Eric Gehler SEO Richmond Virginia

Finding Your Niche The Bass Ackwards Approach

One of the more popular ways that people start an online business or affiliate marketing is to do keyword research, find a high traffic an low competition keyword, build web site property around that keyword phrase and then monetize their web property.  This is the conventional way of doing things and is the conventional methods that are taught.

A lot of people struggle to find that niche and keyword term. Where do I start? How do I find that niche?  You are taught to brainstorm ideas, narrow your focus then start the keyword research and continue with the status quo plan.

Well many times I use the “Bass Ackwards” approach.

Instead of attempting to find the niche and keyword term first, I look at the monetization aspect first. I ask myself first, how do I want to monetize my latest web property project.  Do I want to endorse and sell a product via affiliate marketing? Do I want to create my own product? Do I just want to drive traffic and make money via advertisement revenue from that site?

If I determine I want to work the affiliate product sale approach, then I will look for a product I feel comfortable with, regardless of the niche.  I will scan through Clickbank, Linkshare, Pepperjam, Shareasale etc for a product that jumps out at me. Once i find a product that meets my commission payout and cookie length requirements, then I will run keyword research to find Keyword Terms appropriate for that product.

The worst feeling ever is to find a keyword phrase you want to build web property around, but find their is almost nothing worthwhile to monetize around.

One of my favorite ways make decent money is in the display advertisement route. In this method I brainstorm ideas that are current, popular, buzz worthy, new, what people are talking about, or something that is in the media daily.  For example my popular American Idol Website, or a few years ago The Whole AOL Gold Rush game. These both meet the criteria of current, popular, buzz worthy, new, what people are talking about, or something that is in the media daily.

In this method, I don’t have to do Keyword Research because the Keywords are mostly self evident. I will however brainstorm and think of all the possible ways people would type a search into Google to find information on that topic, and what are people concerned about from that topic.

With some proper SEO, Proper Set up of web property and good Social bookmarks, I can own the keyword terms for this “New Idea” and get paid based on readership, rather than the reader buying something. I use different CPM networks like Blogher or GlamNetwork ( you have to have good traffic and a website of Interest - not “Make Money Online Niches”)

You can see some extended examples & Case Studies of this from Other98percent.com a Free Membership website my partner and I run.

Alright. Back to Brainstorming Ideas for my Bass Ackward Approach.  In the meantime Go Check out Two of my latest Web Creations:  Greatest American Dog and A Funny One: Ed Dale Mankini

Eric Gehler SEO