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With the Pilot episode of The Wandering Pro podcast I want to cover a really important aspect that you need to understand. When you start out to level up in your career or business, standing out is the hardest challenge you will face. As a first, in likely a series of episodes based around this factor – I want to cover how you can niche down and add more value to what you do as a Career Professional.
Hosted by Saqib Tahir
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Chapters
1:42 – Chris Do talks to a Pakistani
2:01 – Pakistani mentality about getting rich faster
3:00 – How to not answer ‘What do you do’?
4:21 – The rules about providing value
5:34 – Example: How to niche down as a developer
8:35 – Example: How to niche down as a marketer
10:05 – Red Ocean vs Blue Ocean Strategy
11:22 – Elevator Pitch Framework
12:37 – I don’t want to focus so narrowly in my Career
14:45 – This is not a one time process – keep repeating
Companion Article Summary: Finding Your Niche in the Digital Age
Welcome to episode number two of The Wandering Pro. In this episode, we are diving into a crucial topic that many people struggle with when they decide to work for several years, start a business, freelance, or even take up a job: how to compete effectively. This is especially pertinent in the digital age, where countless individuals are vying for success in tech, delivery services, and other digital domains.
The Importance of Niching Down
When you enter a field like development, marketing, or writing, you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of competitors. It’s common to wonder, “How will I stand out among thousands or even tens of thousands of people doing the same work?” Those who succeed quickly often have a strong network or extensive experience. But what if you don’t have these advantages?
One crucial strategy is to figure out your niche. This advice might sound repetitive, as it’s commonly heard on LinkedIn and other business platforms, but understanding its importance is key. To illustrate this, let me share a story from about a year and a half ago when I participated in a LinkedIn live podcast featuring Chris Do, a renowned designer known for teaching freelancing, negotiation, business, and sales skills.
Learning from Chris Do
During this live call, Chris Do was answering questions from participants, one of whom was a Pakistani girl. She had the incredible opportunity to speak directly with Chris Do, who charges $5,000 for a call. Instead of asking about his skill set, business strategies, or competition, she lamented that being in Pakistan, she couldn’t earn a lot of money.
Chris Do responded with a powerful analogy. He asked if people in Pakistan buy iPhones, which are more expensive there than in America. She confirmed that they do. He explained that Apple doesn’t lower its prices for Pakistan, yet people still buy their products. His point was that value and branding matter more than location.
Providing Value and Branding
Chris Do emphasized two principles for providing services: you can either lower your rates and compete on price, or you can focus on branding and provide higher value services. Essentially, you need to become a product while offering your services.
He then asked the girl what she did, and she responded broadly, “I do branding.” Chris Do highlighted that branding encompasses many things—brand strategy, visual identity, brand guidelines, and more. He advised her to specialize and deeply understand her field before worrying about making money.
This interaction was a learning moment for me. It highlighted the importance of knowing how to provide value and the necessity of niching down, especially if you aim to make more money.
The Two Universal Truths of Providing Value
There are two universal truths when it comes to providing value in any field:
- Provide the same value for a lower price.
- Provide more value for the same price.
These principles are essential for out-competing your competition. For instance, if someone sells a razor for 100 rupees, you can sell two razors for 100 rupees, or sell a better-quality razor for the same price.
Practical Examples of Niching Down
To help you understand how to niche down, let’s consider two examples: a developer and a marketer.
Example 1: Developer
If you’re a developer, the first step is to decide what kind of development you specialize in—web development, mobile app development, embedded systems, etc. Suppose you choose web development. Within this domain, you need to narrow it down further. For instance, you might focus on web apps built with React.
Next, identify your target industry or client type. Let’s say you decide to specialize in telehealth web apps. This niche has specific challenges such as scheduling, payment systems, and SEO. By addressing these pain points, your messaging and portfolio become highly targeted, making it easier to attract the right clients.
Example 2: Marketer
As a marketer, there are numerous roles you can play. Let’s say you are a copywriter specializing in landing page copy for SaaS (Software as a Service) companies. Your focus could be on creating compelling value propositions, high conversion rates, and strong branding.
By targeting specific pain points and industries, your messaging becomes more focused, attracting clients who need exactly what you offer.
The Red Ocean vs. Blue Ocean Strategy
The concept of niching down ties into the Red Ocean vs. Blue Ocean Strategy. The Red Ocean is where there is heavy competition and “bloodshed,” with many professionals fighting for the same clients. The Blue Ocean, on the other hand, is a less crowded market space where you can stand out by offering specialized services. By narrowing your focus, you create your own Blue Ocean.
When starting out, it’s crucial to position yourself in a Blue Ocean. Refine your skills and target audience methodically. An easy-to-understand framework for this is the elevator pitch framework, which helps you articulate your niche and value proposition clearly.
Applying the Niche Strategy in Various Contexts
Whether you are freelancing, starting an agency, or seeking a specific industry job, the advice to niche down remains relevant. Avoid trying to do everything under the sun. Instead, focus on one thing and excel at it. This doesn’t mean you can’t take on different types of work, but your messaging and portfolio should target a niche audience to attract more clients initially.
For example, if you’re a web app developer specializing in telehealth, you can still work on other projects once you establish a client base and gain referrals. The key is to focus on your entry point and make it easier to get new work.
The Continuous Process of Niching Down
Finding and refining your niche is a continuous process. It involves ongoing learning, project-based experiences, and adjusting your focus as you gain more insights. Initially, your work may be scattered, but over time, as you refine your niche, your portfolio will become more cohesive and targeted.
For instance, my own journey involved starting with a broad focus on product management, project management, and marketing consultancy. Over time, I narrowed it down to working with early-stage startup founders and providing product management support. This focus helps potential clients quickly understand my expertise and how I can help them.
Conclusion
Niching down is a powerful strategy for standing out and growing quickly in your field. By focusing on a specific niche, you can provide targeted value, attract the right clients, and build a strong reputation. Remember, this is an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and adjustment. Embrace the journey, and you’ll find yourself in a much stronger position to succeed.
Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Wandering Pro. I hope you found these insights helpful. Stay tuned for more discussions in future episodes. As always, any feedback is welcome. See you next time!
Further learning and references
https://sknexus.com/adding-more-value-to-your-services/
https://thefutur.com/people/chris-do
https://www.cascade.app/blog/blue-ocean-vs-red-ocean-strategy
https://medium.com/@kasimaslam/niching-down-the-fastest-path-to-success-6a4d3959d3e1
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At the heart of it – I love solving problems for people using tech, it doesn’t get simpler than that.
Some know me as a Product Manager who relentlessly executes, some know me as a mentor who hand holds them to success, some know me as a techhead who won’t stop complaining about ‘that one thing’, and lastly; some know me as that guy who is always experimenting with something new.
As long as its in the realm of tech, I am interested – because my love for tech fuels my passion – sknexus.com – and my profession – prodigipartners.com