Home » Guides » Sales and Marketing » Target Marketing » Using Niche Marketing Techniques

Guide to Using Niche Marketing Techniques

Sometimes, thinking small can translate into big business

By Jenni Simcoe, Writer


Niche marketing allows your business to be a big fish in a small pond — and that can pay off in a big way. Niche marketing means focusing your business on a very targeted segment of the population, whether it's a specific geographic region, a particular demographic group, a select industry or some other group of people with shared interests. These smaller markets are often overlooked by mainstream companies, which gives you the chance to swoop in and land their business. Focusing your efforts on a niche market can:
  1. Create a cost-effective way to find potential customers.
  2. Enable you to spend more time developing relationships with existing customers rather than looking for prospects.
  3. Expand your business by creating niche divisions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Go on a niche hunt

Defining your niche can be the key to a viable business venture.
I recommend: Learn what niche marketing is, how to define your market and how to capitalize on your expertise at isitebuild.com or at About.com. Check out how the Little Black Dress Shop and RedWagons.com identified a niche and turned it into a successful business.

Zero in on your niche market

Identifying your niche market is the first step to attracting them to your business. Once you've identified who your target customers are, you've got to ask yourself a few things: Is this market large enough to generate adequate sales? Are you able to reach this market through cost-effective marketing and advertising? Are you able to meet the needs of this market with your products and services?
I recommend: Estimate the future growth of your market at Business Owner's Toolkit to determine sustainability. Each niche market is as unique as the individuals within that market. To appeal to them, you have to learn as much as you can about them. Learn how to focus on your target and allocate resources directly to them and how to research the market.

Develop niches within your business

Even if your business offers a wide variety of services and products to a large portion of the population, you can still benefit from niche marketing. Some of your products or services may be targeted at a specific segment of your customer base.
I recommend: Discover how other large businesses have geared specific products and services to niche markets at Business Owner's Toolkit.

Get keyword and search engine savvy

Finding out which keywords your potential niche customers are looking up can help you determine exactly what those customers want. And by using the best keywords, you can bring customers directly to your site when they use search engines, such as Google or Yahoo. Search engine optimization (SEO) software allows your site to be toward the top of the list when customers perform a keyword search and helps to bring traffic into your site.
I recommend: Learn the ABCs of keyword data from a real pro, James B. Allen. Two popular SEO software programs are Easy SEO and NicheFinder. Hire an SEO firm to do the research for you and help get you to the top of the search engine list. 1st page is a firm that provides a free analysis of your current place in the search engine and helps you get to the top.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Differentiate yourself while not choosing such obscure search terms that a customer wouldn't even think to type them into a search engine.
  • As your brand evolves, so will your niche. Watch the trends in your industry to constantly keep up with what your customers are looking for.

The official source of Using Niche Marketing Techniques is
the Niche Marketing page at Business.com

Self-Service Niche Marketing
Reach 90% of Internet Users. Target by Geography or Audience Type. Pay Per Click. View Detailed Reporting. Build Your Campaign Now!
BidPlaceSB.com
Market Segment Lists for Niche Marketing
Better Targeting with Less Waste. 24 Hour Turnaround, Quality Guarantee. Request a Quote Today.
Contact Us | Run A Count | Get A Quote | Marketing Svcs
www.USDataWest.com
Free Landing Page Templates and Email Companions
Need a shortcut to better Pay-Per-Click Marketing Conversions? You've got it! Get five of our proven Landing Page & Email Templates free.
Lyris.com
Niche Marketing: Dun & Bradstreet®
Get Unlimited Access to Company Information for All US Businesses. View D&B Data & Build Lists. Free 7-Day Trial.
Free Trial | Learn More | Company Profile
www.selectory.com

Recommended Solution Providers

Marketingology: Niche Marketing Strategy and Consulting
Provides specialized niche marketing services, including website design, media buying, ecommerce, email, and search engine marketing capabilities.

NicheHunt: Niche Marketing for Small and Home Business, Professionals and Entrepreneurs
Provides keyword searching tools and other online niche marketing solutions, as well as free articles and a newsletter.

Best Sites to Learn More

Entrepreneur: Marketing
Marketing resources for professionals and small businesses, including articles on how to brand your business for a specific niche audience.

PowerHomeBiz: Niche and Branding Strategies
Features links to a variety of articles on how to push your business forward by employing niche marketing and branding tactics.

Best Blogs and Forums

Niche Marketing Mastermind Forum
Includes discussions with niche marketing ideas and applications, as well as a list of example niche marketing sites.

MarketingLoop.com: Niche Marketing Blog
Niche marketing tips and strategies for small business owners and startups, content publishers, and service professionals.

Niche Marketing Soapbox: Blog from a Niche Marketing Coach
Focused on niche marketing techniques and strategies for small and home-based businesses.



FEATURED LISTINGS

What WorksTM for Target Marketing

Deborah Kurfiss

Product Positioning

How to Position Your Product to Sell
To successfully sell your product to today’s businesses or consumers, you must research competitive products, your market segment and your distribution channels to determine how your product should be positioned. Are you developing a product with more features and benefits than any other product, so that your product can therefore be sold at a premium price? Or are you developing a product that does not have many of the features ... Read more

Free B2B search marketing whitepaper, B2B Search Marketing Strategy Guide: Advice From the Pros.
Download

To advertise on Business.com, click here