Niching Case Study: Jessica Drees Buchanan

I help Step Parents learn to approach all players in their blended family with compassion via my blog, book, coaching, and workshops.

reverentjess.com

#sytycn2015

Tad’s Rating:

8/10

Contest Rating:

8.5/10

Average Rating:

8.25/10

Tad’s Comments:

8. I’d say this is a very solid 8 and, I agree with Nancy’s feedback. Given 140 characters, I’d rather see those precious characters used to speak to the problem you solve and results you offer. I think there could be more room to speak to the result they’re most craving in their hearts. You could speak to the thing they most fear being seen as. You could speak to the biggest sticking point they have in that process. 140 characters isn’t a lot but you’ve done something wonderful with it. I could even see adding something like: “I help Step Parents learn to approach all players in their blended family with compassion even when it feels impossible/even when they’re being tested the most/even when it’s hard/when it’s needed most. Maybe there’s also something about transforming a potential challenge/disaster/trainwreck into something beautiful? What you’re offering is so wonderful and needed by so many. ‘Step Parents’ is a very clear ‘who’.

Niching Contest Participant Comments:

Being a family therapist, I get how incredibly important this is. Compassion is so powerful and needed in most families. AND, I also know from how I connect to and encourage growth in families I work with, that I need — like in marketing — to speak the language of their struggles and challenges first and then to what they seek and yearn for next and THEN to bring in compassion as a pathway for healing and growth. That is my suggestion here. Working back a few steps. Powerful work.

I think this would be even better if the result for those blended families was the focus instead of the blog, coaching, book and workshops. If folks move from chaos to calm in their blended families faster and easier, my sense is that a lot of folks would jump at the chance to visit the noted website to consume the blog, coaching book, and workshops.

8/10: As a member of two blended families, I see a great need for this. As a stepchild, though, I don’t see myself as a “player,” and I doubt my stepparents would have come up with that word. I’m a lot less concerned about what you do (“my blog” etc.) than about the benefit for me. What is the intended outcome of approaching with compassion? I might suggest (given my own narrow experience) that the outcome might be creating new, mutually supportive families that take care of each other throughout life. Betraying my own bitterness, one of my steps is someone I plan to take care of no matter what, and the other I hope will be able to find someone who will do that who isn’t me.

7/10:I like your visual play with the blender. The warmth of your portrait is very appealing. It tells me you know about compassion. I would love to read what the compassionate approach leads to! The word player feels off and too businesslike. Is members too normal? Anyhow, a wonderful service!

6/10:What you’re doing sounds great: it just needs a presentation upgrade. What about ‘members’ of a family? That’s what we’d use in the UK – certainly never ‘players’. As others have said, not so much emphasis on the individual channels you use – they can see that once they arrive. And I’d query whether compassion can be taught. Use the space to talk about desirable relationship changes. The image itself is pretty, but hard to get info out of. Go for a clear, simple, high contrast font.

10/10: very clear and helpful

10/10: It made perfect sense and I know so many people who need this. Thank you for being out there helping these people. The blender was a bit scary although I understand the play on words, but maybe get a graphic designer to make it cartoon-like.

7/10: It’s a bit wordy. I had to read it a couple of times to get what you’re saying.

8/10: Lots I Love about this Meme and your desire to assist this target Niche. I instantly felt the too much about your “how to” part of your message. What’s missing for me was the Outcome. Love the concept of “blended” family too. Good work pic is fantastic too.

10/10: A good fit for me! It looks awesome!

I love it. Those above who offered feedback have my appreciation. Love teamwork!

Jessica Drees Buchanan’s Reflections:

Thank you commenters and Tad! Your feedback was fantastic. I got caught up in journalistic thinking (who,what,when,why, where, how), and forgot I am trying to make magic. I plan to play with this from a more magical, and transformative standpoint and see what I come up with! Thank you for running this contest, and the invaluable feedback.

The Revised Niche:

n/a