The Smallest Common Denominator - Defining and Finding Your Niche

For some people, when they hear the name of anythis sub genre.
industry, they will see the big picture. The musicThe music that is written for a trombonist for instance,
industry for them will encompass not only the musicis different from that of a French horn. You could
that they listen to, but the way that the music isnever fit a tuba into a trumpet case, and if you did, that
created, the recording, the shipping and the promotionsthing is never coming back out of there, and you owe
that must go into getting music to the consumer. Tosomeone a tuba. There is never a trumpeter that will
them, it will also involve every type of musical genre-need a comfort strap to play his instrument. All of
from rock and hip hop to Beethoven and Mozart.these separate aspects of the same basic family
Anything that pertains to the making, transporting orhave different needs that must be met. Have defined
selling of music will be what is in their head.your targeted audience? Have you defined your
For other people, the musical industry can be brokenniche? Now its time to find the best ways to market
down in to genres, which can then be broken downyour product or service to that audience.
further into sub genres. The sub genres can then beFor example, the product is music lessons. You could
even further broken down to the point where only oneoffer the generic "music lessons" but then would find
aspect of the industry is being focused on; the niche.that you are being flooded by calls for oboe or electric
Finding a niche is like doing a mathematical equationguitar. The problem is simple- you do not know how to
without numbers: you keep subtracting facts andplay neither the oboe nor the electric guitar. By clearing
descriptions until you get down to the lowest commondefining the niche that you are marketing to, you save
denominator for that market- the niche in other words.yourself needless expense on ads that will greet the
When you are doing niche marketing, you arewrong people and you save your customers time by
exploiting the needs for that particular part of anspelling out exactly what you can offer to them.
industry- that small segment of the targeted audienceThe more defined or specialized a niche, the higher the
who may have a specific and very definable need.demand and the lower the supply meaning that you will
Keeping with the musical industry theme, we focus onbe able to garner top dollars for a need that is not
this genre of the musical industry: the marching band.being fulfilled. The wider your appeal, the more likely
For each section of instrument types, there is a subyou are to have competition and therefore have to
genre: the brass, the woodwinds and the percussionkeep your prices low to remain comparable and fair.
sections. Taking the brass section sub genre then, weDefine your targeted market and you can rule that
can break that down into the niches: trumpet, Frenchparticular niche. Find the lowest common denominator
horn, tuba and trombone. Of those four niches, therethat will satisfy enough need to be a valid pursuit and
are some similar needs that can be addressed, butkeep enough customers to be financially worthwhile
each will have specific needs that have to be focusedand you will be struggling to keep up with the demand
on as well. Niche marketing would address thosein no time.
specific needs for each of the four niches found within