Finding Your Blogging Niche: Taking Inspiration from Eyewear Giant Oakley
In the fast-evolving landscape of the blogosphere, finding a niche that resonates with your audience is crucial for standing out. Fortunately, inspiration can be found anywhere — including in the history of big brands.
Take a look at eyewear brand Oakley, for example. The company recently extended its partnership with the NFL until 2030. By collaborating with another big player that appeals to the same audience, Oakley was able to solidify its niche as the primary supplier of sports eyewear. These types of collaborations are similarly important for bloggers who can use them to grow their networks. Instead of viewing all outside parties as competition, bloggers can maximize their reach and specialty to further the reach of all players involved.
Does this sound intriguing? Below, we take a deeper look at Oakley’s history and similar insights that bloggers can glean from the brand for navigating their own blogging paths.
Telling your personal story
In 2022, Oakley collaborated with professional surfer Ethan Ewing and unveiled the ‘Be Who You Are’ campaign. Here, Ewing sports Oakley’s Hydra sunglasses as he tells his story, from his humble upbringing in Queensland to his ascension to the WSL Championship Tour.
Taking a cue from Oakley’s campaign, bloggers can emphasize the power of personal storytelling. By sharing authentic stories, you can create a relatable and engaging narrative that sets your work apart. This also helps build loyal readers who feel connected personally to your blog and your unique perspective.
Offering a unique product
In the world of eyewear, lens technology like Prizm and models like the Razor Blades-inspired semi-rimless sunglasses with shield lenses showcase innovation and style. Simultaneously, eyewear models like Hydra or Sutro within Oakley’s range of sunglasses specially target the surfing and cycling community. This strategy of offering unique yet quality products allows Oakley to stand out amidst a competitive market.
Just as Oakley distinguishes itself in the eyewear market, bloggers can set themselves apart by offering valuable content that resonates with their audience. This can mean having a focus on specific topics like sustainability and clothing instead of fashion in general or accessibility and gaming instead of video games as a whole.
Developing your skills
Oakley’s evolution from selling motorcycle grips to becoming synonymous with sports sunglasses underscores the importance of persistence, adaptability, and the willingness to evolve in the pursuit of a distinctive niche. The company’s success in finding a specific niche that eventually expanded into everyday fashion can easily be paralleled in the blogging world.
Bloggers can similarly focus on honing their writing, photography, or content creation skills to establish themselves as authorities in their niche. If you hope to Start a Fashion Blog, knowing solely how to write is not enough. You must also be able to navigate hosting platforms like Wix or WordPress and design a theme for broader recognition and influence. Skill building will also help bloggers start with broad interests before gradually refining their focus to become experts in their chosen field. Bloggers can discover their unique voice and content style this way, thereby enhancing their appeal to a specific audience.
Marketing with influencers
Oakley’s collaboration with NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes showcases the power of influencer marketing. Mahomes, as an influential figure in the sports industry, invites his fans to support Oakley by wearing the brand’s originals or his collaborative Patrick Mahomes II Signature Series. Bloggers can draw inspiration from this strategy by seeking collaborations with influencers in the same niche.
Influencers bring authenticity and credibility, helping bloggers reach a wider audience. Just as Mahomes’ association with Oakley extends beyond a mere endorsement deal, bloggers can foster genuine connections with influencers to amplify their reach and establish a more profound niche presence.
Just as Oakley continues to ‘Move The Game Forward,’ bloggers can forge their own path forward in the blogosphere and make a lasting impact. The key lies in staying true to your identity, embracing evolution, and learning from industry leaders like Oakley. For more blogging tips, check out our other articles on Blogging Her Way.