Step-by-Step Guide: Defining Your Expert Niche & Positioning

This framework helps you move from broad ideas to a specific, compelling market position by applying strategic filters.

Phase 1: Foundation Setting

Step 1: Understand Your Core (Ikigai, Sinek)

Action: Answer these questions honestly:

• What do you genuinely love doing? (Passion, Interest)
• What are you exceptionally good at? (Skills, Experience - list your core competencies, like AI architecture, marketing, software dev, etc.)
• What does the world (or a specific market segment) genuinely need? (Problems, Gaps)
• What can you realistically get paid well for? (Market Viability)
• What is your fundamental "Why"? (Your core purpose or belief driving you - Sinek). Why do you want to help others in this domain?

Goal: Identify the intersection points and your core driving motivation. This is your foundational "Why" and potential areas of alignment.

Step 2: Brainstorm Potential Niches & Audiences

Action: Based on Step 1, list potential target audiences (e.g., SMBs, specific industries, founders, marketing teams) and potential problems you could solve for them (e.g., marketing growth, operational efficiency, AI implementation, strategy development). Don't filter too much yet.

Goal: Generate a range of possibilities to evaluate.

Phase 2: Strategic Filtering (Applying Thought Leader Principles)

Step 3: Filter for Focus & Clarity (Jobs, Miller)

Action: Evaluate each potential niche/audience from Step 2. Ask:

• Is this specific enough that I can become a true expert and potentially the best at serving them? (Jobs' focus).
• Can I explain simply and clearly who I help and what specific core problem I solve for them? (Miller's clarity).
• Would trying to serve this group force me to be too broad or dilute my expertise?

Goal: Eliminate options that are too vague, too broad, or where you can't realistically achieve deep expertise and clear messaging. Be ruthless here – saying "no" is powerful.

Step 4: Filter for Validated Need & Viability (Hormozi)

Action: For the remaining niches, ask:

• Is the problem I identified urgent and painful enough for this audience?
• Are they actively looking for solutions and willing to invest (time/money) to solve it? (Don't just assume need = willingness to pay).
• Can I realistically reach this audience?

Goal: Prioritize niches where there's a demonstrable, urgent market need you can realistically access and monetize.

Step 5: Filter for Personal Alignment & Synergy (Your Experience, Isenberg, GaryV, Do)

Action: Look at the viable niches remaining. Ask:

• Does this niche strongly leverage my unique background, experience (like your 25 years, founder journey), or existing network?
• Can I authentically connect with this audience and build a community/tribe around this problem/solution? (Isenberg, Godin).
• Is there synergy? Does serving this niche also help me solve a problem or develop a skill I need? (e.g., needing to market yourself aligns with helping others market - GaryV's documenting). Can I be truly authentic here? (Do).

Goal: Identify the niche(s) where your unique background provides an unfair advantage, allows for authentic connection, and potentially creates synergistic benefits.

Phase 3: Defining Your Position

Step 6: Pinpoint Your Specific Niche

Action: Synthesize the results of the filtering steps. Choose the single niche (specific audience + specific core problem) that best satisfies all criteria: focused, clear, viable, needed, and aligned with your strengths/authenticity.

Example: Moving from "Founders" to "Founders struggling with Marketing Growth."

Goal: Arrive at a clearly defined target market and the primary challenge you address for them.

Step 7: Craft Your Expert Identity (Title/Role)

Action: Based on your core skills (Step 1) and your chosen niche (Step 6), define your role/title. It should reflect:

• Your primary skill/expertise (e.g., AI Architect, Strategist, Consultant).
• Your approach/relationship (e.g., Co-Pilot, Partner, Guide).
• Optionally, the niche itself (e.g., ...for Founders).

Example: "AI Architect & Marketing Co-Pilot for Founders."

Goal: Create a title that clearly communicates your expertise and how you engage with your niche.

Step 8: Articulate Your Core Value (Tagline/Outcome)

Action: Distill the primary result or transformation you deliver for your niche into a concise, compelling tagline. Focus on the benefit to them.

Example: "Simplifying AI, Amplifying Founder Growth."

Goal: Create a memorable phrase summarizing your unique value proposition.

Phase 4: Iteration & Testing

Step 9: Test & Refine

Action: Start using your defined positioning (niche, title, tagline) in your communications (LinkedIn profile, website, conversations). Pay attention to feedback: Does it resonate? Are the right people responding? Are you attracting clients who fit the niche? Be prepared to slightly adjust wording or emphasis based on real-world feedback.

Goal: Validate your positioning in the market and make minor adjustments for maximum clarity and impact.