick to my niche, but never listened. I’m sure glad I chose not to!

      Blogging is all interrelated with all kinds of niches, so why not spread our wings and fly. Meet new people, learn from them, engage!

      It comes down to good old common sense!

      Thanks again for stopping by.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  38. Barbara Charles
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 10:06 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    I think it is absolutely positively necessary to visit other blogs outside of our niche. Like you, I’ve met some incredible people, some, like you that have provided valuable information to me or even services. Not only does Kumar have hosting services, but he is a wiz at building a blog as well and a WordPress genius! You’re so right about writing to attract others and if we only stuck to our niche, we would not be able to expand our resources. Great article that should help everyone.

    Barbara
    Barbara Charles recently posted..Four Things That May Be Holding You Back From SuccessMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 13, 2014 at 10:41 am #

      Hi Barbara,

      I’m glad you enjoyed this! As I have always stepped out of my niche since the beginning, I’ve met wonderful people.

      Imagine if I only stuck to my niche, I would have never met Kumar, wouldn’t have this blog up, and more than that, would have to spend loads of time trying to do it myself when it came to all the things involved with WordPress.

      With his hosting company, all I need to do is send him a message and he is spot on. What is so incredible to me is that he will contact me if he notices something wrong.

      Thanks for coming by!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  39. Susan Cooper
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 7:11 pm #

    I always try to visit blogs outside my niche. I get a lot of visitors to my blog who are not from my niche. Then I visit their blogs, and comment and build relationships with them. That’s probably why I have such a wide variety of people who visit my blog. I learn a lot by visiting other people’s blogs – especially the ones on blogging, marketing and the technical aspect of it all which i would not get if I just stuck to reading only food/wine and story blogs. Plus I have met and developed relationships with so many wonderful people this way. 🙂

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 13, 2014 at 10:38 am #

      Hi Susan,

      I feel the same way as you. Isn’t it a joy to meet people and start developing relationships with them as we blog hop.

      I’ve met quite a few and can call them “friends.” How could we ever do this without being a blogger?

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  40. Marquita Herald
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 6:14 pm #

    Thank you for including me in your list Donna – what an honor! I completely agree with you about the value of sharing knowledge. One of the best things I did when I first began blogging was to join a few blogger groups because it exposed me to others who had a wide range of experience. These days I use Feedly to save time and keep up with my favorite bloggers and while I do have a folder of those I consider to be my “competition” there are many more that I value for their generosity and expertise – such as yourself and David. In fact there are a couple of names I’m not familiar with in your list so I will definitely take a look because I know if you recommend them they must be good. Thanks again Donna!
    Marquita Herald recently posted..Defining Rules for the Life You Want to LiveMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 8:24 pm #

      Hi Marquita,

      I had to include you because you are all about inspiration. When I leave your blog, I’m inspired! I too began in blogging groups and was exposed to many different niches. We learn so much!

      Oh those names you are not familiar with are awesome people. Not in our “niche” but kind and giving people that all blog in different niches.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  41. Sylviane Nuccio
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 11:08 am #

    Hi Donna,

    I was just commenting on someone’s blog earlier today as his post was about relationships and how building them is of the upmost importance.

    Back in what seems to be ages ago, but really only like what 3-4 years ago we didn’t talk so much about building relationships and creating authority. Back then it was more like pick a niche and long tail keyword phrases that will bring you traffic. And it did…. Back then 🙂

    Now, it’s the other way around, while niches and keywords are still important, I agree with you, building one’s authority and building those all so important relationships is the MOST important thing we need to be doing to build our business online.

    Yesterday I was reading a blog post where the blogger was giving examples of people falling flat on their butts while trying to sale without trying to build relationships. Another blogger still, was saying how he stopped visiting that blog because the guy made no attempt in reach out even though he was spending some precious time writing excellent comments on his blog. That has happened to me too. These show that people who are trying to skip on the relationship side of things are failing.

    Bottom line, this is the name of the game nowadays and there’s no way around it. We need to understand that building a brand and relationships along the way is a must to succeed in business. Any business.

    Thanks so much for this needed reminder.

    Have a great day!

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 1:36 pm #

      Hi Sylviane,

      Yes back in the old days…we did things differently. But for me, I really never followed those rules. Something inside of me just couldn’t ….I was building relationships from the start and not listening to my mentors.

      I just figured that if people liked me, they would come (Oh that great Law of Attraction I believe in) And it did work.

      But some are still caught up with non relationships. The times have changed and it is so important to get out there and start building relationships with people out of our niche.

      You have written a fine example in your comment and I appreciate that. It is so true, people who are trying to skip on the relationship side of things will fail.

      Thanks so much!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  42. Monna Ellithorpe
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 11:08 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Excellent post. I was thinking as I read your post about only staying within your niche or not; just think if we only associated with people in real life that had the exact same interests that we do. I would think our circle of friends and contacts would be very limited.

    Thanks for sharing this great information. I agree that we need to venture out and meet all kinds of people with varied interests.

    Have a great day. Monna
    Monna Ellithorpe recently posted..Will You Be The Next New Published Author?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 1:31 pm #

      Hi Monna,

      Thank you for this great analogy! Absolutely…how boring would it be if we just hung out with people that are in our own niche?

      Venturing out and meeting all kinds of people is so much fun! Who would ever think we can make friends with those around the globe and help each other out?

      It is a fascinating experience!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  43. Monisha Kapur
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 9:53 am #

    Hi Donna

    Great point about stepping outside your niche. I do agree that it makes for a more versatile blog and it gives more of an ability for others to get to know you.

    thanks for the great info Donna!
    – Monisha
    Monisha Kapur recently posted..9 to 5 Dressing and BeyondMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 1:29 pm #

      Hi Monisha,

      Your niche is fashion and oh boy do I love that. Stick to it girl. But reach out to others as much as you can. Don’t be shy about going to a blog that has nothing to do with fashion.

      You never know who may need you. Say for instance you reach out to a guy that has a technical blog. I know, you are like me when it comes to that…all thumbs and we depend on our husbands to get us through.

      But you can make a decent comment on the blog and connect with that person. Now, he is obviously not into woman’s fashion, but what about his wife,girl friend, or others that read his blog.

      You have nothing to loose girl!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  44. Sonia Freer
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 7:48 am #

    Hi Donna!

    What a refreshing article! You made me realise finally what my ‘niche’ is!

    I have been struggling to find my ‘niche’ as I like to write about a lot of different things and my audience are also from all walks of life with all backgrounds and ‘niche’s’ of their own.

    I am not sure if this is a niche or not but I have realised that I am a ‘Problem Solver’.

    I think outside the square, I love to research and answer questions. I also love to pass on anything new that I learn along the way that helps me to do what I do!

    So, if Problem Solving is a niche – that’s me to a T!

    Thanks so much for writing so well that a light globe popped on over my head and tapped me into this realisation 🙂
    Sonia Freer recently posted..Pinterest Ninja PinnerMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 1:25 pm #

      Hi Sonia,

      So glad to be of help. Being a “problem solver” is one of the best ways one can blog. As long as you are focused on on thing…like a problem solver for bloggers, don’t stray too much out of your area and you will do just fine.

      I think you are picking up good momentum with your blog. Your heart is in the right place..helping others and that is always a win win situation.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  45. Enstine Muki
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 7:38 am #

    Hey Donna,
    This is a beautiful post for me 😉 Beside giving out wonderful tips I have not read else where, you went ahead and featured me. Isn’t that big enough to celebrate?

    Kurma and Ravi are my active community members. I read their blogs too.

    I think I have been on Arleen’s blog. First time visiting Marquita’s from this post and thanks for bringing them up so we can reconnect and connect.

    Truth is most niches are inter-related and that’s only normal to spread out. While sticking to your niche, branching out to related topics freshens your blog. That’s correct what you said.

    I love spotlighting savvy bloggers on my blog. It was an interesting experience to have you on. I’m glad my tech readers loved your face and what you represent 😉

    Thanks once more for adding me to the list. It’s always very exciting to come and read something new on your blog.

    Have a wonderful week Donna
    Enstine Muki recently posted..Free WP Plugin for More Traffic & Engagement ~ MyCommentAuthorsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 1:01 pm #

      Hi Enstine,

      I just had to put you on this one! Yes..celebration is in order lol!

      Yes, by all means visit Marquita. She is always inspiring people with her blog. Unfortunately, as I write, she is being hit with a big Hurricane on the Hawaiian Islands. Prayers are with her.

      I do agree that most niches are inter-related, and this is why we all need to spread out. It is the people who are still stuck in the old SEO days that this is really written for. I’ve been meeting quite a few lately, and they are not taking their nose out of their niche.

      It is a little push for them to realize how beneficial it can be.

      Thanks are in order here too Enstine when you featured me on your blog. I’ve made many connections with your readers. I like the way you are doing the spotlighting of bloggers on your blog.

      Enjoy your week,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  46. supreeth bharadwaj
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 7:32 am #

    hey donna
    well most of the blogging experts in my circle prefer to choose a single niche blog but still i wonder if we can suceed with a multiniche blog or not,

    can we create a new niche(because there is too much competition in everything like say, i do agree that relationship building is an important aspect in blogging as we get more exposure
    I follow many pro bloggers including you,enstine and many others to get inspired and learn something from them,well its not that hard making connections you just have to be polite and wait with patience for reply,
    thanks for the post
    supreeth
    supreeth bharadwaj recently posted..5 Killer ideas to write blog headlines for seoMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 11:38 am #

      Hi Supreeth,

      I do agree using a single niche blog. But we need to reach out to others beyond our niche.

      Doing this is not only a great way to learn, but it builds up engagement. That’s what it is all about lately especially when Google searches you out.

      By going to blogs that have nothing to do with your niche, you create relationships. You make a great comment, as you have done here. Others, reading your comment will sometimes recognize you and like what you have said as a commentor. In turn, they will visit you.

      I do agree with you that visiting others, requires being polite and having the patience for a reply.

      I’m glad we connected!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  47. Sanjay Pal
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 5:00 am #

    Hello Donna,

    I was looking for some article such as this. You have very nicely pointed out the facts and substantiated your claims. I’m in total synch with your views on blog niche. Being human we can’t just happen to possess everything. Having your fingers in many pies leads you no where. As the adage goes, “Jack of all trades but Master of none”, concentrating on one thing at a time guarantees you success. However having said that, we shouldn’t keep our eyes shut to what happens in our external environment. Though selecting a proper blog niche, one in which he/she is quite adept is always welcome, but on the other hand we should be aware of other things as well.

    Sharing, commenting, posting and staying in touch with other fellow bloggers from a wide array of niches doesn’t only augment our knowledge, but also helps us to perform better in our chosen niche as well. For instance you might be blogging on tech related stuffs, but it wont hurt you if you keep an open eye towards other niches which may deal in motivational topics or strict wordpress topics. By doing this you will indirectly have an access to various ideas and can lay your hands on them. Motivational articles will help you to stay focus and achieve your goals. Posts on various wordpress and stuffs will help you to tweak your blog and channelize more traffic. I know I can just go on and on but just to cut it short, I believe that exploring apart from your own territory will aid you in the long run.

    That’s all I have to say for now Donna. Thank You for sharing such a beautiful topic with us. I am glad that I visited your blog. And from now on will stay around here. Best Of Luck in what you do and keep posting such beautiful articles. It’s because of bloggers like you that a novice blogger like me never fails to draw inspiration. Have a good day Dear. Godspeed !!!!

    Regards,
    Sanjay……
    Sanjay Pal recently posted..Google Considers HTTPS As An Important Ranking SignalMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 11:18 am #

      Hi Sanjay,

      Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. It says it all! We all need to spread our wings and visit bloggers that are not in our niche.

      Too many were taught to stick to their own niche. Now where will that ever get you? If you created a plugin and want people to know about how great this is plus want to market it, will the people in your same niche be apt to purchase it? Maybe.

      But if you have spread your wings to other bloggers, such as inspirational ones, and such, they are the one’s that would probably be your best customers because they need someone to help them with that plugin. They don’t want to get off track with their own niche they are blogging about.

      I say this because I have been though it myself. I stick to my own niche on my blog, but other bloggers are there to teach me different things. We build relationships whereby I know like and trust them.

      If they come out with a product or service I need, I won’t have to think twice about purchasing it from them.

      This is the part I like too. Marketing! This is why we need to build relationships with those who are not in our niche.

      Thank you for your great input on this article.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  48. Ravi Chahar
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 4:23 am #

    Hey Donna,

    I am really surprised to see my name here at your blog.

    Thanks a lot Donna for the mention.:)
    It’s honor for me to get mentioned in your blog post.

    From starting bloggers are advised to stick with their niche while writing any blog post. Sometimes bloggers get distracted and try to hangout with something irrelevant.

    As Donna said SEO is the main factor because most of bloggers try to find blog with the same niche as their own to comment.

    There are many bloggers who like to visit at the blog with different niche but don’t like to comment at those blogs. It may be due to SEO.

    We all know that making relationships is always a great concern and in my opinion every factor has it’s individual influence. Like keywords, proper title and niche. All have their own preference.

    I agree with Donna. A web developer can approach towards web designing. He/she can end up his/her post with an inspirational conclusion.

    Sticking to the niche is important but bloggers need to take care about every aspect of SEO and relationship building.

    You always surprise me Donna.
    Thank you.

    Have an awesome weekend.:)

    ~Ravi
    Ravi Chahar recently posted..How To Remove URL From Google Search Engine Using It’s Webmaster Tools?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 10:56 am #

      Hi Ravi,

      I had to mention you because you write about lots of technical stuff! I don’t because I just don’t know enough about it. When I visit you, I learn. Now that is me going out of my niche.

      I can leave a good comment, and one of your readers can come to my blog just because they liked what I said.

      This is how it all works.

      On our own blogs we do need to stick to our own niche, but reaching out to other bloggers is a must! In the “old days” it would effect our ranking if we stepped out of our niche, but today, we need to.

      It is all about building relationships, sharing and really caring!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  49. Jens-Petter Berget
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 2:58 am #

    Hi Donna,

    This is an interesting topic. I started out only commenting on blogs within my niche, and I connected with like-minded people, mostly for SEO purposes and to learn from them. I wanted to learn more about my niche. Now, like you said, things are changing.

    I’m connecting with people «all over the place» and I’m not thinking about SEO that much. To me, it’s more about inspiration and connecting with awesome people.

    -Jens

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 10:52 am #

      Hey Jens,

      Long time no see! Glad you came on over! We were taught long ago that we had to stay in our own niche with others for SEO purposes.

      But things have changed! I’m not saying that SEO is not important, but we need to sprinkle it in these days.

      What is more important now is to reach out to others, as you mentioned “All over the place” because making relationships with awesome people is not only great, but also is the back bone of the “new SEO”

      It is all about engagement.

      So great to see you,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  50. Brittany Bullen
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 1:03 am #

    Hi again Donna!

    This is something I’ve given a lot of thought to. When I started blogging six years ago, I had a very niche-y site and before I knew it, I had lost interest in that niche.

    My second (current) site is a product of that. I blog about a variety of things because I am passionate about a variety of things. I am well aware that this may not help me SEO-wise, but I’m not under the delusion that my personal blog is going to make me rich so I’m okay with that.

    For now, I’ve decided to follow my passions that way, although I must admit sometimes I second guess that decision. I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 10:43 am #

      Hi Brittany,

      As long as you are creating good content that helps others on your blog you will be OK. Always remember the 80/20 or 90/10 rule…..Blog good content and 10 to 20 percent of the time, you can blog about a product. I would do it as a “Product Review”

      If one is constantly talking about their product, they will spiral downhill fast because not many people will return.

      SEO now is all about engagement with others. Comments on your blog, Social media, it all works together like one big machine. That, my friend is the new SEO.

      Don’t get me wrong, one needs to sprinkle some SEO in their posts, but what is most important is the social factor.

      Hope that helps answering your question!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  51. Chery Schmidt
    Twitter:
    August 12, 2014 at 12:00 am #

    Hello Donna, What a Great Article, If you really think about it your niche IS tied to other niches somehow, someway… Lets talk about this OK! You are not in the health and fitness niche, yet in order to be the best you can bein your business, you want to be healthy and fit, Right? So why not visit this type of a blog to learn these tips..

    I could go on and on but I think you have prety much cobered it all, yes I do believe it is good to visit a variety of different blogs each week, like yourself, I Love to Learn..

    I really enjoyed this line my friend–>>”Share valuable information with your followers and knock their socks off.”

    So very true. Thanks for sharing.. Chery :))

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 10:38 am #

      Hi Chery,

      Glad you enjoyed this article. I like the example you have given because no matter what niche we are in, we need to know about health, fitness, inspiration, technology….I could go on lol.

      It is a good practice to visit a variety of blogs because not only will we learn, then engage with some who we can make friends with, but also give in return.

      I love that line too! lol.

      See you around the social sites,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  52. Harleena Singh
    Twitter:
    August 11, 2014 at 11:13 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    I am SO glad you wrote about this important topic today 🙂

    I was just nodding my head right through your post because I can so well relate to it too! Yes, it amazes me how a few bloggers just don’t visit blogs outside their niche, only because they are so bothered about SEO, rank, and all that stuff – they certainly don’t have the ‘relationship’ factor on their mind and you can make that out. It’s sad, but true.

    Somehow, I’ve never been that way, right from the time I started blogging, three years back. Even that time, when I just started off with a family and parenting niche, I used to get a lot of visitors who were not from that niche, and I went back to their blogs and build relationships with them. Perhaps that’s one reason I have ALL kinds of bloggers and non-bloggers visit my blog now…all from different niches.

    Blogging is all about giving others and helping them in more ways than one, and like you, I love doing that through my posts too. And there is SO much to learn from all the blogs we visit. I also learn a great deal from my technical friend’s, or pick up some good recipes from some homemaker etc….and I love that too! I think that’s the joy of blogging in the real sense….not sticking buried in your niche related blogs all the time! 🙂

    If that were the case I perhaps wouldn’t have met you when I did or other bloggers who only write about marketing, blogging, writing or other such niches. But we met and we clicked….and we worked to build the relationship, which has now turned to good friendship, isn’t it? That’s just the way I love it too.

    Thanks for sharing and raising this important topic – loved it! Have a nice week ahead 🙂
    Harleena Singh recently posted..7 Important Reasons to Become an Organ DonorMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 10:34 am #

      Hi Harleena,

      I feel the same way you do. From the beginning I was told to stick to my niche for SEO reasons. But it never made sense to me at all. I was never big on SEO, but on relationships.

      Now that the trend has changed, it is important to get out there and make friends with fellow bloggers. Especially for those who were trained in SEO! I meet quite a few bloggers out there that are still doing SEO. It just works against them…

      To me, blogging is a wonderful experience to meet people all over the world. Getting to know them, becoming friends..like we are!

      Supporting one another and learning. My technical blogging buddies are awesome. You know me by now and understand when it comes to technical stuff it is difficult for me to understand.

      But if I meet someone who can help me with some technical stuff, it’s a win win for both of us, because when they do, I give credit where credit is due.

      That’s how it all works! People connecting to people.

      Thanks Harleena, glad you enjoyed this post.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  53. Ken Kai
    Twitter:
    August 11, 2014 at 10:54 pm #

    Donna,

    I think it’s important to stick to it, but expand in ways that can relate to it in some way.

    For instance: I am a travel blog. But at the same time, I’d love to throw in some cooking demonstration videos of myself, cooking in exotic locations.

    Then I’ll take advantage of my instagram account (@drinks) and create cocktails on the cliffs of Balangan beach, Bali.

    But the approach is important. You see, I don’t want my audience to think they are missing out on the beauty of the world. I’m not going to be in a modern, Westernized kitchen and make nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) because that would simply bore people. I’m not a cooking website, but at the same time, I’m sure they’d be fine with me cooking in small villages using a much different method of cooking to show off a different side of the world at the same time.

    Of course, it’s not about me changing the whole idea of the website and becoming a website all about recipes, but throwing in a few here and there to spice up the content for the readers. They’re connected to the content, that’s why they’re there. That connection is important for all of us and it’s very important to maintain it.

    I’m checking out a few of the bloggers you’ve mentioned above as well.

    Thanks Donna. Giving it a tweety,

    Ken
    Ken Kai recently posted..A Quick Hike Through The Mossman GorgeMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 10:28 am #

      Hi Ken,

      Yes, It is important to stick to your niche on your blog. I’m just starting to have those virtual adventures with you and I love ’em!

      But spreading out to others that are not in your “travel” niche is important. Someone like me, who just might want to take a trip to those wonderful places you blog about.

      Now, I know your niche is travel, and if one of my blogging buddies wants to know about a certain place, I send them right over to your blog.

      See how it works?

      I haven’t seen your recipes yet but sure are looking forward to it!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  54. Rebekah Radice
    Twitter:
    August 11, 2014 at 10:36 pm #

    Hi Donna! As always, you hit the nail on the head. We must constantly branch out, try new things, and meet new people.

    While it’s extremely important to know your niche and speak to it, it’s equally as important to get out from within the walls of your own blog and network with other bloggers.

    Every time I do this, I’m amazed by the results. People need the knowledge you have and keeping it confined to just one group of people is limiting your businesses ability to grow.
    Rebekah Radice recently posted..A Visual Guide to Social Media Best PracticesMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 10:08 am #

      Hi Rebekah,

      Indeed we must know our own niche but it is equally important to network with other bloggers.

      I too am amazed by the results received. The people I meet when getting out of my own niche are fantastic and teach me well.

      And yes you raise a great point here Rebekah that people need the knowledge we have and if we confine it to just one group of people it is limiting for our business to grow.

      Thanks for stopping by,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  55. Kumar Gauraw August 11, 2014 at 10:22 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Well, thank you for your kind mention of my blog here. I am honored to be listed among these other passionate bloggers.

    I agree. Sticking to niche doesn’t mean doing everything for SEO. Relationship building is really at the core of whole experience as an online entrepreneur. It all comes down to how many relationships we have cultivated and more of less, those relationships also define the extent of our success online. I totally agree with you.

    Stick to your niche when it comes to finding out who is your target market. Create your marketing material, your content for that market. However, why would you not visit blogs which are out of your niche?It doesn’t make sense.

    It is sometimes an issue of education as well. Some people don’t understand what “staying in your niche” really means and where to draw the line.

    A great post with awesome value! Thank you for being AWESOME!

    Regards,
    Kumar
    Kumar Gauraw recently posted..How To Choose The Most Suitable Managed WordPress Hosting ServiceMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 12, 2014 at 10:05 am #

      Hi Kumar,

      Thank you for adding so much value to this conversation. I just had to bring up this topic because some people still do believe and are still taught to stay in their own niche.

      To me, it never made any sense at all. No matter what our specific niche is, we do need to mingle with others not only to learn, and not only to meet such wonderful people, but also to market.

      You are spot on when you mentioned that some people don’t understand when to draw the line.

      Thanks so much,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

  56. nick catricala
    Twitter:
    August 11, 2014 at 9:42 pm #

    Donna,
    wow, you sure catch my attention with this article.. ..
    after reading the whole thing I start to wonder and reflected a little so I could come up with something different to say to you.. so I got it.. from now on. you will be called Master Blogger with Authority…. I did not read your previous article “Create Your Awesome Authority” but soon I will get there as well.. love to read what you have to share with all of us learning about blogging.. you are so advanced.. it is great to know you so we learn so much.. including how to be a great friend as you are hahah 🙂
    Thanks so much for all you do to serve us all.
    _nickc
    nick catricala recently posted..What you do when time seem to be against you?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      August 11, 2014 at 10:48 pm #

      Hi Nick,

      Thanks for your kind words. I write about what I find works for me. I like to share it with others so maybe I can solve a problem someone has.

      There are so many people that say “Stick to your own niche” and I just had to disagree because it is too limiting for me.

      I love to read and meet other people. I like to visit bloggers that know something that may help me in the future. Even if it is very technical at least I can call my blog host and tell them what is wrong in the correct words.

      Am I advanced? I don’t know! Each blogger brings their own experiences to the table. They share what they know, I share what I know.

      I’m glad you enjoyed this!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Create Your Awesome AuthorityMy Profile

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