HOW TO NARROW DOWN YOUR NICHE AND BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND
As a creative entrepreneur, it can be easy to fall into the trap of trying to be everything to everyone in an effort to try and reach a larger market and secure more clients. However, this often does more harm to your brand than good! To truly stand out from the crowd and create an awesome brand that people recognize and trust, you need to find your unique niche and use that as a starting point to build your business.
WHY DO I NEED TO FIND A NICHE?
No matter what your product or service is, you can bet there is probably somebody else out there doing the same thing or something similar to you. Now before you get too discouraged, this doesn’t mean you should give up! You can still carve out a space in your chosen field if you concentrate on a particular niche. Basically, this means narrowing down your target market and then tailoring your products or services for those people.
Finding a niche really is the key to boosting your business. First of all, when you have a clearly defined niche you’ll find that there is much less competition. And when there is less competition, there is more of a chance for you to become THE expert. This will in turn help develop a solid following of loyal fans who trust your brand and come back to you time after time. Focusing on a niche also allows you to spend your time and energy on something you are passionate about rather than spreading yourself thin on things you don’t know a whole lot about or necessarily care about.
HOW DO I FIND MY NICHE?
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably a creative type who already has an idea of something you want to market. Or maybe you’re a small business owner who wants to take your brand to a whole new level. If so, then it’s time to narrow down your focus and clearly define your market. The following are some tips on how to hone in on your niche.
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT
When it comes down to it your brand really is all about you. Sure, what your customers want is definitely important, but let’s face it—you’re not going to be able to promote your product or service to people in a way that resonates with them unless you yourself are passionate and knowledgeable about what you are selling and stand behind it. Think about what really matters to you and what you are good at. Then think about how you can use that passion and your skills to provide something valuable to a particular group of people.
RESEARCH ALL ANGLES
Before you begin developing your brand, it pays to do some research. The major things you want to think about are competition and demand. First of all, are there many other people or companies doing the same thing as you? If so, how can you put your own unique twist on it? For example, women’s fashion is a huge industry with a great deal of competition, but by focusing on one area like organic yoga clothing you immediately shrink the pool of competition. On the opposite side of the coin, you also have to make sure that there are enough people who actually want your product to make it worth your while.
THINK ABOUT WHO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR
Working for yourself is one of the major appeals of being an entrepreneur, however if you actually think about it, you are in fact working for your clients. First you have to work hard to create great products or services that people want. Then you have to work hard to get your product out there and bring new clients in the door. And once you have those clients, you have to work hard to provide great service and keep people interested and coming back for more. So at the end of the day you want to be sure you are working for people you like. If you’re still stuck on who you want your niche market to be, think about your ideal clients or the people you really want to work for.
OK, I’VE FOUND MY NICHE, NOW WHAT?
Once you’ve decided who your target market is, you need to really get inside their minds. What is it that they want or need? What kind of things appeal to them and what would be really useful for them? Find out what websites they visit and what things they like on social media. You can also look at what your competition is doing to draw people in and take note of what works and what doesn’t.
Finally, it’s time to develop your brand based on your insider knowledge of what your market wants. Don’t be afraid to try new things and think outside the box. It’s also important to become an expert in whatever it is you’re marketing. This gives people a reason to choose you over the competition, and it helps to build trust in your product or service. Moreover, if people believe you really are the best they’ll be sure to pass that information along to potential new clients.
