How can you build an exclusive consulting niche on social media?

Being able to differentiate yourself through outside skills + hobbies is equally as important as building yourself a brand. Ultimately, your brand is who you are and what skills and experiences you hold that you can offer to someone else. You can have hundreds of aspiring consultants with the exact same knowledge, but if even one has an extra skill—for example coding experience—it will set them up for success in the industry.

I've learned that building a niche in consulting isn't just about skills, but aligning them with market needs and your Ikigai - a Japanese concept of 'reason for being'. It's where passion, ability, societal needs, and economic viability meet. Understanding and genuinely addressing the evolving needs of the IT market is key. On social media, this translates to authentic engagements and insights, showcasing not just services but a deep comprehension of client challenges. Align your unique expertise with market demands, and share this journey authentically. This is how you create a differentiated and valuable IT consulting niche.

While you may have built a niche expertise over a career it might not mean you are an expert with social media. The best thing I did was make a solid hire to manage my social media internally. Refining your message can be tricky as you grow and seek to attract the right audience to fit your niche . Getting the messaging right is key and a dedicated person, even if you have to train them on the industry, is worth it.

Clearly define what sets you apart from other consultants, such as your unique approach, professional and / or personal experience, skills, or insights. Make this your Point of View (POV), and respond on social from your consistent north star, your POV.

Choose the most relevant social media channel(s) for you niche - and the thing might be, if you are not new in your field - you already might have a network that you can work with.

In the art of content creation, your first step is to unearth the unique gems of your expertise. What insights can you offer that no one else can? Understand your audience's cravings – what do they seek, and what resonates with them? Authenticity is your golden thread, let your genuine voice and experiences guide your storytelling. Engage with a purpose, your content should spark conversations and build communities. Diversify your formats – videos, blogs, infographics – to cater to varied tastes. Collaborate for fresh perspectives. Remember, great content isn't just found it's meticulously sculpted with patience and passion. Each piece is a chapter in the larger story of your brand. Make it count.

The most important thing is to define what benefits you or your service/product has (your unique value proposition). You may use Ansoff matrix, SWAT and/or many other methodologies and only after this social media channels can be chosen. Anyway, it`s a complicated topic. Or probably you`d like to offer something new (absolutely new service or product), in this case most of the methodologies and approaches will be different.

Stay unique with your own approach - and while it’s good to adjust to your audiences needs - don’t loose yourself trying to please everyone. Be relevant - but be yourself. Don’t spread yourself too thin across many channels - as it also dilutes your focus.

It is essential to share valuable and informative content that demonstrates your knowledge and expertise. To keep your content diverse and engaging, you should use a mix of formats such as articles, videos, infographics, and case studies. Addressing common pain points within your niche and providing practical solutions can help attract and retain your audience.

One crucial thing while establishing your social media presence is to find out and be 'SURE' of your passion for it. Many times people portray themselves as someone whom the industry needs, just to show that they are relevant. However, when it comes to helping your audience with industry knowledge, inspiring them with your stories, would not become possible in the long run. Building an exclusive consulting niche is more about building 'your' niche.

I can't stress this enough but your network is your net worth. Make sure you are surrounded by the right people. Be as authentic, engaging and generous with your knowledge as possible. In the world of consulting, it is important to engage to create visibility, as in most cases, it's a word-of-mouth type of business. So reach out to people whom you can learn from, interact with, interact with them, and create real relationships. It will pay in the long run.

Social media is all about networking and there are various ways to continuously seeking feedback from peers, followers and making sure to respond in professional way to each one of your network members. Keep engaging with new polls, exciting topics which involves latest trends are one of the key to bring in more engagement.

- Be authentic - Pay it forward when possible (leave a recommendation, post helpful comment on others’ post, acknowledge a colleague’s effort) - Decide who needs to be in your inner circle (mix of role models, mentors, mentees, clients)

The power of pull is magical and to activate that one needs to invest in building the network. Providing value to one’s network will help pull, create and grow a collaborative network.

It is critical to research and understand the market needs and the existing services that are available. This will help one to identify and define their strengths/ skills that are higher value generating or are novel. The pitch needs to highlight data driven success stories and endorsement from clients and experts from the field.

From "ZERO to one hundred" in just 4 weeks: A vital addition. As a salaried manager, I initially dismissed social media as time-wasting and artificial, favoring live interactions. A year into [medical] consulting, I embraced its importance, requiring a new positive mindset. The aha moment: rapid, meaningful connections with kindred spirits and customers. Surprising openness fueled a steep learning curve. Crucial steps for my "zero to one HUNDRED": 1. Clarity on perspectives, offerings, and dialogue objectives. 2. Cultivating a positive mindset for interpersonal engagement in this "space". 3. Strategic knowledge acquisition – recognizing knowledge as the precursor to experience. Seeking support and learning from the best proved pivotal.

Exclusive consulting niche building will only be successful if you yourself love the niche. This will give you passion and motivation to power through any challenge.

Analyze and Adapt: Keep an eye on what works and what doesn't. Use analytics to understand your audience better. It's like being a social media detective, always on the lookout for clues on how to serve your audience better. Never Stop Learning: The social media landscape is always changing. Stay updated, experiment with new trends, and always be willing to learn and grow.

Well it really seems to be so DIFFICULT ?? but it is not that complicated after all ?? In the digital marketing field for instance, and based on my experience, creating an exclusive consulting niche on social media involves showcasing specialized expertise through tailored content. Engage with your audience on platforms like LinkedIn, offer exclusive insights, and maintain consistency in posting to build credibility. Leverage analytics to refine strategies and differentiate yourself by emphasizing unique skills, positioning as the go-to expert in your specific niche.

Building an exclusive consulting niche on social media involves defining a unique niche, sharing valuable content, maintaining consistent branding, engaging with the audience, targeting specific platforms, using multimedia, networking, and offering exclusive insights to establish expertise and attract a dedicated following.