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Okay, we hear this word everywhere, especially when deciding what area we should pursue in our business ventures.  But do we truly know what it means?  Let’s start off by breaking up the word.  The word ‘niche‘ relates to a particular product or service, whereas ‘marketing‘ is defined as the opportunity to purchase or sell.  When the two words are combined they mean purchasing or selling in a particular sector for the product or service.  Simply put it means offering or purchasing a particular product or service that most are interested in.  This is a particular group and not the entire world in general.

Taken all the above into consideration it is much easier to market or sell to a particular group than to everyone in general.  It is also easier to advertise to this more focused group, which in turn will cost less as well.  Still confused?  Well, imagine that your niche is computers,  that is a broad category.  But if you break it down further into a smaller group such as computer accessories or further yet such as keyboards then you have narrowed it down to a particular niche and those that are interested in that particular item.

Niche marketing is designed to meet the needs of a targeted audience.  Once you have determined your niche, you will then develop products or services that will attract that audience.  It is important to research your niche as well.  Remember that you will not please everyone, but if you focus on your targeted audience they will seek you out and purchase your products or services.  If you write an E-book on cooking vegetarian meals, a person who is not a vegetarian will not necessarily be interested.  But those that are looking for different vegetarian meals are your niche.

Niche marketing is a very effective and cost efficient way to advertise and sell specific products or services to a specific audience or, hopefully, buyers of that product or service.   Determine your niche and concentrate on it, you may be tempted to reach out to a bigger audience but don’t be discouraged if you are not successful.  Go back to your niche, your target audience and you will succeed.

Tags: Marketing, Tips by Carrie Wilkerson
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Guest Post: Janet Beckers

As the founder and host of Wonderful Web Women I am lucky to lead an on-line community of thousands of women (and enlightened women) from around the world who are all passionate about creating success on the Internet.

One of the biggest frustrations they share with me, is knowing where to start. There are so many options that it can all be overwhelming.

Here’s my quick start guide for you.

Step 1: Start with a blog

This is central to your Internet strategy. Blogs allow you to show off your knowledge, interact with visitors when they leave comments and search engines (like Google) LOVE blogs.

Step 2: Collect email addresses

Did you know that only about 1% of people who visit your web site will buy anything? In fact, 1% is pretty good believe it or not. So that means 99% of the people who visit your site and then leave may never return. What a lost opportunity.
The most important thing you should have on your web site is a “sign up box” so they can join your email list. You need to give them a good reason to do this though. A newsletter just doesn’t cut the grade any more. That leads me to my next point…

Step 3: Give before you receive

You are asking people to trust you when you ask for their email address so you need to give them great value in return for that trust. I always offer something that is of such value that I could easily sell it, instead I choose to give it away. Then the relationship begins.

Step 4: Ask your subscribers what they want

This is one of the most powerful things you can do. Ask your subscribers what their biggest frustration is (in your field of expertise). You don’t need a long survey, just one question will do. Once you know what their problems are, if you can provide a solution, you have a business.

Step 5: Dazzle them with your knowledge

Now you have the 2 essential tools to Internet success (a blog and an email list) you can start to build a relationship. Your subscribers have told you what their problems are, now you need to convince them that you are the person they can trust to solve their problems. Take each of the problems they have given you and write a 500 word article that gives great help. You don’t need to solve the problem completely (they can pay for the complete solution) but you need to convince them that you know your stuff and position yourself as an expert. Post this article on your blog and encourage visitors to leave comments.

Step 6: Keep in touch

This is another one of those questions I get asked all the time. How often should I contact subscribers to my email list? There’s a fine line between building a relationship and harassment. I recommend you email great content weekly, monthly at the least. You need to be fresh in their mind when they are ready to buy.

Step 7: The 80 / 20 rule

Remember Step 3? Give before you receive? The same happens with every correspondence you have with your customers. I recommend in every email you send you use the ratio 80 / 20. If you give 80% great content that solves your subscriber’s problem, they will be happy to accept 20% selling. In fact they will expect it. This can be as simple as including a link to a product they can buy that relates to the email content, or advertising a workshop you are running or service you provide.

Step 8: Encourage a 2-way relationship

This is the most powerful thing you can do to build your Internet business. People buy from people they know and trust. It’s just like dating. You’re not looking for a one night stand here, you’re looking for commitment. So you need to encourage them to communicate with you and share a part of themselves. This is where your blog comes in. In every email you send, refer people back to your blog. A great way to do this is include only part of your great article in your email and link to your blog so they can read the rest. In the blog and the email ask them to leave comments and questions. Make sure you reply, on the blog, to every comment that is made. If people feel that you are listening, they are more likely to listen to you

A final note

In business, relationships equal cash. Traditionally people have seen the Internet as a place that isolates people and that makes it difficult to develop relationships. In fact, the opposite is true. By using the steps above, your potential customers will feel as though they know you much more than if they had walked into your shop once-off. And as I said before, people buy from people who they know, like and trust.

Would you like to reproduce this article? You can, as long as you include the following blurb:

Janet Beckers is the host and founder of Wonderful Web Women.
An award winning on-line community recognized for generous and honest marketing advice for women on the internet. To learn from the most successful women on the internet through live webinars, masterminds and forums absolutely free, visit http://www.WonderfulWebWomen.com and join today.

Tags: Guest Writers, Marketing by Carrie Wilkerson
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Whether you have a business online or offline, social networks are a great way to promote your business.

Many business people are unaware of the greatness of the internet world and the popularity of social networks.  There are several social networks offline, but the online variety are growing in large numbers.  Online social networks are basically online communities.  These communities make it easy to find individuals that will compliment your business or may be interested in your service or product.  There are many online communities available with some purely for socializing and making friends and others that are more business oriented.

Social networks make it easy for the business owner to promote not only themselves but their business as well.  Many will give you a profile page where you can include not only your picture, and information about yourself, but it will also give you space to include your links to your online websites and what services or products you may have to offer.  Having a profile page will also be a way to invite others to become your ‘friend’ and possibly a new client.

Social networks are great online communities and another form of advertising.  How else can you reach thousands of individuals on a daily basis for next to nothing.  Although some networks offer advertising space, it is not necessary in the beginning.  Your sole purpose in the beginning should be to gain exposure and develop relationships.  You will find that many social sites will frown upon blatant spamming of members and those are actually the sites you want to be a part of.  The sites that do not tolerate spamming are professional and will be the best networks to meet other professional business owners.

As  mentioned, social networking websites can benefit all website owners, but especially those who are looking to make a profit with their sites.   If you have a website that sells products or services, you may find it a little bit easier to use social networking sites to your advantage.  This is because, if you wish, you could do product or service spotlights.  Each day, week, or month, you could showcase one of the products or services that your website sells.  This could either be done right on your profile page or on a blog page, which is provided by most social networking websites.

It is wise to promote your profile page by joining in on discussions and making your presence on the social networks known.  As long as you are honestly interested in others and what they may have to offer, you will have a great reputation on the different social networks.  Some great sites you may consider are Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and many Ning sites catered to your interests.  Join some social networks today, get involved and watch the traffic to your site increase and with that traffic soon you will see revenues that will match.

Tags: Marketing by Carrie Wilkerson
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The internet has become the wave of the future.  You can advertise and reach potential customers 24 hours a day.  This is the main reason more and more individuals are turning to the Internet for purchasing items as well and researching and purchasing several different types of services.  For this main reason it is imperative that you bring your business online.  If you have yet to do this, you must find a way to transition your business and give it an online presence.  Your competition is already there and you will have to make your presence in order to compete.

With this in mind, do you know your target market and audience and how to reach them?  Research is something that must be done in order to have your hard work and efforts rewarded.  If you can’t afford to hire a research consultant, you can do it yourself.  It doesn’t cost much to develop surveys and poll your existing clients.  This should give you some insight on how to reach your target audience.

Once you have determined who your target audience it is time to share information and products that will be pleasing to them as well as to you.  You can develop a website to hold this information as well as informational products to continue to continue to attract more to your market.  Audio information in the form of teleseminars and CD’s is also a great way to build your market or your list.

When designing your website you will also want to keep your target market in mind.  If for instance you are targeting children, you will want bright colors whereas if your target market are of the mature, older generation and conservative you will want to use muted colors.  This also pertains to your copy and information you provide, you must be sure you are targeting your market with interesting information that will entice them and keep them coming back for more.

Whatever you decide to use to target your audience whether it be a website, online programs, teleseminars or all of the above.  It is important to keep your target audience in mind.  Do not try to please everyone…because you will lose the ones who actually were interested and followed you.  If you are providing audios on your site, be sure to make it appealing to your audience.  If for example you are targeting the youth that is involved in dirt biking or perhaps skateboarding you may choose music that is enticing to them such as rock or punk rock, not classical or country.

In order to succeed online and offline, it is important to stay in tune with your audience, your target market.  It may sound difficult, but with a little bit of homework and research you will succeed.

Tags: Marketing by Carrie Wilkerson
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