| Membership marketing is the dream of several | | | | Next, do keyword research for AdWords on |
| web entrepreneurs. Ideally, you want to do | | | | Google, and look for things that got "missed". |
| something, or find something regularly enough, | | | | Start from the general and work to the more |
| that people will pay you money to tell them about | | | | specific, and again, focus on topics that you enjoy |
| it, or provide a service that they will pay money | | | | researching and have a passion about. This can |
| to get access to. Membership sites, done right, | | | | help find several nice possibilities for profitable |
| can bring in multiple income streams. Doing them | | | | niches. |
| right means doing targeted marketing and | | | | Keyword searches are great metrics for |
| services and content. Targeting your market | | | | determining demand. |
| properly is a three step process. | | | | Research The Subject And Customer Demands. |
| Identify. If you already have a market in mind, | | | | Go beyond keyword research to isolate and |
| great. You're ahead of the game. Now, the next | | | | identify your target market. If your aim is off, |
| step is to see if it's a market that will generate | | | | your profits will be too. Look on forums and chat |
| income. While generating a membership web site | | | | rooms; they're a fascinating cross section of your |
| that just has members and no income is great | | | | potential market. The people who hang there are |
| ego boosting, it's not good for the wallet. The key | | | | the most dedicated of your customers, and you |
| to identifying your niche is slicing it as fine as | | | | can observe them anonymously. Look for the |
| possible. For example, if your passion is classic | | | | things they're searching for and provide it. |
| cars, and passing on information about parts and | | | | If you're feeling bold, register for the forum and |
| refurb shops, that's one thing - if you make it | | | | talk to them. Ask questions. Look at the answers. |
| classic Camaros, you'll target only those people | | | | You don't want to give away the store, but a |
| with a passion for that make and model of car, | | | | little Q&A is a good thing for identifying your |
| and given the volumes of information pouring in to | | | | customer base, and locking in on their needs. |
| them every day, getting information targeted to | | | | You should also dig in to relevant web sites. Look |
| what they want is worth more money. The basic | | | | at what sites are serving the niche you're |
| equation of content is that paying you money | | | | targeting and ask yourself what you can do |
| saves your customer the time of trying to find | | | | better. Look at the products they're offering, look |
| the things you're finding for them. | | | | at the advertisers on their sites as well; visit the |
| Brainstorming targeted niches needn't be focused | | | | sponsored sites and learn, learn, learn. |
| on a particular product. It also works to target a | | | | Back up your online research with another library |
| particular demographic, or a geographical area. | | | | visit. Read the specialist magazines devoted to |
| Talk to your family, your friends, and business | | | | your topic. Look at what products are being |
| associates, and see if you can find that winning | | | | advertised, look at their editorial guidelines and |
| combination of membership niche and focus to | | | | look at their article submissions. Remember that |
| get a nice stable business. | | | | magazine advertising costs anywhere from $800 |
| If you don't have a market in mind already, focus | | | | per page to $5,000 per page - any company |
| on what you have a passion to research and | | | | advertising here is probably worth approaching |
| what you have a passion to do. | | | | about advertising or affiliate marketing from your |
| Determine Demand. There are a number of ways | | | | web site. |
| to determine the demand of a niche. Start out old | | | | Research other informational sites - start with |
| school - go the library and go to the book store. | | | | article directories, like Dig deep into them, and see |
| Look for what's on the best seller list, look for | | | | what demand there is for the information. Look |
| topic areas of the library getting lots of traffic | | | | at the sites of the people posting articles and |
| and look for sections of the book store, like | | | | take notes about what they're doing right that |
| cooking or religion or home repair, where an | | | | you can copy, and what you can do better to get |
| adjunct web site can provide timely information | | | | an edge. |