If you’re looking for a niche to focus your blogging and online business efforts on, the author niche may work well for you.
There are plenty of reasons to consider this niche, from the potential to reach a large audience to the many opportunities for monetization.
So if you’re ready to start writing and sharing your knowledge with the world, read on for some more information on why author blogging is a quality niche.
Contents
- What Is the Author Niche?
- Types of Sites Within the Author Niche
- Is the Author Niche Profitable?
- Is the Author Niche Good for Marketers?
- High-Performing Products & Services in the Author Niche
- Author Niche Ideas
- Examples of Successful Author Niche Websites
- What To Avoid in the Author Niche
- Similar Niches Worth Checking Out
- Wrapping Up
What Is the Author Niche?
The author niche is a broad category that covers any website or blog focused on writing, authors, or books.
It includes everything from websites about the writing process to blogs devoted to reading and reviewing books.
There are many author niche sites.
Types of Sites Within the Author Niche
The author niche is one of the best niches for bloggers.
The field is large.
There are many different kinds of writing site examples and niches to choose from.
1. Writing Process Sites
One popular type of author niche site is the writing process site.
These websites focus on giving writers tips and advice on everything from developing ideas to editing their work.
There are various ways to monetize a writing process site.
For example, you could sell eBooks or courses on the topics you cover or run ads from companies that sell writing products.
2. Book Review Sites
Another common type of author niche site is the book review site.
They typically focus on a specific genre or category.
Many book review sites also include author interviews and other content related to books.
You could monetize a book review website by running book retailer ads or by setting up affiliate relationships with those companies.
3. Author Blogs
The author blog is a popular type of author niche site.
Authors themselves run these sites and focus on sharing their thoughts and experiences with the world.
Many author blogs also include book reviews and other author-related content.
You might monetize an author blog by selling advertising space or selling your books.
Is the Author Niche Profitable?
Consider the author niche as you work to choose a profitable niche.
If you build a large enough audience, you could make money from advertising, affiliate marketing, or selling products that you create.
Using this niche also leaves room for you to expand into other related topics.
For example, you might start by teaching novice writers about the writing process.
From there, you might expand into offering editing services or publishing advice.
How Much Does the Author Niche Pay?
How much money bloggers make in the author niche varies.
If you can build a large enough audience, you could make a full-time income from your author niche site.
But it’s important to remember that this will take time and effort.
Many author niche bloggers start out making very little money.
As their audience grows, so does their income potential.
To show you what’s possible, let’s review two examples of potential income using real people in this niche.
The Write Practice started in 2011.
Although it doesn’t produce income reports, Ahrefs shows that the website gets more than 200,000 monthly visits.
A website with this type of traffic typically earns more than $10,000 per month from courses, ads, and other product offerings.
Jeff Goins is an example of a writer who turned his blog into a six-figure business.
While not verified, many people in the author industry estimate that Goins benefits from a net worth of over $1 million.
He earns his six-figure income via book sales, courses, and speaking gigs.
Is the Author Niche Good for Marketers?
The author niche is a quality option for marketers.
Not only is there potential to make a lot of money, but the topic is exciting and engaging.
So if you’re looking for a profitable niche with which you can have fun, the author niche might turn into the best fit.
When choosing a niche, it’s essential to consider the competition.
It’s tough to break into a market with too many well-established sites.
However, there is room for new players in the author niche.
Is the Author Niche Good for Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a popular way to make money in the author niche.
If you can find products at book affiliate programs that fit well with your audience, you could earn a commission on each sale.
For example, an author blog might recommend books, writing courses, or editing services.
Offer those products on your site and benefit via a commission on each sale generated.
Is the Author Niche Good for Dropshipping?
The author niche is also good for dropshipping.
You might find products related to books, writing, or publishing that you can sell on your site.
For example, you could sell author merchandise like mugs, t-shirts, or pens.
Or, you might sell book-related items like bookends, lamps, or art.
High-Performing Products & Services in the Author Niche
Take time to decide on niche products that will make the most sense to include in your author’s blog or on your site.
Below, we’ve detailed a few ideas that will help you select the best niche products to sell.
Products That Perform Well in the Author Niche
Not sure what to sell on your author website?
Here are five popular types of products that authors can use when monetizing a blog.
- Online Courses: Use online courses to share your knowledge with the world while earning an income. If you have expertise in the author niche, create a course and sell it on your blog. Courses can sell from $50 up to $1,000 or more.
- Merchandise: Consider selling merchandise as a way to earn an income from your author blog. You can sell t-shirts, mugs, and other author-themed merchandise on your website.
- Ebooks: A popular product offered by authors includes eBooks. If you have expertise in the author niche, consider writing an eBook and selling it on your blog.
- Books: Don’t forget about selling any books that you write. After finishing your next book, sell it on your website. Or, you could recommend other authors’ books to your audience.
- Ads: Ads are a popular way to monetize author blogs. You can sell ad space on your website and earn money each time someone clicks on an ad. Google AdSense is a popular option for author websites.
Notable Brands in the Author Niche
You might want to start monetizing by targeting well-known brands.
Your website visitors might not know you.
However, they will recognize famous brands and feel more comfortable ordering from your site.
Here are five brands to consider monetizing on your website.
- Amazon: Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer. You can join their affiliate program and earn commissions on book sales.
- Apple: Apple sells author-related products like the iPad, which is perfect for reading eBooks. You could join their affiliate program and earn a commission on each sale.
- Barnes & Noble: With Barnes & Noble, you can promote author-related products like books and eBooks. Using their affiliate program, you can make money without creating products.
- Scribd: Scribd is an online library of books and documents. People like to order author-related products from them because of the convenience. It offers over 60 million published documents through its service.
- Smashwords: Smashwords is an author-centric eBook retailer and distributor. You can upload your book to the platform and earn book sales by getting your work in front of the Smashwords audience.
Services That Perform Well in the Author Niche
Services work well in the author niche.
As an author, you possess skills that others will want to learn about.
Here are five services you can consider offering on your author blog.
- Writing Services: Offer your writing services to website owners. You can help website owners in various niches improve their content.
- Editing Services: Editing is another popular service in the author niche. Use your editing skills to help website owners improve their content before it goes live.
- Research Services: Many website owners need research done for their articles and blog posts. If you’re good at research, offer your services on your website.
- Coaching Services: You can help other writers by offering coaching services. For example, you might coach them on how to start a blog or how to get published.
- SEO Services: Most authors fail to understand search engine optimization. As you develop your blog and learn SEO, you can teach these skills to other authors. In this area, you can teach the skills to others or turn them into a done-for-you service.
Popular Affiliate Programs in the Author Niche
If you’re not sure what to sell on your author website, there are several affiliate programs available.
You can sell products and services through these websites as an affiliate marketer.
- Amazon Affiliate Program: Amazon offers plenty of opportunities to make money in the author niche. You might decide to sell books and eBooks.
- Canva Affiliate Program: Canva is a design tool used by authors to create book covers, social media graphics, and more. As an affiliate, you can earn a 30% commission on every paying customer you refer.
- Teachable Affiliate Program: Teachable is an online course platform. You could create a course or coaching program that helps other authors see the benefit of building their coaching businesses. Make money as a Teachable affiliate by getting your students to use the platform to “house” their courses.
- Audible Affiliate Program: Audible is an audiobook retailer owned by Amazon. As an affiliate, you can earn up to $15 per sale.
- Target Affiliate Program: Target is a retailer of author-related products like books, eBooks, and more. You could promote their products on your website and earn a commission on each sale.
Author Niche Ideas
Many possibilities exist in the author niche, as you now understand.
To get started on your blog-building journey, you need to figure out what type of site interests you the most.
Here are four author niche ideas to think about before making your final decision.
1. Review Site
On a review site, you can write author-related product reviews and get paid for your effort.
You can also use affiliate marketing to make money through your review site.
For example, you might review products like books, eBooks, software, and more.
Other blog posts could involve comparing one software program against another.
2. Interview Site
As an author, you have the opportunity to interview other authors in your niche.
These interviews can take place over the phone, through Zoom, or even in person.
Many author interview sites conduct author roundtables where they interview multiple authors about a specific topic.
Your blog can also spin off into a profitable YouTube channel if you decide to publish the videos of these interviews.
3. Course Site
If you’re an author who’s been around the block a few times, you can create a course to help other authors.
For example, you might create a course on how to get published or how to start a blog.
You can also create a coaching program that helps other authors with their writing businesses.
4. Writing Process Site
If you want to share your writing process with the world, you can do so through your site.
On this type of author website, you can write about your day-to-day writing routine.
You might also discuss your thought processes and how you come up with ideas for your books and articles.
Many novice writers feel intimidated by the writing process and search for guidelines from authors.
You can offer these writers advice on the writing and publishing process.
Examples of Successful Author Niche Websites
Below, you’ll find five author niche website examples that should inspire you about how to form your website ideas.
1. Chris Ducker
Chris Ducker is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur.
His author’s website features a blog, events, media, free resources, and more.
He earns revenue by selling products, coaching, and consulting services.
He gets paid to speak to groups. He also sells books he’s written.
2. Writing Revolt
Writing Revolt is a blog run by freelance writer Jorden Makelle.
The site features posts on writing, freelancing, and author tips.
Jorden also offers to coach and provides consulting services to her readers.
She earns revenue through affiliate marketing, products, courses, and services.
3. Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus
Michael Hyatt is the author of many books, including Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World.
On his author website, he offers a blog, podcast, media, products, and more.
He makes money selling coaching services and doing speaking gigs.
Michael also makes money through affiliate marketing, product sales, and consulting.
4. The Write Life
The Write Life is a website dedicated to helping writers make a living from their craft.
They have articles, courses, books, resources, and more.
The site also features a job board where writers can find work.
They make money from affiliate marketing, product sales, and services.
5. Cliff Ravenscraft
Cliff Ravenscraft is an author and podcaster.
Cliff is an example of someone using podcasting to the fullest advantage.
His show, Podcast Answer Man, helps people with their podcasts.
He also sells a course on how to start a podcast.
Cliff makes money from product sales, coaching, consulting, speaking gigs, and affiliate marketing.
What To Avoid in the Author Niche
If you want to find success through author blogging, you need to avoid making certain mistakes.
Take the time to learn what not to do before you begin.
It may make a significant difference in whether you achieve long-term success.
1. Not Choosing the Best Niche
Choosing the right blogging niche is critical to your success.
Don’t limit yourself to marketing only to writers who want to become authors.
You can also focus on people who have already published their writing or those who want help with freelancing.
Select a niche that is large enough to give you ample opportunity to succeed but small enough that you can dominate the market.
2. Not Selecting the Best Keywords
Just because you’re writing for authors doesn’t mean that you should use author-related keywords exclusively.
You need to think about what potential readers will search for and then use those keywords throughout your site.
Do keyword research for your niche before making any final decisions.
Make sure you see enough demand and monetization potential before committing to your niche and domain name.
3. Not Creating the Best Content
You must create high-quality content for your author’s niche website.
Focus on offering value to the reader.
Don’t try to shortcut the process by creating low-quality content or by plagiarizing other people’s work.
If you want to succeed in this niche, you need to put in the time and effort required to create exceptional content.
4. Not Using SEO Correctly
If you’re not using SEO, you’re missing out on a lot of potential traffic.
Make sure you’re using the right keywords.
Too many people in this niche make errors with optimizing for search engines, including website mistakes like bad titles and description tags.
Learn everything you can about on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO.
Similar Niches Worth Checking Out
If you feel stumped about which author category to pursue, keep reading for three more alternatives.
- Writing Niche: In the writing niche, you can offer tips and advice to help people improve their writing skills. You can also provide information on how to get published, how to market your work, and how to make a living as a writer.
- Copywriting Niche: The copywriting niche is perfect for those who want to help businesses improve their sales and marketing materials. You can offer tips on writing copy that sells, how to create effective landing pages, and how to write email marketing campaigns.
- Coaching Niche: The coaching niche works well if you want to help other people achieve their goals. You can offer advice on time management, goal setting, and productivity. You can also help people with their careers, business, or personal relationships.
Wrapping Up
The author niche is a quality place to exist as a writer with a few online marketing skills in your back pocket.
Earning potential is high if you focus on products and services that attract people willing to spend money.
Examples include courses, coaching, and services.
Are you ready to build a niche website around your author skills?
Start your blog today and enjoy your journey.