Readers’ Niche Questions – Niches for Affiliate Websites
Hi there!
How nice of you to come visit me in the countryside.
It’s a beautiful spring day here. Let’s sit on the porch and have a cup of tea.
Lovely.
Hey JJ. I’ve set up a website selling affiliate products that I like, but I’m not really sure what my niche is. Can you help?
Okay. So you’ve found a product that you like and you want to sell it.
Cool. That’s the other way round to the approach we’ve been discussing recently. And that’s fine. Variety is good. Sometimes it is good to do things upside down. Especially if you are a bat.
The first thing to say is that if you don’t know what your niche is you probably aren’t concentrating your efforts as effectively as possible. That’s okay. We can remedy that by deciding on a niche.
So how should we start?
Well, let’s have a think about the actions that might lead a person to purchase the product you’ve chosen.
Building on our conversation yesterday, let’s assume that our prospective customer is either:
- ready to buy from a preselected manufacturer, retailer or authority figure
- looking for more information on a product or service
- looking for information to help them solve a problem.
Let’s think about your prospective customer, as he sits in front of his computer, ready to search.
Scenario 1 – Dave has already decided on the product he’s going to buy.
Dave has heard great things about Kevin Hogan and his Secrets of Reading Body Language Home Study Course. He’s a subscriber to Kevin’s newsletter Coffee with Kevin Hogan, and he digs Kevin’s no-nonsense approach to life and work. He learns a ton from Kevin’s newsletter and he trusts and appreciates the Kevin Hogan brand.
Dave is likely to go directly to Kevin’s website, or take a link from Kevin’s newsletters, maybe with a discount coupon code. He’ll buy the Course directly from the source that he trusts.
Is there any way that you could persuade Dave to buy the course through your website, rather than directly from Kevin?
Well it’s not likely, because Dave isn’t looking for anyone else.
Your best chance in this scenario would be to buy prominent advertising on keywords similar to the one’s Kevin uses to promote the product, or to offer compelling extra bonuses or rebates to tempt Dave to buy through you – effectively reducing your margin on sale.
Neither of these options are likely to do very well because you are competing directly with Kevin, who is an established and trusted authority figure. And Dave isn’t looking for you anyway.
Oh well.
Scenario 2 – Marie is looking to buy a certain type of product, but doesn’t know which one.
Marie had a great conversation with her friends last night about body language. She becomes fascinated by the subject. Her friend John tells her that he took a great weekend course on body language and it helped him to improve his personal and business relationships enormously.
Marie goes online to search for body language courses in her local area of Wichita, Kansas.
Is there a possibility that Marie could buy the Kevin Hogan home study course through your website?
Well, yes. But you will need to be the answer to the question that she was searching for.
Marie was looking for body language courses in Wichita. If you know something about that subject then maybe you can create a website that Marie will visit?
Maybe you’ll have a website with reviews and listings of different courses around the U.S. or within Kansas. On that website you’ll could also have a review of Kevin’s Home Study course, or a relevant sales letter. Marie might decide that, although she was looking for local weekend courses, she quite likes the idea of being able to study at home. And if she buys the course you make a share of the profit.
In this scenario you have created a niche market – people looking for local weekend courses.
If you concentrate your efforts in building a resource rich website in this area, or buy advertising in this niche area then we can attract visitors and sell some copies of the course.
It’s not a great niche, because there is little emotion associated with the common problems and passions of the group. But it’s a step forward from Scenario 2.
Scenario 3 – Susan is pissed that her husband cheated on her.
Susan’s husband cheated on her last year.
She’s hurt and she wants to be sure this doesn’t happen again.
She goes online and searches for information on how to be sure she is never lied to again.
In this scenario, is there a possibility that Marie could wind up buying the Kevin Hogan home study course through your website?
Of course. But, just like before, you need to be the answer to the question that Susan is asking.
Maybe you have a website with articles and advice targeted at married women trying to deal with their husband’s infidelity. Maybe you have a specific page dedicated to reading body language to ensure that you are never lied to again. Maybe this page will contain a summary of your experiences with the Home Study Course and a link to purchase it.
It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that we have defined a niche. And in concentrating on that niche, you have been able to provide the answer to the question Susan is looking for. Once you have her attention you can then offer her the chance to buy the course from you.
This niche is probably going to be more profitable to you than the previous one because there is a large amount of emotion associated with the common problem the group experiences.
Do you see how this works?
Good. So, assuming you have already chosen an affiliate product to promote, how are you going to decide what niche to target?
I would start with thinking about your own personal experience. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Why did you buy the product?
- What in particular benefits did you get from the product?
- What kind of people do you most identify with?
- How could the product benefit your friends?
In many ways this approach is slightly more difficult than tailoring the product to the niche.
It can be a great approach if you have personally received a lot of value from the product and have a clear idea of an accessible group who could obtain similar value from it.
Good luck! And let me know how you get on.
See you tomorrow.
JJ Jalopy.
22 comments so far
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Comment by Yann Vernier - ProfitsTactics.com
2 May 2009
What an excellent way of explaining niche selection.
This is briliant advice to help us understand how to select a niche – it’s all about the web browser’s intent. Cool post JJ.
All the best,
Yann
How to Get Organized, Stop Procrastinating, and Set Goals for Small Business Success
Comment by jc mackenzie
3 May 2009
Well said, very clear
I guess it’s a question of focus, really narrowing it down and doing your research
Thanks
JC
JCMACKENZIE.COM
Butterfly Marketing
Comment by Christian Haller
3 May 2009
A very creative way to get folks to focus on the niche.
Christian Haller
Good Food Fast & Easy
Healthy Italian Recipes
Comment by mark mallen
3 May 2009
JJ, That was very helpful advice. One question, though, where does the Brokeback Mountain picture fit in? Would that be for the niche, How to tell if your husband is cheating on you with another man? Mark
small business marketing
ice cream marketing
Comment by Lynn Lane
3 May 2009
JJ,
I hope you don’t mind me saying, this is the best post yet. For me anyway. You keep me involved and thinking.
Lynn Lane
Success Strategies For Life
Success Today
Comment by Pam Schulz
3 May 2009
GREAT information for anyone who wants to find their “niche” – literally!
Pam
Invest in Your Future
Comment by Don Shepherd
3 May 2009
Thanks for clearing that up JJ! Them boys have been up in the hills waaaaay to long! “not that there’s anything wrong with that”:)
Don Shepherd
Fishing Central Oregon
Comment by Duane Cunningham
3 May 2009
Hi JJ,
Awesome post! You could always put your affiliate links in your story your telling about Kevin of course and get sales that way :-p ..lol
But really great info on identifying how to go about choosing your market from the right perspective of customer first product second
Duane
Super-ADVANCED Influence & Persuasion Training Proven to Quickly Create a Flood of Money?Constantly & Continuously Flowing into YOUR?Bank Account Like the Niagara Falls…?100% GUARANTEED!!
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Comment by Single Boomers Dating
3 May 2009
Oh, yes please. I’ll have a cup of HOT well scalded tea, please. then we can sit down with you and Mrs. Jalopy and strategize about Affiliate Marketing and relationship building, whether we are baby boomers or Gen Xrs.
Great blogging, Mr. Jalopy!
Best regards,
April Braswell
Dating Quick Start Expert, Relationship Success Coach
Divorce Support and Bereavement Support seminar, Henderson, Las Vegas
Comment by Steve Chambers
3 May 2009
Hey there JJ, put down your tea and share a martini with me.
Don’t worry, the Mrs. won;t know and martini’s are much more fun.
I did want to tell you how much I enjoyed your post.It rocked.
Steve Chambers, The Sales Expert
Sales Eagles – Sales Coaching for high flyers
Comment by John Ho
3 May 2009
JJ,
Great advice.
I’m thinking more about how to promote to niche markets that will find my Pure Numerology Readings benefit them in understanding their business or social partners, their children, themselves ….
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personalities for Better Influence & Persuasion (WordPress Blog)
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personalities for Better Influence & Persuasion (Money Page)
Comment by Susan
3 May 2009
Great post (again). I am quite fond of your scenarios and thought process.
Sue Crutcher, Life Empowerment Mentor
Comment by Rob Northrup
3 May 2009
This is great way of thinking JJ…
Seize the Day,
Rob
Sales Expert For Small Business Owners
Personal Asset Protectiion For Small Business Owners
Comment by Anthony Lemme
3 May 2009
Nice! I like the way you set it up and tell a story. Makes it more personal and understandable. It makes sense also. Do you drink beer or just wine and tea? Is Guiness a bad work in London?
Anthony
Achieve the Inner Balance of a Zen Monk
Comment by Bob Kaufer
3 May 2009
Finding the right niche is so imporatant and you are delivering great content here.
Bob Kaufer
Z Health For Life
Comment by Darryl Pace
4 May 2009
Great, solid, practical advice on how to decide on and define a niche for ourselves. Thanks, JJ!
Health, Fitness — Darryl Pace
Fitness Product Review
Comment by Lisa McLellan
4 May 2009
Great information on niches. I’ve found my niche, but there isn’t much to sell there, so I think I’ll pick another niche shortly. I’ll still keep it up in the babysitting niche, but I’ll be doing another at the same time.
Lisa McLellan, Babysitting Services – Babysitters, Nannies, and Au-pairs
Comment by Mesha Casper
4 May 2009
Yes !!! Thank you so much for your help ; Bravo I get it now. I think I was able to even figure out my brand last night as well. but I appreciate your caring and well told story format so that my brain said okay istead of “what?” So thank you agian.
Brilliant JJ,
Mesha:)
Comment by Pat Becker
4 May 2009
Masterly definition of niches and what might set the buyers apart. You’re good, JJ
Pat
Internet Dollars for Business Owners
Comment by David Power
6 May 2009
I love tea!!! its so refreshing..love your post…thanks a lot for the inspiration!!!!
David Power’s Hour”
Expert in Medical Hypnosis, Success Thinking and Practical Parenting