Last Updated on July 2, 2025 by Jan Barley
Choosing the right blog niche is one of the most critical steps in your blogging journey, but not all niches are created equal. The worst niches for blogging might surprise you. Some topics are notoriously difficult to succeed in because they are either oversaturated, have low earning potential, or struggle to attract engaged audiences.
Understanding which blog niches to avoid can save you time, effort, and disappointment.
The worst niches for blogging often include areas such as ‘make money online,’ beauty and fashion, or alcohol-related content, primarily due to fierce competition and limited advertising opportunities. These niches may seem tempting because they appear popular, but breaking through the noise and generating a profit is a significant challenge.
My numpty effort at a food blog lasted about two weeks. I had watched a YouTube video from someone I trusted, showing how to make money from blogging recipes and food articles.
My progress got as far as posting half a dozen recipes and then quit. I wasted a chunk of my life in one of the worst niches for blogging.
If you want your blog to grow and earn, it’s essential to be strategic in your niche selection. Avoiding tough blog niches where others struggle can give you a better chance of standing out and building a loyal readership. Learn more about which topics are known for being hard to crack and why in this article.
What Makes a Bad Niche for Blogging
Choosing a bad niche can block your blog’s success before you start. Factors such as the niche’s competitiveness (there are gazillions of recipe sites if I’d half a mind to research!), your earning potential, and your ability to build trust all impact your growth.
High Competition and Oversaturation
When you pick a niche flooded with blogs, it’s tough to stand out. High competition means top keywords are often already claimed by established sites, making your content less visible. Oversaturated niches lower your chances of ranking well in search engines, no matter how much effort you put in.
I have a bit of a head start, as I have been working as an SEO writer since 2020. I can get my content ranked on page one, and already 55% of my traffic comes from the new AI search.
To avoid making the same mistake as I did with the recipe blog, do thorough keyword research. Look for topics with steady interest but fewer competitors. That gives you a better chance of attracting visitors and growing your audience without getting lost in the noise and finding yourself in one of the worst niches for blogging.
Limited Monetisation Opportunities
Even if you write excellent content, some niches offer minimal opportunities for earning money. Low monetisation potential shows in fewer available affiliate products, little demand for ads, or services that don’t pay well.
If your niche has limited options to earn via ads, affiliate sales, or sponsorships, your blog won’t generate much revenue.
You should prioritise niches where you can promote affiliate products easily or where ad revenue is substantial. Otherwise, you might struggle to turn your blog into a profitable venture, despite the time you invest. That said, there are plenty of opportunities for diversity by selling courses, digital products and services.
Lack of Authority or Expertise
It takes time to build authority and be seen as trustworthy and knowledgeable in your niche. Lack of authority also makes it harder to get ranked, build a loyal audience or secure affiliate partnerships.
Choose a niche where you have experience or genuine passion. That enables you to create authentic content that stands out and builds trust with your readers. Not only that, because of the time lag for blogging success, it’s easy to lose motivation if you don’t have passion for your subject.
Blogs that fail to establish authority – Google still uses the E-E-A-T model – often result in low engagement and poor search visibility. The worst niches for blogging just don’t rank unless you have authority.
Notorious Worst Niches for Blogging
Some blogging niches are crowded and tough to stand out in, while others have low earnings potential. Choosing one of the worst niches for blogging means you’ll face intense competition or struggle to monetise effectively. The following are specific examples that often cause frustration for bloggers.
Food and Recipes
Food blogging is saturated, with thousands of creators sharing recipes daily. To succeed, you’d need a unique angle or top-notch photography to grab attention. Generic recipe blogs struggle to rank in search engines due to a market saturated with similar content.
Thousands jumped on the bandwagon of making ‘easy money’ by generating recipes with ChatGPT, but they flopped because, well, Chatty isn’t a chef! Having tested every recipe my mate Chatty spat out at me, I can report 95% of them flopped – literally in some cases. Wraps made with coconut flour resembled something the dog chucked up.
Monetising can also be tricky unless you have a substantial, engaged audience. Many food blogs rely heavily on sponsored posts or affiliate marketing for kitchen products, which demands consistent high traffic. Plus, copyright issues with recipe duplication sometimes arise.
If you’re considering this niche, focus on a unique angle or dietary style to avoid being lost in the masses.
Lifestyle and Beauty
Why is lifestyle and beauty one of the worst niches for blogging? It’s another highly competitive space where standing out is challenging. This niche covers everything from daily routines to fashion tips and skincare reviews. Since many beautifully air-brushed (or AI?) influencers dominate this area, new bloggers struggle to build a distinct voice.
Monetisation depends mostly on brand partnerships and sponsored content, which require a large following. Additionally, there’s the risk of fluctuating trends and rapidly changing audience interests, which means your content must constantly evolve. It’s exhausting.
If you choose lifestyle or beauty, consider a narrower focus, such as sustainable fashion or cruelty-free beauty, to improve your chances.
Book Reviews
Book review blogs often attract a niche audience but rarely generate substantial income. You won’t get high advertising revenue because visitors spend less time clicking away or buying through your links. Additionally, the RPM is low, so you will earn a pittance.
The competition includes large book clubs, Goodreads, and established reviewers with more authority. Additionally, authors and publishers often provide free review copies to many bloggers, making it challenging to obtain exclusive content.
Risks of Blogging in YMYL and Controversial Niches
Blogging in particular niches carries specific risks that affect how your content performs and how you manage your reputation. These are the worst niches for blogging because they require strict accuracy, expertise, and sensitivity to avoid penalties or backlash.
Health and Wellness Topics
When you blog about health and wellness, you are dealing with information that can directly impact readers’ physical and mental well-being. YMYL (your money or your life) topics in health require high-quality, accurate advice, as misinformation can cause harm and erode trust in the industry.
Google’s algorithm updates frequently prioritise content from verified experts or authoritative sources in the health and medical areas.
If you lack recognised credentials or sources, your blog may struggle to rank and risk legal issues if you provide misleading health advice. Staying updated with medical research and citing reliable references is essential. Your tone should always be cautious and avoid promising cures or guarantees.
Personal Finance and Investing
Personal finance and investing are classic YMYL niches where readers expect trustworthy, well-informed advice from a financial expert. Your content influences people’s financial well-being and decisions about money management, saving, and investing. Without expertise or proven credibility, your blog may struggle to gain Google’s trust.
Competition is intense, as established financial websites dominate rankings. Inaccurate or outdated advice can damage your reputation and lead to legal problems related to financial regulation.
Adult and Sensitive Content
Adult content blogs often involve topics that are subject to strict rules and heightened scrutiny from search engines and hosting platforms. You must be cautious about the type of material you share, as it may be subject to content restrictions and potential censorship. Monetisation can also be limited compared to other niches.
Controversial Subjects
Controversial topics tend to provoke strong opinions and debate. While they can attract attention, they carry risks such as backlash, polarised audiences, or conflicts with platform policies.
Writing about politics, religion, or social issues means you must be especially careful to check facts and present balanced views. Google may penalise misleading or harmful content under algorithm updates targeted at maintaining quality.
Avoiding Poor-Performing Blog Niches
Choosing the right blogging niche means avoiding common mistakes that can limit your success. Focusing too broadly or selecting a niche without genuine interest often leads to poor results. Narrowing your topic and aligning it with your passion can help you create content that endures and attracts a dedicated audience.
Potential Pitfalls When Choosing a Niche
Many new bloggers fall into niches with high competition or limited income potential. For example, broad topics like “make money online” or general “technology” often face saturated markets. That makes it harder for your blog to stand out or earn good affiliate commissions.
Another issue is selecting niches that seem popular but have low monetisation options. These often offer lower RPM (revenue per thousand impressions) from ads.
Niche Down for Less Competition
Focusing your blog on a specific subtopic within a broad niche helps you avoid overcrowded markets and reach an engaged audience. For example, instead of blogging about “technology,” niche down to “affordable web hosting for small businesses.”
Niche selection through subcategories gives you the advantage of being one of the few covering that exact topic. It often translates into easier ranking on search engines and better chances of attracting quality traffic.
By narrowing your topic, you also attract advertisers and affiliate programs that seek targeted audiences, thereby improving your chances of making money online.
Ensuring Passion and Longevity
Blogging demands consistent effort, so a lack of passion for your niche can lead you to quit early. Choose topics aligned with hobbies or interests you enjoy. It makes writing easier and helps maintain your motivation, even when results take time to appear.
It was over a year before I began seeing results and got monetised with Journey by Mediavine for ad revenue.
Passion enables you to create unique content that resonates with readers, which is crucial for building loyalty and a sustainable blog. If you choose a niche purely for financial gain, without genuine interest, you risk burning out quickly. Been there. Done that!
When selecting your niche, ask yourself: Will I enjoy researching and sharing information about this topic for years to come? The answer can guide you towards a niche with better long-term rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right blog niche affects how easily you can grow your audience and earn money. Some topics face tough competition, while others struggle to engage readers or generate revenue.
Which Blog Niches Are Considered Oversaturated?
Niche topics like “Make Money Online” are as overdone as a steak left on a BBQ overnight. Unless you are the financial equivalent of Harry Potter, it’s harder to stand out and rank well on search engines. Lifestyle and parenting blogs tend to be easier to enter but still face stiff competition.
What Types Of Blogs Typically Have The Lowest Engagement Rates?
Blogs that focus on highly technical or controversial subjects often experience lower engagement. For example, alcohol-related blogs may experience low reader interaction because major ad networks restrict certain content, which also affects audience growth.
Which Blogging Topics Are Known To Have Minimal Monetisation Potential?
Some niches, such as specific hobby blogs or niche topics with limited audience appeal, struggle to convert visitors into income. Blogs about unusual or niche subjects often struggle to attract consistent advertisers or affiliate sales.
Are There Certain Blog Niches That Tend To Be More Challenging For SEO Ranking?
Yes, competitive niches such as finance, health, and making money online have challenging SEO landscapes. It’s challenging to rank well without strong authority and high-quality backlinks, which makes it more difficult for new bloggers to gain organic traffic quickly.
What Are Common Pitfalls When Choosing A Niche Deemed Unpopular?
Choosing a niche simply because it has less competition might backfire if there is little search interest or audience demand. You risk writing content that few people want to read, which limits your growth and earning potential over time.
Which Blogging Niches Often Result In High Bounce Rates And Low Reader Retention?
Blogs that cover broad or vague topics without a clear focus can quickly lose readers. Additionally, niches with saturated content or those lacking fresh perspectives tend to experience high visitor turnover, which can damage long-term engagement and page views.
