| Step one in knowing where your niche market is, | | | | not a vegetarian and cooking vegetarian food is |
| is knowing who your niche market is. I often ask | | | | not my specialty. So I stay away from the |
| people in network marketing who their niche | | | | vegetarian message boards and vegetarian blogs. |
| market is and they give me a broad answer such | | | | I know I really don't have anything of value to |
| as "women." | | | | offer these cooks and so I don't even attempt to |
| I sell cooking products yet I don't believe | | | | participate. |
| "women" are my target market. I know far too | | | | Different markets congregate in different places. |
| many women who don't like to cook, eat out | | | | Offline, you can find speaking groups, cooking |
| almost daily and never spend time in the kitchen. | | | | groups, car groups etc. Most adult ed programs |
| For example, my coworker's husband is a chef | | | | offer a large variety of classes. Try taking one |
| and does all of the cooking in their house. | | | | class per semester. Often these classes are one |
| It's important to ask yourself who exactly is your | | | | night a week for a couple of hours. Not only will |
| target market. Are they under age 30? Are they | | | | you learn a new skill, but you'll meet people in the |
| over age 40? Are they self-employed? Are they | | | | very niches you're trying to service. |
| managers? Are they indoor people or outdoor | | | | Online you'll find blogs, websites, message boards |
| people? | | | | and more. Try going to Yahoo Groups and |
| It's actually possible to target more than one | | | | searching for a group or two in your niche |
| group of people, but chances are you'll need a | | | | market. Join the group and begin reading. Get a |
| different marketing strategy for each group | | | | feel for the flow of the conversation and the |
| you're targeting. | | | | people who hang out there. When you believe the |
| Now that you know what niche you're looking for, | | | | time is right, jump in. Start participating. Truly give |
| it's time to find out where they are. One of the | | | | to the group. Don't advertise your business. Once |
| markets I target is crafters. I hang out on | | | | you begin giving to the group, you'll begin to form |
| crafting message boards. I read and post on | | | | relationships. I actually don't join groups that won't |
| crafting blogs. I have written some crafting | | | | allow a signature. I don't advertise per se in this |
| articles. | | | | signature, I simply put in one of my URL's. I know |
| Another market I target is those who love to | | | | that I often click signatures of those I find |
| cook. This time, not only do I hang out on cooking | | | | interesting. In return, I know that when I give to |
| message boards and visit cooking blogs, I also | | | | the group, others will click on my link. |
| have a cooking blog of my own and a recipe | | | | Go to the places where your niche is hanging out. |
| website. I try very hard to stay within my own | | | | These are the people you want to market to and |
| comfort range even in this niche. For example, I'm | | | | build relationships with. |