Keyword Research

Most often keyword research is the best place to start. However, keyword research doesn’t have to be a systematic non-creative process. Rather, keyword research can be a brainstorming tool.

The first step is to start with potential keywords or phrases you’re interested in. Use the keyword tools to generate a list of viable keywords and keyword phrases. In addition, research the viability, supply and demand for your topic keywords.

Start by taking your main topic and finding its most popular version. Which related keywords receive the most searches? Once you have your main keyword, then spend some time researching the lower competition keywords and keyword phrases. People are becoming savvier with their searching and instead of typing in generic keywords like “pet care,” they’ll be very specific and type in “Golden Retriever puppy nutrition.” These are they keywords and keyword phrases you’re searching for and the results from your keyword tools will help you find phrases with high demand and low supply. Here are a few keyword tools to use when doing this type of research:

* Google AdWords – Visit adwords.Google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal. Enter your keyword/keyword phrase here and you’ll see a different list of results. You’ll see advertiser competition and approximate search volume.

* KeywordSpy.com – This is a great tool to research your competition. It’s also an excellent tool for generating profitable keyword ideas.

* WordTracker – This will show you how many searches have been conducted for your keyword phrase, how many they predict, how many pages Google lists for that search term and a number called KEI or Keyword effectiveness indicator.

* KeywordDiscovery – This site works in a similar way to WordTracker and also requires a monthly subscription.

Trend Analysis

Being on the leading end of trends is also a great way to find niche markets. Imagine if you had been able to predict the Balloon boy phenomenon – this would have been a couple of very profitable days.

There are a few great tools to analyze trends including:

* Google.com/trends – This shows the most popular trends for the day.

* Pulse.ebay – Here you can analyze the most popular searches for the day. You can also see the most popular stores and the most watched items.

* Buzz.yahoo – This works similarly to Google in that it highlights the most popular search terms. However, it seems to tend toward gossip and entertainment topics rather than products and industry trends.

* Springwise – A newsletter, which you can subscribe to, that highlights current and possible trends.

* Trendwatching – Emailed to thousands globally to spot and report on upcoming trends. They produce an annual report as well as monthly “trend briefings.”

* Entrepreneur – Annually predicts the upcoming trends for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Social Networking

Finally, social networking can be a great way to recognize trends and niche markets. Pay attention to hot topics, frequent questions and controversy stirred up on mainstream sites. Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace are all great places to observe, research and brainstorm.

Finding niche markets is an ongoing process and it can be a fun and interesting process as well. Think outside of the box, analyze trends and pay attention to what’s going on online. The next big niche could be right around the corner.

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Marketing experts the world over agree that in the not too distant future the majority of retail and commercial transactions – of all types – will take place on the Internet and World Wide Web. Therefore, if you are involved with an Internet business, it might be said that you do have something of a head start. However, it also means that you need to make sure that you use cutting edge marketing techniques to make sure that your online business remains competitive not only today but into the future as well. These same marketing experts have also come to a keen understanding that those businesses that really are enjoying the greatest success today (and that can be expected to be the most successful into the future) are the same enterprises that employ niche marketing techniques and practices.

Historically, most marketing, advertising and promotional efforts were what might best be called broadcast campaigns. In other words, a business simply promoted its products or services to the public at large. A business broadcast what it was selling or providing to the public at large – broadcast in the both the literal and figurative sense of the word.

In part because of the growth of the Internet and in part because of other technological development, the idea of niche marketing has really taken hold. Through niche marketing, rather than broadcasting information about the products or services you are marketing to the general public, you focus on distinct and targeted market segments. Through research and other practices you identify those market segments that contain consumers that will be most interested in the products you sell or the services you provide.

When all and said and done Adwords represents the ultimate in targeted marketing. By their very definition and functionality, Adwords are utilized exclusively to connect with consumers that have a true and identifiable interest in the products you sell or the services you provide through your business. A consumer will only have access to your Adwords advert after they have plugged a relevant search term or set of terms into a search engine seeking information relating to the products you sell or the services you provide.

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One of those two statements is absolutely true. The other may or may not be true, depending on the individual.

The true part? You need to make some decisions with respect to the products you’ll promote and to whom you’ll be promoting them. You can’t take on the whole world at once, so niche selection is incredibly important. Finding niches in which you can make an impact can be critical to IM success.

The maybe, maybe not part? You must love your niche. It simply isn’t true for everyone. Some people will find it hard to stay motivated and to produce necessary materials for a niche in which they don’t have an interest. If that sounds like your personality, stick with something you enjoy. That makes sense for you and it’ll probably give you the best chance for success.

Others, however, are more interested in the mechanics and implementation of IM strategies than they are in the underlying content. They’re willing to learn a niche, master it, and work the process even if they don’t particularly care about the topic at hand.

Let’s put it this way, there are plenty of people who’ve made good money selling exercise plans and weight loss products who wear XXL clothing and who’ve never been to a gym.

Should you work in a niche you love? All other things being equal, it does sound great. But it’s not absolutely necessary. Like so many other aspects of IM, this is a very individual consideration.

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