Using Social Networks for Niche Research
[private].[/private]Social networks aren’t just a place for meeting members of the opposite sex. Social networks are also not full of teenie boppers like many people seem to think.
The great thing about using social networks for niche research is that the more popular networks such as MySpace, FaceBook, and Friendster all have features and “groups” similar to the Google Groups we went over earlier.
In addition to having these groups, social networks also have “Browse” and “Search” capabilities that allow you to sign up, go right in, and get right down to highly targeted niche audiences that are literally telling each other what they want to see! All you have to is show them the goods (once you put together some highly valuable content and wrap it all up into a nice shiny package like we’re going to show you of course).
Let’s take a closer look at MySpace and just a hint of the potential for niche research that is waiting there:
As you can see, the MySpace user interface will allow you to find targeted niches at warp speed. Using social networks to explore niche opportunities is so easy it’s almost criminal!
Just like MySpace, all of the other social networks have very similar capabilities for niche research. If you stick with the more popular social networks you will have no trouble finding large, active, and accessible groups openly discussing the niche your are assessing.
A Few Additional Resources For Niche Research
Niche Selection Criteria
There are two main criteria you should focus on once you have completed enough research on your niche. These two criteria are closely related and they are:
1.) Profitability
2.) Interest
If you have done your research thoroughly you should already know if there is a fair amount of “interest” in the niche you plan on selecting.
You can determine profitability by keeping an eye on sites that are similar to what you intend on doing. Check out their traffic ranks and history with Alexa, pay close attention to who is running Google AdWords campaigns in your niche, and take notes over a 1-3 week time period.
If you see the same website’s AdWords advertisements hanging out on the first page of Google for more than a week or two, then you know that they are certainly moving products and that it is a profitable niche.
Finally, as I have mentioned before, try to select a niche that you have some personal insight into so that your online business remains not only profitable, but also fun and rewarding. You will get much more satisfaction out of what you do if you have a special interest in your niche.
