Four Reasons People Fear Niches and How to Get Over It

If the word “niche” is a dirty word for you or you’re just sick of hearing about it, I totally understand. That might sound strange coming from someone who helps solo professionals find and attract their ideal niche, but there you go. If that describes you, then I’m going to challenge you to dig a little deeper with me.

What I’ve found is that there are 4 main reasons people fear choosing a niche.

1. They’re afraid of turning away business
2. They don’t want to feel boxed in
3. They’re afraid of choosing the wrong niche
4. They don’t know how to find their niche

Let’s tackle these one at a time. Before I do, let me just briefly define “niche”. I like to think of your niche as your “Who” and “What”. Your “Who” is your target market and your “What” is the solution you provide. You need to be clear about both pieces of the puzzle. Remember that people aren’t looking for products or services, they are looking for solutions. That’s true no matter what you’re selling, but it’s especially true for service providers. People want to know about the solutions we offer and the outcome or transformations we help people achieve.

So let’s go back to these four fears.

1. Afraid of turning away business

While it might seem that you’re limiting yourself when you focus on a niche, the opposite is true. Here’s why. When you target a specific group of people with a particular solution that they want and are actively looking for, it makes marketing so much easier. You can speak directly to them, using their language, touching their hearts and minds. All of your programs and services can be tailored to them. It’s easier to become an expert in your area, which allows you to charge more. You do your best work because you’re doing the work you love and working with the people you’re most passionate about helping. You get more referrals because people know who you help and what you help them with. You attract valuable joint venture partners who serve the same target market but offer complementary solutions.

The bottom line is that when you have a clear niche, you earn much more with less marketing effort.

2. They’re afraid of being boxed in.

Focusing on a niche doesn’t mean that you can’t help people who don’t fall within your niche. It just means you have a clearer focus so you can target your marketing and programs.

Also, understand that you aren’t stuck in your niche. You will ultimately grow with your niche. There are two ways you can do that. One is to take your solution and bring it to other target markets. The other way to grow your niche is to find other solutions you can offer your target market. But the key is to start with one target market and one solution, and then grow from there.

3. They’re afraid of choosing the wrong niche.

Choosing a niche isn’t forever. I always advise my clients to reevaluate their niche every 6 to 12 months. And as I’ve explained above, you will grow with your niche. Having said that, you don’t want to just guess your niche and hope for the best. You have to put the time and effort into researching and evaluating your niche. Which leads us to #4.

4. They don’t know how to find their niche.

I can certainly understand this problem, because I had it myself. I knew the importance of finding my niche but I couldn’t find anything that gave me clear, step-by-step instructions on how to do it. Everything I read talked about choosing a target market. But I really believe that if you’re going to build a sustainable business, one that leverages your strengths and experiences and you’re passionate about, then you have to start with you.

So I put together a step-by-step system to help solo professionals find their niche. It helps you find a solution you can deliver in a unique way that people are actively looking for. It also helps you build the rest of your marketing foundation by understanding your personal brand, your marketing funnel, and that all important giveaway you need to offer as incentive for people to opt in to your list. Learn all the details at You Clear Path to Ideal Clients

It’s time to take action – strategic, focused action that brings you results, and allows you to attract your ideal clients so you can do the work you love and spend less time on marketing.

I promise that when you have this step-by-step training, you will not only get over your fear of niche, you will love the power that having a clear niche brings you!

{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }

Ellen Shapiro March 27, 2011 at 10:04 pm

Good article Cindy, and I think you’ve covered the biggest reasons for “fear of niching”. I think there can be deeper fears also, about decision making (the root of the word is to “kill”–when we de-cide we “kill” off other alternatives) in general. Some people are also afraid to be definite and take a stand–to be too visible. Finally there’s the “impostor” syndrome–”can I really claim to be an expert in this area..do I know enough, am I legitimate?” Some people’s brain functioning (ADD, creative types) make it harder for them to focus and make a decision too–they jump from one thing to the next and are always seeing more choices and alternatives.

Many marketing coaches assume that niching is a simple matter but it isn’t always!

Reply

Cindy March 27, 2011 at 10:11 pm

Hi Ellen – wow! You’ve hit on some really great points. You’re so right that these fears can have some deeper emotional meaning. I especially like what you’ve said about creative minds (which applies to so many entrepreneurs) having a hard time focusing. It’s so true. And I guess that’s what I see as my gift to my clients – helping them find that focus and clarity with confidence. Thank you, thank you!

Reply

Tracey Hausel March 28, 2011 at 5:49 am

Hi Cindy,
For me ( as you know) my fear was using my current “professional knowledge” to narrow my niche. I was wanting to get away from the education world, but didn’t remember one of my great “whys”. I want to help the odd, strange, out of place people to find themselves so they can run their business. It was a great breakthrough for me when I decided to use what I know.

Reply

Cindy March 28, 2011 at 12:56 pm

Hi Tracey – It’s great to hear from you! Thanks for this valuable insight. You’re not alone. I’ve worked with other clients who have this amazing talent and yet wanted to move away from their previous career. The secret is finding how to leverage all that experience and apply it in a new way that you love and people are seeking help with.
Thanks for sharing Tracey – talk soon!
Cindy

Reply

Christine O'Leary-Eldred March 28, 2011 at 9:32 am

Hey Cindy – Happy Monday!
This all sounds great! There is one fear you didn’t mention. That’s mine and I feel confident speaking for most ‘Creatives’ here – We are afraid of NOT choosing the right one among the many we have skills, abilities and talents in. Personally, I have many passionate areas of interest within the larger frame of my Biz. Over the last two years I have agonized over ‘Which one do I choose’? (Kinda like trying to choose which child is the favourite – unfair and guilt inflicting). Until just this morning I realized my niche – the personal area I AM ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT – and I let my fears go and trusted my Heart to lead me to my answer. I must thank you, in part, for this Breakthrough, Cindy – but not for what you might think! I wrote to you last week and you wrote back. We both enjoyed our connection. For me, VERY MUCH! Thinking of your response as I traveled my daily round caused me many smiles and much pleasure. And I was thinking warmly of something I wanted to share with you later today and as I was thinking about this very action – I had my ‘Aha’ moment! Since I don’t have a public face on my business just yet I will share this with you privately. So A GRAND THANK YOU, CINDY!!! You are great at your job – even when you are not trying! So, that’s it for now – Hope your day is Wonderful!
Many Blessings – Christine

Reply

Cindy March 28, 2011 at 12:54 pm

Wow! That’s wonderful and exciting Christine. Thank you so much for sharing that. I really appreciate you! And can’t wait to hear more about your breakthrough. Please email me or call me to let me know!
warm wishes,
Cindy

Reply

Christine O'Leary-Eldred April 8, 2011 at 3:45 pm

Hey Cyndi – Happy Friday!
The STRANGEST thing happened to me last week related to you! I wrote the above comment a week ago last Monday, right? Well the day AFTER your reply some named CINDI emailed me and I never noticed the spelling of her name differed from yours (Cyndi). So, for this last week I carried on a conversation with her as if it were you! I complimented her – thinking it was you and we became fast friends . . .UNTIL I asked her why her email avatar had a different pic than the one on YOUR website? She asked me to clarify and it was then that I realized – THE MISTAKE WAS MINE!!! My inbox has about three hundred emails at any one time, so the disparity between your names escaped me, TOTALLY!
So, now I will send along the email that I THOUGHT I was sending to you originally – the one that answers the rest of my comments privately – sometime over the next few days. And continue the conversation we started above . . . Till then I want you to know how VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU, CYNDI!!! Be Well,
Many Blessings ~
Christine

Reply

Cindy April 10, 2011 at 10:37 pm

Hi Christine – that is so funny! I look forward to hearing from you. And thank you for your kind words. I appreciate you too!

Reply

Nico Commandeur March 30, 2011 at 12:16 pm

4 reasons ? maybe 40 or 400 ?

People are afraid of everything you can imagine… Home bases business ? I am afraid a lot off people will start, but a few will really start and do it for a year or longer.

Reply

Cindy March 30, 2011 at 2:37 pm

Hi Nico,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, there are a whole set of fears for each industry, icluding home based businesses. If you understand who is your ideal client/ prospect and what unique solution you can provide, then that should remove some of the concern about them being the right fit for you and your business.
thanks and warm wishes,
Cindy

Reply

Al Carlson April 8, 2011 at 10:01 am

Wonderful insights, Cindy! Reminds me of Economics 101 where Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations) taught us that contrary to common sense, starting a self-contained plantation that produces every possible item we need – the best way to prosperity is to pick A NICHE (like a simple pin factory) and produce thousands of great pins. With the profits from those great pins, we can buy all the plantations we could ever want!

Reply

Cindy April 10, 2011 at 10:35 pm

Wow – I love that Al. That is such a great analogy. I remember studying that in MBA school many years ago. To be honest, I struggled with Economics, but as I recall, if each person/nation chooses an area of specialization, then they will be much more productive for the society as a whole. Thanks for that insight Al!

Reply

Richard June 23, 2011 at 11:34 am

Cindy,
Two years ago my venture into internet marketing blew up! I didn’t know what I didn’t know. You are turning the lights on for me for my next attempt.
Now it doesn’t feel like I’m trying to take sips from a wide open fire hose. I ‘m looking forward to completing your course. Thanks a bunch,
Rich

Reply

Nicola August 24, 2011 at 4:24 am

Yes, I think I have suffered from all 4 of the fears you mentioned. Particularly number 3. I have so many ideas, I’m still working through them and changing my mind often. However I am starting to get some clarity thanks to your 10 steps ebook.
Nicola´s last [type] ..Blog Stash: A Great Make Money From Home Site

Reply

Cindy August 25, 2011 at 6:27 pm

Fantastic Nicola. You’ll be amazed how fast things move forward when you gain clarity about your niche. If you need more help be sure to check out Dominate Your Niche and Your Clear Path to Ideal Clients.
Thanks!
Cindy

Reply

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge

Previous post:

Next post:


Website engineering by Tony Jennings, Cambridge, England. www.tony-jennings.com