How to determine your niche: The brand of You

Does this sound like you? You want to start an online business for some extra income or to get away from a job you're not into anymore. But you're stuck on the first step: picking what to focus on. Everyone says picking the right niche is the key to get your website going, but how do you even find the right niche? A lot of people get stuck here, give up, or pick something quickly and then realize they don't like it.

If that's something you're worried about, don't stress! The solution is pretty straightforward. You don't need to have all the answers right away, and you won't be stuck with one choice forever.

So, how do you find your niche?

Let's first, do it the way most of us have read online, and then we can discuss a new approach, one that allows you to get going from day one and gives you complete freedom in the future.

The traditional way - pick a niche from the start

Imagine you haven't yet purchased a website domain but really want to get a website up and running - what do you do? Well, you need to determine a domain name related to your niche right? Let's say you determine dogs and everything to do with dogs is your niche, that's fine - dogs are great!

You could either buy a new domain name making it very obvious that your niche is dogs but what if in the future you change your mind or you want to branch out to writing about cats too - you are a bit stuck, and your website no longer makes sense. You could have picked a domain name a bit broader with something to do with pets for example and this would allow you to branch out later to cats, fish, or cockatoos. But if you wanted to deviate away from pets you are still stuck. So, what is the answer? 

Is there a better way to find your niche?

Well, for myself I was in this exact situation, not about dogs, although I do like dogs but needing to determine my niche to pick a website domain. I was stuck with - what is the best niche for me?

Trying to answer this question the traditional way literally stopped me from even starting from becoming an affiliate marketer for years.

The tricky part is figuring out what the 'perfect' niche is. I couldn't figure it out myself and thought that meant I wasn't meant to be an affiliate marketer. So, I ended up not starting at all, or I'd start but never stick with it long enough to see any results.

But here's the good news: there is an answer, and it's all about the brand of 'You'.

Image sourced from Unsplash

What is the brand of 'You'?

The brand of you is simple from the outside but the real value and potential lie under the hood. Quite simply the brand of 'You' is your personal brand. You can use your name only as your brand like I did or you can have a cool take on your name. The key is to make sure whatever name you use gives you the ability to brand it like a company does and allows you the freedom to pivot your niche in the future - more on that later. This can be a personal website or part of finding your business niche.

Why do you need a personal brand?

From day one, your journey may begin with a specific focus, but interests evolve. You might exhaust your initial niche or discover new passions. But with a personal brand, transitioning to these new areas is seamless. Let’s find out more.

Your personal brand differentiates you

Your brand is all about what people think of you. It’s the vibe they get and the memories they keep after they meet you or see your work online. Making your brand stand out in a good way means putting in the work every day to find your niche. Yes, it takes time and effort to build your niche, but it’s totally worth it.

Remember, being online isn’t enough to go big. You’ve got to step out and connect with people for real. When you’re your own brand, making those connections feels more genuine, and it’s easier to build trust. Think about it: would you rather deal with a faceless website or a person who’s proud of their work and stands by it? Your personal touch can really make a difference in your business.

You are your own niche

Being your own brand is not just beneficial; it's your secret weapon for flexibility and growth in the future. Essentially, you are your own niche. The unique experiences and skills you have are what set you apart and give you an edge.

Image sourced from Unsplash

Your experience and skills are your biggest strengths

Many people overlook their life before becoming a website owner, thinking it's not relevant to the niche they want to target. But this isn't true.

For instance, if you've worked as a nurse or a teacher, those experiences can uniquely contribute to your niche. A teacher could develop educational content about dogs, or a nurse could leverage connections with animal therapy groups. It's not just about your job; personal challenges, hobbies, or any skill you've mastered can define your niche.

Do you need subject matter expertise to succeed?

To build your niche, you just need to understand your subject or product better than most. This allows you to review products or share insights that offer real value to people seeking advice.

For example, if you know what gear a runner and their dog need for safe and comfortable running, what kind of breaks are necessary, and the best nutrition for both, you're already an expert in that niche idea. Your knowledge can help someone looking to start running with their dog, providing them with valuable information to make their experience better. This ability to offer genuine recommendations is key to developing your potential niche in the market.

The advantage of nurturing your personal brand lies in its inherent flexibility, allowing you to adapt and shift focus as you uncover new areas for business growth. While the future remains uncertain, leveraging your unique identity enables a dynamic approach to continuously find new niches for your business, ensuring your brand remains relevant and vibrant.

Your brand will always be evolving

The great thing about having your personal brand is that it lets you change direction whenever you find new opportunities that excite you. We can't guess what the future holds, but we do know ourselves. Using that knowledge helps you keep finding the right niche for your business, keeping your brand fresh and moving forward.

About author:

Adam is an online marketer and writer with a passion for sustainability and green technology. He created adamdroper.com as a platform to promote businesses that adopt sustainable practices.