Choosing A Niche Topic (Part 4)

Still continuing the topic research. I visited all the sites quoted in my last post (Choosing a Niche Topic, Part 3). Unfortunately, I got very distracted visiting all the cool sites I found in the Google Directory, and trying searches on all the different keywords from the "top searches" sites.

I compiled a list of about 20 interesting topics from that exercise, so I think I’ll move on now to the final method of picking a niche topic.

Topic Selection Method #4: Your Hobbies, Skills and Special Knowledge

This final method of selecting website topics simply involves doing an inventory of:

• successes you have enjoyed
• challenges you have overcome
• hobbies on which you spend a lot of time, money and energy
• topics you like to read about, research and study in your spare time
• skills you have that you enjoy using

To start this process, I’ll list some examples of the above from my own life. This is only to help you understand the types of topics you might list.

Some Examples of Topic Ideas

My first example is from my job, career and related organizations:

For over 10 years, I have had a career in the field of training and development. I know how to easily put together interesting and informative training sessions, continuing education classes, and seminars and have helped other people to do the same. I’m a member of the American Society for Training and Development. I also am very skilled at helping people improve their existing public speaking skills and presentations. I’ve also won some speech contests through the Toastmasters International organization. This could easily lead to a whole site built around improving one’s public speaking skills.

My second and third examples are from one of my hobbies:

Since 1984 (23 years), I have hosted a weekly radio show on which I play music from Broadway, Hollywood, and London musicals. I’ve seen shows in New York City, plus seen dozens of shows as they tour through Cleveland, Ohio. This could easily lead to a whole site built around musicals, musical theater, songs from musicals and other related topics. (A couple of years ago, I built a website around my musicals radio show, but that’s only meant as a support site for the show.)

In addition, I’ve worked behind the scenes at the Cleveland radio station where I host the weekly radio show. I help on the technical repair crew by selecting, purchasing, installing and maintaining radio broadcast equipment. I have already built one website on a related topic, web audio, using some of my audio and technical knowledge. It doesn’t get a lot of traffic, but it was a good way to get started in building affiliate websites.

My fourth example comes from the things I like to read about:

If you were to browse my personal library, you would find dozens of books on self improvement and self/business success. I like to joke that I have the "largest collection of partially-read self improvement books". I have a lot of the seminal works by well-known authors such as Dale Carnegie, Tony Robbins and Jack Canfield, plus a multitude of other offerings from first-time authors. So, I could easily create a website around the topic of self-improvement, goal setting, time management, or any of a dozen other topics I frequently read about.

My fifth example (and final for this post), comes from a hobby my wife and I enjoy

Since 2003, my wife and I have been avid gardeners. We have built flower beds and vegetable beds. We have experimented with growing all kinds of different flowers and vegetables in our Zone 5 climate. We have had a few failures, and several successes. So, we could create a site on some aspect of gardening. We’re not professionals by any means, but we just have fun growing things.

Other topics

• We have owned two cats, so any site on a niche portion of cat ownership might be successful.
• We took a road trip to Salt Lake City and back. I can tell you how to save money and have fun!
• I’ve been a corporate interviewer and could provide assistance to job seekers on how to write a resume and interview properly with confidence.
• … and much, much more.

Your own personal list might include some of the following topics:

• Building your own motorcross bike
• Thoughts and advice on choosing and repairing lawn mowers and riding mowers
• The things you learned while finding appropriate long-term care for an aging relative
• Secrets to researching the obscure branches of a family tree
• Your big travel trip to China where you only spent pennies a day, but ate like a king
• How you take such great photos with your digital camera
• The successes, failures and advice you would tell others about renovating a home
• The fun you had planning a friend’s wedding and what you learned in the process
• The history of reggae music, plus some recorded interviews you have done with famous reggae stars.
• Advice for Little League coaches on how to turn a losing Little League team into the winners of the state championships (and how to keep parents happy!)
• Creative birthday party ideas for kids.
• Creative birthday party ideas for adults.
• Creative birthday party ideas for the elderly.
• … and much more.

The idea is to make a list of all the things you know about, read about, and spend time with on a regular basis. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a "professional’s lifetime" worth of knowledge. If you enjoy the topic, even in a cursory way, write it down! You’re only creating and brainstorming a list of possible topics, not making a final choice. Only focus on making a big list.

By choosing topics you are intimately familiar with, you just might have an easier time building a website around the topic because of your natural inclinations. Whether or not the topic will be financially worthy is another story. (That will be the topic of a future post.)

Off I go to add more to my ever-growing list of topics. I suggest you do the same!