What do you do if you're struggling to find your niche in the coaching industry?

Many times we believe that by choosing a niche we will be missing out on a range of opportunities in others that we do not cover, but this is not the case. How would I choose my niche? The first thing I would do would be a niche that genuinely resonates with me, one that I already have experience with or that I'm really interested in adding value to. It's also of utmost importance to know what kind of problems I'm solving in this niche, how much value I can acquire by solving that pain in the specific niche I'm choosing. And last but not least, does the niche I'm choosing, have the profitability I'm looking for? Like the phrase "The Richest are in the niches" I hope it works for you!

Think about what topics or areas you really enjoy and where you have expertise. Explore different coaching specialties like leadership, career, wellness, or relationships. Attend events or talk to experienced coaches. Try coaching clients in different areas to see what you like best and what you're good at. Get feedback from clients and peers to understand your strengths and areas to improve. Stay flexible and open to adjusting your niche as you learn more. With time and exploration, you'll find the coaching niche that fits you best.

Identify your target audience: Who do you want to serve as a coach? Consider the demographics, psychographics, and specific needs of your potential clients. Reflect on who you connect with most naturally and where you can make the most significant impact. Most of the time your best client is you a few years back. you know what was your pain points, so if you know yourself you know your audience

My recommendation is to look at your own experience—your own hero journey, so to speak. What were your ups and downs in life, and what personal challenges did you have to overcome? There's immense power in your own experiences—you not only know your client's pain points but also have gone through the transformation yourself. Communicating this with authenticity and honesty is a great compass for finding your niche. After all, overcoming your biggest challenge is the greatest gift to others.

When you have difficulty finding your place in the coaching sector, understand why you chose this path, know the underlying reasons for practicing this profession and clearly identify the ideal client. This allows you to enter into an approach anchored in real life and to escape fantasy.

Finding your niche in the coaching industry should be predicated upon a journey of self-awareness and reflection. It involves identifying your strengths, areas of expertise, and passions. Your unique perspective and voice are what will weave your niche. Your niche serves as a bridge between their aspirations of your clients and your expertise, arming you with the ability to guide them through personal growth. A discovered self is not just a label or tagline; it's the essence of who you are, the culmination of your experiences, passions, and purpose which you definitely need to bring to bear on your coaching.

When struggling to find your niche in the coaching industry, start by introspecting and understanding yourself better. Reflect on your passions, strengths, values, and unique experiences that you bring to the table. Consider what topics or areas energize you and where you have the most expertise or interest. Practical tip: Create a personal inventory or SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to assess your skills, preferences, and areas for growth. Use this self-awareness to narrow down potential niches that align with your interests and strengths.

Discovering your path in personal coaching starts with knowing yourself well. Think about what you're good at and what you care about deeply. This helps you find the right clients and topics to focus on. Your personal journey and interests can guide you to a specialized area where you feel passionate and make a real difference. This self-awareness is like a map, guiding you toward a niche that feels true to who you are.

I believe the best coaches have had coaches of their own. This typically means they've already done some work on understanding themselves. I like the concept of Ikigai when considering where you should land in the coaching industry. - What are you good at? - What do you love doing? - What does the world need? - What can you be paid for? Most coaches I know (including myself) find themselves drawn to the career we've found people seeking us out for certain things already. It's a natural progression.

Struggling to find a coaching niche is common.... especially when you have a strong desire to help as many people as possible. Apart from market research and understanding the needs and trends in the industry, I would look within: Who would you enjoy working with the most? Which area you can contribute the most considering your strengths and personal experience? Most importantly, knowing that niching is not something that once decided cannot be changed. It's more productive to just pick one and go with it for a while and see whether it resonates with your people. You can always change your niche at any time and as many times as you want.

Stay informed about market trends and emerging needs within the coaching industry. Research industry reports, attend conferences, and engage with online communities to identify growing areas of demand and interest. Pay attention to societal shifts, technological advancements, and cultural changes that may create new opportunities for coaching niches. Practical tip: Set up Google Alerts or subscribe to industry newsletters to receive regular updates on relevant topics and trends. Use this information to adapt your coaching services or explore new niches that are in high demand.

Keeping up with what's happening in coaching is important. See what topics are becoming popular and where there's a demand for expertise. You don't have to follow every trend, but knowing about them helps you match your interests with what people need. Your niche should be where your passions, skills, and market demand meet.

This is in my opinion not that important. You don’t have to jump on every new trend of hot topic in coaching. More important in my opinion is to be better than other coaches and stand out in your own domain of coaching. New clients come to me for coaching because other coach clients have recommended me. So building a reputation by having positive impact on your clients is by far more important than jumping on the next big thing.

Understanding the needs and pain points of your target clients is crucial for finding your niche in the coaching industry. Conduct market research, surveys, or interviews to gather insights into the challenges, goals, and aspirations of your potential clients. Identify common themes or recurring problems that you are uniquely positioned to address through your coaching services. Practical tip: Develop buyer personas or ideal client profiles to create a detailed picture of your target audience, including demographics, psychographics, and specific needs. Tailor your coaching approach and marketing messaging to resonate with these client personas.

Understanding what potential clients want is key. Talk to them, join discussions, and ask questions to learn about their needs. This info helps you shape your services to solve problems not addressed by others. By meeting these needs, you become the top choice for clients with specific goals.

If a company wants to improve its products or services, the ideal approach would be to conduct UX research. This applies to your own business as well. You can interview potential clients to learn about their needs and what would benefit them the most. You can also experiment with different options and observe what resonates with people by doing a little A/B testing. This is a great way to connect with your audience and ensure that your services are actually meeting their needs.

This is crucial of course. The core quality in coaching is listening. If you are not able to listen to and identify the needs of your cliënt, how can you ever become a good coach?

Always focus on the needs of your clients first. Then become aware of your individual set of personal strengths and methods and look for or develop a USP that makes you attractive as a problem solver for your specifically formulated target group. You should also make use of coaching or supervision yourself for the necessary change of perspective.

Differentiate yourself from competitors by leveraging your unique strengths, experiences, and value proposition. Consider what sets you apart from other coaches in your field and how you can position yourself as the go-to expert in your niche. Highlight your specialized skills, qualifications, success stories, and testimonials to demonstrate your credibility and expertise. Practical tip: Conduct a competitive analysis to identify gaps in the market and areas where you can offer a unique value proposition. Showcase your competitive edge in your branding, marketing materials, and client communications to attract clients who resonate with your unique approach.

¿Qué es eso que te hace realmente único/a? En ocasiones toma tiempo descubrirlo, por eso, esta es una pregunta maestra con la que deberás meditar a fuego lento. Muchas personas te dirán que salgas a investigar a “tu competencia”, pero en mi caso, no soy muy partidaria de enfocar tu energía afuera, sino que prefiero, más bien, ir hacia adentro. Es aquí, entonces, cuando vuelve a retomar importancia el autoconocimiento. ¿Cuál es tu valor diferencial, esa mezcla única entre tu trayectoria, tus conocimientos y experiencia?

Check out what other coaches are doing to spot areas where you can stand out. What makes you different? It could be your method, skills, or personal story. Emphasizing these unique qualities helps you carve out your niche and draw in clients who want exactly what you provide.

What can you talk about effortlessly and endlessly? No notes, just great ideas and concepts that align with your life's experience in a positive and helpful way? There are clues to your niche! Is there a circumstance that you personally went through? What was the journey that made it successful for you? What wisdom did you gain? Envision sharing that and define your audience from there.

La pregunta acerca de tu segmento no es algo trivial, ya que se trata, nada más ni nada menos, de cuál es el grupo de personas a quienes quieres servir e impactar positivamente a través de los dones y los talentos que volcarás en tus servicios. Sin embargo, debes estar atento, para que el no tener tu nicho definido no se transforme en un obstáculo para comenzar a ejercer. Dicho eso, permíteme compartirte algo más: desde mi perspectiva, el nicho no se diseña ni se define, ¡se descubre! Por eso, no esperes más, sino que PRUEBA Y DESCUBRE. Es decir, comienza a ejercer ahora mismo. Ve y encuentra un lugar donde poner tu servicio.

Trying out different niches can be helpful before committing to one. Offer free sessions or workshops on various topics to see what clicks with your audience and what you enjoy most. This trial-and-error phase gives you feedback and lets you tweak your coaching services until you find the right fit for your business.

Have the courage to try things out for yourself. This will help you get to know yourself better and how potential clients react to you. And last but not least, which working method suits you best and produces amazing results when working with your little ones. Dare to follow the magic of the beginning! I recently gave a talk at a health fair and I'm curious to see what feedback I get afterwards - and what I will adapt in such settings in future.

Especially if you are new in coaching, the best way forward is just doing. Start for free, tell your clients that they are one of your first clients and that you are open to any feedback. This gives you the opportunity to test and learn. Even if you are a very experienced coach it is good to try and test new things. That keeps you sharp and growing.

Concordo é preciso testar, testar e testar. Um dia faz-se luz, afinal o nicho estava mesmo ali. Pode ser que o método utilizado não seja o mais indicado, de não se estar preparado para ver ou agir. É preciso testar, aprender, melhorar para se ir ao encontro das necessidades reais do nicho e trabalhar no que mais se gosta. Demora o seu tempo, para se encontrar o seu nicho. Tem-se de permitir e olhar para as coisas de uma perspectiva diferente. Não é fazer as coisas em vão, fazer por fazer, é sim fazer e aprender com os fracassos/frustrações/ vitórias.

Finding your niche in the coaching industry often doesn’t happen overnight. Don't be discouraged if you don't immediately know where you fit best. Discovering your exact niche can be a process of trial and error. Some may identify their specialty quickly, while others need time to experiment and explore various facets of coaching before pinpointing what truly resonates with their passion and skills. It's essential to embrace this journey of exploration. Engage in deep introspection to understand your unique strengths and interests. What aspects of coaching light you up? Which client success stories have been the most fulfilling for you? Reflect on these questions and consider how they align with potential niches.

Your brand will gradually crystallize. Stay close to your target group, find out what their needs are and don't be afraid to ask how your brand affects your friends, family and colleagues. This is valuable feedback.

Finding your niche in the coaching industry is an ongoing journey of self-discovery, adaptation, and continuous learning. Embrace the process with patience and an open mind. Seek out mentors or join coaching communities where you can learn from experienced professionals and gain valuable insights. Additionally, consider attending workshops or advanced training programs like the Cognitive Hypnotic Coaching Certification to deepen your understanding of cutting-edge coaching techniques and methodologies. Remember, your niche is not set in stone; it may evolve as you grow and gain more experience. Remain flexible, curious, and committed to providing exceptional value to your clients, and your unique coaching niche will naturally emerge.

Invest in further education: Consider investing in additional training or certifications to deepen your expertise in a specific niche. Continuing education can help you stand out in the market and attract clients who are seeking specialized knowledge and skills.

Don't stop believing in yourself. Some things take time and even if you think nothing is happening at the moment - it's working inside you.

Who are the people you MOST want to work with? What would bring the most joy? Eg. people similar to you, similar age group, that resonate with you, have similar values, are experiencing what you’ve been through are ideal. Tailor your message to this group. It doesn’t mean you are limited to this niche. Eg if you aim for ambitious, creative, intuitive women, 50-75 years, you can still work with younger women and/or men. There is power in stating your niche group, what area you focus on, why you’re qualified to help them (qualification + experience), what they can expect to go from (current life experience) and to (result/outcome, better, happier etc life). Instead of chasing clients, they self-identify. Add success stories/testimonials.