Why Finding A Niche Is Harder: Here's A Game Winning Strategy

"Niches Are Like Bathrooms ... You Never Notice One Until You Need It!" - Primm

In the past finding a niche was the key when it came to finding a business, employment or career opportunity. There have been endless books, DVD's and seminars on how to find your niche. That's been the so-called key to success, especially in the tight economic time we live in now.

But have you noticed it's getting harder to find niche marketing opportunities? Now you can even buy software and other tools to help you find the so-called magical niche market. But even most of the so-called niche finding software is much less effective than they were a year ago. The other 95% is pure junk.

Before so much information for finding a niche market was available it was a lot easier to find that unique market, product or service.  But now, ironically some of the most common information in the so-called self-improvement market is information on how to find a niche.

Before, your competition didn't have as much information on how to find a niche. Now they do? That makes it harder. So, now what? Like all movements or trends “the find a niche” trend  is slowly fading due to market saturation. Now the trend is moving toward something that doesn’t depend on outside forces, markets or economic conditions. “Creating” a niche!

When you create something you also open doors for others to follow, adapt and simulate. That often means more money for those who create the niche first. Also, when you create a niche you know it's truly unique and not just another me-too product or service.

Here’s 3 Quick but Powerful Tips to Creating A Niche

1. Low Tech Customer Research  
This first step cannot be underestimated. Knowing what your target customers needs is the first step to creating a strong niche. The best way to do this is not very high-tech (sorry). The best way to accomplish this ... drum roll please, is to ask your target customers!

Yes, asking your customer what they need and want is still the best way to start when it comes to creating a niche. You can do this either in person or through written surveys. Either way  it's money and time well spent.

2. Research For Competition Weakness
Next, find the things your competition isn't doing , can't do or won't do for your target customer and start doing it. This is one of the easiest ways to create a niche or make yourself stand out from your competition. This tip is really powerful if your competition is larger than you are. You can do the small but important things big companies overlook or don't have time to be bothered with. For example, giving more personal service.

3. Apply N.C.P
Now that you've laid a solid foundation by researching your target customer and your competition, the hardest steps, it‘s time for the final step. Now it's time to apply what I call the N.C.P or Niche Creation Principles. These principles instantly help add value to what you’re doing.

They are the principle of ...

1. Adaptation - Adapting what's successful from another industry.

2. Addition - Adding something extra.

3. Combination - Combining successful features from different products or services  to create one new product or service.

4. Customization -  Personalizing a feature or service.

5. Ease and Convenience - Making a product or service easier to buy, use, recommend or repair, etc.

6. Elimination - Eliminating a negative or inconvenience for your target customer.

7. Principle of Enlargement - Making a feature of a product or service bigger.

8. Principle of Entertainment - Adding an amusing feature.

9. Principle of Longevity - Making a feature last longer.

10. Principle of Portability - Making a stationary feature, product or service portable.

11. Principle of Reduction - Making feature or product smaller for more convenience and use-ability.

12. Principle of Reversal - Creating a new market by doing the opposite.

13. Principle of Safety - Making your customer feel safe, before, during and after purchasing. Or finding ways to reduce risk.

14. Principle of Speed - Can you do something faster than your competition?

15. Principle of Yucky - Do something your competition hates to do.