I’ve heard it said that “the proof is in the pudding.” I wasn’t quite sure what that meant, so I looked it up and learned that the complete quote is actually “the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” meaning that results are what counts.

Another concept I didn’t quite grasp before is one that comes up a lot when you read about marketing a business, that of defining your niche. I understood the general idea, but had trouble understanding the difference between niche, target market, and ideal client. I know what type of projects I enjoy most and what type of clients I prefer to work with, but like many others, I’ve worried that being too specialized would cause me to miss out on opportunities. On the other hand, I haven’t worried too much about it, since I always have enough work to keep busy and generate a regular income.

I began this blog in 2006 with no particular goal other than to see what the fuss was all about, but since then I’ve experienced firsthand the powerful benefits that can be gained by blogging. In addition, I’ve discovered that it’s something I thoroughly enjoy, and I’ve received positive feedback from enough people that I know I have a knack for it. Earlier this year, I decided to learn what I could do to make my blog even better and to increase my ROI. Since everything I read recommended focusing on a particular niche, I set about identifying my niche and, not wanting to make drastic changes to this blog, launched Your Organizing Business in April.

It’s only been three months, but I have been astounded at the results. My Google Page Rank is already at 3 and the number of readers is steadily increasing. In fact, I had to upgrade my hosting package because by the 10^th of July I had already exceeded my allowable bandwidth for the month, something that’s never happened in the seven years I’ve had a website. Even more significant is the increases I’m experiencing in my passive income through Google AdSense and various affiliate programs, as well as inquiries from new clients in my target market. Or is it my niche? I’m still confused about the terminology… In any case, I can clearly see that I’m doing something right, and I look forward to continuing in that direction.

If you’ve been afraid that choosing a niche might force you to limit yourself, I highly recommend testing the waters by creating a niche blog. You can take comfort in knowing that your current website is still actively working for you while your new blog helps you assess the viability of your chosen niche.

After all, wouldn’t you like to enjoy a delicious bowl of pudding?

Photo credit: shrk