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Kevin C. Whelan

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November 10, 2021

Build credibility with a research-backed, clearly-stated problem

What do you do when you’re new to a niche and don’t yet have lots of credibility in that market?

You research as much as you can.

Instead of trying to prove you’re credible with results you may not have yet, try to understand and articulate the real problems of that niche better than anyone else.

Look for the actual words they use to describe themselves, their situation, and their challenges.

Find examples of people’s frustrations or aspirations in communities, product reviews, social media, and wherever else you can find them.

Look for signs people are actually paying for solutions to their challenges and/or actively seeking out people who can help them.

Read job descriptions if you have to.

Once you see the problem patterns emerge, talk about them in your marketing and positioning.

Focus on on the value of solving (or not solving) those pains and challenges. Paint a vivid picture of both scenarios.

The better you can articulate the problems of your ideal clients, the more likely they are to trust you can solve them.

As the saying goes, “a problem well-stated is a problem half-solved”.

State the problem better than anyone else by doing research—not by guessing.

—k

P.S. If you want my research methodology and Airtable template, join Mindshare Pro for that and a lot more.

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