Are You Writing in the Right Niche
Marketing Executive Reveals the Perfect Balance Between Relevance, Traffic, and Profitability—And How Any Niche Can Be Profitable with the Right Strategy
How can I make more money from my writing? Why isn’t anyone reading my articles? How can I sell more books? When will I catch a lucky break?
If these questions sound familiar, you’re not alone. As a marketing executive and SEO copywriter, I get bombarded with similar inquiries daily. Most people who come to me want to write and make six figures overnight. The truth is, many have already been part of the online creator economy—sometimes for years—but they’re still not earning enough to treat their loved ones to a Friday night special at McDonald’s.
When I tell them where the problem lies, they often frown and pull all kinds of faces. But here’s the reality: standing out in today's content-saturated world is tough, especially if you’re not committed to a niche! Okay, let me explain.
Take a look at the scatter chart above. It shows the challenge of being noticed as a writer when over 6.5 million blogs are published daily—and that doesn’t even count articles from professional online publications or newsletters. We're talking about casual bloggers posting their content on platforms like WordPress, Blogger, Medium, and Substack. WordPress alone accounts for 70 million blog posts monthly. Wow!
Many new writers overlook a crucial fact: success and a steady income from online writing often come from consistently publishing high-quality content and doing a little keyword research within your niche. The fact is: 96% of web pages get zero traffic from Google — and you definitely don’t want to be one of them.
The chart above shows the relationship between niche relevance and traffic—two crucial factors if you ask me. I’d also add that if you’re serious about earning from your writing, then you need to take a moment to consider this. It’s quite simple:
The higher the relevance of your niche, the greater your potential for traffic.
But here’s the thing: standing out isn’t just about the topic—it’s about positioning yourself effectively within that niche. And that’s what I’m going to help you do today.
Let’s look at it another way to clear any doubts. Imagine walking into a supermarket. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of brands. The supermarket makes money because it sells a variety of products. It appeals to all types of shoppers—whether they’re on a tight budget or splurging on premium items. It’s broad, but it works.
Now think about the independent fishmonger around the corner. All they sell is fish—and I’m vegan! No fancy dairy-free desserts or the latest whitening toothpaste. Does that mean the fishmonger is doomed to make less money than the giant supermarket with hundreds of employees? Not necessarily.
Here’s why.
Here’s a chart illustrating the difficulty of getting your blog post noticed without niching down, considering that over 6.5 million blog posts are published daily. It compares your chances of succeeding in your writing endeavors with and without a niche over time. Notice how niching down significantly improves your chances of being noticed, while your opportunity to get more eyeballs to your content drastically decreases without a clear focus.
The fishmonger may not have the variety of a supermarket, but they have something even more valuable—a specific product that people know and trust them for. Their customers are loyal. They don’t just come for fish—they come because they know the fishmonger is an expert, and offers the freshest, highest-quality products.
In the same way, your writing doesn’t need to cater to everyone. Instead, if you focus on a niche (the topic you love and can’t stop talking about), you can build a loyal audience that sees you as the go-to expert in that area. And the truth is, you don’t need millions of readers to make a living—you just need the right ones.
If we go back to the scatter chart above, you’ll see that when your content is highly relevant to a specific audience, you’re more likely to attract the traffic that matters—people who are searching for exactly what you offer.
I know—this goes against everything those so-called influencers are preaching. But here's the harsh reality: the broader your topic, the harder it is to stand out in the abyss of online content.
Harder to stand out = harder to earn from your writing :(.
But don’t worry, help is here.
This is where search intent comes into play. When you understand that people go online for specific reasons, earning from your writing becomes much easier. (a hell of a lot easier)
Here are the four main types of search intent you should know about as a writer:
Informational: People are looking for answers or knowledge. (They often go to Google with questions starting with "how," "what," "where," or "why." I’m sure you can write an article or two about your favorite topic that answers a question.)
Navigational: They want to find a specific site or brand. (This is where building your personal brand around your writing becomes a big thing.)
Transactional: They’re ready to buy. (They’re looking for something, hopefully your book, and are ready to spend some cold, hard cash.)
Commercial Investigation: They’re comparing products or services before making a decision to purchase. (How can they compare your book or course to a competitor’s if you’re not standing out?)
This is how simple it is: