If niching down feels tough for you, this was written for you! My guest, Libby Hinsley, talks about a successful experience of writing a book on her specialty, Yoga For Bendy People (hypermobility). But she also shares how this niche was actually in the periphery of her brain for a long time before she actually niched down as a yoga teacher. Her story is inspiring, she will make you laugh and I know you will be closer to your niche after hearing from her.
*Note: This is Part 2 of a 4-part series on the topic of Niching Down. Part 1 busts myths about niching down and Part 3 is another guest's example of niching and Part 4 is a Q&A.
Libby’s Process Of Niching Down As A Yoga Teacher & Physical Therapist
It’s easy for me to say “niching down is important” and you’ve likely heard it many times but it’s much harder to actually implement. As I asked Libby about how she decided on this specialty, it was great to hear her talk about how it came about for her.
She started to see the patterns in not only herself who was navigating a hypermobility issue but with her physical therapy clients as well as the yoga teachers she was working with. She then realized that she wanted to learn as much about this issue as possible and also raise the awareness of the issue in the yoga community.
**This was also a podcast episode (episode #156. Use the player below if you'd prefer to listen to this message.
How To Find Your Specialty As A Yoga Teacher
Libby shares that her specialty of focusing on hypermobility arrived over time through her own experiences as well as working with others. She also shares that it was always on the periphery of her work along the way but she didn’t specialize for a long time. She encourages yoga teachers to think about what’s on the periphery for you and simply start to explore that and see where it leads.
“Sometimes if you just follow a trail, it will lead you to your niche.” - Libby Hinsley
Making Your Specialty Memorable
Libby has hands-down been the best at making her specialty memorable! Regardless if you’re interested in hypermobility or understand why it’s happening, you will remember this because of the image here.
Libby shares how the zebra has become the unofficial mascot for hypermobility and she has allowed that to show in her marketing for her book and her specialty overall. And it’s awesome because you will remember it! It’s unique, it’s fun and playful and it allows you to recall this even if you don’t know all the details.
Marketing Can Be Uncomfortable But It’s Worth It
Most yoga teachers that I work with don’t feel comfortable with marketing or even the idea of marketing. That’s how they find me so if you’re thinking this today, you’re in good company!
“It pushed me way outside of my comfort zone. I don’t have a marketing bone in my body.” - Libby Hinsley
Having support in the marketing process can make all the difference in the world. For Libby this looked like working with a book publisher that walked her through a pre-sale campaign step by step. For you this might mean doing the same thing or finding a friend who can help brainstorm ideas with you or even joining a membership, like Thrive, that gives you education with marketing and community support.
Another thing that Libby shared in this conversation is the incredible amount of support she received once she asked for it. Part of her presale campaign for her book was centered around asking for early support through interviews, connections, and sales.
“The most amazing part of it was how many people said yes all along the process.” - Libby Hinsley
“It’s all about creating connections and then sustaining those connections over time and just letting people know about what you’re doing and what’s important to you.”
Your next step
Notice what’s on the periphery for you, follow that path and see if it leads you to a specialty. Ask yourself what you would fit into a conversation and leave someone with if you just had 5 minutes left to talk to them. That could lead you to determining your true passion and specialty.
Until next time give yourself permission to specialize and grace along the way. I’ll talk to you soon.
“It pushed me way outside of my comfort zone. I don’t have a marketing bone in my body.”
- Libby Hinsley
Looking to define your niche like Libby did?
Defining your niche is a tough process, just as Libby mentioned, but you don't have to do it alone. Inside Thrive (my membership) you can get support through trainings on this topic as well as answers to your specific questions related to this. Use the link below to learn more about Thrive or the form to get on the waitlist.