September 9, 2025 | by David Summerall
Why You Should Look Outside Your Niche -
Avoid the Echo Chamber: If you see the same content ideas over and over in your niche, everything begins to blend together. Borrowing from other niches introduces novelty and reduces “content fatigue” with your audience.
Find Proven Structures: If a format is already driving engagement in another niche, it usually has solid mechanics. The formula works. It’s about adapting, not reinventing.
Stand Out in Your Own Niche: When everyone is using similar formats, one unexpected twist borrowed from elsewhere can make your content pop.
How to Use Outlier Formats -
Here’s a Step-by-Step process to apply this strategy:
Scan Formats from Different Niches
Watch content in unrelated fields: gaming, cooking, travel, finance, beauty, lifestyle, tech, etc. Note the formats people keep using: e.g. “Tier Lists,” “Day in My Life,” “Challenge/Experiment,” “Myths vs Reality,” “What I Wish I Knew Before…”.
Select Formats your Audience Would Enjoy
Just because a format works somewhere else doesn’t mean it fits yours. Consider your audience’s preferences, pain points, what they find entertaining or useful.
Adapt the Format to Your Voice and Niche
Change the surface details but keep the underlying structure. For example:A cooking channel could use a “Tier List” (common in gaming) to rank kitchen tools.
A finance creator uses “Day in My Life” to show their money habits.
A fitness blogger could borrow “Reacting to…” formats from pop culture reviewers, reacting to extreme workouts or fitness myths.
Test, Measure, Iterate
Try out the adapted format. See how your audience responds: engagement, watch time, comments. Refine the format’s execution (tone, pace, visuals) based on data.
Tips For Outlier Remixing Effectively
Maintain your voice and brand style even when using borrowed formats: visuals, tone, pacing matter a lot.
Ensure there’s a fit — the format should feel natural to your content, not forced. If it feels off, the audience will sense it.
Mix outlier formats with your usual go-to formats to keep balance. Too many new types in a row can confuse loyal followers.
Keep a Format Idea Bank: whenever you spot a format working well in another niche, save it. Later adapt it.
Final Thoughts -
The Outlier Content Strategy is about expanding your creative horizon: not just being inspired by direct competitors, but by the world around you. Borrow what works, adapt it with authenticity, test it, and you’ll gain fresh content ideas that stand out.