3 Reasons You Need to Find a Niche

Many, many, moons ago when I was working on my Master's, one of my professors mentioned the importance in finding a niche. He said, "If you do nothing else, find a specialty, a niche. There are tons of therapists out there, and you want to be able to stand out in the crowd." He was right. People pay for expertise. They want to be able to find the right person to help them as quickly as possibly. For example, a person who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder would probably want to see someone who specializes in treating that disorder due to certain techniques that are effective for treatment. Why would he waste time with someone who treats general conditions. So, here are some reasons why you need to find a niche

1. Jack of all trades is master of none - That is a true saying. You can be good at a lot of things, but what do you want to be known for? Do you want to be none as a good programmer, or as the best app developer in the biz? Focus on whatever niche you are passionate about, and become the best at it.

2. Stand out in a crowd - When companies are looking to staff projects, they are typically looking for specific skill sets. And let's face it, the economy is pretty bad, so companies can afford to be picky. they are looking for someone who can walk in and get the job done on time and under budget. So when you submit your resume or proposal to be a consultant on that project, what can you show that makes you stand out from the crowd? For example, there are many software developers out there. But if a company is looking for someone who is a LAMP expert, and you don't fit the bill, you won't get the call.

3. Increased income potential - I know, I know. You think that if you focus on a niche, that you won't have as many opportunities. Not true. Having a niche actually can increase your chance for opportunities. If you are a consultant and are seen as the leading expert in your niche, then you can negotiate from a position of strength. And that's always a good position to be in. Here's another way to look at it. If the niche you have mastered is in demand, and there are a limited supply of people available in your niche, prices increase. If you don't have a particular niche, and what you do in general is available in high supply, prices decrease. See how that works?

Now that you know the reasons to find a niche, what are you going to do going forward? Start with some research. What are the in demand skills in your profession? Identify your passion. What excites you about doing what you do? Finally, identify your target market. What segment of the population needs your services? Need some assistance with identifying your niche? Seek help. I can be reached at truechangelifecoach@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Image courtesy of Master isolated images at FreeDigitalPhotos.net