i would not worry about someone copying your content they will be punished by google and waste their time. On the other hand competition is good!

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

You got to remember the deal about marketing: competition is a good thing. Having something too obscure and "unique" doesn't always work out in some cases because it may not have a huge audience. Of course you could always create the audience and market (much like an artist and band has to do for them selves), but that's a very long term thing and wouldn't get to your 2015 goal. Having a similar niche as some one else means that there are people searching for said products or information. The trick is to not be different but "better" and find your unique voice and style in presenting the information. You're not crazy or paranoid. I was held back for a year with this thinking. It's the mark of a creative thinking person as we think things of value can only be unique. And that's silly because there's 7 billion people in the world, so most if not all ideas have been thought of by at least one other person

LOL ok your are crazy!! Its ok its the new normal lol....don't worry about anyone stealing your stuff no one can do it like you so you really don't have to worry and your right you are missing out on some good advice from the more experienced players here and there are lots! Just keep doing what you do best!

Don't think too much about your competitors and don't worry about someone's stealing your content. Just do what you have to do and success will come if you are persistent and work hard. Most important thing is not allow someone to steal you from WA :)

You are crazy and paranoid and should start sharing!! Just teasing...you are not crazy at all...(maybe a little paranoid lol) but I used to feel the exact same way. But just like Rick and Barry mentioned below, getting the help you need to make your website successful is far more important than keeping your niche a secret from people who are too lazy to follow through anyway. And even if they did, no one can copy things that are unique to you such as your creativity and personality. So don't worry about other people...JUST DO YOU!!

Thank you both for your advice, I think I just needed some reassurance! :-)

Hi. You can share at the link below if you have't seen this already and get some great feedback on your site. It will help you and, while others may be interested in your site, the layout and content will be unique to you, as will your keywords. Another thing you can do, if you have some members you have already worked with, is to PM them the link and ask them to review your site. I think getting reviews from WA members will help you more than harm you. You're not crazy btw, just cautious, which is a good thing when working online :) https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/getting-started/please-give-me-feedback-on-my-website

Its OK to share your niche, remember ideas are not worth money only action makes business become reality

If someone copied your ideas they would have to make it come alive first, they would have to do all the work to get a site up and running
I have seen a few people worried about this, I have 4 sites and I list them on my profile I share them with everybody
If someone wants to copy the idea I don't care, but no body does anyway, there is a lot of competition out there, so one more site in my niche is not going to hurt
The internet is open, I can copy any site I want, so what's to stop someone copying your site when its listed on Google, well the thing that stops people, is all the work that's involved after the idea
Business is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration

Barry