One of the keys to creating a successful online business is finding the proper niche. If you do not spend enough time on this task, you could find that the work involved in setting up a site was all for naught. Sufficient preparation and research before you begin your venture is essential for making online profits.
What can you gain from Niche Research? Take a look.
Less Competition
We can all think of products that became popular very quickly and all of a sudden it seemed every retailer was offering them. Remember when mp3 players were new and novel? Lots of companies quickly jumped on the bandwagon when they started selling like crazy. Nowadays everyone offers them, or so it seems, but why would you want to be in competition with so many other sellers?
You will find greater demand and less competition if you search for a niche. Going back to our example, mp3 players are not a good item to offer, but perhaps something related would be. Perhaps you could write an e-book about how to make off-brand players work with components designed for an iPod or with a surround-sound stereo system for a television. This fills a need, and defines a niche market that you will find little, if any, competition with.
Cheaper Keywords
Another advantage of finding a niche is that you will not have to bid on highly competitive keywords for your pay per click advertising campaign. Just take a look at how many bidders are paying for the keywords “mp3 player” or “iPod”. There are literally millions and millions. Write your e-book and you can capitalise on some more specific terms that will cost you far less.
Less competition for your keywords means you can more easily gain page one rankings.
Supply And Demand
Proper Niche Research will ensure that your products or services will turn a profit in your online business. Sure, you might come up with a product that you think is really great and different. Maybe you even did an initial search to see how many other vendors were offering it. But unless you go the extra step and determine if there is a need for the item, you might be on the wrong track. After all, sometimes there is little supply because demand is also low.
A Niche Makes You Stand Out From The Crowd
Niche businesses can receive a good amount of targeted traffic, along with the proper marketing techniques and the right keywords, of course. When you start a business that caters to a particular target market, it is easier to identify them, reach them, and induce them to visit your site.
Your niche makes your company different from the others and lets consumers know that you can provide them with exactly the item they are seeking. It increases your traffic, and your odds of making the sale.
Don’t disregard Niche Research as a simple task that requires little time or effort. The right niche can make the difference between a profitable business and one that struggles.
See you at the top of Google!
Sean Rasmussen
SEO Australia Pacific
AussieSEO.com © 2007 - 2010
Excellent article Sean – I’m still struggling to find that niche. Lots of ideas though and this article has given me some ideas to pursue.
Hi Colin,
Great to see you getting something out of the articles, spend a bit of time researching and that niche will appear for you mate
Regards – Sean
That’s an excellent message Sean,
In the past I’ve skipped the process of niche research – and the results can easily become very generic and untargeted. I’m just about to start a new blog site at the moment, so this is a good reminder to do the required research before picking the niche and running with it!
.-= Joel Annesley´s last blog ..Mind Mapping Your Creativity: Why I Don’t Make Lists Anymore! =-.
Hi Joel,
I am sure that some niche research before starting your new blog will help to pave the way to success…good luck
Regards – Sean
Hi Sean,
It’s really easy to muck up your niche research. Just ask me, I’ve done it. What I thought was niche is still way too broad but I’m working on fixing it. The good news is with each mistake, I am learning what doesn’t work and I’m getting closer to what does.
Thanks for the reminder to spend the time doing your research properly before you build your blog.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Learn and Earn – It’s a Marathon Not a Sprint =-.
I have the same problem Jazz. My so called niche is so broad there are thousands of products I could sell. I really need to focus on a niche in my niche.
.-= Jackie Stenhouse´s last blog ..Anxiety Separation in Children =-.
Hi Sean
Yes, that niche marketing product can be so elusive! I have been working on this for months trying to figure out what it is.
One thing I do know as a starting point is it has to be something I am really passionate about. I keep focusing in and focusing in some more. But like you say, I don’t want to specialise too much and find there is not enough demand for it.
I am on the right track, and all these wonderful articles I have been reading and learning from are giving me many valuable insights into the possibilities (which seem endless) and are teaching me the correct way to do things. I am very grateful.
Blessings,
Elly
.-= Elly´s last blog .. =-.
Since listening to your webinars and reading your blogs, I am becoming aware of how important it is to research your niche until you can narrow it down to one thing at a time. My topic I blog about is way to broad but I am looking at a new blog which I hope will be more focussed on one niche.
.-= Jackie Stenhouse´s last blog ..Anxiety Separation in Children =-.