New Niche Finder

Market Samurai is working like a charm

New Niche Finder — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:13:45 +0000

Just a quick post… In the past Google and Market Samurai have had their difficulties communicating and I hesitate to say this for fear of jinxing things…but all seems to be working just fine. As always the developers over at Market Samurai continue to respond to every issue in a timely and effective manner no [...]

Market Samurai is working like a charm is a post from: New Niche Finder

Tips for making the most of Market Samurai

New Niche Finder — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:32:30 +0000

I still love Market Samurai and use it all the time. The rank tracker module alone is worth having this niche software installed. That said Market Samurai sometimes has issues. Often the issues are related to changes with how Google reports data but not always. Here are some tips I’ve learned for optimizing your Market [...]

Tips for making the most of Market Samurai is a post from: New Niche Finder

Good News & Bad News re: Market Samurai

New Niche Finder — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:09:05 +0000

Okay, here’s the deal… A couple of months ago now, Google changed how Market Samurai could access their keyword tool and their traffic estimator tool. Ever since that time there have been problems using the keyword research module. For the most part, these problems have involved speed, or lack there of, and the hijacking of [...]

Good News & Bad News re: Market Samurai is a post from: New Niche Finder

Google’s Gameplaying Creates Problems for Market Samurai

New Niche Finder — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:48:41 +0000

Update – All clear. Things do appear to have settled down and everything is working again as it should. And please read my comment below on how the Rank Tracker Module in Market Samurai saved the day…well worth the upgrade folks. ______________________________________________________________________ Bottom line = Don’t try or buy Market Samurai right now because Google [...]

Google’s Gameplaying Creates Problems for Market Samurai is a post from: New Niche Finder

Market Samurai Back Up in Record Time

New Niche Finder — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:01:57 +0000

Before I went to bed last night, I asked you not to sign up for Market Samurai. It seemed like everything had fallen apart when Google changed how they reported data, and I didn’t want you disappointed if you just happened to be trying it for the first time. That was around midnight. When I [...]

Market Samurai Back Up in Record Time is a post from: New Niche Finder

Don’t Buy Market Samurai…Yet

New Niche Finder — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:14:19 +0000

If you already own Market Samurai, you’ve probably noticed things have gone a little wonky in the past few days. This is due to how Google reports their data. As I’ve said before Google is like the archetypal crazymaker, and they’ve really done it this time. Looks like just about every bit of information Market [...]

Don’t Buy Market Samurai…Yet is a post from: New Niche Finder

Google Changes & Market Samurai Keeps Up…Again

New Niche Finder — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:54:46 +0000

I really don’t know how the folks at Market Samurai do it. I don’t have to. What I do know is that they are on top of every little change in Google data. This week they have done it again…and it’s more than just a tweak or two. Google has significantly changed what data they [...]

Google Changes & Market Samurai Keeps Up…Again is a post from: New Niche Finder

Google Instant, Keyword Research & SEO

New Niche Finder — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:41:33 +0000

Have you ever noticed how many windstorms there are in internet marketing? Windstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes change the landscape of the internet on what seems like a daily basis. Almost all of them instigated by the Big-G, Google. At times, Google resembles the worst of the worst crazymakers…you know the kind that builds you up [...]

Google Instant, Keyword Research & SEO is a post from: New Niche Finder

What Google Instant Means for Keyword Research & SEO

New Niche Finder — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:09:47 +0000

It’s still early to tell for sure but the usual ‘SEO is dead’ crowd is wailing like Chicken Little, while smart marketers are looking for the opportunities. If you haven’t done a Google search in the past few days or you live in Australia, you may have missed it, but here’s what all the fuss [...]

What Google Instant Means for Keyword Research & SEO is a post from: New Niche Finder

Understanding the Google Search Engine

New Niche Finder — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:16:37 +0000

All of this talk about keyword research doesn't make any sense at all unless you have some understanding of how Google does what it does. Though Google doesn't always have the most user friendly information, this video is excellent. It clearly explains how the Google search engine works.

Understanding the Google Search Engine is a post from: New Niche Finder

Keyword Research on Facebook

New Niche Finder — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:45:57 +0000

If you've been frustrated by finding keywords for your Facebook Ads, there's a neat little trick here that hadn't occurred to me. Bet it hadn't occurred to you either, or maybe I'm just slow.

Keyword Research on Facebook is a post from: New Niche Finder

When It Comes to Finding a Niche, Do Your Due Diligence

New Niche Finder — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:00:01 +0000

As promised, here is some research I did on the free niche ideas being sent to me via email from one of my competitors. You know the ones that are going to make me a million bucks. Yeah right! Just the fact they're giving them away for free ought to be a clue. Well for this particular site there were 2-3 (depending on your criteria) keywords out of the 49 I had received. So a word to the wise...

When It Comes to Finding a Niche, Do Your Due Diligence is a post from: New Niche Finder

Keyword Research – Still Confused about Broad, Phrase & Exact Match?

New Niche Finder — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:32:33 +0000

When doing keyword research are you still confused by broad match, phrase match and exact match? This video is the clearest explanation I've ever seen...

Keyword Research – Still Confused about Broad, Phrase & Exact Match? is a post from: New Niche Finder

Online Market Research – The Magnificent Symphony in 4 Parts

New Niche Finder — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:43:18 +0000

This is the single most important business lesson you will ever have. Period. Even if you don’t do The Challenge, watch this video and please take the lesson to heart. I’ve made every mistake he talks about so I know from first hand experience how vitally important it is to get these things in the [...]

Online Market Research – The Magnificent Symphony in 4 Parts is a post from: New Niche Finder

What Does Google Think Your Site is About?

New Niche Finder — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:50:19 +0000

Have you checked recently to see what Google thinks your site is about? If you never did any niche research or keyword research, you might be surprised.

What Does Google Think Your Site is About? is a post from: New Niche Finder

Starting An Online Business?

New Niche Finder — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:07:08 +0000

Are you starting an online business? And do you want to use guest blogging to promote your buisness? Here's what not to do...

Starting An Online Business? is a post from: New Niche Finder

No, New Niche Finder is Not on Vacation

New Niche Finder — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 22:30:02 +0000

I haven’t been on vacation unless you consider mowing the lawn and weeding the garden a vacation. At least it’s not painting the house like last year. Maybe getting up early to walk the dog on the beach, qualifies??? But I’m still back here on the computer by 9am, and we have to get up [...]

No, New Niche Finder is Not on Vacation is a post from: New Niche Finder

New Niche Finder Picks of the Week – June 22, 2010

New Niche Finder — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:01:47 +0000

Overcoming Client Fears of Working with You – And there’s fear on the client side of the equation too. Are you ready to address it? Courage, and the Self Employed – I guess I qualify…how about you? What is a Podcast, exactly? The answer… – Lynn is doing a whole series on Podcasting…a chance to [...]

New Niche Finder Picks of the Week – June 22, 2010 is a post from: New Niche Finder

The Challenge is Coming

New Niche Finder — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:26:41 +0000

If you’ve been here for a while you know that I am a big fan of the 30 Day Challenge. This is where I learned what really works in internet marketing, and it’s where I learned how to build a strong foundation (I think you’ve heard me talk about strong foundations before yes?) for my [...]

The Challenge is Coming is a post from: New Niche Finder

New Niche Finder Picks of the Week – June 15, 2010

New Niche Finder — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:51:27 +0000

Welcome to this new feature at NewNicheFinder.com! Every week I will be sharing some of the best articles from other experts in the field. Be sure to let me know what you think. SEO Mindset Reminder #7 - Do you believe in what you’re doing? If not that could be why it’s hard to take [...]

New Niche Finder Picks of the Week – June 15, 2010 is a post from: New Niche Finder

Why Some Products Sell Strong (and Others Wither)

New Niche Finder — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:00:22 +0000

I’ve been following Dave Navarro recently (congrats on quitting the day job). He’s got some wonderful free workbooks at The Launch Coach. This post particularly grabbed me because I recently shared Ed Dale’s Magnificent Symphony in 4 Parts, and niche research is so very important. Here’s Dave’s take on it… What really predicts success or [...]

Why Some Products Sell Strong (and Others Wither) is a post from: New Niche Finder

Market Samurai Gets Even Better

New Niche Finder — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:58:04 +0000

Over the past week, Market Samurai was way ahead of the curve in responding to Google's changes. If their tweets are any indication, most of the staff was sick this week and they still managed to respond ahead of everyone else. I'd say that's mighty impressive. Not only have they kept up with the changes at Google (I kind of like the new search results page yes?). Today they announced some serious improvements. I'm especially excited about the dropdown tabs menu. Yeah!!! Here is a portion of the email I got this morning...

Market Samurai Gets Even Better is a post from: New Niche Finder

SEO is not a 4 letter word

New Niche Finder — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:00:02 +0000

Do you ever have days when you just despair about whether you're actually getting through the clutter of misinformation spinning around out there? I'm having one of those days and I'm going to indulge in a bit of a rant. Forgive me. Today a keyword research client writes to me and says...

So I guess I still don't understand how/why you can/should contrive to use keywords that aren't natural to use.

Huh?

SEO is not a 4 letter word is a post from: New Niche Finder

Training in Keyword Research – One More Resource

New Niche Finder — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:00:03 +0000

Before we move on to looking at competition strength, I want to give you one more resource for learning about the how’s, why’s and wherefore’s of keyword research and niche selection. That would be the 30 Day Challenge. Ed Dale and crew offer this free month long training every August, and IMHO it is the best foundation you can get.

Training in Keyword Research – One More Resource is a post from: New Niche Finder

More Free Training in Keyword Research

New Niche Finder — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:00:46 +0000

If you've been following along here at New Niche Finder, you know I'm on a mission to educate, and these videos are great even if you don't use the software (you can sign up for a free trial and keep the keyword research module for free and forever even if you don't buy the software). So in line with my mission to educate, here are the training videos I recommend. All of them augment what I've been teaching over the past few weeks so I hope they'll reinforce and deepen your understanding of what all this keyword stuff is about.

More Free Training in Keyword Research is a post from: New Niche Finder

Starting an Online Business? Heads up on a great training program

New Niche Finder — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:01:16 +0000

If you're serious about creating any kind of online business, this is a training that's well worth the investment (I can't believe what she's selling this for...it's really quite a steal). I signed up for Michelle MacPherson's Crowd Mountain in February thinking that I'd hang out for 6 weeks to get through the core training (called Bootcamp but don't let the name discourage you). I was actually checking it out for you guys. Well I've done the 6 Bootcamp modules and learned so much I have every intention of sticking around.

Starting an Online Business? Heads up on a great training program is a post from: New Niche Finder

New Niche Finder – 8 Places to Brainstorm Niche Ideas

New Niche Finder — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:35:33 +0000

Once you get into the habit of looking for niche ideas, coming up with them really isn’t that hard. They’re everywhere, and you’ll start coming up with them in the course of your daily life. However, when you’re just starting out, you may need to prime the pump a bit. So here is a list [...]

New Niche Finder – 8 Places to Brainstorm Niche Ideas is a post from: New Niche Finder

Finding Your Niche – Brainstorming Niche Ideas With Amazon

New Niche Finder — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:42:28 +0000

The truth is there are ideas everywhere and once you break out of your tunnel vision you'll begin to see them everywhere. In the meantime, most of us need someplace to get started, and one of the best brainstorming tools around is Amazon. So here is the very first video (please be kind) I've ever posted on YouTube which will walk you through how to use Amazon for brainstorming niche ideas and find your niche.

Finding Your Niche – Brainstorming Niche Ideas With Amazon is a post from: New Niche Finder

How to Choose a Niche

New Niche Finder — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:51:05 +0000

Lynn's article is a wonderful introduction talking about doing what you love, doing what you know and doing what you'd like to do.

How to Choose a Niche is a post from: New Niche Finder

Sorting for Relevancy

New Niche Finder — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:00:30 +0000

The point here is that you want keywords that are a good match for your business. Relevancy matters and you need to be ruthless about culling the keywords that don't fit.

Sorting for Relevancy is a post from: New Niche Finder

Evaluating Keyword Competition Numbers

New Niche Finder — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:00:22 +0000

Basically what I'm looking for here is the lowest amount of competition with the highest possible traffic. The targets I initially filter for are 100 SEOT (the # of visitors if you're in position #1) and no more than 100,000 competing sites (SEOC).

Evaluating Keyword Competition Numbers is a post from: New Niche Finder

The Answer

New Niche Finder — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:11 +0000

These keywords with the high search numbers and high competition are broad market terms but they will never send you traffic. Well, they might send you traffic in 10 years or so. That is if you work very hard at it between now and then. Do you have that kind of time?

The Answer is a post from: New Niche Finder

Are High Search Numbers Enough?

New Niche Finder — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:00:39 +0000

I'd be willing to bet that some of you looked at those numbers at the top end of the organic food search and thought what a great market. A few years ago I would have too, but going down that road is the path to frustration and failure. Why? You still don't have enough data. At this point in the keyword research you can't honestly say whether a market is good or not. The number of searches just tells you how many people are looking, and the SEOT tells you the number of visitors you can expect to get from being in position #1 (roughly 42% of searches), but that assumes you can get to position #1.

Are High Search Numbers Enough? is a post from: New Niche Finder

The Surprises in Keyword Research

New Niche Finder — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:30:41 +0000

I just want to show you the range so you can see how important it is to do this kind of keyword research. Though you may be able to guess some of the results especially at the high end, I'd be willing to bet you'll be surprised along the way.

The Surprises in Keyword Research is a post from: New Niche Finder

How Keywords Reflect Market Demand

New Niche Finder — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:30:23 +0000

Whether you're an online or offline business, one of the fastest ways of identifying demand and thus markets and niche markets is through keyword research. What used to cost thousands of dollars and put it out of reach for most small businesses, is now available online.

How Keywords Reflect Market Demand is a post from: New Niche Finder

So why niche at all?

New Niche Finder — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:30:32 +0000

You may be wondering why you'd want to focus on a niche market at all when the broader market has more demand. Good Question! Here are 3 reasons to niche it down...

So why niche at all? is a post from: New Niche Finder

Is it a market or a niche?

New Niche Finder — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:30:51 +0000

Before we go into how to distinguish a good market from a bad market and a good niche from a bad niche, it’s probably a good idea to look at what markets and niches really are, what they have in common and what makes them different. Here’s what markets and niches have in common…they are [...]

Is it a market or a niche? is a post from: New Niche Finder

Changing the Odds – 95% Failure to 95% Success!

New Niche Finder — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:01:26 +0000

Up to 95% of internet businesses fail. The single most important thing you can do in the life of your business to a 95% failure rate into a 95% success rate...

Changing the Odds – 95% Failure to 95% Success! is a post from: New Niche Finder

So why is New NIche Finder so focused on the data?

New Niche Finder — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:00:13 +0000

Okay, so why, if I’m so interesting in seeing you weave the 4 pillars of business together, is New Niche Finder so focused on data? Excellent question! The answer is this…it’s the missing piece for the majority of businesses I work with. My natural tribe has always been the heart centered, quality crowd. It’s who [...]

So why is New NIche Finder so focused on the data? is a post from: New Niche Finder

Are you building your business on a pogo stick?

New Niche Finder — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:22:25 +0000

Pogo sticks were loads of fun when we were kids, but they took a lot of energy and effort, not to mention constant motion, just to stay upright. If you stopped even for a second, you’d topple over, right? I see too many businesses doing the same thing. They focus on just one aspect of [...]

Are you building your business on a pogo stick? is a post from: New Niche Finder

A Potent Example of Why Niche Research Matters

New Niche Finder — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:42:48 +0000

It breaks my heart when I see people chasing after bad markets. Whether it’s because there is no market as in no one’s looking for what you’ve got or it’s a bad market because there’s too much competition (a little is good but too much makes it really tough), trying to build a business in [...]

A Potent Example of Why Niche Research Matters is a post from: New Niche Finder

Market Samurai Questions & Comments

New Niche Finder — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:15:26 +0000

Welcome! If you’ve watched the training videos at Market Samurai, I’d love to hear what you think. I’ll do my best to answer your questions. P.S. No secret here…I think Market Samurai is the best niche software on the market. You can watch me wax poetic about niche research and Market Samurai just follow the [...]

Market Samurai Questions & Comments is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Research Nuggets

New Niche Finder — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:59:08 +0000

In December I did an intro call for the folks in the Business Oasis*. I’ve edited that recording down to 31 minutes of nuggets to help you get started with your own niche research. If you get nothing else from this audio, I hope you get the #1 reason so many businesses struggle and fail. [...]

Niche Research Nuggets is a post from: New Niche Finder

The problem with personalized search results

New Niche Finder — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:47:44 +0000

Just wanted to give you a heads up on this if you haven’t already heard. Google is now personalizing all search results whether you’re logged in or not. That’s great for your own personal results (presumably more targeted results) but not so great if your business is online and you want to check your ranking [...]

The problem with personalized search results is a post from: New Niche Finder

NewNicheFinder.com – the case for research & testing

New Niche Finder — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:00:08 +0000

This may be stating the obvious but last week’s post (New Niche Finder in 2010) is really an attempt to model for you how research and testing makes a difference. I started NewNicheFinder.com in June of 2009 thinking I was going to be offering one kind of service when in fact the market turned out [...]

NewNicheFinder.com – the case for research & testing is a post from: New Niche Finder

New Niche Finder in 2010

New Niche Finder — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:59:01 +0000

Happy New Year! As we finish this first week back, I'd like to bring you up to speed with where NewNicheFinder.com is and what's coming up for the beginning of 2010. Over the past couple of months I got really busy doing keyword research reports for folks from Mark Silver's Business Oasis*, and it has changed everything I thought I was doing. Yup, that's what testing will do for you. So you'll be seeing some changes around here over the next few weeks and months. Changes I hope will serve you better when it comes to defining profitable niche markets for your business and will help you develop those niche ideas into profitable streams of income. Here's what I learned from doing so many of those reports back to back. 1. The information isn't enough without in depth education about how to use it. 2. That means I can't possible deliver what's needed for what I was charging. Good thing to know but it created another dilemma...how to provide what's needed in a cost effective manner. 3. Jumping into in-depth keyword reports is premature when businesses are exploring niche markets. In other words there was a step missing which I intend to fill. 4. Providing niche research is more than just doing the research. I found the back and forth conversation going on with my clients that was very helpful. It was more than helpful. I think all of them would say it was essential. Rather than getting a list of keywords they didn't really know how to use, they got results that helped them define their markets, stop struggling with bad markets, and move forward with great markets. By the time they had the information in hand, they also had a good idea of how to use it. 5. Though I hate delivering bad news, realistic information about the prospects for their business niche ideas was invaluable. Having experienced that myself with How to Survive Your Grief, it shouldn't have been surprising, but several people I worked with expressed relief in knowing what they could expect and what they would need to do in order to succeed even when the news wasn't particularly hopeful. With information in hand they could make good strategic decisions about how to proceed. Knowledge is power and there are few places where it is more valuable than when you're starting or expanding a business. This is where most businesses fail...right back here at the beginning...and it's usually because they don't know their market. The bottom line...doing the research and delivering the report falls way short of what most businesses need. In some cases doing it like that may do more harm than good...a little bit of info can be worse than no info. The changes that are coming will provide various levels of service from quick niche reviews to in depth research to strategic planning and partnership. Stay tuned for the specifics as I roll this all out. I hope I'll be able to help you build the thriving and meaning filled business you deserve in 2010.

New Niche Finder in 2010 is a post from: New Niche Finder

One of the Best in Internet Marketing Consulting…For Free

New Niche Finder — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:30:58 +0000

Just a quick note to let you know about Michelle MacPherson's 31 Day Internet Marketing Makeover begins today. Knowing Michelle this promises to be really good. I mean really, how often do you get free internet marketing consulting from one of the best out there? In any event, she's worth following. You'll learn a lot.

One of the Best in Internet Marketing Consulting…For Free is a post from: New Niche Finder

Google, Google, Google…that’s all New Niche Finder talks about

New Niche Finder — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:18:12 +0000

Aren't there other search engines besides Google? Yes, indeed. There are many other search engines. The top 3 are Google, Yahoo and Bing. So why does Google matter so much? And why does New Niche Finder focus so much on Google results? Seventy percent (70%) of all searches are done in Google. That's why. If you can make things work for you in Google, you'll undoubtedly do just fine with the rest. You will get traffic from the others and may even rank higher, but the number of searches in Google trumps everything.

Google, Google, Google…that’s all New Niche Finder talks about is a post from: New Niche Finder

New Niche Finder on Stats & Tracking

New Niche Finder — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:02:35 +0000

Since this site is all about finding a niche for your online business, part of the research that needs to be done is figuring out whether you can get traffic to your site and whether your visitors will buy something. That means testing the research. In this phase you need to be watching the numbers carefully to see if you’re on track. Lots of clues are available long before you make your first sale or get your first subscriber so you really need to be on top of this during the early development of your site. Later these numbers will keep you focused on exactly what you need to be doing to grow your business. Which stats you track will depend on where you are in your business development…trying to generate traffic, building a list or making sales etc.

New Niche Finder on Stats & Tracking is a post from: New Niche Finder

So which do you do first?

New Niche Finder — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:53:59 +0000

Yesterday's question was which do you do first...email, Twitter, Facebook, stats or create content? #1 best answer...Check Your Stats Now maybe I'm getting ahead of you on this. Maybe you're not even sure what stats are (stay with me and I'll explain), but if you're going to start an online business, I want to see you develop good habits from the very beginning. I'm also introducing this idea now because it is of huge importance when you're testing a new niche market. In order to test effectively you need to know what you want to happen and then set markers for evaluating your results...ie watch your stats.

So which do you do first? is a post from: New Niche Finder

Which do you do first?

New Niche Finder — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:00:03 +0000

When you turn on your computer in the morning, which do you do first? 1. Check your email 2. Check Twitter 3. Check Facebook 4. Check your stats 5. Create content 6. Something else Care to share?

Which do you do first? is a post from: New Niche Finder

Are you just throwing mud against a wall?

New Niche Finder — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:19:38 +0000

Recently I heard a small business coach, suggest to folks that you just keep trying things until you find something that sticks. I don't really think it was meant like it came out, but I had to cringe...

Are you just throwing mud against a wall? is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder Definition – Anchor Text

New Niche Finder — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:16:14 +0000

Now this is one I just didn't get for the longest time. I kept hearing people talk about anchor text but I just didn't get it. Maybe that's you too. It really is a simple thing so here goes...

Niche Finder Definition – Anchor Text is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder Definition – Backlinks

New Niche Finder — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:47:52 +0000

Here's another term that baffles new internet marketers...backlinks. Backlinks = Links To Your Site Why is this important? Because this is one of the key factors Google uses to rank your site both in terms of Page Rank and in the SERPs. Google figures if other sites are linking to you, you must be important enough to rank well.

Niche Finder Definition – Backlinks is a post from: New Niche Finder

New Niche Finder for Coaches in the IAC Voice

New Niche Finder — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:37:35 +0000

Coaches...are you researching your markets? Here are 3 reasons you might want to start thinking about it...

New Niche Finder for Coaches in the IAC Voice is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder Challenge – the hard way or the easy way?

New Niche Finder — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:00:49 +0000

How do you go about developing an new product or service? When I said this to a friend last fall, she thought I was crazy..."You need to identify what your market wants before you create your product." She thought I had it backwards. Do you?

Niche Finder Challenge – the hard way or the easy way? is a post from: New Niche Finder

The limitations of online market research

New Niche Finder — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:51:35 +0000

Online market research can only tell you what's been happening in the recent past. There is no guarantee that it will hold true going into the future. Things change. I'm writing this in the summer of 2009. Last fall we had what amounted to an economic collapse. Some markets that had been doing well tanked without warning and others increased dramatically. So keep in mind that you are researching past behavior that may or may not hold true in the future. The data you collect is just a snapshot in time. This is even more true with the competition numbers which tend to be much more fluid than the number of searches. How to adjust for these limitations...

The limitations of online market research is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder Definitions – Page Rank

New Niche Finder — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:02:05 +0000

Page Rank = a grade Google gives your site Page rank is a number between 0 - 10 which represents Google's assessment of your reputation and authority. One of the key factors is the number of the links coming back to your site from other sites AND quality (PR) of the site doing the linking.

Niche Finder Definitions – Page Rank is a post from: New Niche Finder

Welcome to New Niche Finder

New Niche Finder — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:19:41 +0000

New Niche Finder is all about finding profitable niche markets...before you invest a lot of time, money and energy developing a new product. I know it can often feel like throwing mud up against a wall to see what sticks...and the problem is it often doesn't stick. There's nothing worse than watching your great idea take a slide like that. I liked muddy puddles when I was 5...now not so much.

Welcome to New Niche Finder is a post from: New Niche Finder

I’m not the only one…

New Niche Finder — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:28:27 +0000

I would agree for beginners Market Samurai is a bit much. I have several criteria about when to recommend it vs outsourcing the work...

I’m not the only one… is a post from: New Niche Finder

More than a Niche Finder, It’s Build a Business in a Box

New Niche Finder — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:55:22 +0000

The best part is that the tool I use to make New Niche Finder's online market research and keyword research so effective has added some new modules that has turned it into something akin to building a business in a box.

More than a Niche Finder, It’s Build a Business in a Box is a post from: New Niche Finder

Don’t Wait! The 30 Day Challenge begins tonight…

New Niche Finder — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:49:09 +0000

The 30 Day Challenge is where I began to learn the nuts and bolts of internet marketing, SEO, Wordpress...and where I was introduced to to the amazing research tool, Market Samurai. The Immediate Edge is where I stay up to date on the newest tools, techniques and strategies for online success.

Don’t Wait! The 30 Day Challenge begins tonight… is a post from: New Niche Finder

A confession – how I know what I say I know

New Niche Finder — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:26:48 +0000

When I began really learning about online business and internet marketing, I knew a lot about building an offline business and about retailing, but nothing about websites, keywords, SEO and PPC. I went looking for teachers and found what you're probably finding...lots of people willing to take your money and teach you nothing useful. It's actually gotten worse since 2001...now they're all teaching the same rehashed information that worked back in 2001 (only a slight exaggeration) but may or may not be working now in 2009. There is a tremendous amount of fraud out there, and I stayed in a safe community of coaches for a very long time because it was scary out there. I also realized that do build the kind of business I wanted, I really did need to learn more from the internet marketing experts. I went down some dead ends, and I was and continue to be very, very skeptical. You should be skeptical too. No matter what I teach you, I want you to test it out and make it your own. Don't just take my word for it. When I discovered good teachers, I didn't take what they said as gospel. I took what they taught and experimented with it and tested it in unrelated markets...birdhouses, auto products, fondue pots, house and garden products etc. Some worked, some didn't but through it all I was learning how to select keywords, set up a website quickly and easily (forget major design initiatives), and get ranked in Google. It's taken over 2 years to really feel confident in what I'm teaching you, and that confidence comes directly from testing everything I've learned, and proving to myself that I could get on page 1 in Google. My promise to you is to share only what I have tested myself, and to be clear when I'm sharing something I haven't yet tested.

A confession – how I know what I say I know is a post from: New Niche Finder

When a little bit of knowledge is definitely dangerous

New Niche Finder — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:11:36 +0000

There's another kind of reaction I've been getting recently that is just as disturbing as the ones I mentioned yesterday. These are the reactions from people who are just getting ready to launch their websites or have done so recently. Most of these fall into the category of a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing... These folks have got it into their heads that keyword research and search engine optimization are something you do after your site is up. The prevailing view is that I can then do something (they know not quite what) to their site to make it rank in Google. Yikes! This is more ass end backwards nonsense that's been perpetrated on the unsuspecting and ignorant online businessperson by the so called "SEO experts". Yes, if you have a website up it can be improved by keyword research and adding keywords to your copy and tags, but this is the worst way to go about it. The best way is to do your keyword research first and build your site around those keywords. So rather than adding stuff on to your site which almost always looks like it was added on, you build a site from the foundation up. The advantages are that you build into your site a consistency and cohesiveness that's hard to create after the fact, and this has a huge impact on how Google views your site in organic search and it impacts the kind of quality score they give your ppc.

When a little bit of knowledge is definitely dangerous is a post from: New Niche Finder

I hate it when people say keyword research doesn’t matter

New Niche Finder — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:59:14 +0000

I got another one of those horrible emails today...deriding keywords and keyword research because it's just about SEO. I hate these emails especially when they come from people who should know better. All it does is spread a whole lot of misinformation that leaves new online business owners confused and overwhelmed as they try to sort it all out. It's not right. So let me see if I can shed some light on the issue without adding to the confusion. First, keyword research is not just about SEO. Second, SEO does matter if you want traffic to your website. - Keyword research is first and foremost the best way of identifying a niche market online (and it could be argued offline as well). It's a way of doing market research that tells you what people are looking for and how much competition you have to deal with in that niche market. Once you have identified a niche market, keywords can be used on your website to improve your organic Google results and they are essential for pay-per-click advertising (AdWords). But first and foremost, keyword research is about finding a profitable niche market. What used to cost large companies thousands of dollars can down be done by solo entrepreneurs and freelancers for a few hundred dollars. - SEO doesn't matter if you have no interest in getting traffic to your website through the online searches of your customers. If you have other ways of driving large amounts of traffic to your site then go for it...though IMHO none of them leverage your time as effectively. It's a choice, but why on earth would you ignore 2 major sources of traffic....organic search results and pay-per-click search results...when they could make the difference between online success and failure. It just doesn't make any sense to me to ignore something so important. Furthermore, the basics of SEO are easy, and the basics can take you a very long way. You don't need to hire an "SEO expert" who's spouting a whole lot of hocus pocus, and is as likely to get you banned in Google as ranking well. The basics mean using a little bit of knowledge, some great Wordpress plugins, and a good list of keywords. Honestly that's all you need to get on to page 1 in Google. I know because I've done it repeatedly.

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Niche Finder Definition – SEO

New Niche Finder — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:24:42 +0000

SEO = Search Engine Optimization SEO is about getting your site ranking high in Google's SERPS. It revolves around keywords, keyword placement and site structure in an attempt to appeal to Google's algorithm.

Niche Finder Definition – SEO is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder Definition – The Google Algorithm

New Niche Finder — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:47:46 +0000

The Google Algorithm is the mathematical formula that Google uses to create the results (SERP's) when you do a Google search. It is top secret so all anyone knows about it is what Google tells us (not a lot)...and they change it from time to time. The rest of what's said about it by "SEO experts" is based on hypothesis and testing...some good and some not.

Niche Finder Definition – The Google Algorithm is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder Definition – SERPS

New Niche Finder — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:31:18 +0000

SERPS = Search Engine Results Pages Internet marketing pros throw this term around a lot, but they never define it. In their circies there's no need. Everyone knows it. Every time you do a Google search, you end up with a page of results. That's the SERP. So for any given keyword, you want to be in page #1 (the top 10) in the Google SERPS. Questions? Feel free to ask.

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Niche Finder Definitions

New Niche Finder — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:23:32 +0000

For non-business people going online the terms and acronyms can be daunting. So often you've got geeks who are immersed in this stuff defining terms with more geekish geekese (not sure which describes the language of geek better) To hopefully save you from the same frustration, I am starting a series of posts that define terms used in internet marketing. Many of these stumped me for the longest time. Either I couldn't find a clear definition or I just wasn't grokking it...probably a bit of both. So let me know what's stumping you and I'll do my best to define it.

Niche Finder Definitions is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder Tip – Don’t get too attached

New Niche Finder — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:43:33 +0000

I see online businesses make this mistake all the time. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s a new business or an established but struggling business. I see businesses with great potential flounder because they get too attached to their idea of a niche market or product before they’ve done any research or testing to [...]

Niche Finder Tip – Don’t get too attached is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder -What is a niche? (Recap)

New Niche Finder — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:36:25 +0000

NICHE MARKET = PEOPLE WITH A COMMON INTEREST OR PROBLEM + PEOPLE YOU CAN EASILY LOCATE + PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONEY TO SPEND To Recap, when finding your niche, you want... 1. A group of people who share a common interest or problem 2. You can find those people through the organizations where they come together and/or through the keywords and keyword phrases they use. 3. There are clues in keyword research tools that can tell you whether the people in your niche have money to spend but you can't really know for sure until you test the market. 4. Even in a niche with lots of people, if there is a large amount of competition it will be hard to compete...at least at first.

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Niche Finder -What is a niche? (Part 4)

New Niche Finder — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:19:49 +0000

NICHE MARKET = PEOPLE WITH A COMMON INTEREST OR PROBLEM + PEOPLE YOU CAN EASILY LOCATE + PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONEY TO SPEND Okay, this one isn't directly in the equation but it's a vitally important consideration...competition. In some ways it's the most important information of all because it tells you what you need to do in order to show up in Google's search results or SERPS (search engine result pages) To find your niche you need to consider how many other businesses you're competing with. Online that means how many other sites are competing for the same keyword or keyword phrase. If the number is too high and they are all well established, it could take you years and lots of thankless work to reach page 1, never mind position #1. If the number is too low then you may want to consider carefully whether this is a profitable niche. Bottom line is that some competition is good but too much is going to kill your business before you even get started. This is always a number I provide in your keyword research report along with how to evaluate the data. For more information about keyword, market and competition research for your business, I do offer a 30 minute no obligation consult (no selling either just good information).

Niche Finder -What is a niche? (Part 4) is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder -What is a niche? (Part 3)

New Niche Finder — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:53:15 +0000

NICHE MARKET = PEOPLE WITH A COMMON INTEREST OR PROBLEM + PEOPLE YOU CAN EASILY LOCATE + PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONEY TO SPEND So you have identified the people you want to serve, and you have figured out where to find them. The next challenge is to figure out if they have money to spend, and if they do, will they spend it on you and your product. There are a number of clues in the research stage about whether this niche will buy. Microsoft has a nifty little tool designed to identify commercial value of a particular keyword. Adwords bids tell you what other advertisers are willing to pay which can be an indication of whether the niche is profitable. These tools are just indicators providing clues, but none of them are entirely reliable. This is where testing comes in. You have to float a trial balloon to see if people will buy. Some marketers do this with organic search and some do it very quickly with pay per click advertising. One costs time. The other costs money. Both work so take your pick. The fastest way to test is to throw up a well optimized Wordpress blog (please don't freak...I can help you with this and it's really not that hard any way) with someone else's product (ie an affiliate product) and see if people buy. So you run a test to see. If they buy you know it will be worth spending your time, energy and money to create a product of your own. You already have your marketing engine in place so it's just a matter of creating the product (much easier when you know there's a market yes?). If on the other hand, you can't sell a product, you have saved yourself a ton of resources that you can now spend on creating something else. Next - the role of competition in finding your niche...

Niche Finder -What is a niche? (Part 3) is a post from: New Niche Finder

Niche Finder -What is a niche? (Part 2)

New Niche Finder — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:52:06 +0000

NICHE MARKET = PEOPLE WITH A COMMON INTEREST OR PROBLEM + PEOPLE YOU CAN EASILY LOCATE + PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONEY TO SPEND Okay, so you're beginning to get a sense of the people you want as clients or customers, and you've got a glimmer of an idea about the problems they share, but how do you ever find them? This can be a huge problem. In a traditional offline environment, you'd be looking for people who congregate in one place. You'd find them in organized groups like associations, organizations, schools, and churches. In the online world you might also find them in Yahoo Groups and Google Groups which can often point you toward some profitable niches. The problem I always found as a rather nontraditional therapist and coach was that my clients were independent thinkers who often weren't joiners. Oops. That makes it a little tougher, doesn't it? It might even mean it's not a good niche...but wait... Online we're not dependent on finding groups of people who formally congregate though that's still a good way of finding a niche. Online we've got a mountain of information available to help us identify our potential customers. The primary piece of information is, you guessed it...KEYWORDS. All of those independent, individualistic, non-joiners, do search for stuff online. Yes, we all gather in Google whether we know it or not. And Google keeps track of what we are collectively searching for. If you're not screaming opportunity yet, you haven't been paying attention. Keywords are the vehicle through which you can find your niche particularly when you're targeting those people who don't tend to congregate in large numbers in identifiable and accessible locations. Next up...how can you find out if they have money to spend?

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Niche Finder -What is a niche? (Part 1)

New Niche Finder — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:31:31 +0000

If I'm repeating myself, please forgive me, but this is so important...and most reluctant entrepreneurs skip right over it. Or they get bogged down in trying to figure it out only to end up getting well and truly stuck. I know it took me forever to really understand what a niche or niche market is. Maybe you're quicker than I was (I certainly hope so), but I just didn't get it for the longest time. I knew it must be important (everyone said it was), but it just sounded like so much business gobble-de-goop. In business terms, a niche refers to 'a specialized market' or 'a distinct segment of a market'. Still sounding foreign? Let's try this...in non-marketing terms niches refer to either a recessed space (as in a wall that often houses a statue) or to the idea of finding one's place. The underlying sense in both definitions is having found a place that feels like home, a place where you belong...or a sweet spot. So what makes home feel like home? Yes it's the house and the yard and the plants and the books, but most of all it's the people you share it with. It's having friends and family nearby. It's being surrounded by people who share your values and find meaning in similar kinds of activities. Now think about how that relates to your business. In looking for your niche market, aren't you looking for the people you enjoy being around, people who share your interests, and people who share your values? Aren't you looking for people who have some of the same struggles you've had? People who have many of the same questions? So when looking for a business niche, you're looking for people with common interests, common values, and common problems. That's part 1 of a 3 part equation.... NICHE MARKET = PEOPLE WITH A COMMON INTEREST OR PROBLEM + PEOPLE YOU CAN EASILY LOCATE + PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONEY TO SPEND So maybe you'd like to do some brainstorming around the characteristics and qualities of you ideal client, and especially think about the common problems your ideal clients may be facing. Not all markets are created equal so make a long list of possibilities, and try not to get too attached to any of them. You'll have plenty of time to hone this list as you go along. Next up - How to find these folks?

Niche Finder -What is a niche? (Part 1) is a post from: New Niche Finder

Have you found your sweet spot yet?

New Niche Finder — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:26:53 +0000

Sweet spot? What's that? It's that spot where your passion for what you offer and the needs of the people you serve intersect. SWEET SPOT = YOUR CLIENT'S NEED + YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE It's really that simple, so why does it go so terribly wrong for so many people when they take their businesses online? The experience of strangers passing in the night is far too common. It's so frustrating and discouraging when all you want to do is help people, but you're never able to make a connection with the people who need you most. The most common reason businesses fail online is because they fail to do any market research, and online market research is the only way to identify a profitable niche (the sweet spot). I've made this mistake more times than I care to count, and I see other people doing exactly the same thing. Don't be that person. In order to succeed online, it is absolutely essential for you to identify what your clients want and what they're actually searching for, and then go meet them where they are...in the Google search results (organic search and pay-per-click) Even with a good list of keywords, you may still end up missing your potential customers if there is too much competition for those phrases. Think of it like a crowded room... In a room packed with people, you may see the person you want to meet, but you may not be able to get across the room to actually meet them. On the other hand there's no one to meet in an empty room. You don't want to be there either. The best place to be is the room that's filled with the people you want to meet, but has enough room for you to move around and actually mingle. And when you do meet them, you have a choice...talk about yourself or find out about them. Whether you're at a party or marketing online, reaching out to find out about someone is always going to make a much stronger connection than talking about yourself. Internet marketing research combines keyword research and competition research so you know before you ever head out the door (or put up your website)...where to go, who to meet and a little bit about them before you do. Beats the hell out of cold calling don't you think? So in order to find the sweet spot for your business, you want to know... 1. What your potential clients are searching for...the actual keywords they're using. 2. How much competition there is for those keywords...too much and it takes too long to compete...too little and it's probably not worth your time. This information will tell you what products and services to offer, how to talk about your products and services, and how to get your site to communicate clearly with Google (Yahoo & MSN too). Knowing everything you can about your keywords and your competition solves the majority of problems facing new online businesses...and many established ones.
"But, but...I just want to do the work. I don't want to be some techno geek. I don't have time to learn all that. Besides my eyes glaze over every time I try." I get it, and lucky for you, I'm a closet geek and have been for a very long time. I probably first heard about internet marketing somewhere around 2001. I don't remember exactly but it was around that time. Since then I have learned all of that impossibly geeky stuff like how to design websites & blogs, send broadcasts, use shopping carts and all the rest. I must say some of my early efforts were pretty bad and I've been down more than a few dead ends, but I am persistent and I love figuring this stuff out (and I have). Go figure. Let me tell you websites, shopping carts and autoresponders are minor compared to the big stuff I've learned...keyword research, online market research and SEO (more on that in a moment). Finding keywords has always been relatively easy. Finding the right ones and knowing what to do with them, not so much. Learning how to evaluate keywords so you find the right ones for your niche market and then knowing exactly what to do with them is the most important part of all, and the most challenging. Then there are the blogging platforms. I am proficient in Typepad and Wordpress (the #1 choice) and I know how to optimize them. SEO or search engine optimization just means learning to speak Google's language so your website and Google can communicate. For all the reputed complexity (not to mention misinformation), the basics are pretty simple and extremely powerful once you know what to do. So as of June 2009, I am out of the closet in all my geeky glory providing web business services and online business consulting/coaching for reluctant and technically challenged entrepreneurs who really just want to focus on providing great service to their clients and customers. To celebrate I am rolling out New Niche Finder which is a service that will do the online market research (keyword and competition research) for you, and show you exactly what you need to do with the information once you have it (not very useful otherwise is it?). I'm setting aside 15 hours a week for this project, and right now it's wide open so you can get a list of high traffic/low competition keywords in less than a week. You'll even get a personalized consultation at the beginning so I'm clear on exactly what you need, and a personalized consult at the end to make sure you understand what the research means and what you're going to do with it. Interested? Then let's set up a time to talk. The first 30 minutes are on me with no obligation to continue. If you choose to hire me, a basic keyword/competition report which includes your customized strategy suggestions, is a flat fee of $195...at least for now. It's way too cheap but I want you to get this information and I don't want the price to stop you from getting it. So for now, that's the price. Sign Up for a FREE New Niche Finder Consultation

Have you found your sweet spot yet? is a post from: New Niche Finder

New Niche Finder Coming Soon!

New Niche Finder — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:28:49 +0000

The mission of 'New Niche Finder' is to help you stay profitable while still doing the work you love.

New Niche Finder Coming Soon! is a post from: New Niche Finder