Niche Websites – Still a pillar of “passive” income
I’ve heard that with all of Googles updates niche marketing is dead. That you can’t make money anymore.
What is niche marketing really?
It’s the same methods we use in the make money online niche, in the work from home niche. These are just niches in which people have a particular interest.
So how can we as marketers not make money when we provide solutions to people with whom we have identified a problem?
There’s simply no logic to the thought process.
Sure some methods that maybe worked in these smaller niches are no longer as effective and need a little altering.
But come on!
To state that something is dead and doesn’t work just because tweaking is required kind of beggers belief.
I have started out like so many in internet marketing, learning the ropes through the make money online niche.
More recently I started looking at other niches, mainly to keep things interesting and becuase really the make money online niche is only one market in a very large ocean.
Yes you can still make money in niche website marketing, yes you need to treat it like a business and put in some effort. But the rewards ares till there for those willing to do so.
I’ve listed some pointers for those who want to look at niche marketing, this is not a definitive guide, merely an overview and my point of view.
-
Uncover Your Niche
Choosing your niche is a personal choice, what’s right for you may not be the ideal for someone else. Choose wisely or make money you will not.
In order to make money with your niche you will want to have more than a passing interest in the subject or the ol’ tedium bug will roll in and make it difficult to continue. Unless you are disciplined and focused upon your end goals.
That said, I don’t believe you need to create niche websites only around your passions. Thorough research and a professional approach (this is a business after all) can overcome most issues that arise from being in an unfamiliar niche or one you are less enthusiastic about.
There are no shortage of niches out there, you can find something that wiggles your wipers and will be profitable.
-
Discover Your Competition
So you’ve got your niche, it’s time to check out the major players, who are they what do they write about? Use this as a guide for your own site. Just a guide mind, you’re looking for your own unique selling position, something that will help you stand out.
-
Establish Keywords for Your Niche Site
Ok so some things never go out of style. You need plenty of quality keywords. Time to do some research.
Use good old Google Keywords Tool or upgrade and get Market Samurai. Worth the spend in my opinion. Try and get around 20 -50 related keywords, more is better but if you only get 5 so be it.
-
Create and Fit-Out Your Website
Time to get creating, if you want a professional looking site, my advice is spend some money on it. Get hosting, buy a domain name.
Next set up the platform to work off.
WordPress is the most common, and quite frankly I’m not really going to suggest anything else at this stage. There are plenty of tutorials out and about on how to install wordpress and get started. However if you want a post or a series on this, let me know and I’ll sort something out.
-
Thin 5-10 page Niche Websites are a thing of the Past
The search engines, read as Google, love content, quality content.
So a site that doesn’t offer value will not get ranked as well as one that clearly helps it’s visitors. Take your 20-50 keywords and create articles for all of the keywords. You don’t have to post all at once, but regular updating of your site say posting once a week or even once a month will ensure your site continues to get ranked.
-
Keep Your Niche Website Informative, High Quality and full of Original Content
Don’t let your site look like it was made to be monetized for things like adsense. You need to treat it like any other site if you want to generate an earning off of it.
Try and keep your content as original as possible, that dosen’t mean all your ideas have to be unique. there is so much content on the web, you really can’t reinvent the wheel most times. And why would you. Just take the time to make any content your own, get key ideas and put them into your own words.
-
Promote your Niche Site like a normal, good quality website or blog
You want to have good quality backlinks to your site if you’re ever going to make money with it. And ideally the majority of your traffic should be organic. Concentrate on getting plenty of traffic to your site BEFORE you worry about making money.
Remember: Put your audience first and the money will follow.
-
Ensure You have at least two ways to monetize your niche sites
Once it is time to focus on income generation put at least two ways to monetize on your site.
Affiliate marketing and PPC (pay per click) are my to preferred methods.
I tend to use Clickbank or JVzoo for affiliate programs , and adsense for PPC, although there are a ton of networks out there to choose from.
-
Don’t not Create and Forget your niche websites
To keep your site ranked and of value to your visitors, it needs to be kept updated regularly, at least once a month but it depends on your niche and on how much time and money you have available.
Keep an eye on your numbers, how much traffic, what’s bringing in the dollars. If something doesn’t work, change it and test, test, test.
Simply put internet marketing is a numbers game.
-
If and when your niche website makes you money – Reinvest!
When you finally make some coin, woo hoo!
Time to retire?
Hardly!
Sorry to burst your bubble.
If and when you start to earn money from your niche website – you should invest at least half of that money back into your niche site. This is business 101.
You can order some more articles, pay for traffic generation or even upgrade the look of your site by buying a professional theme.
Reinvesting also helps to give your site some real credibilty should you ever decide to sell it on
A note on that: keep all financial records separate from your other sites and businesses if you have any thought about selling in the future. It keeps the balance sheet looking professional – which translates into higher price point to sell at.
Also if your site isn’t making money for you (or it’s too little to pay all the bills), you should seriously consider selling your website.
Don’t rush in straight away if it hasn’t started earning immediately and sell it! Maybe wait at least half a year, to see if it’s make money for you.
But if it’s not, then sell it!
Stay curious
Related articles
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Great stuff sir. I have also been hearing a lot about niche marketing being dead. I agree with you completely. Niche Marketing isnt dead! The rules have just changed.
For example: Now you are being penalized for having a domain name that is directly related to your niche or product/service you are selling e.g. bakersinreview.com or makemoneyonline.com.
Google now just want websites to develop a brand image but like you said it is still very much alive and niche marketing always will be.
Yep the rules have altered mate, that just creates more opportunity
One trick is to use http://www.YOURDOMAIN.COM/Keyword. It is still in the url but not EMD.
But overall you’re right, create a brand and provide valuable content.
Hi Scott
Very indepth article! Enjoyed it very much….
My thinking around niche selection or niche marketing is that you can actually make MORE money in LESS time than with any of the larger markets because there’s less competition, making it easier to penetrate markets and target your customer base.
Helena you are on the money with that, it is my thinking as well!
It is easier to build a group of micro niche markets within a larger niche and dominate the niche that way rather than a full on frontal assault.
Work from the inside-out as it were.
I find this information so helpful. I appreciate a blog filled with content that is useful. Thanks so much. Will implement techniques.
Thanks Philecia, your site is definately niche and look where it ranks
As always it comes down to providing value for your audience.
Thanks for stopping by.