Are you struggling to find a profitable niche for your business? There is no doubt about it. Many people have tried and failed at finding a niche that would bring them success. It's not easy to come up with good ideas on what to sell or promote. You may even be thinking "how can I make a living from this?" But don't worry! We'll show you 7 simple steps to help you find any niche you want so you can build a successful online business.
We've all heard the saying - "The way to riches is through learning". The same applies here. If you're looking for ways to start an online business, then there are certain things you need to understand first before doing anything else. In this article we will talk about one such thing: How to find a profitable niche.
If you are starting out as a newbie in internet marketing, then chances are high that you won't get rich overnight. To become successful, you must learn some basic concepts related to online marketing. One of those concepts is identifying a profitable niche. This is important as without knowing which niche to focus on, you might end up wasting time promoting products that aren't really useful to anyone.
It's true that many entrepreneurs struggle to find a viable niche. They just keep trying different options until they finally give up. However, once you know where to look, it's easier than ever to discover a profitable niche that could turn into a goldmine. So let's dive right in.
A lot has been written about finding a profitable niche. There are websites dedicated solely to this topic. Some say that in order to succeed, you should choose something that you enjoy but others claim that you shouldn't try to find the niche that pays you more. What does the research tell us? Well, both sides have valid arguments.
Let's take a closer look at each side of the argument.
According to ClickBankers' State Of Affiliate Marketing Report 2016/2017, the top five niches making the most revenue were Software & Programming (11%), Health & Fitness (10%), Personal Development & Coaching (9%), Business Opportunities & Services (8%) and Dating Advice (6%). These figures represent only affiliates who made $2000+ monthly. For every dollar spent by these affiliates, they earned around $1.15.
Now imagine how much money other niches could earn based on the statistics above. A niche like Photography earns less than 1 cent per sale. Other niches like Web Design, Video Production and Blogging earn between 3 cents and 4 cents per sale. That means that if you spend 10 hours working on one blog post, you'd earn roughly 20 cents. Not bad, eh?
But wait...there's more. According to the same report, the average commission rate was 5%. Which means that for every 1000 dollars invested in advertising, the average affiliate gets paid 5000 dollars. Now that's huge potential earnings.
In short, you can easily see why the most lucrative niches tend to be ones that involve programming, photography, web design, blogging etc. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to pick one of these niches yourself. All you need to do is search for 'best affiliate programs'. Most affiliate networks offer hundreds of opportunities to work with. Then simply sign up for whichever program looks appealing to you. Your job now is to decide whether or not you are willing to put in enough effort to make it worth the while.
You probably already know that affiliate marketing involves selling someone else's product or service using your own site. You receive commissions whenever someone buys the product after clicking on your link.
When considering the types of affiliate marketing, there are two main categories - direct sales and pay-per-click. Direct sales refers to when you directly market the product to customers via email, social media posts, advertisements etc. Pay-per-click also known as PPC involves promoting the product using Google AdWords.
Both methods have pros and cons. With PPC, you only pay when somebody clicks on your ad. When compared to direct sales, PPC ads cost less since you don't incur extra fees unless someone actually purchases the product. On the flipside, PPC campaigns typically last longer.
Another factor to consider is traffic. While direct sales usually generate higher conversions rates, PPC ads tend to attract more visitors. Therefore, depending on your requirements, you can opt to use either method.
To answer this question, we need to dig deeper into the stats behind our earlier findings. As mentioned earlier, the list of popular niches consists mostly of topics involving coding, graphic designing, writing, coaching etc. Let's break down the numbers further.
For example, according to ClickBankers', the number of active users in the following niches ranges from 2 million to 9 million: SEO, Social Media Management, Amazon FBA, WordPress, Copywriting, Online Course Creation, Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Content Writing, Article Writing and Virtual Assistant.
This gives you an idea of how big the industry surrounding each niche is. If you're planning to invest in any of these niches, it would definitely make sense to go ahead. After all, you wouldn't waste time building another website aimed towards a niche that isn't generating any income.
As far as choosing the right niche goes, it comes down to personal preference. If you love creating content, then stick to blogs. If you're passionate about teaching others, then teach courses instead. No matter what niche you choose, remember that it's always better to target a smaller audience rather than a large one.
Finding a profitable niche is a daunting task. So the next logical step is to figure out how to effectively advertise your chosen niche. But don't worry, we'll cover that soon too. Stay tuned!
1. The \"Cake and Pie\" Niche
Let me begin by saying that this isn't something new. There has been plenty of research conducted over the years on how people pick their favorite foods. In fact, there is an entire field called food psychology which studies why we choose certain things.
The first step in choosing a niche is to think deeply about your own personal preferences. Are you into cakes and pies? Or maybe sweets like cookies and cupcakes? What kind of products does your family love eating? Does anyone in your household enjoy cooking? If yes, then perhaps you could start selling baked goods. This might seem like a small idea but remember that the average American eats around 5 pounds of cake per year alone (source). That means millions of Americans will buy your product(s) every month. So if you're able to get just one person who loves baking to try out your product, that's enough to earn some serious income.
If you prefer desserts to savory dishes, you could also look into the pastry industry. Pastries include everything from croissants to doughnuts. People eat pastries all throughout the world and this market is growing as well. A few examples of popular brands include Starbucks and Krispy Kreme.
You can also go after the fast-food industry. Burger King, McDonalds, and other similar restaurants offer thousands of items that can become your potential customers' next meals. As long as these companies continue to grow, more people will need to eat fast food. Fast food chains such as Subway sell sandwiches, pizzas, salads, etc. They cater to different tastes and thus appeal to many consumers.
Finally, if you'd rather focus on healthy snacks, you should consider starting a company focused on fruits and vegetables. These types of foods are always in demand. Some examples of popular brands are Cheezits and fruit roll ups.
3.4 billion people worldwide have Internet access and use it daily (according to Statistica). This number will grow further in the coming years as more countries gain access to broadband around the globe. In addition, according to Google's "Keyword Planner" tool, there were over 1.8 million searches per month for "online business," which grew by 18 percent year on year from 2016 to 2017. This indicates an increase in interest and need for products and services related to online business. Therefore, finding a viable niche market can be lucrative.
Finding a profitable niche is not easy. It takes time and patience. The good news is that today, many niche markets exist that are highly competitive but also profitable. If you want to become successful at this game, here are 7 simple steps to help you get started.
There are two types of niches -- those that have low competition and those that have high competition. Low-competition niches generally offer higher profit margins than high-competition ones. For example, let's say you choose to start your own home cleaning service or dog grooming business. These may be good ideas, but both industries are saturated already. A better idea would probably be to focus on a less popular industry such as landscaping. You'll still make money while avoiding direct competitors.
In contrast, you could take another approach and target an industry with lots of competition. Perhaps you decide to sell shoes online through an eCommerce platform like Amazon or eBay. This might seem risky since these platforms have thousands of sellers competing against one another. However, remember that many companies offer similar products, so competition isn't always bad! On the contrary, you'll actually benefit from having plenty of options when selling your product. Competition makes buyers even more likely to buy what they're looking for. So instead of fighting other vendors, why don't you join forces and create a marketplace where all shoe brands compete against each other? Now, customers no longer only see the prices offered by individual sellers. They also get to compare them side by side with everyone else in their category. As long as your brand has something unique about itself, shoppers should be eager to buy your shoes.
Of course, if you've chosen a well-established industry, then chances are you won't face much competition. But just because a certain niche doesn't have lots of competition does not mean that it's not worth exploring. There are several factors that determine whether a particular niche is worthwhile or not. To figure out whether a niche is truly profitable, consider some basic questions:
Are there enough potential clients who are willing to pay for my solution?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then go ahead and dive into that niche. Otherwise, move on to something else.
The internet offers endless opportunities for entrepreneurs, especially given its growing popularity and affordability. With so many different markets available, however, it becomes difficult to narrow down the choices. Luckily, we live in exciting times. Thanks to technology advancements, we now have tons of tools that allow us to pinpoint promising niche markets before they hit the mainstream. Here are four great ways to discover the hottest niches:
Social media trends: Social media sites like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest are constantly evolving. New features are added every day, creating additional room for growth. By monitoring social media, you can learn a lot about current consumer preferences without ever leaving your desk.
Google Trends: Search engine giant Google provides information about trending topics across various categories. Use this data source to uncover hot keywords and phrases that are currently being searched for on search engines around the world.
Buzzsumo: BuzzSumo analyzes millions of web pages published on blogs and social networks. Its advanced algorithm uses hundreds of signals to predict future content performance based on past behavior. This means that you can effectively forecast which topics will succeed in the near future.
Online surveys: Online surveys provide valuable insight into the minds of consumers. Companies often hire professional survey takers to ask targeted questions regarding specific products or services. When done correctly, online surveys give you an accurate snapshot of real customer opinions, allowing you to gauge the success of your company's offerings.
As mentioned above, there are thousands of niches to explore. Some are more appealing than others depending on numerous variables including the following:
Market size & growth rate: Niches with larger markets tend to attract more attention from marketers. That said, keep in mind that large numbers aren’t necessarily indicative of profitability. Instead, look for niches with healthy growth rates.
Lack of competition: Although there will always be competition in any field, the fewer players in a particular market, the easier it will be to dominate. Finding niches with few competitors means lower risk and greater profits.
Brand awareness: Branding plays a major role in determining whether a niche is appealing or not. Brands that stand out among competitors usually generate higher revenue, making them ideal targets for advertisers.
When considering a niche, think twice about whether it aligns with your personal values as an entrepreneur. Are you passionate about the subject matter? Do you enjoy working toward achieving goals? Does the niche appeal to your sense of adventure? Are you ready to put in extra effort to achieve results? If you answered “yes” to all of the preceding questions, then you may be well suited for entrepreneurship.
Once you've determined the niche(s) you'd like to pursue, the next step is to assess their demand. According to experts, five key indicators indicate whether a niche is in high demand:
High volume of traffic: Traffic refers to the amount of visitors visiting a site every month. High volumes signal a strong base of interested individuals who are actively engaged in seeking solutions to problems.
Large conversion ratios: Conversion ratio refers to the percentage of visitors who purchased a product after viewing a page on your website. Ideally, you aim for a ratio between 20%-50%. Anything below 10% is considered poor.
Low bounce rates: Bounce rate measures the average length of stay on a webpage. Lower bounce rates suggest that visitors are satisfied with the experience provided by your website.
Satisfied users: Satisfaction scores measure user satisfaction levels. Higher ratings signify that your audience enjoys using your product/service.
Predictable income streams: Predictability refers to how reliably you earn revenue throughout the lifespan of your niche. Generally speaking, niches with consistent cash flow are preferable to those that fluctuate wildly.
To calculate the total value of a niche, multiply the first three metrics listed above by the fourth metric. Then add up all of the resulting figures. Finally, divide the sum by 2.5 to arrive at the estimated annual revenue generated by the niche.
As you can imagine, deciding on a niche requires careful consideration. Once you have narrowed down your list of possibilities, it's important to evaluate each option carefully. After identifying the top contenders, try testing a small sample of websites to confirm their viability. Remember, a niche must be both interesting and profitable. Only once you're confident that you've found a winning combination will you begin promoting your venture.
In order to be successful as an entrepreneur, it’s important to have a clear understanding about what constitutes success. For many people, success means making enough money to pay off all debts, buy a house or car, travel around the world, retire early, etc. But for us entrepreneurs who want more than just financial security, we need something else - our passion.
For some, this passion comes from fulfilling work at a company where they can truly make a difference. For others, it might come from creating products and services that solve real problems for customers. Still other entrepreneurs find their inspiration by helping those who are less fortunate financially or socially. This passion may also take different forms such as philanthropy, volunteering, serving on boards, giving back through donations, etc.
Whatever your motivation behind entrepreneurship, there's no doubt that building a business is one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. However, not everyone will succeed. In fact, according to statistics, only 5% of new ventures survive beyond two years (and even fewer become multimillionaires). So, why does so much effort go into starting companies that almost never see profitability?
The answer lies in finding a profitable niche.
If you haven’t heard the term “niche” before, think of it like a subcategory within an industry. If you look at any given product category, there are hundreds of possible subcategories that could serve the same purpose. Some examples include:
– Cleaning supplies – cleaning wipes, cleaning sprays, carpet cleaners, vacuum cleaner bags, etc.
– Organic food – organic vegetables, eggs, milk, cheese, meat, fish, bread, rice, pasta, spices, herbs, oils, etc.
– Fitness equipment – fitness bands, exercise machines, treadmills, rowing machines, elliptical trainers, yoga mats, etc.
As you can see, these categories cover several different types of products that address common needs. A good example of a niche would be health & wellness. Within the health & wellness space, there are dozens of subcategories that could potentially provide solutions to consumers including supplements, vitamins, weight loss, muscle recovery, detoxification, pain management, sleep aids, etc. Each of these subcategories has its own unique audience and requirements.
Finding a lucrative niche requires taking a step outside of traditional thinking and looking at things differently. The first question to ask yourself when trying to define a niche is "what problem am I solving?" You don’t necessarily have to start out selling a solution to the problem. Instead, consider identifying opportunities where you can fill a gap in the marketplace between the current offerings and the customer needs. Once you establish a viable opportunity, you'll likely be able to identify specific products, services, or features that meet those needs.
While it may seem obvious to focus on offering solutions to existing problems, you should keep in mind that every potential niche has competitors ready to pounce. As a result, you must ensure that your solution solves a legitimate problem while simultaneously avoiding unnecessary duplication.
Another important consideration when determining which niche to pursue is deciding whether or not you're willing to spend time developing content to promote your offer. Many people mistakenly believe that writing effective copy is easy and takes little effort. While this isn't entirely true, it's still very difficult to write compelling sales pages without doing extensive research and experimentation.
You should expect to invest anywhere from 1 to 3 months of fulltime development efforts to create a quality sales page. At the end of this process, your site will likely generate somewhere between $500-$2,000 per month depending upon its conversion rate and traffic volume. Of course, each situation and circumstance varies widely but this is a general guideline.
Although focusing on generating revenue rather than profits can be challenging, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't try. After all, most people wouldn't bother getting started if they didn't anticipate earning income from their businesses. As long as you stay focused on providing valuable content and converting visitors into buyers, you'll eventually hit on a niche that generates substantial revenues.
So now that you understand what a niche is and how to find one, let's examine seven tips to help you narrow down your search!
Before diving into your list of potential markets, it’s critical to determine exactly what type of products and/or services you plan to sell. Remember, once you've identified a viable niche, you'll need to develop products, landing pages, videos, articles, etc., to attract prospects. To avoid wasting precious resources, it makes sense to get ahead of the curve and decide what you'll ultimately sell prior to conducting keyword searches.
When working backwards from this point, consider asking questions such as:
"Who is my ideal client?"
"Where do my clients usually turn after they purchase a service or product?"
"Are there certain demographics that tend to respond better to my offers?"
These questions will give you insight into consumer behavior patterns, preferences, and motivations. Armed with this information, you'll be well positioned to target keywords related to topics relevant to your chosen niche.
Once you've determined the main points of interest, move onto Step 2 below where you'll use tools to further qualify your niche and hone in on a few select options.
A popular misconception regarding niche analysis is that it involves researching thousands of terms across multiple industries. Although this approach works great for larger enterprise organizations, small firms simply cannot afford to conduct exhaustive keyword research. It's far too expensive and inefficient. Fortunately, there are plenty of free alternatives available that allow you to quickly assess millions of keywords and compare them against various criteria.
One method used to evaluate niche demand is assessing the number of monthly searches performed using Google Insights for Search tool. Unfortunately, Google provides data for only three countries, namely US, UK, and Canada. As a result, it's impossible to perform detailed analyses based solely on global trends. Therefore, you'll need to supplement this information by analyzing regional data as well.
To accomplish this task, you'll need to sign up for a domain name extension reseller account and access your Google Analytics account. Then, head over to www.alexa.com and enter a keyword phrase related to your niche. Next, click Alexa's "Report Traffic By Region" link located under the "Keyword Analysis" section on the left hand side menu bar. Finally, scroll down past the top 10 results and review the graph charting total monthly searches for the selected region(s) compared to other regions worldwide.
This simple technique allows you to easily spot emerging hot spots and areas of high demand within targeted geographic locations. Now that you have this information, proceed to Step 3 below where you'll learn how to apply a variety of filters to refine your selection.
There are many ways to assess niche demand. Here are a few techniques worth considering:
1. Competitive Indexes
Competitive indexes are useful metrics that measure the competitiveness of an individual keyword. They allow you to quantify the amount of competition associated with a particular keyword phrase. Generally speaking, higher scores indicate greater competitive pressure.
2. Market Share Statistics
Market share refers to the percentage of users searching for a particular keyword phrase. In theory, the higher the market share, the easier it may be to rank highly in search engines. Consequently, market share plays a large role in defining niche dominance.
3. Top Searches Report
Similar to market share statistics, the Top Searches report measures how often a keyword appears in the top ten positions of major search engine queries. Because rankings vary greatly from day to day, it's advisable to check this report frequently throughout the week.
4. Domain Name Extension Reseller Tool
With this tool, you can view a wide range of data including average daily visits, bounce rates, and the average session duration. Additionally, you can determine how many domains have been registered in relation to the searched keyword phrases.
5. Competition Heatmap
Like the previous metric, the heat map shows the relative strength of competing websites targeting a particular keyword phrase. When viewing results from this tool, remember to adjust your scale settings accordingly. Higher values represent stronger competition.
6. Competitor Links Report
This tool displays links to competitor sites along with additional details such as URL structure, anchor text, PageRank, and referring URLs. With this information, you'll gain insights into the effectiveness of rival SEO strategies.
7. Backlink Profile
Backlinks refer to hypertext references linking webpages together. These links are generally provided by third party sources including blog comments, forum posts, social media profiles, press releases, etc. Backlinks play an integral part in influencing ranking algorithms. However, they're rarely quantified or analyzed as a separate factor.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.