Find Your Niche in 3 Steps - Here On LinkedIn
Ilise Benun
Business Coach & Mentor for Designers, Copywriters & Creative Pros. Let me help you get better clients with bigger budgets.
What’s inside this issue: Find your niche in 3 steps using LinkedIn | Updating your profile to reflect your niche | Examples of well-niched LinkedIn profiles | Why repelling certain clients can help you do better work and earn more
Choosing a Niche: How to do it, what to consider, how to change your LinkedIn profile to attract the right clients - and repel the rest…
If you’re hesitant to choose a niche (but think you should)…
Or you want to change your niche, but you’re not sure how…
Let’s talk about it. Because you might be doing it backwards.
Most people think of choosing a niche as a single decision, like flipping a switch.
But thinking about it that way is daunting, and it puts all the pressure on you to make the right decision.
I think of it more like a dimmer, that starts out low and gradually brightens, the more time you invest in it, until it's shining brighter than anyone else's!
Rather than thinking about your niche as who you are and what you offer…
Try listening to what your market needs and defining your niche from there.
You can do it in 3 steps right here on LinkedIn. But before we get there…
The 4 Niche Types - Which One Is Right for You?
Watch my video that goes over the 2 things that make up a niche… plus, the 4 types of niches, and how to find the right one for you here:
Once you’ve considered the 4 niche types, it’s time to delve into your market here on LinkedIn and position yourself in the right niche. All it takes is 3 steps…
3 Steps to Find Your Niche on LinkedIn
STEP 1: Engage with the market.
Engaging with your market is simply spending time making new connections, commenting on people’s posts, and starting conversations. Read my last QLT issue for more on how to engage on Linkedin here. The more you connect with people in your market, the wider your network will be for the next step.
If you’ve already spent time engaging with your market, move on to Step 2.
STEP 2: Listen to the market.
If you listen to the market, what you don’t have to do as a result is rack your brain. I’ve always found that the market is smarter than me. Simply listening to the market and asking yourself: “What do people need, and what will they pay for?” will get you farther than sitting and thinking about it in a vacuum.
What are people in your market selling or promoting?
What’s missing from their product or business?
What problems are they venting about on LinkedIn?
How could you use your skills to make their lives easier?
This takes more than one day. In fact, you should continue doing it as long as you’re in business. But when you’re first developing a niche for yourself, take your time listening and making notes about what you learn.?
STEP 3: Respond to the needs you perceive in the market.
This is where you start to develop a niche that both fits what you do and fills a need in the market.
Using the market needs you discovered in Step 2, think about which of your skills would best solve them, and which you’re most drawn to. Start crafting a niche from there.
And remember: It’s an evolution. Whatever you decide isn’t permanent. You can tweak and refine your profile, elevator pitch, and headline as many times as you want. Just be sure that you’re listening and responding to the market when you do.
Reflecting Your Niche on Your LinkedIn Profile
When updating your LinkedIn headline and profile to reflect your niche, you don’t have to do it all at once.
Start by changing just your headline. Then update your “About” section. Then your header image. You certainly can do it all in one day, but you can also do it gradually, little by little.
Overall, here’s what to aim for:
领英推荐
Excellent Examples: LinkedIn Profiles with Well-Defined Niches
Here are a few examples of creatives with well-niched LinkedIn profiles. All of these are super clear, and in each case, what they’re doing is working!
(Click on their names to see each of their excellent profiles.)
Will Choosing A Niche Repel Potential Clients?
Yes, it likely will. But that’s not such a bad thing.
Repelling some people is a natural part of going deeper into the niche that you choose. You don’t need to take on every project that comes your way.
Instead, when certain prospects exclude themselves from your niche, it opens you up to make more money, do better work (and more confidently), and deepen your expertise.
Need More Help Finding Your Niche? My Pick a Niche Kit is On Sale!
Earn more, have more fun, and do more creative work when you pick a niche. Want me to walk you through it? Get my "Pick a Niche Kit" and finally find the niche that's right for you. Pick it up for $60 off right now here.
3 Phases of Your Creative Business: Which Are You In??
Not sure you’re ready to pick a niche? Could be that you’re still in Phase 1 of your business. Read this article to find which phase you’re in and what you should do next.
Three Ways to Listen to the Market
Watch for more specifics on how to listen for your niche, listen for your marketing content, and listen for content marketing ideas.
Do You Have to Love Your Niche?
You might be surprised by my answer to this one. Watch below.
How to Profit from Your Personality
In this Marketing Mentor Podcast episode, I invited special guests, “Chief Personality Officer” of More Than Words Marketing, @Danielle Huges and Brand Strategist and founder of Paraphrase Communications, @Lisa Mullis, to talk about why you should repel the “wrong” kinds of clients to be able to attract those who will love and appreciate the work you do - all because of your personality.
Want More or Better Clients This Year? Grab the Simplest Marketing Plan for 2024!
Calling All Graphic Artists...
The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook on pricing, ethical guidelines, and vital industry insights is in the making. Your voice matters! Take the survey today to share your invaluable experience and knowledge.
Until Next Month ...
Have you already chosen a niche? How did your business change as a result? Share below!
Ilise Benun, Your Marketing Mentor – Marketing-mentor.com
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Wellness Market Mastery Expert | Reach more health & wellness customers without compromising your genuine desire to fill a need.
9 个月Great article Ilise Benun! I am happy to say that although it has taken me years - and my niche was always staring me in the face - I have landed squarely and confidently on the Natural Health & Wellness market (vertical ?? ). I found that once I fully committed to it, I realized that it is also an "umbrella" and the myriad of different natural health & wellness businesses that exists is enormous. It doesn't feel limiting at all!
An experienced Physician Assistant with 30 years of practice and a special interest & training in Vitamins and Supplements. Offering newsletters & educational material to patients #Much more than just Vitamins
9 个月I was lucky. I came into this knowing what my niche was going to be and I am sticking with that; however, I found that I can do other things that are maybe a little outside my niche and I’m looking into that now.
Let's design a brand to get your customers' attention! I provide digital brand marketing & communication services tailored to the needs of nonprofits, small businesses, entrepreneurs, & authors.
9 个月So many great ideas packed in here - thanks so much! ???? Looking forward to following many of the rabbit trails provided.
Humanist | Connecting the dots between global challenges | Writer, Historian, Researcher | Advocating for a balanced, resilient future
9 个月Great article! And a great point about your niche can evolve, and ideally should evolve over time. Mine has quite a bit over the past 18 months.
Choosing a niche is all about the evolution of your business journey. Excited to read your QLT Newsletter! ??