Starting an Internet Business on the Right Foot

Author: Derek Gehl

If you're starting an Internet business by looking for an under-served niche market, you're on the fast-track to success. A niche market is simply a group of people with similar interests looking for a solution to the same problem. Why do people with similar interests make the best target market? Let's say you're interested in selling to people who are interested in making seashell jewelry, for example. If that's the case, you have a target market that is easy to find. There are forums, e-zines, and blogs all about making your own seashell jewelry. Sure, it's a small market, but it's one that's extremely easy to target. Here's why: You can easily and precisely define this market You can find out exactly which websites seashell jewelry makers visit to find tips, advice, and products You can find forums, blogs, and social networks where they meet online to trade information and tips You can find out what keywords they are using to describe problems they're having or things they'd like to accomplish ... and that means you can actually make a profit by selling something to them! By taking our advice about selling to a similar market, one of our clients made $3,000 within two days of starting an Internet business! He identified a very small market of people who wanted to make a specialized type of jewelry at home; he developed a product to sell to this small niche market; and he implemented the techniques we taught him. He's living proof that online success is all about finding an easily targetable market. The best places to look for people in your niche market -- and find a wealth of online business ideas -- are the different types of websites where they hang out and talk to each other about their common interests, such as blogs, forums, and groups. You know the old saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," right? So when you're trying to find out about your market, do what they do. If you're exploring the comic book industry, find out where buyers go to share with, learn from, talk to, and hang out with fellow comic collectors. (That's just an example -- the same goes for back-country skiers, hot-rod builders, dressmakers, iguana breeders, etc.) When you visit any of these types of interactive sites, sit back and listen to what people are saying. Find out what they like, what they don't like, and what they're looking for. People regularly visit these areas seeking advice and exchanging information. By monitoring these discussions, you will begin to notice that certain questions appear again and again. This is a great way to locate online business ideas such as potential products or services. If you see the same questions or concerns repeated in a blog, forum, or social media site, there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of other people out there with the exact same questions. Of course, if you have a big, easily targetable market, you'll make a lot of money; and if you have a small, easily targetable market, you'll make a smaller amount of money. But either way, starting an Internet business based on an easily targetable market, you'll make money!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-ideas-articles/starting-an-internet-business-on-the-right-foot-595333.html

About the Author:
Derek Gehl, CEO of The Internet Marketing Center, helps real people start and grow their own money-making online businesses. Get his proven strategies for starting and growing professional business websites with BeBiz now .