Coining this one here in 2023 😛.  Niches are typically spilt into warm and cold: areas you or your family/friends have expertise in, and others where you need to find people to ask about them.

In my niche research, I've found there's a big difference between those you are intimately familiar with, and [those your circle know](/terms/warm-niche).  Your own hobbies and interests are really "hot niches", with friends/family being "warm."  This doesn't mean warm niches can't be as valuable, as often the pain points they surface are more valuable than your own.  Same goes for [cold ones](/terms/cold-niche) - you might come across a million dollar problem in a forum.  But a problem you have experience personally is always going to be the easiest to solve!

Look for your hot niches first, it will be easier and you'll enjoy the journey more 👍.

hot niche

An aged domain is a website that has been ranking on google extended period of time. In the context of SEO, an aged domain is often considered to have more authority and trust than a new domain. Google will pay it more attention than newer sites, with that "authority" being the key term here.  While most aged things go off, the longer a domain has ranked for, the more likely it is to have a solid backlink profile and authority in google.

A strategy I came across recently is buying aged domains and rebuilding their content rather than starting on a fresh domain.  Not something I have tried yet, but somethng to look more into for sure.

aged domain

A warm niche is an area of focus the has particular relevance to the entrepreneur.  These might be things you understand well due to direct involvement in a work or hobby capacity, or simply things you are interested in.

These are the low hanging fruit for business ideas, and the things you'll be able to maintain a passion for during dark times of building.  It is a lot easier to keep building when you care about the niche you are in than one you just found.  Same goes for finding a [pain point](/terms/pain-point) to solve - if it is your own problem you have experienced, you are your own customer and you get it!

Warm niches are where we should start searching for pain points and business ideas - what things do we like to do, what special expertise do we have, and what things do our friends ad family come to us for help about?

#### Expertise

This last bit is particularly important - if others find you to be a source of expertise in the field, that's a clear sign of a warm niche.  Ironically these are easy to miss as we are so used to thinking about them they are almost too easy.  The perfect space to build a brand in.  For me, people ask me about investing, crypto, travel, SEO, marketing, software...  

warm niche

Pain points are issues people come across that entrepreneurs can turn into opportunities.

The best pain points to solve are those that:

1. Happen repeatedly
2. Multiple [people in the niche](/terms/online-niche) talk / complain about
3. People are willing to pay to fix

That all sounds obvious as I write it, but the reality is tons of us build products that don't hone in on a pain point.  If we can find those little gems, we are onto a potential product.

I like [this write-up](https://tweakyourbiz.com/marketing/blogging/audience-pain-points) on pain points and how to find them, it goes into a few strategies and sites to look on.

pain point

An indie hacker is an independent creator who is focused on building and launching online products or tools, often on the side while working a full-time job. They are driven by the desire to create something of their own and the freedom and flexibility that comes with being their own boss. Indie hackers are typically [solopreneurs](/terms/solopreneur), meaning they are running their own businesses without a traditional team or structure. They are often focused on creating and launching digital products, such as software or apps, and may also be involved in online marketing and sales. The term "indie hacker" has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly within the maker and startup communities, as more and more people are turning to the internet as a platform for building and launching their own products and businesses.  [See my initial post](/blog/initial-commit) for more info about my own journey starting out as an indie hacker.

indie hacker

An indie maker is an independent creator or small team of creators who are focused on building and launching digital products or tools, often on the side while working a full-time job. Indie makers are driven by the desire to create something of their own and the freedom and flexibility that comes with being their own boss.

Indie makers can come from a variety of backgrounds and may have different levels of technical expertise. Some indie makers are [developers who use their coding skills](/terms/indie-hacker) to build and launch their own products. Others may be non-technical and use [nocode](/terms/nocode) or [lowcode](/terms/lowcode) platforms to build their products without writing code.

Indie makers are often focused on creating and launching digital products, such as software or apps, and may also be involved in online marketing and sales. The term "indie maker" has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly within the maker and startup communities, as more and more people are turning to the internet as a platform for building and launching their own products and businesses.  A big trend in the space is makers [building in public](/terms/build-in-public).

indie maker

A solopreneur is a one-person show, a jack-of-all-trades who wears many hats and juggles a million tasks at once. They are the CEO, CFO, CMO, and janitor of their own businesses.

Solopreneurs are the ultimate DIY-ers, tackling everything from product development and marketing to customer service and accounting. They are a rare breed, driven by their passion for their work and the freedom and flexibility that comes with being their own boss.

But being a solopreneur isn't always easy. It requires grit, determination, and the ability to work long hours without the support of a team. It can be lonely at times, and there's no one to blame but yourself when things go wrong.  And it is damn scary at times - my personal biggest challenge - just putting stuff out the for the first time and telling people about it is tough!

But for those who are up to the challenge, being a solopreneur can be incredibly rewarding. It allows you to follow your dreams and make your own path, and the satisfaction of building something from the ground up is second to none.

So if you're a solopreneur, pat yourself on the back. You're a boss, a superhero, and a one-man army all rolled into one. World is your oyster, friend.

Check out my [initial commit](/blog/initial-commit) post for an intro to my journey as a solopreneur.

solopreneur

An online niche is a specific, focused area of interest or expertise within a larger industry or market. In the context of the internet, a niche can refer to a specific topic or theme that a website, blog, or social media account is centered around. For example, an online niche could be a blog about vegan cooking, a YouTube channel about vintage cars, or an Instagram account about knitting.

[Identifying and focusing on a specific niche](/terms/niching-down) can be beneficial for a number of reasons. For one, it allows you to build expertise and authority in a particular area and potentially stand out in a crowded market. It can also help you to better understand and serve the needs of your target audience, as you are able to focus your content and messaging on a specific topic or theme. In addition, niching down can help you to attract a dedicated and engaged audience, as people are more likely to follow and engage with content that is specifically tailored to their interests.

Overall, an online niche is a way to differentiate yourself and your content in the digital landscape and build a loyal following around a particular area of interest or expertise.

[Solopreneurs](/terms/solopreneur) can have a real advantage over larger businesses by being very targeted in a niche that is too small for those organisations to practically tackle.

online niche

Lowcode refers to the practice of building software or applications with a lower amount of code compared to traditional software development. Lowcode platforms and tools provide pre-built components, templates, and visual programming languages that allow users to build functional software or websites with minimal coding knowledge or experience.

Lowcode is often seen as a way for [non-technical individuals](/terms/indie-maker) or businesses to build and launch their own products or websites without the need for a team of developers. It can also be used by developers as a way to quickly prototype and test ideas or to build simple applications without having to write extensive code from scratch.

Lowcode has gained popularity in recent years as a way to democratize access to software development and make it more accessible to a wider range of people. It is seen as a way to bridge the gap between traditional software development and [nocode](/terms/nocode) platforms, which allow users to build software with no [coding knowledge](/terms/indie-hacker).

lowcode

Nocode refers to the practice of building software or applications without writing code. Nocode platforms and tools allow users to create functional software or websites using pre-built templates, drag-and-drop interfaces, and visual programming languages, rather than traditional coding languages like Java or Python. Nocode is often seen as a way for non-technical individuals or small businesses to build and launch their own products or websites without the need for a team of developers. It can also be used by developers as a way to quickly prototype and test ideas or to build simple applications without having to spend time writing code from scratch. 

Nocode has gained popularity in recent years as a way to democratize access to software development and make it more accessible to a wider range of people.  The movement has enabled scores of [solopreneurs](/terms/solopreneur) to build their own products.  Nocode often turns out a bit closer to [lowcode](/terms/lowcode), as sometimes you'll need to roll up your sleaves and copy and paste something from Stack Overflow like the real pros do 😜.

nocode

Niching down refers to the process of identifying and focusing on a specific, [narrow market or audience](/terms/online-niche) within a larger industry. In the context of building a business or creating a product, niching down allows you to better understand and serve the needs of your target market, as well as differentiate yourself from competitors. For example, rather than trying to appeal to a broad audience with a general product or service, a business that niches down might focus on a specific problem or need that is unique to a particular group of people.

By niching down, you can better tailor your product or service to your target market and build a deeper level of expertise and authority in that particular area. Niching down can be particularly helpful for [solopreneurs](/terms/solopreneur) or small businesses, as it allows you to focus your resources and efforts on a specific market and potentially stand out in a crowded industry.

Another huge benefit is marketing costs.  You need a niche that is big enough to make a business out but small enough that you can cost effectively market to them.  It is much cheaper to market to 5,000 solar panel installers than 1billion marketers, and to be successful lets say you need 3,000 of them to buy your product.  The 3 / 5k will actually be easier to acquire and cheaper to market to!

niching down

Build in public refers to the practice of openly and transparently documenting the process of building or creating something, typically a product or a business, online. This can involve sharing progress updates, challenges, and successes on social media or through a personal blog or website. The idea behind building in public is to be open and transparent with your audience and to allow them to see the behind-the-scenes of your creative process. It can also serve as a way to document your journey, learn from others, and potentially inspire or help others who are also building something. Building in public is often associated with the maker and startup communities and is seen as a way to foster a sense of community and accountability.

I'll be building in public on this blog - follow along with my [weekly updates](/progress-updates) and my [blog](/blog) to sty update to date!

The solopreneur's glossary