Customer Reviews

Nichecraft: Using Your Specialness to Focus Your Business, Corner Your Market and Make Customers Seek You Out

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're like me, you own a business and are trying to learn more to make yourself successful. Although I have found a few worthwhile books, "Nichecraft" is not one of them. By page 21 I had encountered so many spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors, I had to turn to the front to see what publisher let this one get out. I was not surprised to learn that the book was published by the author herself. Even the cover has a spelling error.

If you can get past the poor writing, you will find it bereft of substance. The book reads like a 3AM infomercial: full of excitement, buzzwords, and promises but offering little help. The examples contain no real insight, the myriad steps are repetitious, contradictory, and are often so poorly written I cannot decipher them after three readings. Several of the graphics only serve to further confuse the text.

We are all looking for books that can help us make sense of marketing. This is not one of them. I beg you to spare yourself this waste of time. I rate this book 1 Star because it is the lowest rating available.

Most books of the past few years have discussed the importance of the
internet in marketing, and every single one I've read was outdated by the time
it saw print. Falkenstein wisely avoided this trap by simply sticking to the
subject most businesses are weakest in: marketing and focusing. Complete with
case studies, worksheets, and exercises - it would be sad to see this book
simply become the text of a few college professors around the country. I'd like
to see a dog-eared copy at the bedside of every single one of you who have been
asking me for success tips since 1969. -Editor, Electronic Money Tre

There are way too many negative examples in this book - case studies of what stupid or weak-willed people did wrong, in the author's opinion. She does have a lot of insight into how to build a niche, but she delivers her knowledge with a sharp-edged know-it-all attitude that I could not take after a while. Despite being a marketing consultant who wanted to recommend this book to clients, I could not finish reading the book, I found it so offensive in tone.

Over the years I've collected and read just about every book on marketing and building businesses that is on the market. Some have been very good. Nichecraft, however, is far and away the most insightful and innovative book of its kind I've ever run across. If I'd had this book when I started my business 15 years ago, it would have saved me a fortune in lost time and wasted efforts. One of the best things about this book is its practical step-by-step approach. Dr. Falkenstein lays out her nine-step process clearly and with great style. Her experience comes through loudly and clearly. Although I am a professional photographer and am applying Nichecraft's principles to my own specific business, I can see that it would be invaluable for any business in today's environment. It is so good, I ordered copies for everyone in my company.

Savvy entrepreneurs striving for success need look no further than NICHECRAFT for a guide to reaching opportunity's promised land. Simply follow the unique nine-step method devised by Dr. Lynda C. Falkenstein for it's the perfect treasure map. As an entrepreneur and reader/collector of scores of books on most aspects of business, I was easily able to compare Dr. Falkenstein's clear, precise RX for business success with others of the genre. Her "there's no Plan B" approach leaves readers pondering their dedication to achieving their self-defined goals, and other "business as usual" books in the dust. I highly recommend NICHECRAFT as a workbook with a purpose - it does what it sets out to do, and it will lead you to where YOU want to go

The book is full of examples from the author's experience and practice. Therefore each and every step may not apply to you. But, the pattern used in the exercises is intended to stimulate brainstorming or mindmapping about your special skills and who would be needing them. Use the shopping bag method; take what makes sense to you and use it; leave the rest on the shelf and don't worry about it.

A niche can be just a niche or it can be profitable. Just grabbing a field or a target market doesn't often become a profitable niche. But anything is practice and learning. Most niches I've seen are followed by people with a specialty who can then specifically meet the need of their clients or customers.

I don't know what happened with the copy mentioned that has multiple errors. My copy didn't have that problem.

This book isn't going to "do it for you" but is intended to stimulate you to get busy and do it yourself.

Great book with a plethora of ideas and gold nuggets you can put to use immediately to grow your business. I was able to look at my specialty and narrow my niche as well as communicate to others what I do as well as how I can help my clients. Falkenstein takes the reader step by step including worksheets to help you individualize your niche. Competition and economic factors are two obstacles which this book addresses and gives practical methods to eliminate obstacles to success.
-Gary Perman, PermanTech

On the whole, this book is top-notch. It brings together a number of common-sensical ideas and concepts that are extremely useful in focusing a business on what it does best. There is room for improvement in how the material is presented though, that would help the book's readability and usability. Dr. Falkenstein has put together some great material! I look forward to more!

This book has changed the way I think about my business. Dr. Falkenstein offers a step-by-step guide for identifying and developing your unique niche. As a speaker and author of "Liberate the Leader: Giving Every Woman the Guts to Lead", I am concerned about reaching the audience that is most likely to benefit from my message. "Nichecraft" has helped me identify my audience, clarify my message and tailor my marketing strategies to grow my business. Have your highlighter in hand as you read this book!

I like common sense, and this book takes a common sense approach to make the most out of your uniqueness. Dr. Falkenstein challenges you to rethink everything and begin again with a purpose. "There is no plan B" is the best advice I've had in a long time. One of my books to live by