The niche is me
The distilling of a person to a single interest (hint: it doesn't work)
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Niche didn’t use to exist in everyday conversation. It was reserved for artists and experts in their field. As social media became more a part of our world (both inner and outer), and the word influencer came to have an entirely new meaning, “niche down” became highly important to anyone putting their creative work into the world.
Social media is a beast that is constantly changing. A potter didn’t begin selling her pieces and suddenly became an expert in entrepreneurism. The woodworker didn’t go from having 12 followers on Instagram to suddenly understanding the evolving world of social media strategy.
But what do many social media “experts” proclaim above all else? Niche down. “Down” feels like the apt word — taking the vastness of a person and distilling their multitudes into a single-dimensional bio line.
Now, this was something I found interesting…
The definition of niche: a comfortable or suitable position in life or employment.
Trying to trim oneself down into a single aspect of their life to appease the algorithm doesn’t sound comfortable. It sounds tight and constricting — like a bra bought at Victoria’s Secret that the salesperson says was the right fit, in their expert opinion.
I’m an Enneagram type 7, which means it is impossible for me to ever choose a singular interest. I’m a writer of my life, which includes where I travel to, the yoga shapes I contort my body into, the history of wine and how I can’t learn enough about it, pictures of my dog and my local coffee shop’s latte art, and the piece of vintage art I found that fits perfectly in my mural wall.
I’m easily excited. I’m genuinely enthused by all manner of activities, hobbies, insights, and ideas. I cannot and will not niche down.
I’ve tried. Truly, I have! Because the “experts” say it’s more important than anything to grow a following. And to clarify, I’ve worked in the field of marketing and branding for over a decade. I’m a geek when it comes to admiring and cultivating a brand for intentional businesses.
But I am not a business. I am me. I am my own niche. I am the expert of my own experiences. Trying to include all that I am interested in, exploring, letting go of, and trying on for size in a microscopic niche is just not working for me.
So, I’m not! I write about my obsessive love for poetry, post on Instagram about the life-changing hike I took this spring, share the current vegan recipes I can’t stop making, and snap unprofessional photos of the cone flowers sprouting in my garden alongside 15,000 photos of my dog, Penni — all fitting perfectly within my niche.
Consider: what are the elements of your niche?
Poem of the Week
I feel this so much. Love this take!
Go off. 👏👏👏