They say when you start writing online, you’ve got to pick your poison right away. You might think I mean to say “niche,” but in this case “poison” is the most apt synonym. Anyway, you can’t just slap together a few words on a topic. No, you must become the self-appointed expert on a subject that you’re supposedly both passionate about and capable of discussing without wanting to gouge your eyes out. Then, of course, you name your blog something clever, like “The Daily Grind” or “Wit’s End,” and hope it sticks in the minds of your target audience.
This is where the sages of the internet like to warn you: Once you’ve chosen your path, there’s no turning back. Change your mind and you’re doomed to wander the digital wasteland. You’ll be starting from scratch, as if your previous efforts never existed. But, who in blazes wrote that rule, and why are we listening to them?
Sure, there’s a grain of truth in the idea that if you want to make a 180-degree turn, you might have to, I don’t know, start a new blog. Indeed, you may have to abandon the old one like a forgotten MySpace page. Better yet, you might be able pawn it off on someone still clinging to the hope that it’ll be worth something. Yeah, I tried and failed at this, but why not try? But, is starting over really necessary? Is it as tragic as the “experts” make it sound?
Just as in any facet of life, you don’t have to stick to one thing forever. It’s perfectly fine to diversify, and in fact, it’s essential if you want to avoid driving yourself insane. Don’t chain yourself to a niche that’s slowly sucking the life out of you — always have a backup plan! It’s good to have a fallback option for those days when your primary subject makes you want to scream.
Believe it or not, you can pivot completely, if you want. Plus, you don’t even always have to rebrand. Heck, you can keep the same blog name and just start writing about whatever else tickles your fancy. Maybe you’ll give your site a facelift, but the idea that you need to torch everything you’ve built just because you’re tired of it is pure myth.
So, in 2020, I did the unthinkable. I punted my various blogs and created a personal brand, the Phoenix Desertsong. For all the issues that can come with a personal brand, in my case, it’s served as the ultimate safety net for when I inevitably tire of my current shtick. I did eventually start a second site, Obscure Curiosities, where I can put the stuff that doesn’t really fit my brand. That way I can swap niches at will, or even start talking about something completely different, and it won’t matter.
But, no matter what you do with your online presence, the world doesn’t end. You might lose a few followers, but the right ones who care about what you have to say stick around. The truth is, you can absolutely change your niche and live to tell the tale. Sometimes, you must start over, but only if you’re going off the deep end with a new direction. Otherwise, people are surprisingly adaptable, as long as you’re not a total bore.
So, if your blog is more like a ball and chain than a creative outlet, don’t panic. Change it up and shift gears. Build around a core that can handle a few upgrades and remodels over time. After all, life and writing are all about evolution. Why should your online presence be any different?
~ Amelia Desertsong
