How to Choose a Consulting Niche

5 strategies that helped me find a niche as a trainer / facilitator, and feel excited investing time and energy into it. First, I rejected the idea of niching. Then, when I understood why, I found it hard to decide. 12 years running my Learning and Development consultancy, I’ve pivoted three times. Sometimes by accident. But eventually, with more intentionality and a more robust way of making decisions. Here are a few things I’ve found helpful 📝 List out your opportunities • Jot down the problems you solve • Who has the problem (avatar) • Ask yourself how this problem impacts the avatar If you solve multiple problems for the same avatar, list them out separately and/or find an overarching problem they fit into. 🧮 Analyse each opportunity • How severe is the impact on the avatar? • How easily can you find the avatar? • Can the avatar pay? (or is there a way to access funds with/for them as part of your service?) Bonus question: If you want to invest time and energy in developing an offer... Do you like the avatar? 🕵🏻♂️ Do some competitor analysis • Who else is serving the avatar or solving that problem? • How do they position themselves, and at what price points? (if you can find out) • What might be missing? Be mindful of imposter syndrome when you’re here. The idea is to get the lay of the land to offer something different. 🎯 Prioritise opportunity • Compare the pros and cons of each opportunity • Rate and weight your responses to the ‘analyse each opportunity’ questions • Make a list of things you love doing, things you like doing, and things you can do but don’t do any more This filtering and prioritisation process is both an art and a science. If you are really struggling, speak to a friend, coach, mentor etc. 🌊 Remember, niching is not forever • Finding a niche opportunity doesn't mean you have to pigeonhole yourself • You can always change niche • BUT the skills I’ve developed serving each niche compounded every time I pivoted Without an unlimited marketing budget or time, picking a niche opportunity is about starting somewhere. And take it from there. What else have you done to find an exciting niche opportunity to work on? #WorkshopBusinessBuilder #BusinessDevelopment #Facilitation #LearningAndDevelopment #TrainingAndDevelopment

Everyone's fighting about niching down Half the business world says micro-niche or die. The other half says stay broad to capture opportunities. Both are missing the point. Here's what actually matters when you're a small firm trying to win big clients. You can offer whatever services you want. But when you start, you need to be known for ONE smart thing. Not because you can't do other things. Because Fortune 1000 companies won't take a meeting with someone who does "a little bit of everything." When we started Clermont Partners, we could have marketed our full range of consulting services. We'd done it all. Instead, we put every dollar into becoming THE experts on how CEOs and CFOs should talk about ESG issues to institutional investors. We invested $400K in research on this single topic. We wrote about it relentlessly. We got academics to comment on our findings at conferences. We built a reputation so strong in this one area that when executives had THIS problem, they called us. Once we were in the door, we sold everything else. But we got in the door because we showed up as the definitive expert on one thing. Small firms beat big consulting firms when they own a specific expertise so completely that buyers can't ignore them. This isn't about limiting your services. This is about focusing your marketing firepower on the one thing that will get you the first meeting. After 30 years of landing Fortune 1000 clients with small teams, we can tell you this works every time. Pick the smartest thing you do. Put all your thought leadership, your content, your speaking, your research budget behind that one thing. Become impossible to ignore in that space. Then sell whatever you want once you're in. What's the ONE thing your firm should be known for?

"Niche down" is the most misunderstood advice in the creator economy.  Most people think it means: • Picking one topic and ignoring everything else • Shrinking your interests to fit a box • Sacrificing parts of yourself for clarity But here's what successful creators know: True niching isn't just about subtraction. It's about integration. I learned this after: ↳ Watching countless creators burn out from forced focus ↳ Building multiple successful businesses across industries ↳ Studying how top creators actually "niched down" Here's the thing nobody tells you: The magic isn't just in narrowing your focus. It's in finding your unifying theme. Think about it: Tim Ferriss didn't "pick one thing." He created a unifying theme of optimizing life through experimentation. Ali Abdaal didn't abandon his medical knowledge to talk about productivity. He wove it into his content's DNA. Here's how this actually works: 𝟭. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 Start with ONE clear problem you want to solve. Then notice how your different interests naturally help solve it. For example, I help creators find their niche. That's the core problem. - My content agency taught me how to create content - My tech experience showed me systematic approaches - My ecom background ensures profitability Everything serves ONE purpose, just from different angles. 𝟮. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 Look for problems you've solved for yourself that you'd genuinely enjoy helping others overcome. For example, whether I was: - Building fashion brands - Growing tech startups - Scaling e-commerce businesses I was always experimenting with different ways to find profitable niches. I noticed I kept solving this same challenge across industries. And more importantly, 𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵. When other creators started asking for help, I realized: ↳ I had a unique perspective from testing across industries ↳ I actually loved helping others navigate this challenge ↳ My diverse background gave me insights others missed That's your sweet spot – where your experience, enjoyment & ability to help others intersect. 𝟯. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 Choose which parts of your experience actively serve your core problem. For example: • Keep: My ecom background to help creators with business models • Adapt: My tech experience designing systematic approaches • Set aside for now: Detailed manufacturing processes This approach creates: ↳ Natural authenticity (you're using your real experiences) ↳ Endless content angles (multiple perspectives on ONE problem) ↳ Unique value proposition (your combination becomes your superpower) The best part? You can start small (helping one person with one problem) while bringing your full self to the solution. ❌ Stop trying to niche down just through elimination. ✅ Start integrating your multiple passions into one theme. p.s. Wanna know the truth about niching down? Check out my bonus pinned comment 👇

⚠️ Most new Clay agencies fail before they even start. Not because Clay isn’t a great tool (it is). Not because there aren’t enough clients (there are). But because they’re all competing in the same overcrowded, low-margin space. If I were starting a Clay agency today, here's the playbook I'd follow: ✅ Pick a Niche – Don't just be a “Clay expert.” Be the Clay expert for a specific use case. ✅ Solve a Painful, Revenue-Tied Problem – Clients pay premium rates for problems that directly impact revenue. ✅ Leverage an Emerging Ecosystem – Get in early with a rising tool and become the go-to person in that space. 💡 Example: Clay + Default I was recently coaching someone (I'm a mentor for Clay Bootcamp 🥾) on how to do this, and a perfect example came up: Clay for Default.com (a growing inbound lead routing tool). Right now, Default users likely struggle with bad enrichment data. Default is an awesome product, but your ability to qualify, route, and convert, is only as good as your data. Clay can supercharge Default’s workflows, but no one is specializing in this. If you became the go-to Clay for Default consultant, you'd: 💰 Charge $10K+ per implementation (instead of competing with $50/hr freelancers) 🎯 Dominate a niche with low competition 🚀 Likely get Default itself to promote you This is exactly how I built Sculpted—by specializing in Clay (before it was cool). Now that it's become a more crowded space, we specialize in Clay for HubSpot enrichment. We don’t compete with generic Clay agencies. We own our category. 🚀 Your Move If you're looking to start a Clay agency (or pivot your existing one), don’t just do outreach automation like everyone else. Find your Clay X [Tool] niche, make yourself indispensable, and avoid the race to the bottom. What niche do you think is ripe for this strategy? Let’s discuss.👇 #Clay #Automation #LeadGen #SalesTech #GrowthHacking #Entrepreneurship

I spent an hour coaching a veteran entrepreneur yesterday, and I'm still thinking about our conversation. He's building something powerful. A leadership consulting business focused on helping corporate teams bridge the perception gap between different levels of the organization. The curriculum is solid. The website is coming together. The expertise is undeniable after 30 years of service. But he was stuck on the same question every entrepreneur faces... "How do I get my first client?" Here's what most people get wrong about launching a business. They try to be everything to everyone. They build the perfect website, craft the ideal elevator pitch, and wait for clients to magically appear. But the marketplace doesn't reward perfection. It rewards clarity. The Framework I Shared... 🔸 Niche down to 3 specific pain points you solve best 🔸 Run a LinkedIn poll to validate which resonates most with your network 🔸 Build a curriculum around the winner 🔸 Create 2-3 posts per week addressing that specific problem 🔸 Let engagement guide your next moves The poll does something brilliant. It transforms passive scrolling into active market research. It shows you exactly what keeps your ideal clients up at night. And it identifies who's genuinely interested versus who's just being polite. Here's the truth about lead generation... Quality connections beat quantity applications every single time. Spend 10-20% of your time on outbound applications. Invest 60-80% in strategic networking. Not the "spray and pray" LinkedIn connection requests. I'm talking about showing up consistently with valuable insights in your niche. One veteran I coached went from zero traction to four consulting inquiries in 21 days using this exact approach. Not because he changed his credentials. Because he finally got specific about the problem he solves and for whom. Your first client doesn't need to know they're your first client. They need to know you understand their problem better than anyone else. Confidence comes from competence. Competence comes from clarity. Get crystal clear on the transformation you provide, then find the people desperately seeking that exact outcome. Your Action Steps: 🔸 Identify your 3 best topics 🔸 Run a poll asking which problem your network struggles with most 🔸 Build your content strategy around the results 🔸 Deliver massive value through consistent posting 🔸 Over-deliver for your first client and ask for testimonials The business you're building deserves better than hoping someone discovers you. Start with clarity. Build with consistency. Scale through specificity. What's one business idea you've been sitting on because you're not sure where to start? Drop it below. Let's figure out your first move together.

The $57K placement fee that changed everything for me came from a niche the big agencies ignored. When I started my recruiting business, I was competing with everyone. Fighting for the same tech roles, the same sales positions, the same clients. Then I noticed something: While Robert Half and Korn Ferry dominated the mainstream markets, entire specialized segments sat untouched. No competition. Higher fees. Grateful clients. 10 years and hundreds of conversations with successful independent recruiters later, I've discovered a pattern: The highest-earning recruiters aren't competing with staffing giants. They're dominating spaces too specialized for the big firms to bother with. Here's how to find your profitable niche: 1. Look for high-complexity, high-compensation roles Big firms thrive on volume. They want repeatable placements with standardized job descriptions. The gold mine? Roles requiring deep expertise that can't be templated: • Specialized regulatory compliance positions (average fee: $25K-45K) • Hybrid technical/leadership roles (average fee: $30K-60K) • Emerging technology specialties with small talent pools (average fee: $35K-80K) 2. Identify transitioning industries According to Top Echelon's 2025 State of Recruiting Report, areas undergoing rapid transformation create natural gaps. Think industries where: • Regulations are changing quickly (fintech, healthcare) • Technology is disrupting traditional roles (clean energy, telehealth) • Two previously separate disciplines are merging (AI ethics, clinical data science) 3. Follow the frustration Where are hiring managers consistently let down? What positions stay open for 6+ months? A pharmaceutical client told me: "We've worked with three major recruiting firms on our GMP compliance role. None understand the specific regulatory background we need." That's not a problem. That's an opportunity. 4. Test before you commit Before going all-in, validate your niche: • Conduct 10 research calls with hiring managers • Review job boards for positions open 90+ days • Connect with candidates in the space to assess supply 5. Go deep, not wide A recruiter in my network focused exclusively on DevSecOps for financial services. Not just DevOps. Not just security. Not just any industry. Her first year: Four placements at $35K each. Year two: Eight placements at $42K each. Now: Clients call her before posting jobs publicly. The narrower your focus, the wider your profit margins. Large firms can't afford to specialize at the level you can. Their business models require volume. Your advantage is precision, not scale. What's the niche where you already have connections? Where you understand the language better than most recruiters? That's not just your specialty. That's your next $50K placement waiting to happen.

A niche that looks good on paper can still sink your agency. I’ve learned that not all niches are worth pursuing. The right choice makes all the difference. I ask 3 questions before committing to a niche: 1️⃣ Does it fit our strengths? Our team’s expertise must align with the niche’s needs. For example, a technical team thrives in technical industries. 2️⃣ Does it have real market potential? A niche needs enough businesses with budgets that support long-term growth. 3️⃣ Do we actually care about it? The best agencies don’t just serve a niche, they contribute to it. If a niche checks all three boxes, it has the potential to fuel real, sustainable growth. Pick wisely. The wrong niche can be just as limiting as not specializing at all. CQ --------------------------- Hi! I'm Corey Quinn 🎯 🚫 Don’t let an algorithm decide what you read! Join over 1,000 readers who get my daily growth tips. ⬆️ Click "Visit my website" under my name to subscribe

I told a client how to choose a niche this week. It blew her mind. Most people think a strong niche means targeting a hyper-specific audience. "The riches are in the niches," right? Not quite. A great niche isn't just WHO you help - it's also WHAT you help them do. Every niche has two components: • An ideal client • An ideal result But only ONE of those needs to be hyper-specific for your niche to stand out. Here's what a weak niche looks like: 👉 "I'm a business coach who helps business owners grow their business." Broad client. Broad result. No bueno. Now watch what happens when you make just one part specific: 👉 "I help business owners hire their first employees." Broad client + Specific result = Strong niche Or... 👉 "I help moms with side hustles grow their business." Specific client + Broad result = Strong niche And if you double down on the specificity? 👉 "I help moms with side hustles hire their first employees." Well, you'll print money. (Unless you suck - no niche can fix being bad at what you do. 😉 ) So consider your current niche: Is your ideal client too broad? Is your result too generic? Tighten one - or both - and watch what happens. Tell me your niche in the comments. I'll give you a suggestion to improve it.

I remember walking into an interview and the first thing they said was: “You’d be a great paralegal.” I had just finished law school. I was qualified. Hungry. And deeply naive. I smiled. Grateful for the opportunity. But inside, I felt it. That familiar sinking feeling. The one where your potential gets downsised before you even speak. Here’s the thing they don’t tell you: If you don’t define your lane, the market will shove you into one. And for many law grads, that lane is paralegal work repetitive, underpaid, and labelled “experience” when although helpful for a year or so - creates stagnation. If I had to do it again? Here’s how I’d break out and stay out of the paralegal pigeonhole: 1. Lead with positioning, not pleading Don’t beg for roles. Build a presence. Show up online like you belong in the room not like you’re asking for entry. 2. Don’t just apply, attract Start creating content that shows how you think. Break down legal trends, simplify complex laws, and tie them to real-world impact. That’s how you go from CVs to DMs. 3. Choose a niche early Generalists fade. Specialists get paid. If you’re passionate about employment law, discrimination, AI, or ESG - own it. Start showing up as the go to for that space. 4. Get in proximity to power Volunteer on committees. Help with legal blogs. Attend niche events. Don’t chase titles—chase tables where conversations are happening. 5. Reframe experience You’re not “just a law grad.” You’re someone who knows how to think critically, argue persuasively, and solve problems with legal precision. That’s consultant energy. Own it. And above all - Stop aiming to be employable. Start being undeniable. Because the truth is: The market rewards visibility, value, and voice. Not silent, overqualified, invisible effort. To every law grad reading this: you are not here to be boxed in. #lawgraduates #legalCareers #careerdevelopment

If you're afraid to niche down, you need to hear this. I built a staffing business that got to 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 by only placing people in title insurance and mortgage companies with an average bill rate of about $37.50/hour. We had about 675 contractors (temps) on assignment.675 x $37.50 x 2000 (average hrs worked per year) = $50,625,000 Do you know what title insurance people do? Neither did I. Your niche doesn't need to be your personal passion. It needs to have good timing in the market, and you need to obsessively serve your niche. How to know if you have the right recruiting niche? Here's a method to Evaluate your Niche (differentiating facts from feelings) use these indicators: number of job openings number of new candidates number of qualified passive candidates number of unemployed candidates candidate job duration competitors' business models, rates demand for recruiters in the niche (can indicate potential but also competition) your connections in the niche (low-hanging fruit) Finally, go on LinkedIn or Indeed (or wherever else jobs are posted in this niche) and analyze the ratio of jobs posted by agencies vs. jobs posted by end clients. If there are way more jobs posted by agencies than end clients, you'll have high competition in a saturated market. If the jobs posted by end clients far exceed the number of jobs posted by agencies, then that indicates most end clients manage to fill the jobs by themselves. The best job demand ratio is about 60% to 70% posted by end clients and 30% or 40% posted by agencies. TLDR: These clear and measurable indicators will help you to pick your niche. But remember, markets change often -- usually for unforeseen reasons -- and when they do you might need to change your niche, but only if you have good reason to do so. Now go execute!