A Niche Marketing Strategy for Your Online Business

No matter what type of business you run, there's always a niche marketing strategy waiting to be explored. Whether you run a service business, product business or if you have an informational website, ultimately, to reach your target market or niche, you want to find a solution to a problem for your customers & visitors. It doesn't have to be a life-threatening problem; just make your customers life easier or better in some way.

General Website Niche Marketing Tips:
▪ Price your products appropriately for your target market; this doesn't necessarily mean the cheapest price.

▪ Include informative articles on your site that will appeal to your target market and help establish you as the expert in your field. Always keep your target markets interests and needs as you write your content.

▪ Write an email newsletter that includes information and tips your customers need.

▪ Advertise on websites or in publications that reach your niche.

▪ Network on message boards or email groups that cater to your target market (but always use proper etiquette and strategic networking to achieve your niche marketing goals.

Service Business Niche Marketing Strategy:
Jack (or Jill) -of-all-Trades and a Specialist in None, Can Spell Disaster for your Online Service Business: There are so many choices on the net and when someone is looking for a service specialist, they want the best.
For example, if you are a copywriter, don't try to write all kinds of copy. Focus in a few areas where you excel and develop your skills. Perhaps you'll specialize in radio or TV advertising copy; website copy or brochures.

Target Your Market: If you're a personal shopper, there are certain distinct markets you can target. Avoid using the same website to market your services to the wealthy as you do to seniors. People with loads of cash have different tastes and personal shopping needs; they are also willing to pay extra for excellent service. Seniors may hire a personal shopper out of need and lack of mobility; there funds may also be limited.
Niche Marketing Tip: If you'd like to target more than one distinct market with your online business, set up a separate website for each market. Set different prices and service options that will appeal to your market.

Product Business Niche Marketing Strategy:
If you're developing your own product, always look to see where you can solve a particular problem or fill a need for your target market. Avoid the "shopping mall" philosophy online as you may overwhelm your visitors and you'll have difficulty competing with the prices of other large businesses online. Keep your products lines simple and targeted for your niche.
In other words, if you run a gourmet mixes business and your target market is married women with young children, don't push single serving meal mixes on them. Keep things simple and targeted for your visitor, so they can find exactly what they need.

Informational / Theme-based Website Niche Marketing Strategy
There are millions of informational or theme-based websites on the Internet. If you plan to really make a success out your site, you really need to target your niche. Whether it's a certain type of information that can't be found anywhere else or information that is targeted to a particular group of people, you must find a way to stand out.

I faced this challenge in starting Internet Based Moms™. Let's be serious, there are tons of work at home mom websites and even more general work from home websites. There are also tons of Internet Marketing websites.

However, I saw a place for my niche and that was....Internet Marketing just for work at home moms. All the information on the website is targeted to work at home moms and their needs; we have events just for moms and we strive to make this a friendly and comfortable place for moms to be...but we still talk serious Internet Marketing here.

If you have a theme-based website, can you define your targeted niche? How do you reach your niche and what makes your website special?

Direct Sales / Affiliate Niche Marketing Strategy
Don't be satisfied with the company replicated website that you are given. Everyone has the same site, it lacks personality and worst of all...you can't target a niche.

Let's say you are a Mary Kay Consultant and your target customer is 40-something women who want to reduce the signs of aging, make a website totally focused on this consumer. Include tips on reducing the appearance of wrinkles; feature products that your target market would like and use photos of women in your target market. You can still link to your online shopping cart on your company site, but the information you provide is unique reaches your target market.