Niche News Flash: Someone, Somewhere Thinks You’re Cool!
Remember when you were, like, thirteen, filled with angst, and constantly saying thinks like “Ugh, nobody understands me?” No? Just me? Cool…
In all seriousness, we all have unique passions and quirks that make us who we are, and sometimes it’s hard to find people who share similar interests. This is the main reason that niche platforms are so important: they offer us a place where we can not only be ourselves, but also offer a safe place with the ability to meet others who share in your passions. Entrepreneur blogger Garcia hits the nail on the head, saying “Instead of passively sifting through irrelevant content on a general feed, users can participate in conversations related to their specific needs. For businesses, social-media groups present a massive opportunity for brands to connect more intimately with their target audience” (Garcia, 2019).
It’s no surprise that brands strive to attract certain audiences. Brands that I love, like the clothing brand Free People, attract young, free-spirit-wannabe women, and target to this audience by filling their medias with photos of models wearing flow-y clothes and posing in natural landscapes. They do this because they know their niche audience and how to cater to it!
A specific example of a niche app that I think does a great job and just adore in general is Vivino- the perfect app for any wino out there. Even though I’m only 23, and therefore an avid bottom-shelf wine drinker, I love using the Vivino app to not only track and rate specific wines that I try, but also to look through different people’s reviews of any wine out there. I’m “friends” with my dad on the app, and love being able to see what he’s been sipping on lately (even though it’s generally out of my post-grad budget). This app makes me feel a lot fancier than I actually am, so I can only imagine how fun it is for actual sophisticated people!
Youtuber and influencer Kristin Johns is another great example of someone who caters to a certain niche well. Kristin is a young 25-year-old who is interested in baking, fashion, beauty, and faith, to name a few. Essentially, she has a few niches that she attracts, which shows that it’s possible to have more than one! If I’m being honest, choosing one specific niche to cater to kind of freak me out, because I have several interests that I’m passionate about. So the fact that Kristin is able to apply to several is inspirational to me. Young women are her target audience, and so the fact that she is attributed with many niches that are common in young women help her reach so many women. Be warned if you’re interested in pursuing creating content about more than one niche, though: it will be more work! Blogger Jacobsen states that “you will need to be super organized and diligent. While having multiple niches seems like an ADD addict’s best idea, the truth is that you will have to be even more organized than you ever thought possible and track everything. If you don’t you will get all wonky and do nothing well” (Jacobsen, 2015).
Overall, niches help us find “our people”, and as people who naturally wish to fit in and be cool, this is everything we could ever want!
Garcia, A. (2019, September 23). 3 reasons to pay attention to niche social networks. Retrieved February 08, 2021, from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/339532
Jacobsen, T. (2015, July 27). Niche marketing — Can you have Two Niches? Retrieved February 08, 2021, from https://marketingartfully.com/niche-marketing-can-you-have-two-niches/