Over the past month you’ve received many questions to guide you through the process of defining your professional niche. Now it’s time to put it all together.
This week’s post will be short, so you can spend less time reading and more time taking action :-).
Step 1: State your position
Over the past few weeks you’ve collected ideas about the tools you use in your daily work, the setting where you are most productive, the feedback you get from others, and more.
Collate all of those into a position statement which clarifies what you do and why.
For example this is my (current) position statement: I help data & tech professionals like you get unstuck and find direction in their career. I work with you to create a clear path to follow so you can reach your career goals with confidence.
I tend to review my statement every once in a while to see if it still reflects accurately what I’m all about.
Step 2: Become more visible
If you want to carve out your professional niche, you need to do this ‘out loud’. Otherwise others won’t know what you do and why they should care.
You don’t need to actually be loud, but you need to be visible. How you create that visibility is up to you and it’s important that you approach this in a way that feels right and authentic.
Don’t like writing? Then don’t force yourself to blog every week. Find a different approach instead, e.g. starting a podcast or using video or drawing illustrations to get your point across.
Today you have so many options for building your visibility and showing your work and skills. Pick one that feels right and start from there.
Step 3: Pick a channel and frequency
Once you’ve chosen the format that suits you, show up regularly to create content that others can access.
When you decide how often you’ll create content, be realistic. Going from zero to twice daily is something you’ll be unlikely to maintain for the long term. And the long term is what we’re aiming for.
Instead, start with once a week, establish the new habit, then move to twice or 3x a week.
Step 4: Build connections
Connecting with others is an essential part of this process. Don’t worry, you don’t have to constantly talk to others if that’s not your thing.
Focus on meaningful engagement. For example, if you create content on LinkedIn, make an effort to engage with the people who comment on your posts, but also seek out other creators in your niche and contribute to those conversations.
If your chosen platform are technical forums, make sure to supply answers, while also posting your own questions and solutions.
Over time you will build connections with people who understand what you’re all about and who form the core of your professional network going forward.
Over to you, now. Take action on these steps and I’m sure you’ll gain more clarity for your next move.
Have a great week!
Eva