Choose a Niche You Are Passionate about Personally

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It’s impossible to try and be an expert on everything there is. That’s too broad and too ambitious a goal. Instead, you need to identify your niche–the one area of specialization you know a lot about. Identify a subject you feel passionate about and start there.

Finding your niche is quite simple. Ask yourself a few questions:

“What do I have fun doing?”

“What do I like to play around with in my spare time?”

“What am I passionate about?”

“What am I knowledgeable about?”

“What problem do I most like to solve?”

“What subjects do I consider to be intensely interesting?”

Your answers to these questions will then point you in the right direction when it comes to identifying your own particular niche. Choosing a niche is usually straightforward because it is the kind of things you already have fun doing.

If you’re having trouble thinking about the niche that’s just right for you, try this exercise:

Take two blank pieces of paper.

Head one piece of paper with: “The 10 Things I Am Most Knowledgeable About.” Then go through and list the 10 items you have deep knowledge of and expertise in.

Head the second piece of paper with: “Some drivers put bumper stickers on their cars that say ‘I’ d rather be fishing,’ In a similar vein, fill in the blank: ‘I’d rather be_______.’

To identify your niche, look for an item that crops up on both lists.

The 10 Things I Am Most Passionate About
Fill in the blank: “I’d rather be_______.”

Once you’ve come up with some suggestions for your niche, do some online research:

Do a Web search (using Google or a similar site) and try to find out who is already marketing to your future customers.

If your search shows there is nobody else who is trying to market to that niche, it suggests you’ve probably identified a hobby rather than a niche.

Don’t be discouraged if it’s clear that loads of companies are already marketing to your potential customers. This is good–it means the market size is viable. All of these companies are potential joint-venture partners for you.

See if there are any forums where your potential customers hang out or kick around ideas. If there are, visit those forums and lurk. Find out what kinds of problems people are striking in your niche. This kind of information will be a goldmine if handled correctly.

Every problem is a product. Find the problem and sell the solution.

–Pat O’Bryan

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you’re doing, you will be successful.

–Albert Schweitzer