| by: André Anthony | | | | guys aren't interested in making a few thousand |
| Unless you've been living under an Internet rock, | | | | bucks a year from these tiny specialized markets, |
| you've probably heard the buzz about Niche | | | | they're after millions from mass markets... |
| Marketing. Right now it's the hottest marketing | | | | ... And let's face it if you're a little guy you simply |
| topic online. | | | | can't be everything to everybody, so you must |
| Is it a new concept? | | | | pick a specific focus (Niche) for your business. For |
| Well on the Internet maybe, but if like me, you've | | | | example don't target "Fishing", instead target |
| been involved in direct response marketing in the | | | | "Fishing Baits" or "Fishing Lures" both of which |
| 'Bricks and Mortar' world then it isn't - that's the | | | | have a much more specific focus... |
| way we've done things since time immemorial. | | | | ...Get the idea? |
| So what's this Niche Marketing thing all about? | | | | Once you narrow down the size of the market |
| If you have ever taken Marketing 101 then you'll | | | | you have an automatic advantage over larger |
| have heard of the old marketing adage : "Find a | | | | companies. Here's why : |
| need and fill it" - that's what "Niche Marketing" is all | | | | - You can quickly become an expert in your niche |
| about. Finding a "focussed" group of people, with a | | | | (if you're not already) |
| specialized interest, eager to buy (The Niche) and | | | | - It's easier to keep current with a narrowly |
| promoting a suitable product or service to all | | | | focussed market niche |
| those interested in buying it (Marketing). | | | | - You can respond faster to changes in the |
| Let me give you a few examples of these Niches | | | | market |
| : | | | | - You can build close relationships with key |
| - Recipes | | | | customers that will be hard to compete with |
| - Golf | | | | This is something I learned from experience - if |
| - Fishing | | | | you're interested you can read my story here |
| - Health and Fitness | | | | andre-anthony-value-of-niche-marketing.htm. |
| - Travel | | | | By now you're probably wondering about the |
| - Collectibles | | | | mechanics of this niche marketing stuff. In a |
| - Dating | | | | nutshell here's how it works : |
| - Dog Training | | | | - Find and research profitable niche markets |
| - Satellite TV | | | | - Locate or develop suitable products/services to |
| - Beauty Tips | | | | market |
| - Astrology | | | | - Set up a web site to market the products |
| - Cats | | | | services |
| - Bartending | | | | - Establish a marketing system that works for |
| - Alternative Health | | | | you |
| - Hand-poured Candles | | | | - Repeat the process over and over again with a |
| - Gourmet Foods | | | | different niche each time. |
| - Gambling | | | | Imagine having a niche site producing one sale a |
| - Mortgages | | | | day at say $20. That's $7300 a year - how many |
| - Credit Cards | | | | sites could you set up and run 10, 20 ....? |
| - Music | | | | But before you get too excited, I have a word of |
| - Jewellery | | | | caution for you: |
| ...... the list just goes on and on and these are just | | | | Niche marketing is not a magic bullet. It isn't a |
| the main headings, there are niches within each of | | | | matter of putting up a web site and then sitting |
| these niches ... Think of a subject and there's likely | | | | back and waiting for the money to roll in - "build it |
| a niche market for it... | | | | and they will come" may have worked for Kevin |
| But the name of the game is to find a "tightly | | | | Costner in Field of Dreams, but it doesn't work |
| focussed" niche. The reason for this that if you | | | | that way on the Internet - if you do that you'll be |
| target a general market the competition is fierce | | | | waiting a long time. |
| and it's hard, if not impossible, for the little guy to | | | | If you want a successful niche business, you have |
| get a foothold. | | | | to work at it just like any other business - if |
| When you narrow down the size of the market | | | | you're prepared to put in the effort though the |
| you eradicate most of the heavy hitters with | | | | rewards can be significant. |
| bottomless advertising budgets, because these | | | | |