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The Niche Test!
In order to stand out on a job interview or at work, create a
successful business or compete in any market you need to
standout among your competition – you need to know your niche in
the marketplace. That means that you need to be easily viewed as a
producer, or known as the “go-to” person within the company, or
provide a service for which only your company can fill the void.
Do you have a Niche?
____ 1. Have you decided on the one thing you want to become
well known for?
____ Or are you straddling the fence, still offering a variety of things
until you see what takes off?
____ 2. Are you willing to commit 100 percent of your available
time, energy and money to developing this one thing.
____ Or are you dividing your available time among various ideas
or possibilities.
____ 3. Do you have your own niche, your own specialty, that
capitalizes on your unique combination of interests, skills, talents,
experience, background, and contact?
____ Or are you doing pretty much what others in your field are
doing?
____ 4. Can you demonstrate why you are the best choice for your
clients or customers?
____ Or are you hoping people will believe in and want to do
business with you?
____ 5. Do you have a plan for how you will become known to the
people who need to know about you? Will your plan keep you on the
top of these people’s minds?
____ Or are your efforts at marketing catch-as-catch-can?
____ 6. Are you able to follow your plan consistently and frequently
enough to actually have the impact you’re seeking?
____ Or do your marketing efforts slip through the cracks due to
lack of time or because you really don’t like doing them.
Signs That You Are Not Focused
1. You have multiple business cards or wonder if you should.
2. You’ve purposefully chosen a general business name that doesn’
t say what you do so you can use it for all the different things you do.
3. You often feel conflicted about which aspect of what you do you
should mention when you introduce yourself.
4. People don’t seem to take your business seriously.
5. People are often confused about or can’t describe what you do.
6. Clients seem satisfied with your work but rarely refer other
businesses to you.
7. In describing what you do, you often say, “I do a lot of things” or
ask “What do you need done?”
8. People have trouble explaining to others what you do or
frequently comment that they never can keep up with all the things
you’re doing.
9. Your business cards and brochures include a list of things that
other people are doing as full-time businesses.
You have trouble summarizing what you do in a simple sentence.
WAYS TO CARVE OUT YOUR NICHE
Do you solve a problem…….?
Where You Work: National, local, regional, neighborhood, down
town, school district, statewide, on client’s site, via internet modem
or fax.
With Whom You Work: Small business, Fortune 500 companies,
major corporations, accounting industry, hospitals, children, adults,
elderly, men, women, smokers, overeaters, joggers, dog lovers,
brides, widows, single parents, two career couples.
Your Industry: Health, construction, law, real estate, banking,
insurance, medicine, sports, entertainment, tourism, restaurants,
unemployed, non-profits, banks, beauty salons.
When You Work: At all hours, overnight, fast turnaround,
The Problem You Address: Collections, employee turnover, on call,
weekends, evenings, for life events (births, marriages, divorce or
death), special occasions like conferences and parties, those short
on time, sales challenges.
How You Help Solve the Problem: Seminars, books, tapes, consult,
telephone, newsletters, video, speeches, products, on-line, mail
order, radio, television.
They Have a Niche!
I pack artwork for shipping so it will arrive safely.
I keep law libraries up to date.
I train employees to better appreciate cultural diversity.
I help retail shops attract more customers to malls.
I provide medical care for ill travelers.
I create menus for restaurants.
I develop ride-sharing programs for city and county transportation
departments.
I help doctors join group practices.
I design kitchens for gourmet chefs.
I conduct environmental-impact studies for commercial real estate
developers.
First define the unique problem you solve, and for what audience
and then you will know to whom you need to target your public
relations and marketing strategies. Start now!
Email this to a friend who may appreciate the advice.
Follow Mary Lee’s career tips on Twitter.com at StartingOverNow
or on Facebook at Mary Lee Gannon.
Sign up for Mary Lee’s FREE e-newsletter of free career and
productivity advice by emailing info@startingovernow.com.
For the FREE Worksheets: "SMART Goals," “It’s Not Who You Know
It’s Who knows You” and “Goals - What They Did for Me” go to: www.
startingovernow.com/Articles-andTip-Sheets.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a productivity expert who went from being a
stay-at-home mother with four children to divorce, poverty and then
on to become a newspaper reporter, trade association executive
director, public relations consultant, and foundation president and
CEO. View Mary Lee’s free career tips, worksheets and Blog on her
website at www.startingovernow.com. Contact Mary Lee or sign up
for her free e-newsletter at info@startingovernow.com.
In order to stand out on a job interview or at work, create a
successful business or compete in any market you need to
standout among your competition – you need to know your niche in
the marketplace. That means that you need to be easily viewed as a
producer, or known as the “go-to” person within the company, or
provide a service for which only your company can fill the void.
Do you have a Niche?
____ 1. Have you decided on the one thing you want to become
well known for?
____ Or are you straddling the fence, still offering a variety of things
until you see what takes off?
____ 2. Are you willing to commit 100 percent of your available
time, energy and money to developing this one thing.
____ Or are you dividing your available time among various ideas
or possibilities.
____ 3. Do you have your own niche, your own specialty, that
capitalizes on your unique combination of interests, skills, talents,
experience, background, and contact?
____ Or are you doing pretty much what others in your field are
doing?
____ 4. Can you demonstrate why you are the best choice for your
clients or customers?
____ Or are you hoping people will believe in and want to do
business with you?
____ 5. Do you have a plan for how you will become known to the
people who need to know about you? Will your plan keep you on the
top of these people’s minds?
____ Or are your efforts at marketing catch-as-catch-can?
____ 6. Are you able to follow your plan consistently and frequently
enough to actually have the impact you’re seeking?
____ Or do your marketing efforts slip through the cracks due to
lack of time or because you really don’t like doing them.
Signs That You Are Not Focused
1. You have multiple business cards or wonder if you should.
2. You’ve purposefully chosen a general business name that doesn’
t say what you do so you can use it for all the different things you do.
3. You often feel conflicted about which aspect of what you do you
should mention when you introduce yourself.
4. People don’t seem to take your business seriously.
5. People are often confused about or can’t describe what you do.
6. Clients seem satisfied with your work but rarely refer other
businesses to you.
7. In describing what you do, you often say, “I do a lot of things” or
ask “What do you need done?”
8. People have trouble explaining to others what you do or
frequently comment that they never can keep up with all the things
you’re doing.
9. Your business cards and brochures include a list of things that
other people are doing as full-time businesses.
You have trouble summarizing what you do in a simple sentence.
WAYS TO CARVE OUT YOUR NICHE
Do you solve a problem…….?
Where You Work: National, local, regional, neighborhood, down
town, school district, statewide, on client’s site, via internet modem
or fax.
With Whom You Work: Small business, Fortune 500 companies,
major corporations, accounting industry, hospitals, children, adults,
elderly, men, women, smokers, overeaters, joggers, dog lovers,
brides, widows, single parents, two career couples.
Your Industry: Health, construction, law, real estate, banking,
insurance, medicine, sports, entertainment, tourism, restaurants,
unemployed, non-profits, banks, beauty salons.
When You Work: At all hours, overnight, fast turnaround,
The Problem You Address: Collections, employee turnover, on call,
weekends, evenings, for life events (births, marriages, divorce or
death), special occasions like conferences and parties, those short
on time, sales challenges.
How You Help Solve the Problem: Seminars, books, tapes, consult,
telephone, newsletters, video, speeches, products, on-line, mail
order, radio, television.
They Have a Niche!
I pack artwork for shipping so it will arrive safely.
I keep law libraries up to date.
I train employees to better appreciate cultural diversity.
I help retail shops attract more customers to malls.
I provide medical care for ill travelers.
I create menus for restaurants.
I develop ride-sharing programs for city and county transportation
departments.
I help doctors join group practices.
I design kitchens for gourmet chefs.
I conduct environmental-impact studies for commercial real estate
developers.
First define the unique problem you solve, and for what audience
and then you will know to whom you need to target your public
relations and marketing strategies. Start now!
Email this to a friend who may appreciate the advice.
Follow Mary Lee’s career tips on Twitter.com at StartingOverNow
or on Facebook at Mary Lee Gannon.
Sign up for Mary Lee’s FREE e-newsletter of free career and
productivity advice by emailing info@startingovernow.com.
For the FREE Worksheets: "SMART Goals," “It’s Not Who You Know
It’s Who knows You” and “Goals - What They Did for Me” go to: www.
startingovernow.com/Articles-andTip-Sheets.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a productivity expert who went from being a
stay-at-home mother with four children to divorce, poverty and then
on to become a newspaper reporter, trade association executive
director, public relations consultant, and foundation president and
CEO. View Mary Lee’s free career tips, worksheets and Blog on her
website at www.startingovernow.com. Contact Mary Lee or sign up
for her free e-newsletter at info@startingovernow.com.
StartingOverNow.com
Articles
FREE e-book.
Get Mary Lee's FREE
e-book "Make Your
Wheel of Fortune
Spin on Balance" by
clicking here. Mary Lee
Gannon's work as a
newspaper reporter,
trade association
executive director,
public relations
consultant,
entrepreneur, and
hospital foundation
president and CEO are
the basis for her free
e-newsletter with tips on
"Starting Over."
Get Mary Lee's FREE
e-book "Make Your
Wheel of Fortune
Spin on Balance" by
clicking here. Mary Lee
Gannon's work as a
newspaper reporter,
trade association
executive director,
public relations
consultant,
entrepreneur, and
hospital foundation
president and CEO are
the basis for her free
e-newsletter with tips on
"Starting Over."
People who use the
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
Mary Lee Gannon's
Book "Starting Over"
will be released in
November of 2009.
Look for it in stores or
order it from
Amazon.com.
Book "Starting Over"
will be released in
November of 2009.
Look for it in stores or
order it from
Amazon.com.
Follow Mary Lee's tips
and information on these
Social Networking sites:
and information on these
Social Networking sites:
Turnaround Solutions for People & Organizations
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
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FREE Resources
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
| Mary Lee Gannon is interviewed on Mind Your BIZness |
Listen to Mary
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Get the FREE e-Book "Make Your
Wheel of Fortune Spin on Balance"
and the Starting Over Now FREE
e-Newsletter. Start now!
Wheel of Fortune Spin on Balance"
and the Starting Over Now FREE
e-Newsletter. Start now!
StartingOverNow.com
Executive Leadership Coaching - Turnaround Solutions for People and Organizations
Executive Leadership Coaching - Turnaround Solutions for People and Organizations