What is a niche? a niche is “an easily identifiable market that can be targeted for direct promotion, i.e. golfers, model plane hobbyists, collectors, etc.”
Before any work can begin on building your first website you need to know what product or type of products you will promote. Because this course is specific to tangible products (products you can see), you have already narrowed your search, but we need to go further.
To be successful at affiliate marketing it is important that you focus your attentions on something you enjoy, have a reasonable knowledge of and that there is a demand for.
What do you enjoy?
It is very important to promote products that you have a passion for, or specific to a group or activity that you have a passion for. You will promote products with a far greater sense of authority if you understand the people you are promoting to, and what better way to understand them than be one of them yourself. Many people do not make money from their affiliate business because they lose interest in the topic and therefore do not provide their readers or customers with interesting points of view or relevant products. If you choose a niche you are passionate about you will be far more likely to turn your passion into a career.
Are other people selling in this market?
In affiliate marketing you will never find a niche that has not been tapped into by at least a small number of merchant and affiliates. In fact, it is normally a good sign if the niche you are considering has been tapped into because this indicates that there is a market for the product. Another good indication is to search generic keywords related to your product on Yahoo and Google to see whether there are any advertisers selling the product or group of products you are looking to promote. However, it is very important (and this has been the downfall of many affiliates) that your core product range and “unique” selling point is not oversubscribed. It is a fine balancing act between customers and competition.
An example of this may be www.martinsboots.co.uk: the original idea may have been a shoe shop, then narrowed down to a boot shop, then narrowed down (again) to the very particular niche of Dr Martens Boots.
Notepad Brainstorm.
I) Sit down with your notepad and think about topics you enjoy and are good at.
II) Think about what products you would like to buy (or wish you could), or alternatively , you would like a store dedicated to “XYZ”.
III) Are people already selling these product? Are they successful? (remember to refer to Yahoo & Google paid advertisements)
IV) If you have thought of a generic niche, try to narrow it down and refine it (as in the www.martinsboots.co.uk example above)
V) Try to think of four or five niches using the methods mentioned above.
Related reading:
Finding Your Affiliate Niche
How Do I Find My First Affiliate Niche
7 Steps To Choose A Niche For Your Blog
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