A lot of times we think we’ve got the perfect “niche market” when what we actually have is a product we’re already selling (or would like to sell) … and now we’ve decided it’s a “niche market.” Derek Gehl said it perfectly when he said, “A niche market is a group of people who are searching the Internet for a solution to their problem – and not finding many relevant results.” Most people go on the Internet to find information … not to purchase something … so that’s what we need to give them.
Let’s use the vitamin and wellness business as an example. A representative who is selling these type products might think that their target market is … well … everyone walking the face of the planet because “everyone” should be taking vitamins. Well, they are going to have a very tough time being successful with that way of thinking.
In fact, ideally your online business would start this way:
- Write down all of your hobbies, interests, and passions
- Do key word research on all possible terms related to each and every subject
- Look at the competition for the subjects that have a market
- Look at forums and blogs for a hungry market (what is their problem and can you find a solution)
But, for this example our representative is already in business so let’s see how we can back into finding them a niche market.
I would start by brainstorming every word that I personally associate with health and wellness. You want to use subjects that are important to you because it will be a whole lot easier to be passionate and stay interested in something that matters to you personally. For me that would be: healthy, sickness, allergies, back pain, joint pain, fibromyalgia, weight loss, fatigue, kid’s health, immune system … that’s a good start.
Now I would go to my favorite keyword research tools and plug them in one at a time. I usually keep a Word Doc open and copy/paste my results so I can compare my findings. If I find fibromyalgia has good traffic I would then do a Google search for fibromyalgia + forum and fibromyalgia + blog and see what I find. I would probably also go to Yahoo Answers and see what I find there. I’m looking for a common thread … what type of information are these people online looking for? What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia? How do you control fibromyalgia pain? What do you take for fibromyalgia? This will give me my niche market … my target market … people who want to “control fibromyalgia pain” for instance.
Now I can further research my key words and phrases, I now know what type of content I need, I have a marketing approach, I know where to hang out to help my target market … and I can help solve their problem … and in this case it would be with the supplements I sell that are known to help fibromyalgia.
Of course then you would want to “rinse and repeat” with allergies, weight loss, etc.
Do you have a niche market … or just a product? Share your thoughts … we’d love to hear from you! *SmiLes* Suzanne
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6 Comments
Home Business Mom Tara
on 19th Aug, 08 06:08pm
I agree with Derek, on what a niche market is. However, you can promote according to the niche.
If we were talking about my blog, I would say that is niche marketing. I cater to the work at home mom looking for info.
Danny Brown
on 21st Aug, 08 04:08pm
Hey Suzanne,
Excellent post with well thought out and clear advice!
The niche market is one of the hardest to get right – after all, once someone comes up with a unique idea (is that even possible any more??) it immediately stops being a “true” niche market.
However, if you can find an already successful niche market and tailor it to your expertise, then you could find a very profitable niche indeed!
Paula - Wisecovery.com
on 8th Oct, 08 05:10pm
Suzanne,
I have been struggling with closing on my niche for weeks. I always ended up in circles and with more questions than answers. Did i get it right? Can I find profitable products for my niche?
What you provide here are reproducible how-to steps, exactly what I needed.
Thank you!
To your health!
Moglie | affiliateways101.com
on 14th Nov, 08 10:11am
Wow Suzanne
You are honestly the first person who have been able to explain the Niche Market thing to me in a way so that I understood it.
I have read that word so many times, with out having any idea, what was meant with it.
Sure I knew it meant to find something to promote, just not as specific as you explained it here.
I just wish I had found your blog-site sooner…………..But I am here now and that is all that counts for me.
Great job, keep it up girl and I think you might be more than a blogging idol, how about The Queen of Blogging?
Talk to you again later
Moglie
Affiliateways101.com
Moglie | affiliateways101.com’s last blog post..Affiliate Marketing Beginners Guide, PLR’s
Suzanne
on 14th Nov, 08 03:11pm
@ tara ~ there are so many schools of thought on this subject … I say the more “niche” the better … meaning the further you can drill down … the longer the keyword phrase (long tail keyword phrase) the better chance you have of success. If you have a broad “niche” or interest … that’s fine too … but then you should drill down as far as you can for each article … so that you can drive traffic to each page separately.
@ danny ~ yes, a “true” niche is probably not existent! LOL
@ paula ~ I hope you’re doing well … how are you coming along with everything?
@ moglie ~ better late than never! Glad you’re here and thanks for the compliments. And The Queen of Blogging would work fine for me! LOL
Jeff McCall
on 22nd Dec, 08 01:12pm
Suzanne,
Great post. I think the key here is not trying to sell something right away – don’t chase the money.
Build a relationship with your market first by giving them value – free samples of what’s to come if you like. You’ll soon find that then then market will be asking what they can buy from you. I’ve termed it “the great internet marketing u-turn” as it goes against what a lot of gurus are still preaching.
Have a great Christmas.