The Washington Post Co. is entering the “integrated marketing” space with the launch of SocialCode, which it bills as a full-service branding agency. But unlike the recent efforts by rival newspaper publishers such as Gannett and Tribune to create standalone marketing units that are a step away from the main content product, WaPo’s effort is strikingly niche: SocialCode, housed within the Slate …
Niche markets offer a great way to target specific clients and build a marketing strategy. The problem is that when we think about niche markets, we typically think about specializing in one particular product or service. It is important to remember that niche markets also mean targeting one particular industry or type of client.
Being a Generalist in a Niche Market
Niche market and generalist are not mutually exclusive terms. While you shouldn’t try to be all things to all people, you can provide general services to one type of client. This is where the two strategies intersect particularly well for the computer consultant first starting out. Develop your niche market by marketing yourself as the general point of contact for just a select group of clients.
When you’re just starting out it’s really important that you don’t invest dozens and dozens of hours and thousands of dollars in classes, certifications, tests and prep work. You need to be developing contacts to get paying contacts rather than contriving a niche market. Use the skills you have right now to get those clients. And if you already have a specialized skill set, you don’t want to commit to a very narrow niche market before you have a good handle on how profitable that niche is.
Once you see that your paying clients have some common threads and you can anticipate a common set of needs, that is when you should think about further developing a niche market. Get the clients first, then look for trends and opportunities for niche markets.
The Bottom Line on Niche Markets Read the rest of this entry »
The secret to surviving a market place dominated by the big players who have all the resources to attract customers is to be able to know how to find niche markets that have not yet been explored by others before. Let the big players focus on an already saturated market that requires more resources and investments. By learning how to find niche markets you will be able to start a niche campaign for a new service or product that will cater to a specific market segment.
There are software programs that will teach you the basics of how to find niche markets. You can also read books on how to find niche markets so that you are not solely reliant on technology. Market research will help you how to find niche markets that will enjoy longevity and not just last for a couple of months.
The Internet is a powerful marketing tool especially if you know your target market. Use this to your advantage by searching for keywords that will point to the products and services you are offering. Thus, when your target market starts looking for products and services in that niche then they will be pointed to your site. Read the rest of this entry »
