Should You Only Write What You Know?

There is an endless debate online about whether you should only enter markets/niches that interest you, and with the Thirty Day Challenge nearing the end that question has come up more than a few times.

The two downsides of the debate are these:

• If you tackle a niche that doesn’t interest you then it is going to be harder to: write content for your own web site, article sites and Web2.0 sites; find and read information on the topic on a daily basis; visit forums and blogs and participate in discussions on the topic; keep your interest long enough to monetize your site etc.

• On the other hand, if you are too interested in a subject you can become so attached to the idea of it that you ignore the signs that is may be a dud (too much competition, not enough interest, not enough traffic, not a spending market). You will find it difficult to view this market with neutrality.

Of course, on the plus side:

• Even a niche that doesn’t interest you can make you a lot of money and your detachment can work well from a business point of view. Good business is about finding a need and filling it.

• But, if you are interested in a subject your passion will show and will increase your chances of succeeding in that market, writing about it and generally keep the momentum going.

I find myself happily sitting on the fence in this argument because I have had successes and failures on both sides of the debate.

I was passionate about radio and being a radio presenter, to the extent that like many young presenters I was prepared to work crazy hours and do anything (or nearly anything) I was asked to do, for quite low wages. After a number of years and lots of office politics, my passion started to wane and it stopped being fun anymore. If I ever work in radio again it will be in the knowledge that it is first and foremost a business and I need to accept it as such.

However, I was also passionate about voiceovers… and still am (when I have the voice to do them). I love the nature of the work, the fact that everyday is different, the way I can use my voice for so many different projects, being fully self-employed. However, the difference is I accepted from the beginning that this is a business above all, and so I have to make business-like decisions about the work, my marketing, when I work and who I work with.

Online, most of the niches I have entered have interested me at least a little. The niche that hasn’t really worked was one I was passionate about and I was probably too close to. Others held my interest for a while but ultimately the interest fizzled, and one has grown into a passion beyond anything I imagined.

There is a new post over at the John Cow website called Start a Blog About Something You Want to Kick Ass At. There is a lot of sense in this, as it is easier to write about things you are passionate about, and work isn’t much fun if you aren’t interested in what you are doing. However, if you are entering a market that is your passion or hobby, and you want to make money from it (rather than just create your own fun hobby site) I would suggest asking yourself these questions:

• Do the numbers add up? Is there traffic for your keywords, can you compete with other sites targeting those keywords, are your visitors actually likely to buy, can you make a profit?

• Will working in this market gradually lessen your enjoyment of it? There is a big difference between pursuing a hobby and making a business out of it.

• Can you walk away from it if things don’t work out?

I don’t think there is any problem tackling a market you know nothing about. Once you have tested it and started making some money you can always outsource the work so you only need to keep an eye on the overall business concept. If you become fed-up with it then you can sell the website/blog and make some money to start a new one. You may never become passionate about a topic but as long as other people are (or you fulfil a need) you can make money to leverage other pursuits (business or personal).

On a final note, I would suggest you do a bit of both. I would never have started this blog if I hadn’t been passionate about Internet Marketing and wanted somewhere to publish my thoughts on it. The IM world is crowded enough as it is and I didn’t enter it with plans to dominate and usurp the big names in Internet Marketing. I do believe I can make some money from it, but I don’t expect it to be hugely profitable. My main objectives were to create an outlet for my own observations of online marketing and help others in the process. Those are perfectly valid and good objectives to have.

You may have a similar desire to write about your hobby, a medical problem, your weight loss, your overseas travels or your favourite Wii games, for no other reason than to share with and help others and hopefully make enough to have the website pay for itself.

From a business point of view this makes no sense, but on a personal level it can be extremely rewarding. However, if you wish to make money online you need to be prepared to be more objective and sometimes enter markets that don’t interest you. No one would admit to being enthusiastic about getting rid of cats from the garden (actually, get me onto the subject and I can be wildly passionate about it - spot my nemesis at the top of the post), but you can bet someone out there (me) wants information on stopping cats from using their garden as a toilet.

It’s all a matter of perspective. And if you can use the less exciting markets to fund your passions and a great lifestyle then you will be a lot happier than if you stay attached to a market you love but which sucks up all your time and makes no profit.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please add your comments