How to Better Define a Niche - 2 Examples

byJoshHarris

240 followers

12 years ago

Let's define "niche" with 2 example drawn from everyday life:

You go to the supermarket, into the condiments aisle, find mustard, then spicy Dijon mustard.

Supermarket = Internet
Condiments Aisle = website
Mustard = niche
Spicy Dijon Mustard = sub-niche.

You see how, starting from the very general and broad, you specifically zero in on the more relevant reason.

In online marketing, it's the same concept. What will help you zero in on the definition will be your keywords: the more highly relevant to what you are going to promote, the more defining it is for the niche.

Lastly, here's a quick test for you to try, to see if you make sense: if someone were to mention the niche to you - at the stage of definition you have it NOW - would you need to ask them a, "What kind of...." clarification question?

Imagine you need to order a car part over the phone:

You: "I need to order a piece for my car." - (very vague)
Op: "What make and model?" - (drilling deeper)
You: "Audi... Audi A6." - (defining)
Op: "What piece?" - (specific)
You: "Injector Pump." - (niche)
Op: "Petrol or Diesel engine?" - (narrowed it down)
You: - "Diesel. 3.0L." - (sub-niche)
Op: "Year?" (qualifier)
You: "2011." (bingo... NOW you got it!)

Notice how vague "car", or "injector pump", or "Audi" are; they could be for anything, without definition!

Once you get down to "Injector Pump for 2011 Audi A6 3.0L Diesel", there you have the niche.

If at any point, you find yourself having to go through this kind of questioning process, to better define the niche, then it means it's still too broad.

Hope this helps!

-Josh