#3 - Finding YOUR Niche
Hi Reader
Welcome back to The Learning Stack. This week I want to talk to you about how to find the right niche for you. I will also shoehorn an unexpected analogy relating butchery and content creation. Read on to find out more!
As ever, if you want to take a look at my previous newsletters, you can find them HERE
What's your niche?
Are you ready want to embark on the journey of course creation? Before diving headfirst into course production, there’s a fundamental first step that can set the trajectory of your success: finding your niche and conducting thorough market research.
Niche Matters
In the diverse world of online education, specificity is your ally. While the temptation to cater to a broader audience is real, honing in on a specific niche allows for a more tailored, in-depth, and impactful learning experience. It enables you to become an expert in a particular domain, making your content more valuable to your target audience.
Here are some questions you should answer, along with some tips to help you on your way
What am I passionate about?
Passion drives persistence. Teaching a subject you’re passionate about not only ensures longevity but also translates into a more engaging and authentic course. Your enthusiasm will be contagious to your learners.
Try this a journaling exercise to identify your passion: Dedicate a quiet time to write down subjects or activities that excite you. Reflect on past projects, hobbies, or topics you could talk about for hours. Reviewing these entries will help you pinpoint areas of passion.
Where do my skills & expertise lie?
The most successful courses often come from a place of expertise. It’s essential to identify where your strengths lie and how you can leverage your unique skill set to deliver value to your audience.
Try mapping your skills:
Create a two-column table. In the first column, list down skills you possess. In the second column, rate your proficiency in each skill on a scale of 1 to 10. This visual representation will highlight areas of expertise.
Is there a demand for this subject?
Even the most well-structured course can fall flat if there’s no demand. Use tools like Google Trends, keyword research, social media, and forums related to your subject to gauge interest and demand in the market.
Try a keyword search exercise:
Utilise tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest. Input topics you’re considering and see the search volume and competition. High search volume with low competition indicates a potential demand.
Who is my target audience, and what are their pain points?
Understanding your target demographic and their challenges allows you to tailor your content to address specific needs, making your course more impactful. Surveys, interviews, and engagement on social platforms can offer valuable insights.
Try performing a Persona analysis:
Sketch out 2-3 detailed profiles of your ideal students. Include demographics, interests, challenges, and goals. This will help you understand and address the specific needs of your potential audience.
Who are the current players in this niche, and what’s missing?
Conducting a competitive analysis helps you understand the existing landscape. By identifying gaps in current offerings or areas that can be improved, you can position your course as a unique and valuable resource.
Try a SWOT analysis of your potential competitors:
Identify 3-5 major players in your chosen niche. Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis for each. This will give you a clear picture of the current landscape and potential gaps you can fill.
Only by finding answers to these questions can you identify that you are on the right track. By finding your niche and equipping yourself with market insights, you position your content for success from the beginning. Remember, in the world of online learning, it’s not just about teaching; it’s about delivering the right content to the right audience at the right time.
Let me know how this exercise goes for you on Twitter or LinkedIn
Something I Learned This Week:
This Saturday, I took a pig butchery course that was a birthday gift from my wife. An odd segue into content creation, yet here we are. Much like carving up a pig, creating content requires a sharp tool - in this case our discerning mind. In butchery, each cut unveils a part of a bigger whole, and the same goes for content creation. Each piece we craft sheds light on a larger narrative. The butcher values every part of the pig, akin to how we value every snippet of information, ensuring nothing goes to waste. And just as a butcher sharpens his knives, refining our tools - be it our writing skills or digital platforms - makes the cut cleaner, or the message clearer. It's an art and a science, whether we're talking about a slab of pork or a slab of text. This quirky parallel reminded me that with the right tools and a discerning eye, we can carve out meaningful, digestible pieces from a larger whole, be it a pig or a topic.
That's it for this week. Let me know if you want me to drill into any of the topics further in future newsletters
Thanks for reading!
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