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Confuse Them and You Will Lose Them
These are the words of Donald Miller the author of Storybrand.
The idea is simple.
People are bombarded with so much information these days. We are overloaded with emails. And with instant messages. Our social media news-feeds are filled with friends, family and yes even companies jumping out of the news-feed to grab our attention. And the phone still rings also. But much of the time it is a robocall or someone trying to sell us something.
So We Shut Down
To silence the noise we shut down. We ignore most of what is showing up in the news-feed. We send our phone calls to voice mail to screen them.
And when we visit a website, studies show we typically spend 15 seconds or less. Most of the time the reason is there is too much information. Consumers are overwhelmed!
What Is Your Specialty?
Sure, you can help all seniors with your services. You can even help younger people too. But the more you try to reach different groups of people the more your message seems to get watered down. And let’s face it.
Wouldn’t you rather go to a specialist? Wouldn’t you rather work with someone who really understands and specializes in your particular need? Wouldn’t you rather work with an expert?
The Small Fish in the Big Ocean Gets Lost
But when he goes to a smaller pond, he may well become the Rockstar. The truth is when you try to help everyone with your eldercare service you end up serving no one. You get lost in the sea of companies out there all trying to get the same business.
How is Your Eldercare Business Different?
How to you stand out from the hundreds of other companies that other a similar service? When I ask this question most marketers and business owners will tell me how they do a better job. They may cite some industry awards they have. What they do not tell me is how they can help me.
Why I should choose their service over hundreds of others out there. What’s in it for me?
Yes, You Can Help All Seniors Needing Assistance
And so can all of the other companies out there. Do you really have enough time and energy to help everyone?
But what if your message focused on one particular area? What if you became known as the company who specializes in patients who have had a stroke? Or maybe you want to specialize in patients with dementia. Or how about people just returning from the hospital?
Years ago, before it became popular, my friend Pat, decided to open a Residential Care Home. Though care homes were still relatively new in the market, her home really stood out. It was specifically for people with Alzheimer’s Disease.
And then she went a step further to state that she only cared for Alzheimer’s patients who were in the moderate or severe stages of the disease. Now that is really narrowing the market. She turned down people who did not fit that demographic. And sometimes that was not easy. When you are running a small business, you are often worried about money.
Passion Drove Her Business
But Pat was passionate about caring for this market. So much so she invested with both time and money into learning. She learned everything she could about the disease. and she also learned how to reach and market to people who had a family member with Alzheimer's.
Furthermore, she became involved with the Alzheimer’s Association. She spoke about caring for Alzheimer’s patients anytime she had the opportunity. And she was quickly known in her area as the go to person for someone needing specialized care in Alzheimer’s disease.
Because she was a specialist her business was able to charge more for their services. Her business grew quickly. Her one home became two and then three to keep up with the demand.
And Other Savvy Business Owners Took Notice
Now there are small Alzheimer’s Certified Care homes all over the Houston metroplex.
Another client, Marie specialized in Hospice patients. As a nurse she was able to give the extra special care and attention these patients needed. And hospice care was her passion, or her calling as she told me.
Most of the care homes in her area did not like to take Hospice patients because the turnover was high. For some owners it was the constant death that hung in the area keeping them from this niche.
But Marie knew that if she gave top notch care and became known for giving loving care, she would be able to charge a premium price. Families were willing to pay more for the best end of life care they could buy.
Choose Your Niche- For Your Residential Care Home
When you have a passion for helping a certain type of client, that is your niche. Pat loved working with Alzheimer’s patients and their families. Marie loved working with those who were nearing the end of their life. In senior care the possibilities are endless.
What else could you specialize in?
Caring for diabetics
Stroke survivors
Elderly with Physical limitations
Parkinson’s Disease
Chronic Illness
Choose Your Niche- For Your Home Care Business
The following are some tag lines for home care businesses. This is a very competitive field. Which one is more focused?
We take care of seniors in their home.
We assist active seniors who want to remain home.
We care for everyone! Seniors, new moms, people with disabilities, etc.
Our specialty is caring for seniors with physical disability.
We offer non- medical care services for seniors in their home.
We help seniors who have been hospitalized avoid a return visit.
Other ideas include:
We help stroke and heart attack survivors stay in their own home.
We help people with chronic illness like Diabetes or arthritis stay in their home.
Our companion care service makes sure mom doesn’t get lonely.
What Type Of Clients Do You Enjoy Helping?
The best way to choose a niche is to discover what type of clients you most enjoy working with. Home care and assisted living care are two businesses that that thrive with a heart centered owner.
Brainstorm with your coach or your team. When you focus your message to a particular group of people your message will stand out. No longer will you just be another home care agency or residential care home competing on price. You will become the expert.
Don’t Let Fear Hijack Your Business
Narrowing your focus may seem like you are cutting out potential clients. However, when you narrow your focus you become the expert in that area you focus on. And being the expert is very attractive. Before you know it you and your business will be known as the Home Care Company that______________ or the Residential Care Home That____________________.
And this does not mean that you cannot offer other services. Having a niche for your business means that all of your marketing efforts are focused on one or maybe two types of clients.
Kathryn Watson is a Social Media Strategist for the Eldercare Industry. She helps senior care companies end their frustration with Facebook Marketing to grow their online presence so they can help more people.
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