Modish Biz Tips

Who Cares? A Marketing Lesson from Seth Godin

I was feeling a bit stuck on what to talk about today and decided I'd look for an inspiring video to share here instead. I headed to TED which shares videos of the talks they host by incredible, talented, very smart people, and found this video by master marketing guru, Seth Godin.

It's called sliced bread and other marketing delights. It's 17min long if you have a chance to sit down this weekend and take a peek, I really suggest watching it. There's lots of great ideas and interesting insights involved with how to market your business successfully.

Below the video, I've posted some notes on his talk, in case you can't watch it yourself, along with my thoughts on how his advice can be applied to better our own little micro-businesses.

*feed readers, pop over to the blog here to see the video! :)

Good examples of artists who found their niche

Continuing with yesterday's post about Finding your Niche, today, we'll take a look at a variety of artists and crafters who have found their niche and have gained success because of it.

Here are some examples of shop owners who found the "one thing" that really works for them and have stuck with it, carving out a more narrowed down, very specific niche:

Trixiedelicious:  You see a pretty vintage plate with snarky text on it and you know it's a Trixie Delicious original. Combining her personal humor with her love of vintage goodies, she re-invents old things as new by giving them a whopping dose of her own unique personality. Every single thing in her shop is one-of-a-kind, yet they all retain that signature "Trixie Delicious" feel. She stays within the niche she's defined with every new design she creates. When you come to her shop, you know what to expect.

Girl Savage: Feltidermy you say? You must be talking about Girl Savage. Not only is she the #1 result when you google search the term, "feltidermy", she may have gone so far as to coin the phrase herself! (Good niche making move, Girl Savage!) She creates felted animals with a signature style and look that you recognize instantly. Even when she introduces new animals or tries out a new technique, everything looks like a Girl Savage piece. She's stayed true to herself, her own inspirations and her own ideas, and she's sold nearly 250 little felted animals because of it (just on etsy alone!)

5 Ideas to help you find your niche

{postcard by Creative Freedom. What's in your head? Your unique niche!}

Whether you're just starting your own crafty business, have been doing it for years, or are in the throes of the wishing/hoping/planning stages, one of the most important things you'll need to think about is the niche that your business fills. 

• What is the "something special" you can offer, that no one else can?
• What need does your product or service fulfill, that will make your customers want to hit the "add to cart" button?
• What will make your handmade item stand out from the crowd of other incredible talent? 

Finding your niche is one of the strongest marketing tools you have, but it can also be one of the most difficult things to do. The difference between what you make, and everything else on the market, is simply you.

You are the something special.  You are the unique point of view.  You are what will make your goods stand out from the pack.  The key to defining your niche then is to listen to and trust your own, unique point of view.

To break it down further, here are some ideas to help you find, define, and refine your niche:

1. Explore your own talents, and find what suits you best