Blogging | Forum « How niche is too niche?

How niche is too niche? (8 posts)

Topic tags: audience, business, niche, target audience

Heidi Thompson said
8 months ago:
I know that choosing a niche is important, but could it come back to bite you? I am gearing my offering toward the wedding industry but it could apply to any small business owner really.
@h4baine | # | Top
Erik Deckers said
8 months ago:
Not that particular niche. I know it’s pretty sizable. Plus, even if you were to specialize that tightly, you could then branch out into a second, unrelated niche. Then the dangers of being caught in the overlap are minimal.
This specialization could help you focus so much that you can become the expert in your area for the wedding industry.
@erikdeckers | # | Top
Heidi Thompson said
8 months ago:
@erikdeckers Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you think that it isn’t too narrow.
@h4baine | # | Top
Judith Gotwald said
7 months, 2 weeks ago:
@h4baine @erikdeckers You named your industry target market but you didn’t tell us your “line.” That might inspire some more targeted help from us fellow bloggers. The wedding industry is a visual industry — make yourself an Avatar, Heidi!
@judithgotwald | # | Top
Shari Stauch said
7 months, 2 weeks ago:
I love what Erik said — it’s about being the expert in your niche, no matter how small. I’d always wanted to work with authors, especially “newbies” but frankly was afraid I’d paint myself into a corner as I’d done work with NPOs, doctors, sports, etc. and going “narrow” scared me!
Boy, what an eye opener; suddenly, instead of having to “pitch” clients — they were finding me! Definitely a believer now that when you state what you do and exactly who you want to do it for (as specifically as possible), it just makes it that much easier for you to be the “go-to” resource in that space.
Go for it — like me you’ll soon wonder why you didn’t sooner. BONUS — it makes it easier to say to client bases you don’t enjoy as much that that’s not your area of specialty — but that you can recommend someone who is (who might’ve been a competitor in the past and now instead can be a source of mutual referrals!)
@sharijstauch | # | Top
Shelly-Ann Roper said
7 months, 1 week ago:
@Heidi, That was an issue that concerned me too. And based on experience – mine & others – the more targeted the approach to an audience is, the better… and clients appreciate this a lot more as well. “Going deeper rather than wider” is the name of the game they say…
As you’d already know though, the challenge comes when there isn’t enough of a demand for what it is you offer within your chosen market. But this same issue could come up even if you do in fact go broader with your targeting.
But as Erik & Shari said, I’d say becoming the “Go to Guy” within a specific area is the better deal than being all things to all men.
@saandrear | # | Top
Heidi Thompson said
7 months, 1 week ago:
Thank you all for putting my mind at ease! I suppose the entire wedding industry isn’t my niche, but instead those businesses with up to maybe 5 employees at most.
@h4baine | # | Top
Shari Stauch said
7 months, 1 week ago:
Let us know how it goes!
@sharijstauch | # | Top