So you probably want to start a blog and want to know the differences and benefits between single-niche vs multi-niche sites. But did you know that only 15% of bloggers make a full-time income from blogging? So, how do you buck the trend and make your blog a success?
Well, choosing the right niche is the first step. Next, you need to consider whether you will cover one topic in depth or a few different areas. For instance, is it better to use a multi-niche or single-niche blog?
In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of multi-niche vs. single-niche blogging to help you decide which one suits you better.
Let’s dive in!
What is a niche?
A niche is something that appeals to a particular group of people, usually a specialized interest or specific topic that wouldn’t always appeal to a wider audience. In terms of blogging, a niche is the blog’s main subject area.
For example, if your blog’s niche was “working from home,” you may write posts on setting up your home office, the benefits of standing desks, and the transition from office to home working.
Single-niche vs. multi-niche: what’s the difference?
Single-niche blogs focus on one subject. They are usually run by one person who is an expert or has a special interest in that area. These kinds of blogs usually have a specific audience in mind, and the popular ones tend to grow a following of like-minded people. An example of a single niche site can be Vonage, focusing on business communication, such as virtual VoIP phone systems. So no matter how narrow the niche is, there will be people out there keen to learn more.
Multi-niche blogs cover a range of subject areas and can be run by a team of people who each have a subject area to cover. But, with a lot of work, you can run one on your own. The Travel Book is a good example of a multi-niche blog. It’s run by a couple who combine travel content with tips on how to live in a more environmentally-friendly way.
Some of the most popular niches currently are digital marketing, health, and fitness, money saving/making money, recipes, DIY, and lifestyle.
Some single-niche bloggers like to find their niche within larger subject areas. For example, a recipe blog could focus on healthy cooking. Alternatively, a multi-niche blog could start out covering one subject, then expand into others. For example, a lifestyle blogger may branch out into DIY, recipes, and money-saving tips.
These are the pros and cons of single-niche vs multi-niche blogs.
Pros of a single-niche blog
A blog focused on one subject sends out the message that you are an expert in your area (even if you’re not). You can become a credible source if you research your topic properly to create quality content. So if you have a special interest in a certain niche or would consider yourself knowledgeable in one particular subject area, a single-niche blog may be best for you.
Search engine optimization is so much easier when you only have one niche. You only need to find keywords for one subject, so this means less research for each blog post. SEO is important as this is how your readers will find your blog posts. But remember that Google ranks pages, not whole websites. So make sure each post you create is SEO-friendly to give yourself a better chance of being ranked.
Each niche has a specific target audience, making it easier for you to grow a following. While a multi-niche blogger may reach many different kinds of people, these readers aren’t likely to bookmark the page or subscribe to the blog. But once a single-niche blog is established, it has the potential to become the go-to blog on that topic. So, as a single-niche blogger, it is important to define your niche audience before you start creating posts.
Whether you are selling your products or services or advertising others, a single-niche blog can potentially have more followers and returning readers. This makes it more likely to be profitable. But the profitability of your blog depends on how much effort you put into that side of it.
Many niche bloggers find that advertisers and brands are more likely to choose single-niche blogs. This is likely because they have the same target audience, who are obviously more likely to be interested in their products or services.
Cons of a single-niche blog
Single-niche blogging can be limiting when it comes to thinking of new topics for your blog posts. Even if you are passionate about your niche, you may still eventually find it hard to think up fresh new ideas. This is likely why many single-niche bloggers abandon their blogs or switch to multi-niche blogs.
If you decide to create a single-niche blog, it’s a good idea to research new blog topics in advance. That way, you always have a list to choose from.
With their evergreen content, single-niche blogs may come out on top in search engines. But multi-niche blogs seem to have the advantage when looking at social media reach. Many different topics mean more content, which is great for the fast-paced nature of social media.
That’s not to say that single-niche blogs don’t have their place on social media. But if you are trying to compete with multi-niche blogs (that usually have more writers), you don’t want to sacrifice the quality of your articles just to get them out quicker.
Pros of a multi-niche blog
With a multi-niche blog, you can cover as many subject areas as you want. This means that your pool of ideas is basically unlimited. If you don’t have any ideas for a certain topic, you have other topics to choose from.
With multi-niche blogging, there is the opportunity to have one writer for each subject area, which means that your blog will create even more content. But if you are blogging solo, you can just look at what is currently trending so you know which areas to focus on.
If you want to grow a niche log, you must find new ideas and constantly create new content. This is much easier when you have more topics to work with. Multi-niche blogs tend to grow faster than single-niche blogs for this reason. If one area of the blog isn’t attracting readers, you can start building on another. If you want to expand into other subjects, it’s also easier because your blog already has multiple niches.
Some people start by creating single-niche blogs, then choose to expand them into multi-niche blogs. This is either because they have run out of ideas with their single subject, or they could want to post about related subjects as their blog has grown.
With more topics comes a wider potential audience, which means more freedom for the writers. Most multi-niche blogs don’t have to worry about keeping a single target audience happy or creating content with one set of readers in mind. This gives them the freedom to write more varied content.
A wider audience also means more traffic and page views to the blog. Multi-niche blogs may not have as many readers who return to the page frequently, but that doesn’t matter if you have the numbers. Then as a multi-niche blog becomes established, it will become more memorable to its audiences.
I had to put this one on the list of pros for both single-niche and multi-niche blogging, as there are different opportunities for both. Yes, multi-niche blogs don’t have one target audience, making it more difficult for some brands to see the potential. But they tend to have more traffic and variety in the people reading them. This makes them more appealing to some advertisers.
Cons of a multi-niche blog
There is a reason most successful multi-niche blogs have more than one writer. It can be hard enough to keep up with blogging without having to think up different blog posts for each different subject area too.
If you are a solo blogger who wants to write multiple niches, you need to think very carefully about how many you are choosing and whether you are going to be able to keep up with all of them. One way around this is to have guest posters. But you may have to wait until your blog is well-established before attracting good-quality writers.
SEO of multi-niche blogs is more difficult and time-consuming because each niche will have its own set of keywords needed to attract the right audience. This means more keyword research and different competition for each section of your blog.
You don’t want to skip search engine optimization when creating your blog posts, especially when it comes to multi-niche blogging. Single-niche bloggers already have the added advantage that they are seen to be the experts in their field. If they also rank higher than you on Google, readers will likely click on their page instead of yours.
Questions to ask yourself before starting a blog
When deciding what you want to blog about, your interests are the first place to look. You will find it much easier to maintain a blog if you are knowledgeable about the subjects you want to cover. Plus, you’ll enjoy writing posts much more.
Knowing exactly what you want to write about will also make it easier to decide whether a single-niche or multi-niche blog is for you. If one of your interests stands out, maybe you should stick with that one. If your interests link together well, they may work in a multi-niche blog. Deciding in advance will also make it easier for you to pick a blog name. Remember, before you commit to a name, you should always check domain availability.
There are many reasons why people start a blog – as an online diary; to share information; as a hobby; or to make money. Look at exactly why you want to start your blog and what you hope to achieve. This will make a difference in whether a single-niche or multi-niche blog suits you better.
If you’d like to make money from your blog, consider how you want to monetize it. Multi-niche and single-niche blogs can be profitable in different ways. You should also consider how much time you have to commit to blogging.
Are you a writer? Do you have any SEO experience? Are you social media savvy? If you are completely new to blogging, creating a multi-niche blog may be a bit too daunting. Whereas if you have blogged in the past, you may be ready to take on the challenge.
Which one suits you better?
I’ve explained some of the advantages as well as the difficulties of multi-niche and single-niche blogging. Hopefully, this has made it easier for you to choose the right one for you. Overall neither is better than the other. You have to look at your experience and needs to figure out which suits you better.
But whichever you choose, defining and building your unique identity is important to make your blog stand out from others. If you create a single-niche blog, you can always expand it to a multi-niche blog in the future. But if you take on too much with a multi-niche blog in the first place, it may be a case of starting again from scratch.
Rachel Weinberg, Content Marketing Manager
Rachel is an experienced marketing professional, content strategist, writer, and editor. She has experience developing and writing cross-channel content for both B2B and B2C audiences. She is enthusiastic about using her content marketing expertise to help brands tell their stories and has a deep passion for theater criticism. Here is her LinkedIn.