5 Easy Steps on How to Find Your Niche in Education
This post continues our discussion on how to become an educational consultant. In the last post, we explored how to grow your network of independent educational consultants. In this article, we’ll discuss how to find your niche in the educational consulting market. First, however, let’s learn why having a niche is essential.
Why Must Educational Consultants Find A Niche: An Absurd Case Study on BestBuy and Phone Chargers
Let’s not complicate this any more than we need to. You operate your business to make money. Thus, you want to sell your services to as many people as possible and make as much profit as possible. In any market, you have a series of services that are more popular than other services. For example, while in college, I needed to purchase a computer, and I did so from BestBuy. BestBuy has a history of selling computers, so no shocker there. However, when I pursued the isles while shopping, I discovered they also sold extra-long cell phone chargers.
I needed a cell phone charger at the time. So, I bought one from BestBuy. And as it turned out, a longer chord served much better than the last standard charger I used. So, can you guess what I did come Christmas time that year? I bought several long cell phone chargers for my family as stocking stuffers. And where did I go to buy them? I went to BestBuy. To me, BestBuy inadvertently found a niche customer in me: one who needed a longer cell phone charger.
Now, admittedly, things have changed since then. If I want a longer cellphone charger, I order it on Amazon. But you get the picture. BestBuy became my go-to solution when I needed a particular problem solved.
Benefits Of Selling A College Admissions Counseling Niche
Your business as a college counselor is finding the problems your students need to solve. And, if we want to be more specific, we’re looking for what problems your parents are willing to pay you to solve. When you have solutions to those problems, you can expand your services to solve more niche issues. This is a win/win for you and your parents.
When you have other niche services, you deepen the utility you provide to your clients. You remove the stress of parents watching their children struggle through college admissions. When you do that, your parents trust you. That trust translates into a willingness to pay you for other services.
So, the benefits of providing niche services are clear and as follows:
- Add more value to your clients.
- Increase your sales and profits.
- Bolster the reputation of your business.
There are a trillion ways to do that. But as a practical example, here’s how I did that in my business.
How I Added Niche Services Into My Business
Many of my parents took their students to aptitude testing research labs. They did this to help them pick their majors in college. As someone who genuinely had no idea what they wanted to do in life while I was in college, this aptitude testing phenomenon intrigued me.
I called the companies that provided the testing to inquire if we could start a referral relationship. They weren’t interested in working with us. So, I looked into aptitude testing certifications and found one. I applied and was accepted into the program. I obtained the certification and began offering aptitude testing services to parents.
It was a no-brainer for parents. These parents were paying between $850-$925 for the testing. I charged them $500. This also meant they didn’t have to travel to Dallas (the closest aptitude testing research lab). I could administer the test remotely and interpret the results. That flexibility enabled me to save them from traveling, which saved them money and time.
I made around $500 more per student, all while providing a vital service to my clients. Now, I’m known as the aptitude testing guru in my community. I didn’t plan on that happening, but I’ve been called a lot worse.
What You’ll Need To Become A Niche Consultant
Let me start by telling you what not to do. Don’t just find a neat service and start offering it to people. First, identify what your clients are already paying for. For example, I started with test prep tutoring, became an independent consultant for college admissions, and began offering aptitude testing. I didn’t provide these services on a whim.
While working with an ACT student, parents asked me if I did college application essays. I’d done that work before. However, when they kept asking me about it, I saw an opportunity to expand my services. That inadvertently led me to become an IEC. Aptitude testing came later, and so on.
Look for Educational Niches Your Clients Are Already Paying For
If parents regularly ask for advice on gap year programs, consider getting that certification. If they need help with test prep, consider hiring some experts to supplement your services. But do not pick something you believe is exciting and try to sell it. That’s a sure way to waste time and money.
Ensure the Niche Services Compliment Your Existing Services
I don’t get an oil change when I go to my bank. Surprising, I know. I also don’t get a haircut from my doctor. However, I will likely get budgeting advice and tax preparation services from my accountant. You get the picture.
If you have a specialty, it needs to integrate seamlessly into your existing practice. Test prep is a great skill to factor into the equation of your consulting practice. Students trying to get into elite colleges need elite test scores. Keep reading to get a brief description of the different types of niches you could weave into your current services.
What Niches Exist in College Counseling?
The list below contains examples of niche services you could offer in your practice. Some are easy to add to your existing repertoire of skills, and others require more time and training. However, the examples below will clarify what niche your business needs.
Aptitude Testing and Career Counseling
Aptitude testing and career counseling is a niche that's gaining traction. It taps into students' and parents' desire for a clear educational path. By focusing on a student's innate strengths and interests, this niche helps in making informed decisions about college majors and career trajectories. My venture into this field has been met with enthusiasm. Parents appreciate the clarity it brings to their child's future, making it a sought-after service in my consultancy.
Athletics Admissions Process
Specializing in the Athletics Admissions Process is crucial. It involves guiding student-athletes through the complexities of sports recruitment and understanding NCAA regulations. This niche focuses on providing strategic advice on eligibility, identifying scholarship opportunities, and developing effective communication with college coaches. Consultants in this area are pivotal in helping student-athletes navigate the unique challenges of balancing their athletic and academic aspirations. They ensure compliance with collegiate athletic standards, assist in securing athletic scholarships, and help students maximize their potential in sports and academics.
Gap Year
Gap Year consults craft meaningful post-high school experiences outside of college. This service caters to students seeking opportunities outside the traditional educational path before commencing college. Consultants in this niche offer guidance on selecting gap year programs that align with a student's interests and future academic goals. They assist in planning enriching activities that contribute to personal growth, cultural exposure, and skill development. This niche helps students gain clarity about their future and improves their college applications, making their experiences stand out. It's about turning a year off into a year of valuable, life-shaping experiences.
International College Admissions
International college admissions is a complex niche, catering to students aiming to study abroad. This service requires expertise in understanding different educational systems, application processes, and visa requirements. By offering tailored advice on selecting suitable colleges and navigating the application nuances, I've helped numerous students realize their dreams of studying internationally, making this a valuable and rewarding niche.
Learning Differences and Neurodivergent Student Counseling
Counseling for students with learning differences is intricate. This niche requires understanding the unique educational needs of neurodivergent students and crafting personalized college application strategies. Consultants offer expertise in ensuring test accommodations and selecting colleges with suitable support systems. They guide students and parents in navigating the educational landscape to find environments where these students can thrive. This service is about academic success and empowering students with unique learning needs, helping them realize their full potential in an inclusive educational setting.
Music and the Arts
Consulting in Music and the Arts is multifaceted. It involves more than guiding through college applications; it requires a deep understanding of audition processes, portfolio development, and identifying institutions with vital arts programs. Consultants in this niche help students effectively showcase their artistic talents in applications and auditions. They guide students in navigating the competitive world of arts education, helping them find colleges where their creativity will be fostered and valued. This service is crucial for artistically inclined students, ensuring their talents are recognized and nurtured in suitable academic environments.
Passion Project College Advising
Passion project college advising is a niche focusing on students with unique projects or interests. It's about leveraging these passions in their college applications to stand out. My role involves guiding students in articulating their projects compellingly and aligning them with their academic goals. This service has enriched my portfolio and led to some of the most authentic and impressive college applications.
STEM Research
The STEM Research niche is dynamic. It caters to students passionate about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Consultants in this field must stay updated on the latest trends, research opportunities, and emerging STEM fields. They guide students in aligning their academic pursuits with STEM-focused programs, advising on research projects and extracurricular activities that enhance college applications. This service fosters a deep interest in STEM, prepares students for advanced studies and careers, and helps them stand out in a competitive educational landscape.
How to Market Yourself As A Niche Consultant
When you acquire new services, integrate them into your primary services soon. Make your unique niche, whatever it may be, a part of your full suite of services, not a stand-alone service or add-on.
For example, any student who works with me receives an aptitude test evaluation. It gives them better guidance for college major selection and career options. Additionally, aptitude testing makes that transition more seamless if a student grows interested in using a passion project to differentiate their application.
You can’t do with that every service (most of my students have done a gap year). However, if you’re going to differentiate your brand by adding a niche service, don’t hide that service under the bushel. Likewise, don’t make it so optional that none of your clients ever choose to pay for it.
Conclusion
Niches get riches. Okay, not necessarily riches, but they get you more revenue and add value to your clients. If you listen to your clients, they’ll tell you what niches are available. Your niche is the intersection of their needs and your services, that magic place where your business becomes their solution.
If you want to learn more about the different niches available in the educational consulting market, consider coming to the
CounselMore Mentorship Circle. Each month, we explore a different college counseling niche for you to learn about.
In the meantime,
Join The Admissions Insider List to get FREE TIPS on college counseling.
Talk soon,
-Marc
About the Author
Marc Gray is the Founder and Director of Education for Odyssey College Prep. Marc uses advanced aptitude testing to simplify the college admissions process for students and parents. He also guides students to create targeted passion projects to differentiate their college applications. He currently serves as the Highlands Company’s ambassador to CounselMore. In that role, he enjoys helping other college counselors use aptitude testing to enhance their business. As an active member of CounselMore’s community, Marc hosts CounselMore’s Mentorship Community Roundtable Discussion, where college counselors can learn from one another and instruct each other in best practices.
