| Many years ago, I watched a show called the "Ray | | | | downloading. And I'm not just talking about e-books; |
| Bradbury Theater". Every episode began with a | | | | there are all kinds of products and services that can |
| narration of Ray saying, "People ask, where do you | | | | be purchased instantly via the internet. To name a |
| get your ideas?". It seems this is a question that is on | | | | few:Information (e-books, databases, documents, |
| everybody's mind, whether they are creating a story, | | | | articles, tutorials)Software (programming tools, |
| or creating a business.Just where do you start when | | | | analyzers, calculators, designing tools)Audio (music, |
| creating an internet business?Businesses always get | | | | satellite radio, MP3's, synthesizers, sound effects)Video |
| started with one thing in common... an idea! Easier said | | | | (trailers, commercials, instructional, teaching, |
| than done though, right? Maybe, or maybe not. You | | | | entertainment)Games (games, arcades, casinos, |
| see, a common misconception is that many believe | | | | teaching/learning, prize winning)Graphics (designing |
| they have to create this great internet store full of all | | | | services/tools, artwork, driver software)Services |
| kinds of products in order to meet the majority of | | | | (advertising, locating/finding, auctions, website designing |
| peoples needs.The more you offer, the more people it | | | | or hosting, search engines, writing, professional |
| will appeal to, right?Not exactly. Several years ago, I | | | | services)These kind of products can give the |
| built an online gift store that included all kinds of | | | | consumer instant gratification! Not only that...Think how |
| merchandise; anything from home interior, garden | | | | much this helps you! The product can be designed to |
| décor, to unique gifts. I really felt this kind of a | | | | be delivered instantly upon payment. No orders to fill, |
| store would appeal to people, and the truth is, it | | | | no shipping, no products to buy, no materials are |
| did.What was the problem then? I was competing with | | | | needed, and best yet; you have an endless |
| over 3 million other gift store websites! I didn't have a | | | | supply!Don't get me wrong here; you can still be |
| chance. Unless you have deep pockets, you should | | | | successful at selling physical products on the internet |
| stay away from generalized ideas such as this.So, | | | | too.Millions of products are shipped to consumers |
| where should your focus be? Find a niche market!The | | | | ordered through the internet everyday. And there are |
| dictionary defines a niche as: "a special area of | | | | many, many specialty stores owned by private |
| demand for a product or service".A gift store is too | | | | individuals that are extremely successful. But if you are |
| vague to be considered a niche. A gift basket store is | | | | new to selling on the internet, it may take a much |
| a little more focused on an area, but how about gift | | | | larger investment just to get started.I hope you have |
| baskets for pets? Now that would be considered a | | | | begun to get ideas spinning around in your head. Now, |
| niche. Not necessarily a good niche, but you get the | | | | let's branch off those ideas into more ideas.By now |
| point.Think of a niche as, "an opportunity for an | | | | you should know what interests you have, even if you |
| average, everyday person to be successful". Most of | | | | haven't thought of a product yet. And please, don't |
| us have no chance of survival when we are trying to | | | | think you have to come up with the perfect product. |
| compete with the "big dogs". But fortunately, we can | | | | Remember, your goal is to help just a few people out |
| still pick up what they leave behind, and...They leave | | | | there, not everybody.Now that you have some ideas |
| behind plenty!According to the Computer Industry | | | | written down, you can use these to create more ideas |
| Almanac, Inc., in 2005, the population of Internet users | | | | with a handy little software tool. This free tool can be |
| surpassed 1 billion. With most large corporations | | | | used for various things, but for now, we are going to |
| focusing their products and services on the mass | | | | use it to stimulate more ideas.A valuable little toolOpen |
| marketing scale (which in all likeliness, we can't even | | | | up your internet browser and type in the following link: |
| compete with), we are left with marketing to the | | | | you will see a small little box called the "Keyword |
| niches.Large companies don't care about making a | | | | Selector Tool". Start by looking through your notes, and |
| few thousand dollars extra per month. They are after | | | | pick out the key words that are specific to your |
| millions a month. So, they leave behind niches that are | | | | interests.For example, you may have written down, "I |
| very valuable to people like us. Would a few thousand | | | | enjoy camping because I love the outdoors and I'm |
| extra per month help you? A few hundred would | | | | really good at building tents". So, you could enter words |
| make most people ecstatic!But are there any unfilled | | | | into the box such as, "camping", "outdoors", and "tents". |
| niches left? Possibly; but you're not likely to find one. | | | | Enter these words one at a time to get their specific |
| But you don't need to find an unfilled niche. In fact, you | | | | results.Once you enter your word, you will most likely |
| don't want one! Why try to build a demand for a | | | | see many results. Take a look through all these results |
| market, when you can find a market that already | | | | and get some new ideas about what you could do to |
| exists? Find one that already has people ready to buy, | | | | fill a need. Hopefully it will spark some imagination on |
| and put yourself right in front of them!Besides, there | | | | the subjects you know and enjoy best.You can get a |
| are plenty of partially filled niches and even more | | | | further breakdown into more specific ideas by clicking |
| poorly filled niches. What's more, experts are | | | | on any of the results in front of you. Then, click on |
| estimating the internet will double in the number of | | | | some of those results. The more you break it down, |
| users by the year 2011. That's 2 billion users! The | | | | the more specific the subject will be. These results are |
| potential is mind-boggling.So, how do you decide on a | | | | actual searches done by people all over the world.See, |
| niche? First and foremost, choose something that you | | | | people want to know what you may have to |
| enjoy. Even if you find a niche that has very little | | | | offer!The number to the left of each result represents |
| competition, it will be very difficult for you to stay | | | | how many times that particular word or phrase was |
| interested if it's something you don't even care | | | | searched for in the last 30 days on the Overture |
| about.So, first you need to start by doing some | | | | Network (this includes MSN, Yahoo, Altavista, CNN and |
| brainstorming to come up with some ideas. Then you | | | | more).This number can give you an idea of the |
| need to research those ideas and see if they have | | | | popularity for that term. But, you can usually be sure |
| potential. Need some help getting started? You got | | | | the more popular it is, the more competition there is. |
| it!Start by asking yourself a few questions and write | | | | But don't worry about this for now. In this article, we |
| down the answers:What are your hobbies? (coin | | | | are just going to focus on finding a niche of interest to |
| collecting, cooking, painting)What are your interests? | | | | you.Spend as much time as it takes to come up with |
| (camping, cars, electronics, gardening)Do you have any | | | | ideas. Besides the keyword tool, use search engines to |
| skills? (speaking languages, instruments, writing)Do your | | | | give you ideas. You could even use a thesaurus, such |
| friends consider you an expert at something? | | | | as the one at to help inspire you.No matter what |
| (computers, repairing, designing, decorating, etc.)Ok, | | | | subject or niche you decide on, you WILL have |
| have you been writing down your answers? This was | | | | competition. Competition is actually a very good thing |
| sort of a self examination. But you also want to get | | | | and keeps our economy healthy. So don't be anxious |
| some other view points. You've interviewed yourself, | | | | or afraid whether your niche will have any or too much |
| now interview some others. Ask your spouse, some | | | | competition.There will always be a need to fill!I bet |
| close friends, workmates, or anyone else you can think | | | | there isn't one niche out there where everybody is |
| of some questions about yourself.Ask each of these | | | | 100% completely satisfied. Pick any niche, pick any |
| people:What do you like best about me?What would | | | | subject, and you'll find someone complaining about |
| you say I'm talented at?What can you always count | | | | something.Use search engines, such as Google and |
| on me for?If you owned every business in the world, | | | | Yahoo to not only find what others are selling, but to |
| what position would you hire me for?Remember, | | | | find what others are missing. What are peoples |
| nobody should choose your niche except for yourself. | | | | concerns, suggestions or complaints about? Find online |
| These exercises are to help you brainstorm the | | | | forums on the subject. Find out what people want. Is |
| possibilities open to you. You get the idea.Now, before | | | | there anything you could offer them?Take your time |
| we go on, I want you to keep in mind the key goal to | | | | and do your homework. You may even need to make |
| finding success. Are you ready?Find a need, and then | | | | some purchases yourself, just to see what the |
| fill it! Simple, right? I don't care who you are or what | | | | competition is offering. In fact, I really suggest doing |
| you know, you have something unique to offer. | | | | this!When I was writing my first e-book, I purchased |
| Everyone does. Even if it has already been done a | | | | several other e-books from competitors. Each book |
| thousand times before, look at it from a different angle, | | | | had something to offer, and each book was missing at |
| put a spin on it and make it better!As you are | | | | least something that the other one had. I created my |
| brainstorming all your ideas and possibilities, let me see | | | | product by filling in all the "gaps" that were missing |
| if I can stir some more ideas up with some facts about | | | | from the others and incorporating my own ideas and |
| the internet and the way we use it.Do you know what | | | | styles to create a product that was truly unique to all |
| the number one selling product on the internet is?Drum | | | | the others. During your research and while creating |
| roll please... INFORMATION! It's the one product we all | | | | your own business, you may even consider purchasing |
| have in common because we all need it, for one | | | | some help or information from an expert. There is so |
| reason or another.We love free information, but we | | | | much good content available for purchase on the |
| are more than willing to pay for it if it satisfies our | | | | internet, and many products even come with a |
| needs. Sometimes we want the best, and we'll all pay | | | | guarantee of satisfaction.Don't be afraid to invest in |
| a premium to get it. Most of the paid information on the | | | | yourself! People spend ten's of thousands of dollars on |
| internet is in the form of e-books.Although a huge | | | | a college education. Why not spend a tiny fraction of |
| seller, I'm not saying that you should just focus on | | | | that educating yourself on what could possibly bring |
| writing e-books. But at the same time, don't eliminate | | | | you into a very successful future on the |
| the idea just because it has been done over and over | | | | internet?There's always room for one more!The |
| again.The first e-book I ever wrote brought in well over | | | | internet is far from being too full. There is plenty of |
| $3,000 in the first couple months of its release. And | | | | room for you, and with the internet forecast doubling in |
| this was with very little advertising.My e-book was | | | | population during the next 5 years, we've seen nothing |
| nothing new either. Remember the phrase I mentioned | | | | yet! Remember, "find a need, and then fill it!"I hope that |
| earlier? "Find a need, and then fill it." My angle for | | | | this information has been helpful and beneficial to you |
| writing this book was, "better information at a better | | | | finding your niche. If so, you're off to a great start!Enjoy |
| price". I wrote a more complete e-book with | | | | your success,Chad Curl Curl is an author of various |
| information that I felt others were lacking, and I put a | | | | e-courses, e-books and articles specializing in Online |
| price on it that was much lower than comparable | | | | Marketing. He is also the owner of also mentors and |
| products.I found a need, and then I filled it! Result? More | | | | provides training to those interested in starting their |
| income!Think about this too...What do most people | | | | own online business and to current online business |
| want when purchasing any product or service?They | | | | owners looking for better ways to promote and |
| want instant gratification! In other words, they want it | | | | increase their business income. |
| now, not later. The internet can offer this in the form of | | | | |