Thinking More About My Niche

Small Business Niche

I’ve recently been taking Addi’s (from AddiGanley.com) course called Pinaffiliate Masterclass. This has been a great course for me, and I’ve been learning more on how to monetize my blog + design biz through the use of thoughtful affiliate links, as well as Pinterest, referring people to my “best of the best” in content, tools, software and more in order to maintain my blog/website and earn a living from it.

 

I’ve been able to slowly make my way through the course, so I don’t get overwhelmed with too much information – and it’s been a good pace for me, to help everything sink in! One of the printables included in the course is a “Niche Questionnaire.” I’ll admit…I saved it until toward the end because it’s been something I’ve been dreading! I’m a graphic designer by trade, and quit my advertising agency job over a year ago because it just wasn’t a good fit for me. While I enjoyed the design work, the everyday politics of working on an office began to wear on me. And, I wanted to be able to work from home in order to be there for my daughter. I’ve worked for a variety of different companies over the years…and for me, working for someone else just isn’t fulfilling. There are, however, as we all know…bills to pay! My fiance has been supporting us financially as I have tried navigating how to gain new clients, and expand my graphic design business. I’m not going to lie, it’s been an absolute struggle. A struggle to the point that I now am looking to go back to work outside the home in order to help pay our bills.

So, back to the Niche Questionnaire. It was a great worksheet that got me to dump all of my ideas and information into, a place where I can explore new ideas…because I am feeling so stuck. In the past year I have tried many things, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, sending out physical postcards to select local businesses advertising my services, having a booth at a wedding show for my invitation designs, opening an Etsy shop, joining Facebook groups, purchasing multiple courses to help me with my business, upping my game on Pinterest, paid Pinterest ads, collecting email addresses and building a subscription base, focusing on branding services, and the list…goes…on…

I feel like I am stuck in coming up with original ideas to market my design business, almost to the point that I feel like I need to move on to something different. And I’ve been avoiding this feeling, and I’ve been avoiding posting because I feel so stuck.

I went back to school when my daughter was 5 in order to finally finish my graphic design degree. Something I had wanted to do for a long time, and I accomplished it all while working a part-time design job and being at home with my daughter. So knowing that I am struggling at this freelancing thing is a tough pill to swallow. I have always wanted to own my own business! But wanting and hoping and wishing are just sometimes not enough to make that come true. So this niche worksheet has come into my life at a good time. I filled it with things that I am interested in, things that I’m passionate about. And what I’m hoping by doing that is that I can finally find the right “niche” that works for me. I may have to do my blogging while I work part-time doing something to pay the bills, but I know that I will find that right fit eventually. Because even if you are the only one who can see your dream come to life…you know what you are capable of and what’s inside you. Don’t stop fighting for the kind of life you’d love to live (and work/life balance that you dream of), because even if it doesn’t work out today, in a year or even five…if you keep focus and slowly plugging away at it – I believe you can make it happen!

OH, and…see that letter up there? That sweet girl is who keeps me going!

Tell me in the comments below, what is your dream business? Are you making a good income off of your small biz? Have you found the “sweet spot” with your niche? I’d love to hear about it!