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Ask Blogging Gal: Diversifying a Niche Blog

16 Mar 2008

16 Mar, 2008  Ask Blogging Gal

I’ve gotten several questions in response to my recent Ask Blogging Gal post. Keep them coming! I’ll answer as many as possible.

Today’s question comes from Anca of Megavegalicious.

“I have a niche blog about Las Vegas that I want to diversify. I’m adding things about me (like my likes and dislikes, stories, so on), personal interests like blogging, making money ideas, etc. Do you think this is something that might work , or would you advise to stick strictly to your niche?”

Anca, I think it’s great that you want to diversify your blog; however, I think you’re going about it the wrong way. Adding too much information about yourself will turn your niche blog into a personal site. If your readers are there to learn about Las Vegas, they may be turned off by personal posts. I recommend creating a separate blog for personal posts and keeping Megavegalicious dedicated strictly to Las Vegas. You can certainly diversity the blog by adding new categories. You could write about places to see and things to do in Vegas, important people in Vegas, the city’s history, other Vegas websites, and tips for travelers. Think about a place you’ve never been but would like to visit. What would you ask someone who lives there? Make a list, and then answer those same questions for your readers!

Thanks so much for the question, Anca. I didn’t see an Entrecard widget on your site, but if you’re a member, please let me know which email address to send your 50 credits to. If you’re not a member, you should sign up. You’ll love it, and it will certainly drive a lot of new traffic to your site.

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5 Responses

  1. Andrew

    2008 Mar 16 1

    Woo! Glad you got the Ask Blogging Gal column officially started, Tish! Great lead-off question too and I agree with your answer. If you have a niche site, stick with it, because there are sooo many other types of blogs out there, but keeping true to your theme and blog’s “mission statement” will not only keep the blogger focused, but the reader’s as well. The only exception I’d make, Anca is if some of the personal info you include is directly related to your blog. Like if you include some personal stories about Vegas such as restaurants you really like to eat at, casinos that are perfect for newcomers, etc. It’s still a niche blog about Vegas with the same sort of content offered, but you’re adding a little personal touch to it, which (to me anyways), always makes a blog and the posts more believable and entertaining.

    Andrew’s last blog post..False Food Advertising

  2. Blogging Gal

    2008 Mar 17 2

    Thanks, Andrew, and I agree. If the personal stories are about Vegas, keep them. :)

  3. megavegalicious.com

    2008 Mar 17 3

    I was so pleasantly surprised that you’ve picked my question! Thank you so much for your helpful answer and also thank you to Andrew.
    I agree with everything you said. This is my first blogging experience, and I don’t really want to start a new blog right now, I don’t have the time or the experience to maintain more than one. Maybe it will happen at one point in the future.
    I started with writing just about Vegas, because it was the first thing that came to my mind that I could blog about. But then I realised, as I was visiting more and more blogs and forums, that there’s not even one popular niche blog about Vegas, besides the commercial sites like tripadvisor or others that mainly sell tickets and hotel rooms. I found a few blogs about it, but all of them seemed deserted, no comments.
    That is why I wanted to switch a bit, add blogging and making money to the equation, and the “weird stories” that more often than not are related to Vegas (since they’re my experiences here). I don’t know if this makes any sense, but I want to switch my theme to more personal interests (that I found attract more comments too and are more linkable and enjoyable as a read), but at the same time I don’t want to let go of the whole Vegas idea. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that, instead of making two separate blogs, which is impossible for me right now, I was aiming to “split” my blog in two. Blog about blogging, marketing, reviews, contests etc. on a general “backround” that is info about the city I reside in, Las Vegas. Kinda like having a blog about your personal interests, and on the sidebar having a map of your town. Or like advertising for a company on your blog. I’m “advertising” for Vegas, since I live here and I can do it the best.
    My blog has been far more successful since I’ve made this switch,and I have to say I enjoy writing about my interests better than about Vegas, though this is fun too.
    Also, there are so many sites about the same subject, like blogging or making money, that I thought maybe by keeping the Vegas theme on the backround it will make mine a bit distinct, it will add smth different. And also “brand” me as a Vegas blogger.
    Please tell me if what I said in the last 10-feet long paragraph makes any sense :) it’s 1 in the morning…

    megavegalicious.com’s last blog post..How To Win Big In Vegas

  4. megavegalicious.com

    2008 Mar 18 4

    Tish, thanks again for the wonderful advice. I’ve just signed yp for entrecard, email bristenutza AT yahoo DOT com

    megavegalicious.com’s last blog post..Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

  5. Recall tadalafil.

    2008 Jul 20 5

    Recall tadalafil….

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