Posted on: Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Many of us started blogging to share our stories or passions with other likeminded individuals. To connect with people who share our interests and struggles and perhaps find a kindred spirit or two. But as our blogging journeys unfold, sometimes we lose sight of why we started blogging in the first place and it can lead to blogger burn out.

One of the reasons you might lose focus is because you’re not staying true to your niche. Your niche is the area or subject that you’re knowledgeable and passionate about. It’s the place where you have established yourself as a reliable influencer and a subject matter expert.

But for many of us that’s not enough.  Instead of sticking with what we know and running our own race, we start comparing ourselves to other bloggers. Often the comparisons are with bloggers who aren’t even in our niche!  If we see they’ve garnered any type of success, we think switching lanes is the solution.  It’s not. And when you succumb to following trends to try and compete in unfamiliar territory, it can become overwhelming.

I am, at my heart, a mom blogger. Yes, I have evolved and grown, so I know more than blogging solely about mommy issues but that is where my strengths lie.  I don’t know what fashion colors are in this season or the best way to become a vegan and if I tried to blog about those topics it would come across as unauthentic.

The key to successful blogging in your niche is to find a way to mix up your content and offer your readers variety without losing your specific voice.

Here are some advantages of staying true to your niche:

1. You build a loyal following of readers who come to rely on your information.
2. You increase your SEO by consistently blogging in the same categories relevant to your niche.
3. You attract advertisers and sponsors who see your commitment to your niche and feel you’d make a great partner for their products.

You brand yourself as a blogger every time you put out new content. Don’t sacrifice your brand or your voice. When your readers come to your site they already have an expectation. Are you being consistent?  Are you providing anything useful? It takes time to build relationships with readers, don’t risk losing any ground you may have gained by being inconsistent.

If you find yourself at a crossroads, maybe you’ve outgrown your niche and it’s time for a change. But I would encourage you to make sure your new niche is something you plan to stick with for a while. You don’t want to gain a reputation for being wishy-washy.  You have to find something that works and stick with it, it’s the only way to truly gain any blogging momentum.  Good luck and happy blogging!

Tracie is a wife, mother, graphic designer & the blogger behind www.phenomenalmama.com. Follow her on Twitter .