How to succeed in your niche
Journalist and author Derek Thompson on how to succeed as a writer in the modern world:
INTERVIEWER: “What advice do you give to a recent college grad who comes up to you and says I’m interested in journalism and writing books?”
THOMPSON: “…there is a paradox to scale, I think. People who want to be big sometimes think, “I have to immediately reach the largest possible audience.” But in a weird way, the best way to produce things that take off is to produce small things. To become a small expert. To become the best person on the internet at understanding the application of Medicaid to minority children, or something like that.
And the reason why I think this is true I call my Tokyo example. If you go to Tokyo, you’ll see there are all sorts of really, really strange shops. There’ll be a shop that’s only 1970’s vinyl and like, 1980’s whisky or something. And that doesn’t make any sense if it’s a shop in a Des Moines suburb, right? In a Des Moines suburb, to exist, you have to be Subway. You have to hit the mass-market immediately.
But in Tokyo, where there’s 30-40 million people within a train ride of a city, then your market is 40 million. And within that 40 million, sure, there’s a couple thousand people who love 1970’s music and 1980’s whisky. The Internet is Tokyo. The Internet allows you to be niche at scale.
Niche at scale is something that I think young people should aspire to.”
Source: Masters in Business
Never thought of that but so true. Thank you.
That was a very insightful article. My thought on the question of becoming a writer or a journalist first is to go for journalism first. This will develop your writing and recording skills, maybe get a name for yourself along the way, and then try a book or some articles for magazines. It’s tough to just start trying to crack the writing game right from the gate. Not impossible…but tough.
Great reminder to show that it’s not just about the number.
Very interesting. To accomplish great thing we should achieve small one and step by step we will achieve the great one
That is a good article-How to Succeed in your Niche.
Spot on advice—thanks for today’s inspiration! Superb image of Tokyo, too!
Good words. Thanks.
I think there’s a lot of wisdom in Derek’s words, thank-you!
Really helpful for aspiring writers who get all worked up because of their tendency to try to be the best at every sphere of writing…. It’s just so vast. Isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing.
“Niche at a scale” wow! Living is a process of learning. I like the advice. Thank you for sharing this.
I also have to be small expert! 👍
This is really great advice!! Thank you!
Good luck and have fun! 🙂
Very encouraging. I keep wondering if I should branch out or committ to my niche; this is a nice confirmation. We may start small, but if our content is good, our audience will find us. The internet is Tokyo lol.
Completely agree ❤️ thank you for the insight!
Brilliant advice. Thank you for sharing.
This is so true and informative
A very good point… I’ll mull about it… Cheers.
wonderful advice. Much appreciated