Score each category from 1 (weak) to 5 (strong). Add one sentence next to every score labeled evidence (I observed this), hypothesis (I believe this), or unknown (I don’t know yet). A score without its sentence is a coin flip with a clipboard.
| Category | Score (1–5) | What you observed — evidence / hypothesis / unknown |
|---|---|---|
| A specific reader has a recurring problem | ||
| You can name 20 useful questions | ||
| You can learn enough to be accurate | ||
| Products/services are relevant but not the whole story | ||
| You can write pages without faking experience | ||
| The topic’s safety/legal risk is manageable | ||
| You would still care after 30 days | ||
| Total | / 35 — under 24: reject for now or research the weakest criteria first | |
Test / Research more / Reject for now — write one sentence why.
The niche must be a category, not a single product, carved to one frustrated person: “home office setup” → “home office setup for a renter in a small apartment.” If it cannot be carved to one addressable reader, it is a cloud, not a niche.