“Find Yourself … and Find Your Niche” plus 1 more

Posted: 10 Nov 2012 12:05 PM PST

This guest post is by Kid In The Front Row.

I once watched an interview with Ricky Gervais, where he talked about how a lot of people don't like his stand up comedy. He said he didn't care. All he needs is 5,000 people in each town to fill a theater, and then he's set. Whether the rest of the population like him or not is irrelevant.

It's the same with your blog.

You might be extremely passionate about obscure German movies, or maybe you're obsessed with antique books; or perhaps you happen to have an unusually large amount of knowledge about Mongolian fruit. Whatever it is, that's your niche.

And sometimes you don't even know your niche—at least, not at first. The important thing is to get writing—to discover your niche. What do I mean by “discover your niche”?

I mean: figure out who you are.

At first, I blogged generically about movies. I thought my passion was film. Turns out, I think most films are terrible. But I love it when you really hear a voice in the writing; when a film is actually saying something. When you feel you've witnessed a real piece of art.

Gradually, my blogging changed—it became more about auteurs, writer/directors, and about the incredible opportunities of independent film.

I found my niche. I found myself. And the blog exploded after that.

Once you've figured out what you want to write about, then you can really become an expert within your field. That doesn't mean that you know everything; it means that you're leading the quest.

On my blog, I interview screenwriters and directors who inspire me, in the hope that they can lead me further to the truth of what it is to be an artist. They help me figure out why the struggle to produce great films is worth it. They keep me on track.

I'm in a constant dialogue with the readers. Sometimes I inspire them with my insight. Other times, they shoot me down for talking nonsense—which in turn teaches me a lot. We learn from each other, and we’re on the same quest.

Having a niche is about that one corner of the world that is totally yours. Everything about it, you're in love with. Lots of people might have blogs about how to make cupcakes, but your blog is about how to make cupcakes without sugar; or using only chocolate; or using leftover pieces of chicken—who knows? Only you do!

Whatever it is, you'll figure it out along the way.

Once you truly focus on being yourself, you'll stand apart from the rest, and the readers will flock to you, because you're telling the truth, and your excitement makes them excited.

When that happens, you know you've found your niche.

Kid In The Front Row is a cult film blog with a more personal outlook. It’s not about reviewing movies, it’s not about criticising movies – it’s about loving movies. About loving them so much that still, after all these years, we’re just Kids In The Front Row, shoving popcorn down our faces as we stare up at those wonderful people on the big screen.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Find Yourself … and Find Your Niche

The Biggest Lie in Blogging and How to Disprove it

Posted: 10 Nov 2012 06:03 AM PST

This guest post is by Ryan Biddulph of Cashwithatrueconscience.com.

You lie to yourself. Every day as a blogger.

Okay, maybe you don’t. Maybe you don’t buy in.

But you probably do. If you moan about struggling to blog.

Writer’s block

The lie is writer’s block. You have no ideas. You can’t write.

So you don’t write. Lose leads. Miss creative practice. Feel comfy cozy in your excuse zone.

The worst part about the lie? You can disprove it now. And ten hours from now. Or whenever you pen your next post.

But you need to a few things to attack, disarm and disprove the lie.

Abundance

Abundance exists. Lack and limitation is a human concept. No shortage of ideas. Only an infinite flow.

You tap into that infinite flow any time you write a blog post. You choose to block the flow any time you surrender to writer’s block.

Both are choices. You choose to snag the idea or block the idea. Own this choice. You disprove the lie.

People buy in

People tend to buy in. Why? Any crutch supporting their limiting belief sounds great to them. No need to own stuff. Or succeed.

But if you can own your life you can become the master of your fate. That’s not a bad deal, I know.

Because ownership precedes acceptance, and acceptance precedes happiness. How’s that for a triple play?

You can’t buy in to writer’s block. You must reject the idea, when people note it, or use it as an excuse.

You are unlimited

You are unlimited and remain unlimited until you accept the idea you aren’t unlimited. Accept this. Where you at now, writer’s block?

Life follows your belief system. Writer’s block just made a hasty retreat. No more low energy handcuffs. You are free to write!

Practical tips

Do these things to dissolve writer’s block.

Meditate

Meditation dissolve blocks—or limiting ideas—from your being. Once the block dissolves you tap into the infinite flow of creative ideas.

Read blogs

You generate many creative ideas by reading relevant blogs. Read, take notes, write your own posts. Love that jingle.

Surround yourself with winning bloggers

Winning or successful bloggers rarely make the writer’s block excuse. So you follow their lead.

Step away from the computer

Eureka! You have experienced the moment many times, and it was likely when you were away from the laptop. Detaching opens up you to creativity.

Your turn

Do you buy into the writer’s block lie? How do you overcome this block?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section!

Ryan Biddulph helps entrepreneurs create value and build connections to grow their home based opportunity. Please subscribe to his blog Click Here.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

The Biggest Lie in Blogging and How to Disprove it

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