Welcome to the fourth tip in our series on earning more and working less.

In this one, we’ll be discussing the power of a niche.

Whatever market you are in, you’ll usually find the most successful businesses don’t try to be something for everyone.

At first glance, it may seem like offering a product or service that appeals to a wide range of people will generate more sales than one geared towards a smaller group. But the fact is this concept rarely pans out.

Trying to satisfy everyone leads to all sorts of problems:

• Uncertainty over business strategy makes decisions difficult.
• Inability to stand out makes it harder to attract customers.
• Lack of a clear reputation means people have no reason to be loyal.
• Marketing campaigns are inconsistent - so less effective.

Yet most businesses seem to follow the approach of trying to satisfy everyone. So perhaps it’s not surprising that only a handful of businesses last more than five years.

But the world is changing fast. The internet is affecting the way people think and buy - even if your business isn’t online. People increasingly realize they can find someone who meets their needs exactly in virtually any field. The truth is: you stand a better chance of becoming an acknowledged leader in a more targeted niche than in a larger, broad field.

How to become a leader in your market
The good news is that, whatever market you are in, there is something special about your business, which means there is a niche just for you. No matter how ordinary you think your business may be, there is enormous potential under the surface that a strong positioning will unleash.

The simplest way to define a niche is that it is a group of people (buyers and potential buyers) who have something in common - such as where they live, hobbies, political views or health. The secret of finding a successful marketing niche is that it should be small enough to dominate and large enough to support a successful business.

Think Head & Shoulders shampoo. It focused on people with dandruff instead of competing with all other shampoos and came to dominate that market. If it had sought to cater for everyone, it would not have been so successful.

Having a clear niche means being able to identify exactly who your customers are and what they have in common.

But having the right niche isn’t just about finding a group of people with something in common. Here are 7 keys to finding the right niche:

1. Reachable market: If you want to sell them something, you need to be able to identify them and contact them.
2. Recognizable want: People will generally spend more money on things they want rather than things they need.
3. Identifiable gap: You need to identify a part of the niche that is not currently being served well and where you can offer something better.
4. Good fit with your strengths: It will be easier to dominate a niche if it suits your personal or business strengths.
5. Proven market: The best markets usually have some existing competition so that there are proven buyers.
6. Adequate size: There should be enough profit potential, opportunities for repeat sales and prospects to build long-term relationships.
7. Able and willing to spend money: Customers should have already shown they will buy your type of product or service.

Specialize and with laser-like focus, you will etch your product or service into your prospects’ minds and dominate your niche.

See you in a couple of days for the next tip, when we’ll be looking at positioning.

P.S. To make your marketing easier and more effective by choosing the perfect niche, check out http://www.PersuasiveMarketingSystem.com