Coach’s Corner: Finding your niche online

Paint a clear picture of your online market

Q I am revamping my marketing plan to incorporate online marketing. I am feeling quite overwhelmed and not sure where to start. What should I be focusing on?

A If you’re feeling pulled to establish a professional presence online, yet also a bit daunted by how to do so, you’re not alone.

There are so many online possibilities and strategies one can embrace.

But before you think strategy, think niche!

Niche is just another way to discuss your ideal clientele — the people who fit best in your business. These are the people who are naturally attracted to what you have to offer.

Lets get a little more specific.

Market vs. niche vs. micro-niche:

A market is a relatively broad group of individuals (i.e. selfemployed professionals who are also parents).

A niche is specific target — a specific type of person, maybe at a specific level of revenue or development, with specific goals or objectives (i.e. self-employed parents making $75,000-plus per year, with a child under 18 who is struggling in school).

A micro-niche narrows those specifics even further (i.e. whitecollar professionals making $100,000-200,000 per year, with an ADHD child in high school and ongoing challenges related to life balance).

Paint a clear picture of this market and break it down to be very specific.

The more detailed you can be, the closer you come to a microniche.

When communicating with the public, especially with online marketing, it pays to address a micro-niche. When you position yourself as the obvious fit for everyone within that narrow set of criteria, it becomes obvious that you are the one to come to for help in solving those specific problems.

When you’re clear on your niche, every aspect of your online marketing — every article, video and blog entry — tells the world: “I know about the problems you’re struggling with. I can deliver the support you need, and guide you towards the solutions”

By getting crystal clear about your niche, you will leverage all future marketing efforts.