think I know my niche, now what? - Virtual Assistant Forums

Becky Noblick VA · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

ok, so my website is pretty much done and it's up. I want to gear my niched towards artists, musicians,photographers. But this is only because I have an interest in the field, not experience necessarily. I have a bachelor's in business administration with a concentration on healthcare management. My question is-which one do I do and can I do the artists, ect niche with no experience. My brother is an artist, that's my only experience and he is still in school so nowhere near able to outsource his tasks.

MissMichelle · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

I just wanted to take a quick second to point out that you've identified your Target Market, not your niche.

A target market is what type of people you'll be primarily taking on and/or marketting to as clients. Your niche will be what kind of services you'll be specializing in offering those clients.

I think the best thing you can do now is try to get to know some of your target market, and find out what kind of services they might need that you'll be able to provide them with, and go from there.

Best of luck!

Michelle

Becky Noblick VA · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

Thanks for pointing that out Michelle! That makes alot more sense.

MissMichelle · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

Oh, and I forgot to mention - I don't think you should be too concerned with not having solid experience with working for your target market. You'll be there to do what you are trained to do - business administration - not what they'll be doing, such as producing art. I may be wrong with this, and hopefully someone with more experience will correct me if I am, but once you begin to get to know your target market, I think you'll gain the experience you need.

-Michelle

Your Virtual Wizard · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

Michelle,

That was outstanding advice.

Becky, I didn't see your website but if your site could be 'more visual' (if it isn't already) than say, a typically business-like site this could help to catch the attention of the artists' market you wish to field.

Best wishes and let us know how you are doing.

Jan

FPPFlorida · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

When I started trying to find my niche within my target market, I contacted two people I already knew within that industry and asked to meet with them. I explained what I wanted to do and asked them to explain to me what responsibilities they needed help with and to tell me what parts of their duties they did not enjoy doing. Ta-da, I had an instant "niche" offerering those services to meet my friends' needs as well as advertise to others that I was available to help them as well. Very simplistic, but it works!

Good luck to you,
Sheila Burt

virtual writing · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

Wow, thanks for making that distinction, Michelle, between target market and niche. Never understood it til now!
And Becky, when you're selling ice cream, you can sell it to any target market, right? So that says if your niche is ice cream, your target market will need/enjoy it as much as any other, regardless of your expertise in whatever your target market does for a living.
Right, Michelle?

MissMichelle · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

Exactly! A successful bookkeeper, for example, could handle the books of a lawyer and a musician, without needing to have hands on experience with either of them. The basics of our niches will be the same no matter our target market, though of course there will be some distinctions between what you'll be tracking, for example.

Katrina · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009

Wow, I am so glad this was posted. Michelle, thanks so much for the advice.

Becky Noblick VA · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I geared my website towards my target market and am going to start networking.