To wrap up the ‘niche’ exploration on this blog, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What, for instance, are some good examples of niches? Any product or service that can be described with extreme specificity is a good niche. Architecture is a profession; the design of convenience stores is a niche. Medicine is a profession; women’s reproductive health is a niche. Virtual assistance is a profession; online business management is a niche.

As mentioned earlier in this series, VAs are descendants of secretaries, and secretaries who can and will do anything and everything are highly respected. But along with the change from in-office to at-home comes the hard lesson for many VAs: our enthusiasm for general-ism doesn’t work in the business world. If we truly want to succeed, it’s specialize or perish. Or perhaps, rather than thinking of it as a specialty, think of it as a clear map, a well-marked road you lay out for your customers to find you.

I’ve observed the progress of many members on my favorite VA forum site over the past couple of years. We have all become more specialized, concentrating... Click here to read the rest of this post at the Virtual Assistance and You Blog.

The Virtual Assistance and You Blog is authored by VAF member Mary of Virtual Writing and Communications Solutions.


(Would you like to see YOUR blog posts on Virtual Assistant Forums? Click here to submit your RSS feed now.)