
One of the most critical tasks for speakers early in their career is defining their niche and then going even further to focus their message even more.
I constantly explain to the speakers I work with that you need to niche down, focus your message, and be the go-to expert on that topic.
And yet, so often, there are protestations from would-be speakers that they can’t niche down because:
1) They don’t want to miss out on potential speaking gigs
2) They think niching down will limit earnings
3) They think niching down is too restrictive
I’m here to tell you that these are all HUGE misconceptions, and I will debunk each one.
So without wasting any more time, let’s get started.
The Biggest Misconceptions Regarding Niching Down DEBUNKED
Here are the minute marks that cover highlights in the episode niching down:
Misconception #1: I’ll Miss Out on Speaking Gigs If I Niche Down Too Much
The biggest fear speakers have when starting out is that they won’t secure enough work. Hence when I tell them to niche down, their first instinct is to balk.
“What if I miss out on a gig because my talk doesn’t cater to a broad enough audience?” they think.
The truth is, you’re not going to miss out on gigs by niching down. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. When you focus your talk and make it more specific, you become more attractive to event organizers and meeting planners.
Why?
Because they know exactly what they’re going to get from you. They know that your talk will be relevant to their audience and that you’ll be able to deliver on what you promise.
In other words, niching down and dominating your speaker space makes you more attractive to potential clients, not less.
Misconception #2: I’ll Limit My Potential Earnings
Another major concern for speakers is that they’ll limit their earning potential by pigeonholing themselves into a specific topic. Green speakers often fear that cutting themselves off from potentially lucrative speaking opportunities will effectively cap their earnings.
The truth is, you’re not going to limit your earnings by niching down. Once again, the opposite is true. When you focus your message and become the go-to expert on a particular topic, you open yourself up to a whole world of new opportunities.
What happens is people who AREN’T from your industry get in contact because they want to seek the opinions and judgments of an expert. They want to hear what you have to say because they can guarantee that you really know your stuff.
So, yet again, by becoming narrow with your niche selection, you’re actually opening up a whole world of opportunity, not closing any doors.
Misconception #3: It’s Too Restrictive
I often hear speakers complain they don’t want to be too restrictive and talk about the same topics over and over again. They fear they’ll miss the freedom to branch out into other areas and that they’ll become bored with their chosen niche.
The truth is, you don’t have to be restrictive when you niche down. When you focus your message, you’re not saying that you’ll never talk about anything else again. You’re simply saying you’ll be the go-to expert on that particular subject material.
You can, and should, still branch out into other segments related to your niche. You can talk about different subtopics, applications, and case studies and even venture into other industries adjacent to your own.
The key is to remember that your niche is simply a starting point. It’s a way to hone your message and focus your talk topics early, build credibility, develop authority, and establish a name for yourself. Once you’ve done that, THEN people might want to hear what you have to say on other similar topics.
But it all starts with niching down.
Niche Down Today to Reap the Rewards
So there you have it, the three biggest misconceptions about niching down, debunked. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you should niche down your talks, hopefully this has helped clear some things up for you.
And if you’re ready to take the plunge, I’ve got some great resources below to help you get started.
You can try my specific course on defining your niche and finding your audience here. Or you can receive my entire library of training materials (including video courses, bundles, templates, and more) for just $47.
Click here to access my speaker business building bundle for less than $150!
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Resources & Links Mentioned
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Meet Wendi McNeill
As the Founder and Owner of Charli Jane Speaker Services®, Wendi has been “Opening Doors of Opportunity” for speakers since 2002.
Charli Jane Speakers provides speakers with support, exposure, tools, tips, speaking and media leads, coaching/learning programs, and much more to assist them in growing their speaking business. Learn more about Wendi
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