Affiliate Programs
Suffering in a Niche
On one of the marketing forums I frequent, a new “wannabe” online business prospect asked about selling products in a niche that he didn’t like. Apparently, he had heard that the niche was a lucrative one (which specific niche it was doesn’t matter for our discussion here) but he didn’t like it (no reasons given) and was wondering if “liking the niche” was important to being profitable in selling online.
What do you think? Should an online business owner like the niche that he is entering as a seller?
I made a post about his questions that suggest where I stand on the issue. Here it is:
As far as the niche market being “good” …
I would suggest you should always begin from the standpoint of knowing (as opposed to guessing) that the market you plan to enter is ripe and ready for your particular business model. Through some basic and simple online market research, you will be able to tell what the market audience is looking for, what the competition is offering prospects, and how/where you can gather an audience that is looking for whatever it is you plan to sell or offer. You should know that there is a viable place in that market for your new business – whatever you plan that to look like. Never just guess or proceed with structuring and creating your business on a mere hunch!
The second issue … “liking the niche” … is obviously a very personal one.
No one but you can decide. I’ve known people that successfully worked 40 years or more at something they disliked very much because they felt they had no viable employment alternative. That is really sad and a shame IMO. Tolerating your place of employment because it pays the bills and puts food on the family table is certainly a noble cause … but it is not the best alternative for anyone’s health, happiness, peace, or stress level.
I have always encouraged people to try to honestly enjoy what they do in their business. It gives them some natural “staying power” when things are tough, when markets are down, and when others might abandon the business because they hate the daily grind.
Often, it’s easy to tell from the customer’s standpoint that a business owner doesn’t have much love for what he is doing or that he would rather be somewhere else. That’s not a good thing and it is a business owner and webmaster negative, IMO.
May I suggest you dig a little deeper and identify exactly what it is about the niche that you don’t like?
Maybe you can outsource that task (or duty) or take on a partner that can enjoy doing what you don’t want to do. Maybe there are ways to automate or accomplish what needs doing without your direct intervention or hands-on involvement.
Another alternative is to position your business in such a way that you don’t focus on the negative things that don’t appeal to you. By going vertically deep in the niche you may be able to bypass certain topics or aspects of the niche that are causing you grief.
Above all, please don’t rely on some random strangers to tell you what niche, business model, or marketplace is best for you.
Discover the root reason(s) for your dislike of the niche, then work your way around them or beyond them. Understand that happiness in your online business is not necessarily a prerequisite … but it supplants a lot of stress, anxiety, drudgery and the internal short-term pain of spending precious time on hated activities. There are thousands upon thousands of niches, business models, and marketplaces that can be profitably entered … so why choose one that doesn’t fit you or your liking?
One last thought. If your business in the hated niche really took off … I mean like netting you $20,000 per month or more … would that help you like the niche a little better? I thought so …
The very best to you in whatever you decide. Remember, this is your business – so choose for YOU, not for anyone else or what they say.
To your online business success,
Steve Browne
www.SteveBrowneDirect.com