Why pay for the many Niche Marketing services, products and sites that are springing up everywhere when you can discover your own profitable niche for free?
A Niche market is something with a high demand and a low supply. Luckily, using keyword tracking tools and search engines we can find these relatively easy.
In fact, there is a site that does it for you. It's called Nichebot and can be found at http://www.nichebot.com and it doesn't cost a cent.
To discover your potential niche just type a search term into Nichebot. It can be anything, but if you're stuck for ideas just look in magazines, newspapers, websites etc for a two or three word term, preferrably something that could potentially lead to someone spending money. For example, objects of any kind or services - e.g. "Carpet Cleaners" or "Engine Tuning" - it can literally be anything!
Now type the term(s) into Nichebot and look for the Ratio. The lower the better. The ratio is the number of searches for your term divided by the number of websites that serve that term.
We'll take one of our examples to illustrate. "Engine Tuning" provides a number of options with a ratio of less than 1. "model engine tuning" is searched for 264,000 times and has 4 webpages serving it!
So what do you do with this niche?
The quickest and easiest way is to target your niche keyword(s) with Google AdWords. You first need an affiliate link of some description, or failing that target an Amazon or Ebay link using the niche keyword.
Write your niche keyword into the title of your AdWords Ad (in our example "Model Engine Tuning") and it will show in bold. Write a short description ("Get the most from your Model Engine, tuning secrets revealed.") and link it to your affiliate link.
Read "Google Cash" for more information on using this method of targeting niches. http://www.googlecash.info
The second, more profitable, method is to build a website around your niche.
Your first step is to register the domain. If "model-engine-tuning.com" doesn't exist then grab it. The dashes help with the search engine ranking by seperating the keywords.
Then you need to put some content at your page. I'll leave the design up to you but it shouldn't be too hard to find pictures, articles and links relating to your subject.
Finally you'll want to make money with your site. The easiest ways are to use content-targeted systems since they'll provide paying content related to your site.
The top three are:
1. Google Adsense
Simple to install once you're approved. You have many formats to choose from and they are proven to pay well.
2. Amazon.Com
Will provide ads for books, videos, software etc related to your search term.
3. Ebay.com
Will provide listings of current eBay auctions related to your search term. You can also get ebay signups that you will make money from for life.
After you have (tastefully!) installed these you can search for other commissionable links with the likes of :
Commission Junction - http://www.cj.com
or Associate Programs - http://www.associateprograms.com
and countless other Affiliate Directories. Search Google for more opportunities.
If you can source a resellable ebook or software program of interest to your visitors that will net you even more profit. You can also sell products from Drop Shippers (something ebay sellers have done for years) which will get you good profits from little work.
If there is no ebook or report you can sell perhaps you'd like to create your own or even hire a writer to create one for you. Try Elance to find a "ghost writer". http://www.elance.com
Another profitable area on a popular site will come from building a list, selling ad space, and running joint ventures. Capture your visitors address by offering a report. This list can prove very valuable once it grows. You should also utilise PopUnders and Banners which can either promote your own paying services or others. You can even use these banners and popunders from exchange services. These will generate hits for you that you can use on completely unrelated sites.
Niche sites are very easy to find and design and you DON'T need "gurus" or expensive services to do it for you!
Happy Niche Hunting!
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Stuart Reid publishes Netpreneur News and maintains NetpreneurNow.com and it's Members Site. To join at no cost and immediately gain access to a ton of valuable eBooks, Reports and Tools simply visit http://www.netpreneurnow.com