The Most Inspiring Blogging Niches
Based on my 15+ years of experience as a blogger I compiled a list of the most inspiring blogging niches!
These types of blogs are a constant inspiration on the English speaking Web for like a decade or more.
The blogging niches that have had some significant impact on me and my writing are in no particular order the following ones:
Green blogs
Green blogs, in the ecological sense, dealing with the environment, sustainability and products that have a lesser impact on the planet never cease to inspire me.
Some are around for a while but there are much more popular and main stream by now. Also there seems to be more of them each year.
Self improvement and personal development blogs
Basically before I started blogging in English, I wasn’t even aware of the term self improvement.
When I finally noticed the the”Zen of everything” blogs I assumed that they’ve been around for years, but they haven’t, at least many of them.
Zen habits is still one of the most inspiring ones even after many years.
There are really numerous self improvement blogs out there and each day they seem to be more of them. I love them all!
I love them so much I even tried to write one myself a few year back.
Productivity and lifehacks blogs
While I have been aware of Lifehacker for at least two years it has become one of the most popular blogs worldwide.
Also I have seen many more productivity blogs spring up. Some but not all of them cross over to the self improvement niche or they overlap with freelancing blogs.
Freelancing and work at home blogs
A whole new movement of self-employed and proud of it bloggers is out there.
While companies often treat freelancing as the lowest in the hierarchy these blogger acknowledge the freedom that working remotely and staying independent offers.
Some of the freelancing bloggers even travel the world while at it (see below) and are considered to be influencers.
Some of them are mothers working at home and blogging while rearing up their children at the same time, others are people who quit their regular jobs.
WordPress and blogging blogs
Covering blogging itself and more specifically WordPress is thriving for like a decade.
New bloggers appear on the scene from time to time and establish themselves a to stay with us for years.
The likes of WPBeginner, Smartblogger or BlogTyrant are indispensable for everybody who publishes a self hosted blog. That’s why they keep on rocking for ages.
Travel blogs
There are many bloggers who travel a lot and document their journeys – often while on the go.
For me it’s very inspiring even though I probably would never try it or rather because of it!
These people are so courageous and open minded you might even become envious.
When you let go of your ego and focus ion the bright side they can teach you a lot about about blogging and life in general.
Vegan blogs
While blogging about a vegan lifestyle is somewhat a part of the green blogging niche, the vegan movement has spawned some truly inspiring publications of all kinds.
When you think of Live Kindly or Plant Based News you will realize that it’s more than “just” about saving the planet. You also save yourself and all sentient beings.
Positivity blogs
The most positive blogging trend is positivity itself. In Germany popular bloggers often flame others and complain how messed up everything is.
People blogging in the English appear to be in a frenzy of achievement, collegiality and cooperation. I am really proud to be part of it.
Of course this list is highly biased due to the subjectivity of my unique point of view.
Looking at the international blogging community from the dark corner of Germany makes me really see a bright future. Why?
Enthusiastic individuals determined to offer a great blog reading experience to international audiences can still succeed.
In a way it feels a little like the early days of the Web when everything was still fresh and empowering.
I’ve noticed a lot of the same things (although I don’t watch SEO blogs much anymore).
Theres something similar in south africa as the blogging community is growing fast, theres even a south african version of Technorati (amatomu).
Excellent list – I think the biggest brand new trends are combination blog/microblog (tumblr, twitter, pownce) and live video/chat, which is going to set blogging at the forefront of whatever journalism is going to become.
Yeah Glen, there are at least two German Technorati contenders.
Michael: It might sound odd, but I don’t consider Twitter “blogging” at all. It’s more like chatting. Tumblr is more of a blog system while Pownce is more a social network to me.
Thanks Tad! You’ve put together the exact list I’ve been mulling over for the past couple weeks and have saved me a load of time. One interesting thing is that for so many people so many of those topics interrelate.
We are seeing a real emergence in the website wielding, work-at-home self-employed types and if the economy gets more and more stagnant and unemployment increases I think those trends are only going to get stronger.
@ Tad – Right, what I meant was just that people are adding these onto their blogs through widgets/plugins and broadening their blogs with these new tools. I didn’t mean to imply that twitter = blogging.
Mark: Put up your list anyways, I’m curious.
Michael: Well, many people refer to Twitter as “microblogging” thus… but now I got your point.
This list brings up some interesting possibilities. If you’re looking to be unique, for example, go with something that isn’t on it :)
Right Troy, it might be too late to jump on the band wagon but not in Germany ;-)
I really enjoyed this article and your bit about germany being behind the trends by several years is very interesting.
I am about to move country and would be looking to tap into local markets so I have to do research into different trends and cultures.
I have also noticed an increase in online entrepreneur blogs and I may jump on that band wagon. I think that it helps newcomers to the internet by providing them with a sort of guidance and also serving as a personal journal charting progress. I find that by seeing my progress I am more focused and able to achieve my goals.
I have a blog since 2002, I did if with Blogger (www.zevallos.blogger.com.br), and later in 2006, I migrate all pages to a new site, not a blog, with my own CMS tool to http//ruben.zevallos.com.br, where I added more than just posts everyday, but my ideas, references, books and news about my web tools…
My Blog increase it´s visits, but since nov/2007, I had other priorities like my marriage party, moving to another city and now, I think I´m ready to come back.
I think my “blog” is something for positivily stuff…
Thanks for the article
thanks..study a lot..
but you used “Make money online” in the sixth trend, while you said “Make money online” should be abandoned in you post”7 Misguiding Terms You Should Abandon”
Doumiao: right, but this post here was published earlier. Also the “make money online” is a downward trend. ;-)
where there is a niche there is a blog. The number of blogs in a number of different areas will keep on growing though how long they each will last… :D