According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary a niche is described as "a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted... a specialized market".
Have you noticed that despite the closing of many businesses in these harsh economic times, the local hobby train store is still around? That the 'hole-in-the-wall' eatery is thriving? Or that trends such as scrapbooking can start with a bang and still close within a year when four similar businesses start up in the same area?
The online business world reflects the same trends as experienced in the offline world - often with faster turnover and startup rates. Those who promote a product or site that targets a small, select audience can tap into a market that is otherwise not being served. Despite the limitations of the client base, the targeted nature of the business creates a devoted and active market - the aim of any business.
HOW DO I FIND A NICHE?
Finding a niche requires diligent research. Whether you have access to software that harvests and sorts information or you take a manual approach you must first start with ideas.
With a pen and paper (or computer, if that's more comfortable) brainstorm a list of businesses, products and industries. Create a list of keywords and phrases you think would be used by individuals looking for these items online.
Use a software program such as Wordtracker or a FRE*E resource such as the Overture Keyword Selector Tool to find keywords for your niche that have a high amount of traffic.
Although a program like Wordtracker makes it easy to find details such as how many sites compete for that market, you can also do your own research.
Concentrate your attention on question phrases such as "how do I..." or "where can I...". These questions will clue you into potential markets that need servicing.
Next, look in Google Answers. Type one of your keywords into the search area. What questions are being asked and how much are people willing to pay for answers? If you find a group of keywords with a high number of questions then enter these words in your browser's search engine.
What sites come up? Do they provide answers or solutions to the problem? How are they making money? Can you see an opportunit*y to service these individuals?
Finding a niche can open the door to a profitable online business. Research the market and be certain that your product or service is valuable to this group. Find forums or groups that target this audience and pay close attention to their concerns.
If you can help these people you WILL make money. The best of both worlds!
I believe that we all possess the power to motivate ourselves. I think that self motivation starts with deciding what the problem we wish to solve is. Do we wish to lose weight? Are we unhappy in our job and would like to find a new one? Do we feel unappreciated by our partner? Once we know which problem we are attempting to solve, we can pick a goal and move towards solving that problem.
If your goal is to lose 10 pounds , you should break that goal down into several smaller steps. For example, you could say that you will walk for a half an hour everyday after work for 2 weeks. Then at the end of two weeks, when you have accomplished that goal, take it to the next step which could be that you will walk/run everyday after work for one half an hour, or that you will walk for an hour. Whatever you decide. Make sure that the goal is attainable in a relatively short period of time. All these smaller goals will help you reach your main goal. But by breaking it down into smaller steps, it does not seem so unattainable. It will also help to keep you motivated to reach these smaller goals along the way.
I believe that you will be most successful in reaching your goal if you are able to motivate yourself. You can keep those smaller jeans on your bedside table so that you see them everyday when you get out of bed. Put reminders on the fridge. Do not buy all the sugary snacks at the grocery store. Enlisting the help of your loved ones can also be important. It helps to have someone cheering you on. It also makes you accountable to someone besides yourself, which for some people is more important then self motivation.
So, decide your goal. Break it down into several smaller steps. Write them down. As you accomplish each smaller goal, cross it off the list until you reach the end. Whatever your goal is, you can achieve it with the right mind set. Motivation starts within yourself. You decide what it is you want to change and then go about changing it.
Both Robert Kleine & Jennie Crawford are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Robert Kleine has sinced written about articles on various topics from Site Promotion, Ezine Articles. Robert Kleine has been actively marketing on the Internet for over 5 years. One of his many websites can be found at