Defining Your Niche: 4 Key Questions to Consider
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Chapter 1: Understanding the Importance of a Niche
Establishing a niche in writing is akin to navigating the dating scene. If you can't clearly convey why someone should choose you, they'll likely look elsewhere.
Just as some individuals prefer nice guys while others gravitate toward the "bad boy" persona, trying to appeal to everyone may leave you attracting no one. You can’t embody both Whole Foods and Dollar Tree or be Chick-fil-A and McDonald's at the same time. You must make a choice.
Why is this crucial? Selecting a niche directly influences who finds you appealing. Attracting a specific audience inherently alienates others. If you're not turning anyone away, you may not be drawing anyone in either.
Now that you grasp the significance of identifying a niche, you might be pondering, "How can I determine mine?" Great question! This can be achieved by reflecting on four straightforward inquiries.
Section 1.1: What Do You Know Better Than 95% of People?
What topic could you present on without any preparation? Here are some areas where I feel confident:
- Nuclear physics
- Social skills and charisma
- Dating psychology
- Finance and investing
Whatever subjects you possess a deep understanding of, perhaps due to your passion, are excellent starting points for teaching others.
You may think, "This information is too basic; no one would be interested." Remember, if you found it engaging enough to learn about, others likely will too.
Subsection 1.1.1: Identifying Your Unique Expertise
Section 1.2: What Problem Do You Solve for Others?
A niche can also be viewed as a purpose—specifically, the primary challenge you address for others. This concept is simpler than it appears. Think back to issues you've encountered that you might have overlooked:
- Effective study techniques
- Socializing comfortably
- Financial management to avoid debt
- Finding motivation in tough times
What significant problem do you aim to resolve? For me, my main focuses are:
- Building a successful writing career on Medium
- Cultivating attractiveness
- Achieving lasting happiness
What occupies your thoughts upon waking, during your shower, or even in intimate moments? These recurring thoughts indicate areas worth exploring further.
Chapter 2: Engaging in Meaningful Conversations
The first video discusses how to select a niche effectively, helping you overcome the dilemma of indecision.
Section 2.1: What Topics Could You Discuss for Hours?
Imagine attending a networking event and encountering an expert on a subject you’ve always wanted to learn about. Who would you hope to meet?
For me, it would be:
- A self-control psychology expert like Kelly McGonigal
- A business-building expert like Alex Hormozi
- A social skills authority like Dale Carnegie
If you would enjoy engaging in a conversation with an expert in a topic and sharing your insights, you’ve likely found a niche worth pursuing.
Section 2.2: Life-Changing Transformations
We’ve all experienced moments when life seemed unbearable. However, unless we faced the end, something eventually pulled us out of that darkness. Reflect on the transformations that have alleviated your suffering. For me, these include:
- Learning to read body language and socialize effectively
- Building confidence through physical fitness
- Mastering effective study methods
- Understanding the science of happiness
Achieving these transformations dramatically improved my life in mere weeks or months. I would gladly invest thousands for similar changes, even though they only cost me between $10 and $100 at the time.
Your audience would likely feel the same way.
In Summary: Discovering Your Niche
Your niche clarifies why others should engage with you. Without it, there’s little incentive for people to seek you out.
Why do individuals shop at Walmart? It’s all about low prices. Why do others choose Whole Foods? They prioritize quality.
A clearly defined niche makes it obvious why people should pay attention to you. You can clarify this by answering these four essential questions:
- What knowledge do you possess that exceeds 95% of others?
- What significant problem do you solve for people?
- What topics could you passionately discuss for hours?
- What transformation has had the most profound impact on your life?
Once you address these inquiries, the path ahead becomes much clearer.
The second video explores techniques for narrowing down your niche, providing further guidance to help you focus your efforts.