8 years ago this month I left my job as an Executive Recruiter placing Sales, Marketing and Advertising professionals, went back to University and enrolled in one of the top coaching institutes in the world and started my own business!
8 Years in Business! Does time fly when you’re having fun! I’ve learned a lot and certainly have a lot more to learn, however, one important lesson I’ve learned was to narrow my focus — and the results have helped to expand my business. The topic of this week’s article is “Narrow Your Focus, Expand Your Business!” It’s true; there are riches in the niches!
In fact, one of my clients who recently claimed his niche, reported a 67% increase in revenue over last year and the year is just half over! We worked together using my BRIDGE Method. I do that because it works. I’m so confident that I’m using it again for myself as I continue the transition and expansion of my own coaching & consulting business.
I’ve done a lot of thinking about my specialties, and exactly the type of clients I think will be best served by my unique skill set. Implementing the first step of the BRIDGE Method, “Become Clear,” I was able to determine that my ideal clients are self-motivated college grads or MBA’s who have a history in marketing, advertising, or design fields; who are creative and expressive; and who just need a leg up to get to the next level in their job search or business development plan. Now this isn’t to say that I’ll only work with people who have these qualifications, but clients who possess one or more of these qualities tend to benefit most from my services — because my particular expertise lends itself to their development.
Once I’d really gotten clear on who I want to work with, I started working on the next steps: “Research, and Identify Target Markets.” I found that, armed with a clear picture of my ideal client, I was able to effectively reach out to people who were actively looking for my services, rather than just casting my line out into the Internet void. While on Twitter the other day I happened to glance at the profile of someone who was following my Tweets. He’s a marketing and web development professional with a Master’s degree, a musician, a DJ, and a foodie, who’s interested in starting his own business but needs a little help getting clear on the particulars. Behold the power of targeted thinking!
At first it may seem that by targeting a niche market or taking the time to really identify your ideal client, employer, or employee, you’re limiting your options. But the truth is you’re doing exactly the opposite. Instead of spending time and resources on projects which don’t utilize your full skill set, you can now step confidently into the spotlight and say, “I really am the BEST person for this job/client, because this job/client is the best one for me.”
This clarity is the biggest gift of my BRIDGE Method. When you know exactly what you want, you don’t need to waste time in a Method of elimination. When you know exactly who or what will be best served by your unique skills, you don’t need to spend your energy on tasks that don’t light your fire. When you know where you want to be, you can forge a path to get there, instead of wandering around lost in the woods.
I offer regular tele-classes using the BRIDGE format, as well as one-on-one coaching sessions which delve even deeper into the BRIDGE Method to help you get clear, get ready, and get going! Remember, first-time clients receive a FREE consultation session!
Tags: BRIDGE Coach, career life coach, Coach for advertising, marekting and creative entrepreneurs, niche marketing for business, niche marketing for careers, using your uniques skills to land your ideal job