Many times bloggers setup blogs without thinking about a blogging niche or really knowing what they want to talk about. Likewise, it’s not uncommon for bloggers to expand on topics as their blog begins to grow.

It’s often been said that such transitions can be detrimental to a blog’s traffic and regular visitors. But done correctly, this doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, changing a blogger’s niche or expanding on topics can actually have the opposite affect as a blogger begins to grow their reach.

However, to be successful in a transition, it has to be done correctly. And having done this myself as I’m Blogging That used to be a personal blog, let me share my experience with you to make your blog’s transition more successful.

Communicate with Readers

Before taking the new topic to your blog, create posts talking about your interest in new topics. Find out what your readers think about the topics you’re considering discussing. Share what it is that you plan on talking about and how your current readers can use the information to help expand on what it is that you’re readers are doing.

Getting input from your current readers is vital so that you can keep them around and interested. A successful transition will keep current readers as well as gain new ones so don’t leave out your readers… no matter how small or big of an audience you currently have.

Integrate Slowly

Don’t change focus in one day, an abrupt change is confusing and will lose your visitors. They need to see you in the new style just as they did in the old style before they’ll adopt the change you’re making.

If you’re blogging 5 days a week, start with just 2 of the 5 posts on the new subject. Over time you can increase that so that you’re blogging about the new topic full time.

Listen

As you begin to integrate the new subject or niche, pay attention to what your readers are telling you. And take social networking to a different level to make it known that you’re expanding your subject or changing niche.

You’ll want to attract attention for what you’re doing and get in some fresh faces to give you feedback on your new subject.

Listen to what your current and new readers are telling you – if you’re blogging for their benefit, make sure they’re actually getting something from it.

Define and Refine

You may need to reorganize categories so that people can see your new focus. Define new categories and tags for your new niche or topic. Create a small image or some kind of “signaling flag” to draw attention to the best post you have on your new subject.

Ensure that the new direction is matching your style; define how you approach topics by being the best writer you can be on the subject. Refine your style to match what it is you want to talk about.

Be the Same

Don’t change your personality or writing style. You want to be the same person that you always were. Something about what you did before got visitors to you, don’t change what makes you unique – doing so could cause you to lose visitors.

Don’t Give Up

Visitors will come and go, it’s the nature of the beast not the nature of your new niche or subject. Don’t be discouraged, if you have a passion for what you’re talking about and do the right networking, you’ll get to where you want to be.

Be prepared that changing direction and sometimes feel as though you’re starting a new blog so understand what that’ll mean for you, how you should build up a post arsenal, and what you need to do to stay on top of your new game.

Questions for You

Have you ever transitioned a blog’s focus or read a blog that changed focus? What tips and suggestions can you provide for being successful at changing a blog niche?