My Journey to Building Freedom: Part 2
So, you want to start a blog but are unsure what to write about? This post is for you. As daunting as it can feel, it’s also a super exciting time. Choosing a niche as a new blogger can feel overwhelming, but clarity makes everything easier.
The idea for this blog came to me one day while I was sitting on the couch, unsure what to write about. I thought about all the times I wondered if being sensitive or introverted was a bad thing — like losing my voice to those who spoke louder. I realised I wanted to create a space that reminds others they are worthy too.
Why My Blog Name Matters
The name of my blog came to me when I had written a note to myself to remember my worth.
Dear Madeline,
There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Yes you have imperfections & insecurities but so does everyone.
Even if you’re not in a good place, you still have a sweet smile that deserves to shine.
People who don’t like you or have certain opinions about you, that’s them and not on you.
Yes, you still have some healing to do when it comes to fitting in but does not mean you are lesser than.
You deserve to shine ✨
That simple note to myself became the foundation of this blog. It reminded me that our voice still matters even when we doubt ourselves. That’s what choosing a blog niche is about — finding the space where your story, strengths, and passions meet. Your niche doesn’t have to be perfect from the start; it just has to feel true to you. The rest will grow as you do.
Picking Your Blog Niche
The options for what you can blog about are endless — from personal stories to helpful how-to’s. When choosing a blog niche, think about what feels sustainable long term.
Some popular ones include:
- Cooking
- Finances
- Health & Wellness
- Fitness
- Self-improvements
- How to (i.e. excel, coding)
My advice is to stick with what you know best – something that comes naturally that you could talk about for hours. A blogging niche that plays to your strengths and passions will always feel easier to grow. Mix your passions, skills, and what people need — that’s your sweet spot.
I say this because you don’t want to write a few posts only to run out of ideas. The more knowledge you share, the more people will trust you. You want your content to feel natural and trustworthy rather than forcing it.
Identifying Your Audience
Understanding your audience is key when picking your niche. Defining your target audience when starting a blog will help you create focused and helpful posts. When writing a post, think about what questions you want to answer for your readers.
Being specific about your niche will help target your ideal reader rather than trying to attract everyone. Sometimes I struggle to pick a specific niche because I don’t want to exclude anyone. But by trying to include everyone, my posts became too broad and couldn’t compete with the larger blogs in my niche.
Build a Persona of Your Ideal Reader
Once you have identified your audience, it’s time to build a persona. By building a persona of your ideal reader, you’ll be able to keep this in mind when writing. This helps you make sure each post ties back to them. For example, my post Stop Letting Your Coworkers Get To You focuses on a specific situation, which feels more relatable than a vague “stop letting anyone get to you.” When they see the title, they will be more likely to click because it directly relates to them.
Avoid Saturated Niches
Everyone searches for things like fitness or how to build wealth, but narrowing it down, like budget planning in your early 20s, makes it far more relatable. Focus on these long tail keywords for blog niches that have lower competition. Competing with big platforms in saturated niches becomes tough when starting.
Monetization
When I started this blog, I wasn’t working and thought this would be a good source of income. I previously worked in marketing, so SEO, backlinking, and structure weren’t new. However, I soon realised that times had changed – even in a few short years. The standard SEO foundations hadn’t changed, but the concept of User Experience was new to me. Google would now check if my blog posts generate a good user experience. So, building trust with readers is a must – especially with all the published AI-generated content. I had the understanding that I could create content with good SEO, and the views would start pouring in.
I’m not at the stage yet where I have made income from this, as Google is still learning to trust my blog. From what I’ve read, you generally need around 1,000 monthly views for Google AdSense to be worthwhile. That’s why picking a profitable blog niche is so important if you want to monetise.
Why It’s Okay To Pivot Your Blog Niche
When we start a new blog, we are testing the waters. We are learning what we enjoy writing about and who our audience is. Pivoting your niche does not mean your blog has failed – you’re just refining.
When I started, my blog was too broad – competing with larger and more trustworthy blogs. I realised I was never going to rank. So, I delved deeper into who my audience was. They want to feel related to rather than being told to change. I stopped with the how-tos and self-improvement and instead became self-affirming and provided helpful tools. Sometimes the best blog niche ideas come after experimenting and pivoting.
Conclusion
Picking a niche for your blog can feel like a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with what you know, what you love, and what feels natural to share. Remember, your niche is simply a guide—it’s not set in stone. You can refine it as you grow — along with your audience and your confidence.
The most important thing is to begin. Write that first post, connect with your readers, and let your voice shine. Your unique perspective will make your blog stand out, not the niche itself. So choose a direction, trust yourself, and allow your blog to evolve into the space it’s meant to be.
Keep shining,
Madeline
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