| If you're an internet marketer, you know the | | | | Your next step is to go to the drop down box |
| secret of success is to find a niche market and | | | | near the top of the page and change "show |
| then home in on the perfect keywords. | | | | columns" from "keywords only" to "keyword |
| A niche market is a group of individuals with | | | | popularity." You do not need to run the search |
| available money who share a common interest, | | | | again; the page display will change when you |
| problem, enthusiasm, need or mania and who can | | | | make your selection. |
| be easily found online. | | | | When you get your results, be sure to notice that |
| For example, small plane owners comprise a niche | | | | at the bottom of the page is a link you can click |
| market. Collectors of Grateful Dead memorabilia | | | | to export your results to a spreadsheet like |
| are a niche market. Members of the 101st | | | | Excel, as well as looking at them on the web |
| Airborne form a niche market. People who build | | | | page. |
| their own racing wheelchairs are a niche market. | | | | Now you will see one column which shows you |
| City dwellers approaching retirement to a rural | | | | how much competition there is for the keyword |
| area form another niche market. | | | | and another column showing how many people |
| It's pretty easy to think up groups of people who | | | | are looking for that term. The information is |
| share a common interest or have a common | | | | presented in nice graphical form so that with a |
| problem. What isn't so easy is to discover which | | | | glance you can really understand just how tough a |
| of the many potential markets will provide an | | | | market "dogs" really is. It is nearly totally |
| entrepreneur the best monetary return for an | | | | saturated. Maybe you'd be better off into the |
| investment of time and energy building a web site | | | | ferret market, or pot bellied pigs. When you look |
| and promoting it. | | | | closely, you see a possible opening in "heated dog |
| People who are forced to move suddenly are a | | | | beds" and when you look even more closely you |
| niche market. They have a problem and they | | | | can see a pattern emerging which might be useful. |
| need a solution right now. They are looking for | | | | Electronic collars, electronic fences, heated dog |
| help. If you are an internet marketer, you want | | | | bed, heated dog houses, etc. all show a slightly |
| them to find YOU. | | | | lower competition factor. Now all you need is the |
| That's where the Google Keyword tool can come | | | | domain name and you're ready to go. (Sorry, it's |
| in handy. | | | | already taken.) |
| You need to have an Adwords account to make | | | | But wait ... there's another option on the drop |
| use of these tools, but an Adwords account is | | | | down box for "show columns". Now set it to |
| free until you run an ad. The tools are well worth | | | | show you "Cost and position estimates" and set |
| the time to sign up. | | | | the value for "Calculate Values using Max CPC" to |
| Once you have an Adwords account at | | | | the maximum of $100. Click Recalculate. |
| adwords.google.com, you can then proceed to | | | | The results you see show you how much people |
| adwords.google.com/select/Tools. | | | | are bidding to be in the top 3 positions for an |
| First, take a look at the "Keyword Tool." You | | | | Adwords ad (which is also a good indicator of |
| may want to prepare a list of keywords in a text | | | | how much relatively you can make for the |
| file before you go to the Tools. Then you can | | | | percentage of revenue Google pays for Adsense |
| simply cut and paste the list into the keyword | | | | ads for the keyword used in your web site's |
| tool box. Be sure to check the box "Use | | | | articles and content.) |
| Synonyms" to get the most complete list of | | | | You immediately notice that electric dog fence is |
| keyword suggestions. | | | | a $5.10 keyword, electronic dog door is $12.26, |
| For example, say you'd found some great affiliate | | | | and electric dog collars is $5.20. At the same time, |
| programs for dog products, but know the main | | | | you notice an even smaller niche with great |
| dog market is over saturated with heavy | | | | potential which you'd overlooked, "dog insurance" |
| competition. You're looking for some nice niche | | | | with a bid value of a whopping $15.38, but when |
| markets where your products will still be big | | | | you bounce back to the page with "keyword |
| sellers, but the competition will be less. So you | | | | popularity" results, your excitement backs off a |
| type the word "dogs" into the keyword tool. | | | | bit, because that keyword appears to be totally |
| 128 keywords show on the returned list. Most of | | | | saturated. More research may be in order there, |
| the major dog breeds are included, such as Pugs, | | | | or perhaps simply an opportunity to add a few |
| Papillons, Corgis and Cockapoos. Owners of | | | | articles and garner some Adsense revenue. |
| specific breeds may form markets you could | | | | So now you know a possible slot and you know |
| pursue. And in addition, there are such prime niche | | | | that to promote it you may need to steer away |
| markets as dog tags, dog crates, dog electric | | | | from expensive Adwords ads in favor of other |
| fence, dog insurance, dog costumes, dog | | | | advertising, but you may be able to make good |
| medication, dog boarding, dog names, etc. | | | | money from your site's content through placing |
| The only question is whether any of these niches | | | | Adsense ads on your pages. |
| has monetary value. | | | | This is a valuable tool, indeed. |