Changing My Niche And Branding

byRobbyofstone

365 followers

1 day ago

How I Successfully Shifted the Direction of My Two Websites: An Inspirational Journey

When I first started building my websites five months ago, I was filled with excitement but admittedly had little knowledge about branding, niche selection, or even what direction my sites should take. Never mind how to build them. Like many newcomers, I stumbled through the early stages, learning as I went. Today, I’m proud to share that I’ve successfully refined the focus of both my websites into viable, promising brands and niches—and it was easier than I thought! I’m writing this to inspire those of you who may be feeling overwhelmed or unsure about your next steps.

The Starting Point

Back in June, I dove into the Wealthy Affiliate platform with a passion for crafting and a background in mold-making. My first website started out with a focus on architectural cast stone, while my second site aimed to capture a broader crafting audience. After over 30 years in the wet cast stone industry, I certainly had the passion and knowledge for this niche. However, I quickly realized that my initial direction wasn’t gaining the traction I’d hoped for, and my content felt too scattered to connect with an ideal audience with a view to earning from affiliate marketing.

At first, this felt daunting. How do you pivot an existing website without starting over? Is it even possible to redefine your niche after you’ve already put in so much work? Over 120 posts and pages, take time. It felt like a road block.

The answer is: Yes, you absolutely can.

I did some research and changed the branding and taglines on my sites, but I still could not figure out how to make the powerful hub writing tools inside Wealthy Affiliate reflect those changes. Having all those AI word allowances is great, but if you're hitting a brick wall in the content ideas suggestions, niche research, writing tasks and trying to stay on point with revenue opportunities, I had to figure out how that could be done.

Well, the last few months as been a busy time for the top men inside WA, Black Friday and new major rollouts are just two of them. But finally, I managed to track down Kyle (because I wasn’t contacting him the right way to begin with), and in one short and sweet email, he showed and told me how to do it.

The Decision to Pivot

Recently, I’ve noticed a growing trend in DIY crafting niches, particularly in resin and silicone mold-making. Thanks to tools like WA’s niche rating system and insights from Google Console, I realized there was a tremendous opportunity to align my expertise with what people are actively searching for. It was time to refine my focus and bring clarity to my branding.

For my first website, caststonehq.com, I embraced a broader crafting focus while tying it back to molds. The new branding, "Craft It All: Molds & DIY Crafting Simplified," reflects this evolution. For my second website, caststonepro.com, I decided to niche down and focus on "Crafting Silicone Molds," a highly promising direction with both high demand and income potential.

Why the Pivot Was Easy

What surprised me most was how easy it was to make these changes without having to scrap everything I’d already built. Here’s how I did it:

1. Analyzed the Data: Using the Wealthy Affiliate tools, Google Console, and niche research, I identified areas where my sites could better align with audience interests. Resin crafting and silicone molds consistently appeared as trending topics with high search numbers.
2. Rebranded Strategically: Instead of reinventing the wheel, I made simple but impactful changes. I updated the titles, taglines, and focus of each site to reflect the new direction. For example, "Cast Stone HQ" became "Craft It All," a name that accommodates a broader crafting focus while still allowing me to feature mold-making expertise.
3. Retained and Repurposed Content: I didn’t need to delete existing posts. Instead, I have already revised and reorganized some of them to fit the new niches. Posts about mold-making remained highly relevant and could now appeal to a larger DIY audience or a more niche-focused crafting community.
4. Set New Goals: With clear niches in place, I outlined specific tasks to enhance my sites. This included creating new descriptive header photos and refining CTAs to match my audience’s interests.

Lessons for New Members

If you’re a new member feeling uncertain about your website’s direction, here are some key takeaways from my experience:

1. Start Broad, Then Narrow Down: Don’t worry if your initial niche feels too broad or undefined. The journey of refining your focus often comes after you’ve explored and learned more about your audience.
2. Use the Tools Available: Wealthy Affiliate’s niche tools, keyword research, and support community were invaluable in helping me identify a viable direction. Leverage these resources to gain clarity.
3. You Can Pivot Anytime: It’s never too late to refine your niche. Don’t be afraid to rebrand or adjust your focus if you see a better opportunity—your work is never wasted.
4. Stay Open to Trends: Keep an eye on market trends and search data. They’re often the key to unlocking your site’s potential.
5. Lean on the Community: One of the best things about Wealthy Affiliate is the supportive community. Whether it’s advice from fellow members or guidance from the platform’s owners, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

The Results

In just a short time, I’ve seen renewed focus and energy for both of my websites. With clear branding and a strong niche, I’m now poised to create far easier, engaging content that works with my target audience. Have far more opportunities for revenues from more commonly used products and I can use my years of knowledge gained with just the minimum re-application.

Plus, the process of refining my sites has been an incredible confidence booster—proof that you can pivot and succeed, even if you’re just starting out. I have to admit, I have spent many weeks spinning my wheels with this whole challenge of change, but 5 months ago I wouldn’t have understood even why this might be a pivotal task.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure, remember: that every step forward is progress, and it’s never too late to re-align your work with your vision. There are lots of us here to help, so don’t worry. You’ve got this!