How to Choose a Topic for my Website

So you have decided to create a website, but don’t know what it should be about. Don’t worry. It happens to a lot of people.

Brainstorm Ideas

There are a bunch of ways to brainstorm some ideas for your website topic. One great way is to ask yourself some questions.

What are you passionate about?

To answer this question, think about what you like to do most. As an example, hobbies can make a great topic for a website. Do you enjoy reading? cooking? traveling?

What do you have experience in?

Some of the best informational sites are run by a person who knows the topic inside and out. In my case, I’m a web developer and created this site to teach others from my experience.

Your job is a great place to start when looking for experience and inspiration. Outside of that, maybe you have had some experiences few people have, or can provide a unique perspective.

Is there something you have always wanted to learn about?

A great way to learn about a topic is to teach others. Sure, it will take longer to write about, but you will become an expert in no time if you keep at it.

Solve a Problem

People are always looking for good information and solutions to their problems. Do some research and find out a problem many people have that hasn’t been solved or has few solutions.

Start with identifying areas you are passionate about and have experience in. Next, ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone you can talk with about their biggest frustration with the topic.

For example, say you work in computer repair. What are the most common problems the people you talk to have? Now, which of those problems are the most difficult to solve?

Write Everything Down

As you brainstorm ideas, make sure to keep track of everything. Write it on a notepad, in an outline, on a bunch of sticky notes. Whatever works best for you to organize your thoughts.

Will My Idea Work?

In general, the keys to a successful website are persistence, patience, hard work, knowledge, and being unique.

More than 90% of online businesses eventually end up failing. Don’t let that statistic get you down, though. With persistence, patience, and hard work, anyone can be successful with a website.

While some failures may be inevitable, you will learn from your mistakes. Knowledge of how to succeed and your topic will ensure you have the best chance for success.

With websites, there are so many ones out there similar to each other. To stand out from the crowd, you need to be unique. This could be your unique experience, the way you write, and many other possibilities.

Find a way to connect with your audience and they will engage with your content.

Topic Research

Given the above, some topics are much easier to break into than others on the web. Doing some research on your topic ideas and competitors will give you a good idea how competitive the market is.

Tools to Aid in Topic Research

There are numerous tools out there to aid in research. Some of my favorites are listed below:

Mindmeister

A tool to brainstorm topic ideas in a web type pattern known as a mind map.

Onenote

Part of the Microsoft Office suite of software. Onenote is a comprehensive tool for taking notes, outlining topics, and organizing ideas.

Evernote

Another tool for note taking and organizing ideas. I use this one to save quick notes on articles and websites.

Google Trends

An awesome tool for research how popular a topic is, and comparing to related ones.

Semrush

One of the most comprehensive keyword and competitor research tools.