Finding the right coaching niche is essential for a successful online course or coaching program. A niche defines what you offer, who you serve, and why clients should choose you over others. But finding a niche isn’t always easy, and many new coaches struggle to identify the sweet spot that combines their passion, their skills, and an audience need.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through a bulletproof process to find your perfect course or coaching niche. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refocus your existing coaching practice, these steps will give you clarity and direction.

Step 1: Identify Your Topic

Your niche is the specific topic or area you will focus on in your coaching. It’s essential that you choose something you’re passionate about because you’ll be creating and sharing content around this topic consistently. To get started, consider the following questions:

• What hobby or interest could you talk about for hours?What do people often seek your advice on?
• Where have you experienced the most change or growth in your life?
• What skill or knowledge can you teach others with ease?
• What feels easy for you but challenging for others?
• What do you know more about than most people?
• Where have you helped people for free, and they’ve been grateful for it?

These questions can spark a lot of ideas. That’s ok! The time for filtering is later and it’s better to have too many ideas at this stage than too few. For example, one guy I’m coaching had around 8 ideas spread across three themes. Two were related to skills in a workplace but one was coaching others in a particular niche board game where he is a UK championship winner! Genius!

Get Some Feedback

Sometimes, we’re too close to our strengths to see them clearly. Ask friends or family members to share their thoughts on these questions. If you’re torn between multiple topics, narrow it down to two or three, then list some ideas for each that you would teach others in that area. Pick the one that excites you the most and where you’ve seen positive results in your own or others’ lives.

When choosing a niche, remember that people are looking for specific solutions to specific problems. The most effective niches are those that solve a particular issue for a particular person. For example, a course on “getting infants to sleep through the night” is far more likely to attract interest than a general “parenting” course. Keep it focused!

Step 2: Find Your Audience

Now that you have a topic, it’s time to find the people most eager to learn about it—your target audience. The clearer you are about your audience, the better you’ll be able to create content that meets their needs and addresses their struggles. Here are some questions to help you narrow your focus:

• What type of people are most likely to struggle with this topic?
• Who are the people most like you when you were dealing with this issue?
• What common characteristics do people facing this problem share?
• What are their biggest goals or desires?
• How does your solution help them achieve these goals?
• What are their primary challenges or frustrations?
• How can your content help them overcome these obstacles?

Once you’ve answered these questions, you should have a clear picture of your ideal client. For instance, if your niche is helping young professionals overcome burnout, your ideal audience might be recent graduates in high-stress industries who feel overwhelmed by their workload but are unsure how to manage it effectively.

Knowing your audience’s goals, struggles, and motivations allows you to create content that speaks directly to them and positions you as the solution to their needs.

Combined with Step 1 you should now have an idea of 2 or 3 possibilities that might work for you. Take these into the next step.

Step 3: Validate Your Niche

With your topic and audience defined, the next step is to validate your niche. Validation helps ensure there’s an actual demand for what you want to offer, so you’re not creating something that won’t attract clients. Here are a few ways to validate your niche:

With People:

Ask friends, family, or social media followers for feedback. You could ask questions like:

• What are your biggest frustrations with [YOUR TOPIC] right now?
• What are your primary desires or goals related to [YOUR TOPIC] right now?

Their responses (or lack thereof) will provide insights into the needs and interests of your target audience. Use these responses to refine your niche further and identify specific content ideas.

Online Research:

Explore online platforms like Google, Amazon (especially books), and YouTube to see if there’s already content on your topic. Some key points to consider:

• What’s already out there? Check if there are similar courses, books, or channels around your topic.
• What are people charging for similar solutions? This will give you an idea of pricing expectations and what kind of market already exists for your niche.
• What unique perspective can you add? Think about how your experience and approach can differentiate you from what’s already available.

The insights you gather will not only validate your niche but also provide valuable ideas for positioning your coaching program in a way that’s unique and compelling.

Wrapping Up

Finding the right coaching niche doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these steps—identifying your topic, defining your audience, and validating your niche—you’re laying a strong foundation for your coaching business. A well-defined niche gives you clarity, focus, and a clear value proposition that resonates with clients.

Remember, your niche isn’t set in stone. As you grow, you may find ways to further specialise or adapt based on client needs and your own evolving expertise. By focusing on a specific problem for a specific audience, you’ll stand out, attract the right clients, and build an online course or coaching business that’s impactful, sustainable, and rewarding.

How I Can Help

If you’re ready to learn more about creating a successful online course, coaching or mentoring program, here are some ways we can work together to bring your vision to life:

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