Anyone else remember the John Major quote, or if you are a reader of the alternative magazine Viz, the politician of the aforementioned name (caught doing something unspeakable with a petrol pump), but it’s not passed the watershed yet so ’nuff about that.
No, I am talking about the very basics of internet marketing, and I have been watching webinars recently- this one from Pat O’ Brian as a prequel to his Unseminar 8. One day I will attend one of those, they sound so cool, he says this will be the last one but I hope not. As someone that loves networking they sound so cool and laid back.
Anyway, just watched a seminar from Erica Douglass and I present a condensed version below, comments welcome please.
First, you need a couple of tools, google keyword tool is the first one, just google, google keyword tool and grab that one.
Then we begin the process of keyword research, I personally have a subscription to nichebot and keyword elite, but if you do not, no worries, then you can just type in the base keyword. Then see how many monthly searches it gets- to be worthwhile, then it needs to be at least 10000 a month.
Then you need to know what the people are thinking when they type the words in- a rather clever tool called commercial intent, meaning a probability estimate on the intention of people to buy something, rather than just looking for information. Depending on what you discover here, it will depend on what kind of site you set up.
Then, to double check, look on Amazon to see what is selling there, and if it has a good price tag, then you know that there is money in that market. Check paid ads on google as well, they would not be advertising if they were not making money. In this sense, others have done the research for you 
Don’t forget to have fun in business as well, many people are deadly serious, but there are folks who, in the recession are making 5 figures writing i-phone apps, that are fun.
So, when it comes to niche research, think big, then narrow down, do what you do in your own unique way, even if you are not doing anything radically diferent from anyone in the market, then just doing it in a unique way can be the difference that makes the difference.
It can be a beneficial (if a little painful) exercise to buy compeditors products- a lot of them are not very good, and you can fine tune your product. Another great idea was to take 5 people- yes, your customers out to lunch, and let them do 90% of the talking, learn their problems and wants, that you can find solutions for or fulfill. Visit forums where they hang out. Learn the lingo. As a radio presenter I have a whole vocabulary from my industry, I will teach you if you like!
You do not have to be an expert, to use our above example, you do not need to be a top DJ to enter the radio market.
You do need passion however. And traffic.
And more about that soon.
