Getting Started: Choosing a Niche

'Choosing a Niche' for many people is a little like 'finding yourself' or attaining enlightenment. It can seem like an endless quest and to a certain extent it is because it's not just about where there's a market it's about how you define yourself as a coach and as a professional.

When you choose a niche, it IS much easier to promote yourself as a coach. It does mean making some decisions about who you're going to target and what you're going to offer them. The process of making those decisions is NOT as easy as some people would have you believe; you know those ebooks that start off 'once you've picked a niche you then do keyword research, write your own ebook...' they gloss over the strategic side of marketing because that is the part that is more complex (and not easy to flog an ebook on).

As any experienced marketer will tell you, there is no point doing marketing activity if there is no strategy behind it. You may see some results, but if you take a strategic approach you will build a solid foundation for the future where clients refer others to you naturally.

No B.S. Notice: There are plenty of 'get rich quick' self-styled internet marketing 'experts' out there who will quite happily sell you their system for making a million as a coach (which is usually by telling other people how to make a million as a coach). Many have absolutely no marketing qualifications or prior marketing experience in the real world (they couldn't make a living as a coach, website designer, etc so decided it would be easier to become an overnight marketing expert). They're spouting what they learned from another 'expert' who heard it from someone else who 'said' it worked but have never actually tried the techniques personally. When they have they only tried it out on newbie coaches who were hungry for information and didn't know any better because they were too busy being non-judgmental, trusting and ready to open their wallets believing you have to give to gain and karma would reward their investment. These people pump out low-grade marketing materials and damage the reputation of not just marketing, but of coaching as well.

If you are already fairly clear about your own niche, the articles below can be interesting reading. If you're still deciding, read the articles through and then pop into the forum for a chat to the other members who can offer tips and support.

Recommended Resource: If you want something that takes you step-by-step through the whole process and then shows you HOW to market to the niche you choose, we recommmend you consider investing in the 'Find Your Niche' home study programme. This was developed by Hannah McNamara, author of the book 'Niche Marketing for Coaches' who is a Chartered Marketer and practising coach.