BRAINSTORM NICHE IDEAS

Use this page and next to brainstorm your ideas using the
question prompts

1. What topic are you passionate about? BRAINSTORM IDEAS HERE

2. What topic do you have some sort of experience

with (work, internships, college, school)

3. What topic do you have a keen interest in

learning or knowing more about?

4. What ideas do you have to monetize your

passion?

5. What group of people do you identify with or

want to help? Why?

*Its ok, to not have all the answers to these questions

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 BLANK SPACE TO BRAINSTORM IDEAS

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 NICHE FINDER
Pick one from each column and niche down. The categories and topics listed here are
not exhaustive.

FOR WHO TOPIC NICHE DOWN

1. Beginners 1. Education
2. Yoga E.g. Money Saving Hacks
2. Technophobes
3. Crafts for HomeSchooling
3. Tech Enthusiasts
4. Minimalism Families Who are on a
4. Design Challenged
5. Writing Budget
5. First Time Moms 6. Empowerment
6. Kids With Special 7. Websites E.g. Entrepreneur and
Needs 8. Design business tips for single
7. Millenials 9. Branding moms who want to start
8. Single Moms 10.Video a home based print
9. Stay At Home Moms 11.Sports business
10.Coaches 12.Fitness
11.Freelancers 13.Crafts E.g. Paleo Diet for
12.20-Somethings 14.Speaking Working moms with 3 or
13. Men 15.Weddings more children
14.Large Families 16.Money
15.Homeschooling 17.Marketing
Families 18.Humor
16.Work at Home Mums 19.Beauty
17.Working Parents 20.DIY
18. Small Businesses 21.Software
19.Solopreneurs 22.Cooking
20. Designers 23.Diet
21. Divorced 24.Green Living
22. Students 25.Health + Wellness
23. Adventure seekers 26.Decor
27.Organization

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 FOR WHO TOPIC NICHE DOWN
28.Money Saving +
Finance
29.Relationships
30.Personal
Development
31.Social Media
32.Travel
33.Outdoor + Survival
Skills
34.Grooming
35.Parenting
36.Pets
37.Religion
38.Spirituality
39. Vintage
40. Fashion
41. Lifestyle

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 Shortlist 3 core ideas from your initial list and write the core purpose of your blog
using one of these statements.

I educate/inspire/entertain/teach/help __________ who want to __________

I show __________ how __________

Core purpose 1

Core purpose 2

Core purpose 3

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 WINNING NICHE 10-POINT CHECKLIST
Run your 3 shortlisted ideas against this checklist. Pick one that
fares the best

Your chosen niche helps people become better versions of themselves

This better version does not have to be about making more money. It could be in
any one of the following areas:
Personal development
Fitness
Food
Budgeting orPersonal finance
Fashion/Beauty
Lifestyle
Home decor
Organization
Travel
Outdoor/Survival
Each of those topics can take on a whole different angle. Be it inspirational,
educational or entertaining. And they can encompass a wide range of sub-niches.

You want to be associated with this topic/niche in the next 3-5 years

Its something that you can see yourself writing or researching about for the
next 3-5 years

There are other blogs in this niche with an audience

Do they have an audience of any sort? The size of the audience doesnt matter.

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 There are other blogs in this niche who have successfully monetized their sites
through one of these ways:
Sponsored posts
Ads
Digital Products
Affiliate Marketing
Services

Your chosen niche solves a problem for people

All businesses are formed to help solves problems or present solutions to people.
Think of your blog as a business. Are people looking for solutions in this niche?
Will you be able to solve their problems?

Talking/writing about this niche is fulfilling to you

You can add to the body of literature/content already present in this niche

You can add a different perspective or bring your story to the table. You can inject
your personality to and visible elements that will allow your blog to stand out in
this niche.

You are eager to learn more about this topic/niche

You see others willing to pay for the services/products being offered by
businesses in this niche

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 MY WINNING NICHE IS - WRITE IT DOWN HERE

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 SAMPLE TARGET AUDIENCE DESCRIPTORS
USE THESE DESCRIPTOR PROMPTS TO FILL IN THE NEXT SECTION

WHAT DESCRIBES HER

Beginner MOTIVATIONS & ASPIRATIONS
Advanced How does she define success?
Intermediate She wants to be _____ so that she
Tech enthusiast can _______
DIY Lover What makes her happy?
Fitness Buff She cares about _____
What does she do during her free
SHE/HE IS time?
Demographic What is her take or attitude regarding
Profession ______
Age
FRUSTRATIONS
SHE IS NOT She struggles with _______
Athletic She is stressed by _____
Design Savvy
Tech Savvy She's doesnt like to ___________
Fashionista
Adventure seeker WHAT WORDS DOES SHE IDENTIFY
Include Age, Demographics, WITH
profession Lady boss
Girl boss
INTERESTS Entrepreneur
They like to _______ Mom boss
They like to hang out at _____ Mompreneur
They enjoy _______ Home-maker
What do they watch on TV? WAHM
Coach

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 Infopreneur Example:

ASPIRATIONS
Wants to earn some side-income to help with the household expenses
Hopes to have her own VA business some day with a team of VAs

FRUSTRATIONS
Struggles with juggling, home, kids and her business
Wishes she could have 3 hours a day to work on her business
Thinks she isn't an expert and doubts if she can truly add value
Mom-guilt when she gives the kids more screen time than necessary to do her work

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 TARGET AUDIENCE PERSONA
USE THE DESCRIPTOR PROMPTS ON PAGES 6-7 TO FILL IN THIS
SECTION

WHAT HE/SHE IS NOT

Name:

Age:

Gender:

Marital Status:

Occupation:

#No Children:

INTERESTS ASPIRATIONS

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 WHAT WORDS DOES SHE IDENTIFY WITH WHAT MOTIVATES HIM/HER?

WHAT ARE HIS/HER FRUSTRATIONS?

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 BRAND ATTRIBUTE WORDS
USE THESE WORD PROMPTS TO FILL IN THE NEXT SECTION

Analytical Daring Humorous Smart

Artistic Dangerous Honest Spiritual

Authentic Detailed Intense Strong

Authoritative Daring Inspiring Stylish

Bold Dynamic Informal Simple

Bright Delightful Kind Sophisticated

Caring Elegant Knowledgable Silly

Candid Edgy Motivating Strong

Charming Energetic Outspoken Trustworthy

Clear Exciting Out of the box Thoughtful

Calm Fun Over-deliver Quirky

Colorful Frank Optimistic Upbeat

Cheerful Feminine Professional Unique

Chic Flirty Powerful Whimsical

Compassionat Girly Playful Warm

e
Genuine Rebellious Witty

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 I want my target audience persona to feel that Im ________ when they read my posts
and watch/listen to my content (example motivating, approachable). Pick 4 attribute
words.

Most people would describe me as _________ (example professional, confident,

knowledgeable, fun). Pick 4 attribute words.

My blog business believes in?

If I was a blogging personality, I would you be?

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 I would never want to be seen as ____________. Pick 4 attribute words.

I would never want my content to be ___________. Pick 2 attribute words.

What feelings do I want my brand to evoke?

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 BLANK SPACE

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 BRAND STYLE GUIDE
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR STYLE GUIDE, YOU WANT TO HAVE A
CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW YOUR BRAND ELEMENTS COME
TOGETHER

Image Style

Paste in the image styles for each of the following:

Main Blog Post Images for Each Category (Will you use collages, low-opacity
text overlays etc.?)
Secondary Post Images
Pinterest (What will your different types of pins look like?)
Featured blog post images

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 BLANK PAGE TO PASTE PICTURES

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 Font #1 Font #2 Font

FONT: FONT: FONT:

SIZE: SIZE: SIZE:
STYLE: STYLE: STYLE:
Blog Post Titles Regular Text Accent Text

FONT: FONT: FONT:

SIZE: SIZE: SIZE:
STYLE: STYLE: STYLE:

Color #1 Color #2 Color #3

HEX: HEX: HEX:

RGB: RGB: RGB:
CMYK: CMYK: CMYK:

Decide on a consistent tone (playful, serious, sarcastic, authoritative, etc.) for your
website, blog posts, and social media based on your word attributes. Include a list of
words and phrases, and style attributes that should and should not be used.
(Example: Emojis, LOL, LMAO, All caps for emphasis)

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 BLANK SPACE

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 DETERMINE YOUR CONTENT CATEGORIES

What do you intend to talk about in your blog? What subjects would you like to cover
and what do you know about? Thinkabout the content your target persona wants
from you? Do a brain dump.

BLANK SPACE

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 What categories fit into the purpose of your blog? Cross out any that dont fit in with
your purpose. Pick out the top 10.

Then ask yourself, if you wanted to be known for three topics, what would those be?
Add those below to your core categories.

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 ABOUT PAGE TEMPLATE
USE THIS TEMPLATE TO TYPE OUT YOUR ABOUT PAGE

Welcome and introduce yourself

State your value proposition

Plug in your statement from here:

I am a _______ (entrepreneur/writer/blogger/freelancer). This blog/website is

for________ (your target audience)

or I help _________ (parents/small business owners/women/ photographers) to
___________ (explain the benefit theyll get through your website)

Introduce their pain points/aspirations/dreams

Remember to use YOU to state paint points/aspirations/ dreams

<<Insert first transitional connector>>

Example:
If you have ever had these thoughts, then you are in the right place.
If this resonates with you, youre in the right place

<<Insert second transitional connector and immediately follow up with the next point
below>>

Example:
I know what it feels to
I know how frustrating it can be to... I used to work 70 hour weeks and....

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 Establish a connection with THE story

Tell your story. Your story should state your WHY of starting your blog or business. It
should also introduce your audience to the core message that ties your blog or
products together.

Establish credibility

What can they expect

Take a sentence or two to tell them what they can expect if they subscribe or
purchase from you.

State your Call to action

Should they sign-up for a freebie? Check out your services page?

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 BLANK SPACE

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 BLOG POST TEMPLATE
USE THIS TEMPLATE TO WRITE YOUR FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT POSTS

Introduction
Drive the pain point
Introduce the solution or idea of the post and what the post promises to do

Add a Pinterest Image

735 X 1102 ; 800 X 1200 ; Any other vertical combination
Add Affiliate disclosure
Add Content Upgrade sign-up box
Sub-head for point 1
Sub-head for point 2
Sub-head for point 3
(Add Click to tweet for each sub-point)
.
.
.
.
Conclusion

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 EMAIL LISTS
OPTIMIZE YOUR SITE AND INVEST IN TOOLS TO GROW YOUR LIST

You have opt-in forms in the following places on your site:

Footer
Exit Intent Pop-up
Top bar
Side bar
Header
Below the header
About page
Resources/tools page
Middle and below every blog post

You have done the following pre-work to optimize your site:

You have disabled pop-ups on mobile

You have decided on a tool to set-up opt-in forms. If you still havent, what other
information do you need to research on? What are your concerns. Scribble them in
here so you know what to research and find out about.
You have decided on an email service provider. If you still havent, what other
information do you need to research on? What are your concerns. Scribble them in
here so you know what to research and find out about.

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 OPT-IN FREEBIE CHECKLIST
USE THIS CHECKLIST TO CREATE YOUR FIRST OPT-IN FREEBIE

Is it easily consumable? Are they aware they have this

Your readers are already suffocating problem?
with information. They dont want a Is your lead magnet idea specific
long 30 page ebook with paragraphs of enough that they know this is
content. Or a long email course. something they need help with? Or
are you selling an idea of a problem
You dont want to give them something you think they should know about?
that they are going to chuck into their
hard drive for later. Is it unique?

Does it talk about 1 idea only? You do not need another how to build a
profitable blog email course.
Just like your blog post or landing page,
your lead magnet should have 1 idea or You dont want to create what everyone
goal as opposed to several ideas. else has created. Pick an opt-in freebie
idea that is fairly unique in the market. I
Does it lead them through a say fairly unique because its going to be
change? impossible to find something that no
one has ever done.
Every offer and content on your website
should bring your audience from A (their Can you understand the value from
current state) to B (the desired state). the name of the opt-in freebie
Likewise, your lead magnet should sell itself?
an outcome or change. E.g. 10 kg in 30
days, more freelance clients, more Name it as you would a blog post. Use
subscribers etc. Coschedule headline analyzer to analyze
your headline. Some words that have
higher impact: done for you, swipe file
and templates

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 Now that youve run your opt-in freebie ideas through this checklist, pick one to start
with.

The Opt-in Freebie you will be creating is called:

Prompt: Is it easily understandable what the opt-in freebie is from the name?

What format will you be using for your opt-in freebie?

Swipe file cheatsheet

email course slides

template video

ebook webinar

checklist spreadsheet

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 PINTEREST 101 CHECKLIST

You have set-up/converted you Pinterest personal account to a business account

You have set-up rich pins
You have validated your site
You have validated your pins
You have installed the pin-it button
You have picked a Pinterest scheduler
You have keywords in your Pinterest profile
You have set-up one board to contain all your blog content pins
You have set-up other boards to reflect your niche as well as content your target
audience will search for
You have sent your first group board requests

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 VISIBILITY CHECKLIST

You have a gravatar image. You talk about yourself in first person
on your about page.
You have written your bio
Your social media profiles are Does your about page answer this
consistent question: What problem do you solve
for your readers?
They have the same header image
What they want to know is: Whats in
You're using the same profile picture
it for me?
in all of them.
Your about page includes a photo of
You're using the same brand colors
yourself
You have a favicon
You have a link to your disclosure
You have share links within your post and privacy policy

It's clear from your site how people If youre an Amazon affiliate, youve
can contact you. clearly written the Amazon required
statement

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