Help! I'm stuck in market research

[Julietfrey]

Ok, I've read both editions of SAH, tried out SBI and Affiliate Classroom. I'm stuck in research. My husband and I are doing this together. I'm going to be focusing on marketing, he's going to focus on writing and web development. Everytime, we come up with an idea, it either scores really low on wordtracker or we find several website that are doing exactly what we are planning. Am I putting to much emphasis on competition? I knew we were going to get some, but every idea we have seems to be too mainstream. We can't afford $5 adwords. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx,
Juliet

[tcwatts]

Hi,

To quote Nike, "Just do it". Yes, you do need the right niche to start, but sometimes when you hit a block, demotivation can set in really fast. I'd recommend starting simple, maybe use Drupal, install it, add a theme and some content and start some SEO and 10 cents Adwords. That'll take you 2 days.

The important thing is to monitor the results. You'll start seeing some keywords that were used to reach your site and a pattern will begin to happen, the you start tweaking and adjusting to accommodate it.

I remember doing just that, and within the first week, I had my first affiliate sale and boy was I excited!

Then slowly from the response, you'll know how to grow the site. And hopefully by then you'll have some SE traffic coming already.

All the best!

[zaba99]

No matter what niche area you think of, there will always be competition. Do not worry about the competition to much, but focus on the CREATIVITY side of you site. This is one way to set yourself apart from the competition.
I am a bad one for over analysis, I have to learn as well to Just Do It!

I plan one day to do a dating site, now tell me if this is not over done and a lot of competition. But I beleive there is always another spot around for one more no matter what.

You have to remember how large the internet really is and how many people are online each day. That is a lot of potential customers out there and you do not need all of them to be sucessful.

Hope this helps a little.......

Duane

[BradleyD.Haslam]

Hey!

I agree, competition is good.
You only have to worry if the competition numbers are HUGE.
The unique selling point is what matters.

Pepsi sells at the 7-11,
AND at the quickie mart right across the street.
WHY?
Because people are thirsty where ever they end up.
If your site is of good quality and fair market value,
you WILL convert your visitors.

Start by posting in forums and writing articles,
if ppc is out of range right now.
But DO focus a bit on optimizing,
it IS the way to long term results.

And, no matter what,
adhere to the first lesson I learned in business.
...NEVER give up.

Keep asking for help.
Wisdom isn't knowing everything,
it's knowing where to find the answers.


Best wishes.
Brad.

[Julietfrey]

Thank you everyone I'll jump right in.

Juliet

[richerbrat]

Juliet, it's great that you are able to split your tasks with your husband like this.

As for finding a niche - don't worry if there's some competition, as there's more likely to be more demand for your product. Why not play around with wordtracker a bit more, and see if you can find a niche within your chosen niche. You could begin with that and expand from there.

[A. Smith]

Think about it this way:

1) If nobody else is doing, it's because it's not a good thing either because there is no demand or it's just not a good niche.
2) Concentrate on what makes your product/service special and different.
3) Lots of competition means that it's in demand and there is moeny in it. Otherwise, your competitors would have quit and gone on to something else.
4) Just because the big guys are bidding $5/keyword, you don't have to. You don't have to be #1, you just have to be seen.

[cscarpero]

Or build an adsense site and make them pay you the $5