Is MMO A Good Niche?
For starters, MMO means Make Money Online as in the niche of blogs focused on making money through their blogs. I notice that every time I blink my eyes, another blog thats in the MMO niche pops up and its really starting to feel kind of crowded. Considering the fact that most MMO blogs don’t make money, it seems a bit weird that theres so many of them.
This blog started off as a blog filled with random posts and then converted to a MMO blog and after realizing how crowded it felt, I moved onto the general blogging niche. Today, I talk about blogging tips, affiliate marketing and money but I really don’t miss being part of the MMO niche mainly because I don’t have fingers pointing at me saying “well, you’re not really making a lot of money”. The point of this discussion, you ask? Well, let me discuss a few points with you to help you understand what I mean.
1) Its not about Money, Its about readers – The big issue is that bloggers in the MMO field think that they need to focus on the idea of making money to actually make money but its not true. You need readers and traffic in order to make money. The idea is that more readers leads to higher ad revenue and more clicks and therefore more money so its really not all about money.
2) You don’t have to be MMO to make money – Heres a big one. Theres lots of car and technology and other niche blogs that make a really nice amount of money. You don’t have to focus on the MMO field to actually make money. I know a lot of bloggers that talk about blogging tips and make six figures so you need to realize that just because your MMO doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make money. Find a niche you’re comfortable in and then leverage your skills and knowledge in that niche to help you get to your goal.
3) More Ads Doesn’t Mean More Money – The fact that you have all the shapes, sizes and colors of ads doesn’t really mean that you can fool visitors and readers into clicking it. Oh, and don’t even try to hide it in the middle of your post, thats not sneaky, its just WRONG. Don’t do it! Most of us only have a few 125×125 ads, maybe Adsense or in-text ads. You don’t need all different banners and ad boxes in order to make money. Keep it simple and as time goes on your revenue will go up. Don’t start off looking like spam because it will turn people away.
So hopefully these suggestions make sense. I wonder how many bloggers consider themselves MMO. Do you think you’re in the MMO niche? Let me know. I know some of you are in technology and even poetry so being unique always helps. Thanks for hanging around till I got my groove back and my health back in order to blog again. Time to start stalking my favorite blogs, leave me your comments!
I would have to agree that the MMO niche is way overcrowded and it seems as if people think that by starting a MMO blog they will instantly start making money. In fact, that is probably the worst niche to get in to if that is what you are looking to do. Especially because the readers of a MMO site (especially a small one that isn’t on the front page of Google) are going to be other MMO bloggers that won’t be clicking the ads or signing up as affiliates through the “new guy” because they will have seen it before.
I try to stay away from the MMO and blogging topics, but a lot of times I end up posting on related things anyway :S
I know what you mean. I agree that most MMO blog readers are other MMO blog owners! Thats how I got started before I switched over.
so true. if your blog readers tend to be other mmo bloggers, then there’s already that ad blindness, and they’re less apt to be affected by ad placement.
if you blog about something not related to technology or blogging, there may be a better chance that your audience isn’t yet as ad blind.
You are right off the bat! Most people feel in order to make money online, you have to talk making money online which is a plain crap! I know a lot people who make money w/their blogs talking about things that interest them the most
Enkay, I think the MMO niche is overcrowded and you are right on the money with it is all about readers.
I believe you have to be crafty enough to carve out a niche that you can build a following by developing your content and branding to lure people into your blog. Now to keep them there, you must interact with them and give them what they want…you!
It comes down to uniqueness. Many of the things that Normal Joe talks about you can find anywhere, but he is crazy unique and keeps me coming back. You have your own flair that continues to bring me back as well. I guess where I am going is to be yourself and some people will like you and some people won’t. Sounds like the playground and it is. LOL!
I like the MMO, Internet Marketing niches because people understand participation is important and it just makes blogging more interesting to me.
I have a site in a different niche and it has big money making potential, but there is no participation and it is really boring. I am not going to scrap it, but no participation sucks. This is why I like the MMO niche. You build, interact, and learn from your readers.
Afterall, it is about learning and getting better. I am not making a million dollars blogging yet, but I am learning everyday hanging out in the MMO niches and continue to do so.
Peace to the bloggers!
You make very good points about participation. While it can be a breath of fresh air for people to blog about something other than blogging and MMO, people who get into a specific niche may have a more difficult time getting readers to participate and comment because their readers do not understand how important it is. However, if those bloggers find other blogs within their niche, they will begin to form/find a clique and the participation will increase.
You’re right. How unique you are makes you more visible and popular regardless of the niche you are in. Readers and visitors will check out your blog depending on whether they like to read your posts on not so its all about that too. You make a good point about Joe as well.
I agree that the MMO niche is way over crowded. I think if people blog what they are passionate and know they are sure to hace great success.
I think MMO isn’t the best choice and how Nick said it is very overcrowded.
This keyword is for dummies who don’t know nothing about Online Money, when they learned more about online money they don’t search for MMO, they search for blogging tips, increase traffic, blogs for begginers and etc.
You make a very good point, how many of the people who actually understand something about making money online actually search for “make money online” via a search engine? How many of the people that search for that no nothing about the topic and/or are gullible and/or have no idea what they are doing/getting in to.
Thats true. I wonder what percentage of MMO blog readers actually know nothing about making money online.
I think it’s great to blog about MMO if that’s what you’re really interested in writing about. If you’re specifically writing to make money though, it’s going to be hard to get readers to buy what you’re selling. Be original and write about something you can really provide perspective on. The traffic will follow.
You couldn’t have said it any better! Thanks Dina!
Hmmmm, I hear this alot. First off, I don’t know what I would consider my blog, I guess it’s in the MMO area, but it’s more of a journal, and a documentation of my journey, mixed with a personal blog.
As for the niche being overcrowded, I actually don’t think so. Here’s why…it’s like when you first get a new car, or, start looking at a specific one ( more when you first get it)
It now seems that EVERYONE and their dog sitter has the same car as you! Is it true? Not really, it’s just that you notice it more, and are more aware.
If you run around in and network with bloggers in MMO, that’s mostly what you are going to see! Unless you deliberately go out and find gardening blogs, biscuit making blogs, or frog farming blogs…..you will only notice what you are around.
I don’t really see how anything online can get overcrowded, it’s too huge! I think one of the reasons folks in the MMO feel this way is because the only promote to other MMO bloggers!
When you start attracting people from all types of backgrounds, with all types of websites and blogs, then it becomes interesting.
I guess I’m a rebel lol, I don’t see lack, I see abundance!
There’s plenty of room. I bet the tech guys say the same thing ” oh no, another tech blogger” lol and the muffin bloggers ” how many different ways are there to make a blueberry muffin?” lol
It’s all relative I think….
I like this perspective. However, in many regards, it’s as much about quality and authority as it is quantity. I can see how people in any niche may feel that way, but think of it this way: If someone starts a technology blog, they at least know something about technology and have some experience (they at least knew enough to set up the blog which puts them ahead of probably 67% of the population)and a muffin blog, well, go to the kitchen and make some darn muffins. However, in regards to a MMO blog, the experience is often not there and harder to come by, and people will start a blog about making money online while having never made a single cent and act like experts. I think this is what is probably the most annoying thing about the niche…perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad if they were bloggers in a different niche that have experience making money online and then start a MMO blog, but too many people start a MMO blog as their first foray into the internet
You’re absolutely right. Most people that get into the MMO Niche really don’t have the experience before they start the blog.
Well, I agree that I notice more that the field is getting over crowded but I definitely don’t feel threatened and I see it as an opportunity to grow and shine and stand out amongst all the bloggers. I don’t consider you MMO but thats a good thing in my opinion.
Great post here Enkay. It’s about time someone talks about this.
By the way, here’s the reality of it all: there are much much more niches out there that are bigger money makers than MMO blogs. It’s a proven fact.
So if anyone out there wants to make money online by making a blog, please don’t start another MMO blog. Do some research and find the best niches!
You couldnt have said it better. Theres more niches aside from MMO that make a good amount of money.
This is a good post , every blog wants to make money
Content will always be the king and your niche will be the product USP for the blog
Some good tips Enkay. The MMO niche is very crowded and most of those bloggers don’t even make money. However, two of the top bloggers are selling now, universitykid and slyvisions. So we’ll have to see if somebody steps up to replace them. Most MMO blogs last only a couple months then sizzle out, or they get sold after a year. They do make some money but they aren’t really dedicated to their readers.