Why Are Technology Websites Branching Out?

About a decade ago, the Internet was bolstered by websites with very specific focuses, and over the years, those focused websites have thrived in some capacity. There are sites dedicated to everything, from specific fan sites for very niche television shows and movies, to mainstream websites focused on video games, technology, board games, and more. As the world of online content digestion has changed - less journalism, more influencers and YouTube - websites have had to adapt, and most have done this by branching out.

I was shocked a few years back to discover that IGN had moved outside of just video games and technology, and were now covering board game content as well. This is in addition to their slowly adding toys, movies, tv, and more to their site since it was first created. Other sites like GamesReviews.com have also taken this approach, branching out from primarily covering video games to getting into other areas of popular culture.

A quick scan of GamesReviews reveals that the site is doing well in terms of companies they are working with, but those companies are coming from a wide variety of places. For years, the site has been doing a lot of technology related reviews and news articles, but they were always tied to video games. Articles dating back to the mid-2010s show them working with Turtle Beach, Performance Design Products, and more. However, more recently the website has branched into looking at almost all things technology related.

You’ll find reviews for the latest Google phones, tablets, and even routers; you’ll find reviews of the latest iRobot robot vacuums; and you’ll find reviews for Kengsington workspace products like foot rests, adjustable desks, and more. Why the change? To boost readership and expand on who they can attract to the site.

The change to a variety of different technology reviews is only one way they have expanded, however. They have also moved into the world of toys, working with the likes of Playmobil, Gravitrax, and The LEGO Group. Board games have also featured prominently on the website. Each time a new layer of reviews is added, a brand new readership target is reached. And although GamesReviews is a great example of this, you can take a quick look at any major video game or technology related blog or website and see similar things are happening.

Even once tech heavy YouTube channels are also diving into the world of video game streaming, reviews, and more. Sure, they are a part of the technological bubble, but for so long we had phones and headphones on one side, and consoles and controllers on another. Those lines are now gone, and websites are looking to attract as many readers as possible, and that means branching out and expanding what you cover.

It will be interesting to see where websites go in the future. It seems that all possible avenues of readership have been tapped by the likes of GameSpot and IGN, but who really knows - it will be interesting to see what hits these sites next!