One of the first steps of developing a new business is carving out your niche. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to identifying a niche. The strategies that I recommend are for entreprenesses who blog for business.
Listen to Your Voice
Just because you are a lady blogger, doesn’t mean that you have to blog for ladies. Who you attract to your blog aka your target market, will depend upon your writing tone. Think about it. If you constantly address your readers as “darlings” and “dolls” then that is who you will reach.
Authenticity is key when developing your online business. Your readers will want to feel like they are having a conversation with you. Readers love familiar voices and not ones that talk at them. If your natural tendency is the doll and darling route, then embrace it and accept that your target audience will be dolls and darlings.
“I’ve listened to my voice, now what?”
Identify Competitors But Stay True To Yourself
Market research serves two purposes: (1) to make sure what you are doing hasn’t already been done; and (2) if it is being done, then it helps you determine how you can do it differently- in a way that matters. Keep a list of competitors, their subject matters, their apparent audience, and how your blog will differ. For example, you want to start a blog to connect mompreneurs, but you find that the concept is already in use. Consider making your topic location-specific; i.e. Connecting Mompreneurs in Chicago. Or, consider drilling down even further. How about making it a Resource Guide for Mompreneurs?
“Okay, I’ve got my eye on the competition. Do I stop here?”
Develop the Blueprint
Now you must do a more in-depth analysis of your target market. Key questions to consider:
What is the age range of my reader?
Which gender would be most interested in my subject matter?
What is the career stage of my potential reader?
What level of education do they have?
What is their marital or family status?
What do my readers value most?
Which, if any, special features of my blog will be most appealing?
Where do they get most of their decision-making information?
Use your answers to develop a concise target market statement. Here is the statement that I developed:
Ages 28-40 male and female, working professionals and entrepreneurs in Chicago-area who are in the mid- to upper income brackets, value quality of life, luxury living and personalized services. Graduate/professional level of education. They are internet- and tech savvy.
Your statement will give a clearer picture of who you are writing for and why, even down to determining article topics.
Prepare for Change
“The only constant in life, is change.” After all of the research, deep thought and mapping things out, know that where you start with your business will not always be where you end up. Often, our audience will show us what our true niche is, and no matter what we want it to be, we cannot fight against the grain of our natural grain and strengths.
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Patrice N. Perkins is the founder and editor of My Lifestyle ZEN, a Chicago-based blog for working professionals and entrepreneurs who value quality of life. You can visit Patrice’s website here: http://www.mylifestylezen.com/
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July 27th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
I love this post! I just started my blog and this is exactly what i needed to hear. Thanks so much!