How to Find the Exciting (But Hidden) Niche Market That's Just Right
for You!

by copywriter and marketing coach Chris Marlow

How would you like to write copy for Hollywood film producers? Or bring a
hot new product to the espionage marketplace?

If you're in the early stages of becoming a copywriter, coach, consultant, or
other "solo" entrepreneur...now's the time to find out where YOUR market is
waiting for you...with open arms!

Using my proprietary analytical process, I've helped many new copywriters
and solopreneurs discover what's unique about them, and then find the
niche market that will appreciate it...and with great abundance!

When most people transition from one line of work to another (which is the
case for most of my coaching students), they look at their work history for
clues as to where they can realistically "fit in" as a service provider to
others. After all, that's what the headhunters do, right? And isn't that what a
resume is all about?

But looking at just one aspect of your life-to-date is short sighted!
You're much more than your work history. You have life experiences outside
of work, personal beliefs and opinions, special talents, and you may have
things you're committed to or passionate about.

Sharon, one of my coaching students, left a highly lucrative real estate
career as a broker in pricey Malibu, California. When she came to me she
knew she wanted to go into copywriting, but where?

When she told me she grew up in a house full of animals...dogs, cats, pigs,
birds, even rescued foxes, and that she still has a house full of animals...we
identified a passion, and it made sense for her to become a marketing
strategist for a select portion of the animal care marketplace.

Victoria came to me with a strong literary background and a conviction that
story-telling is an immensely powerful form of writing. To "monetize" this
special talent, we looked at various niche markets in copywriting that would
greatly benefit from her special talent.

We identified a number of vertical markets and dubbed them "the passion
marketers." Where no defined niche had existed, we created one...one that
fit Victoria's talents perfectly!

More recently, my work with another coaching student, Tracy, has led us to
uncover an immense but vastly underserved market. The opportunity is such
that she's decided to bring a new product to that market. Her idea is so
viable that she's drummed up $2 million in start-up capital in just five days!

The excitement has robbed her of her sleep these last few nights, but her
most recent email said "I can't wait to share what's going on with you.
Today had even more amazing developments, and I've entered a place of
quiet, calm confidence. This will succeed."

So how can YOU find the niche that's right for you?

When a new coaching student comes to me, I ask them to complete a
worksheet that reveals their core values and greatest desires, among other
things.

The worksheet's job is to reveal things that are important to the coaching
student, things that must be considered when selecting a niche market.
Defining goals is one important process, and identifying core values is even
more important, because if your niche market doesn't "align" with core
values, your plan simply won't work.

To illustrate: Say you're a woman who lives in Boise, Idaho who has small
children, and the "core values" exercise reveals that your primary core value
is lots of quality time with your family.

But your visually descriptive "5 year goal" shows you leading a group of high
powered marketers in a Fortune 500 company.

The mismatch here is that for the goal to come true, you would have to
acknowledge and accept the need for travel, which may work against your
most important value, lots of quality time with family, setting you up for
internal conflict, and probable failure.

In my worksheet I list many common "core values" to get the mind going.
To discover your top three "core values," surf the Internet. You'll probably
find some lists that will help you rev up your thinking.

Once you have your three top values, select the ONE that's most valuable to
you.

Then when you write out your one-year goal and your five-year goal (as
visually descriptive as possible), see if your core value is compromised in
any way.

Here are three questions I use, taken straight my 16-point worksheet:

• What is one goal (target) you could achieve by 6 months from now that
  would make a BIG difference to your life?
  
  Please check your top three values, and which of the three is most
  important to you. (Feel free to add any values not listed.) This is critical to
  achieving your goals, since your goals must be in alignment with your
  deepest values, or success will be difficult to achieve.
  
  
• Assuming your short term goal (6 months) is attainable, what would be
  your 1-year goal?
  
  
• In 5 years, what would you like your business life to look like? Please
  describe in detail. Try to make it as visual as you can.

Worksheet + Resume = Clarity

Along with my "Discover Your Goals" worksheet I ask for a resume. Aside
from work history, the resume might reveal interests (e.g., what you
majored in), and other attributes unique to you (perhaps that you've lived
all over the world, that you speak two languages fluently, that you've
worked in many different fields)...all of which can be used to find your
special niche.

For instance, Paul, one of my long-time coaching students, lives in Belgium
and speaks several languages; we've turned him into a "multicultural
copywriter" able to help multinational companies safely disseminate
advertising across cultures.

Look also at your passions. What do you do in your free time? What titles
are on your bookshelf? What opinions do you have? What unique
experiences have you had? Are you an avid golfer? (Actually, I think
copywriting guru John Carleton has been in this niche for years.)

The point is, don't see yourself as a one-dimensional piece of paper, but a
unique 3-D individual with many niche possibilities. Find one with good profit
potential and link it back to your core values to make sure they're both in
alignment.

Not knowing where you belong is a distressing feeling that keeps you stuck
in a rut, treading water, not moving forward (we've all been there).

But in just an hour or two (and sometimes three), I'm able to help
transitioning solopreneurs find their "sweet spot" in the entrepreneurial
world. When you've been looking high and low, going down blind alleys, and
making wrong turns, there's nothing more exciting...or as liberating than
finally finding your niche!

Chris Marlow, all rights reserved

* * * * *

Dear Reader: You have permission to publish this article wherever
you wish as long as this resource box stays intact:

Chris Marlow shows copywriters and other freelancers how to land the
high-value, high-quality clients through her popular Coaching Program and
Get Great Clients ezine. Sign up for your free subscription and get instant
downloads of four timely articles on how the right clients can help you build
your most profitable business! Visit
http://www.GetGreatClients.com/signup