| p>To find product ideas to market one can start | | | | about what kinds of concerns those headlines |
| by researching a wide variety of specialty and | | | | address. Ask yourself, "If a guy is attracted to |
| niche magazines. If your local library doesn't have | | | | that headline, what's worrying him?" |
| a big selection, make a trip to a large bookstore | | | | 3. Now spend some time reading a few "typical" |
| or news shop. The following niches usually yield | | | | articles on your chosen topic. |
| excellent product ideas: | | | | This will give you a flavor for the kind of writing |
| COLLECTIBLES. Stamps, coins, salt shakers, | | | | style you'll use on your web site. |
| jewelry, etc. | | | | 4. Study the display ads. |
| HISTORY AND MEMORABILIA. Civil War, | | | | Advertisers spend billions of dollars every year to |
| Victoriana, etc. | | | | sell in magazines. They wouldn't be shelling out |
| MUSIC. Rock, classical, jazz, folks, country, hot | | | | that much loot if they weren't making sales. |
| stars, etc. | | | | In our men's health example, focus on the ads for |
| HOW TO & HOBBIES. Car & | | | | power bars, toiletries, beef jerky, prescription |
| motorcycle repair, carpentry, astronomy, etc. | | | | drugs, and most importantly, over the counter |
| HEALTH AND FITNESS. Body building, athletics. | | | | meds. When you see an advertisement for |
| SPORTS. Little known and extreme sports make | | | | Tylenol, pay attention to how they sell it. If "fast |
| great niches. | | | | pain relief" seems to be the focal point, you now |
| ANIMALS. From dogs and cats, to exotic pets like | | | | know that ads that promise speedy results |
| parrots and lizards. | | | | probably appeal to men. Note down these "buzz |
| ARTS & CRAFTS. Model airplanes, ceramics, | | | | words." |
| watercolor painting, etc. | | | | 5. Go to the back of each magazine and look at |
| OUTDOORS. Hiking, backpacking, camping, etc. | | | | the classifieds. |
| MONEY. Investing, saving, bargain hunting. | | | | Copy down any classified that grab your attention. |
| COOKING. Regional, gourmet, desserts, wines, | | | | You'll notice most are short, and prompt the |
| beers, spirits. | | | | reader to call for more information, visit a web |
| KIDS & PARENTING. From infants to | | | | site, or send a SASE (self-addressed stamped |
| teenagers. | | | | envelope) to a particular address. |
| HOME & GARDEN. Gardening, home | | | | Most classified in magazines are basically lead |
| improvement. | | | | capture mechanisms. So you can be sure that if |
| MEN & WOMEN. | | | | the advertiser keeps running those ads, they are |
| FASHION. High fashion, large sizes, etc. | | | | converting a lot of those leads into sales. What |
| 1. Choose a niche that interests you and do some | | | | ads seem to appear over and over? What |
| research. | | | | products are they promoting? |
| After choosing a niche grab a half dozen | | | | 6. Use these notes when looking for affiliate |
| magazines, buy a cappuccino, pull out a notebook, | | | | products to promote. |
| and start copying down all the advertising and | | | | Keep referring to those headlines and ads. They'll |
| article headlines in those magazines. If your niche | | | | help you choose products that are likely to sell |
| is very small or very large, broaden your | | | | well, as well as writer strong copy for your web |
| research. | | | | site. |
| For example, let's say you've chosen men's health. | | | | And don't throw that notebook away! It's a |
| Don't just look in the obvious magazines on that | | | | valuable piece of market research that you can |
| topic. Also look at hunting magazines, bodybuilding | | | | use to build several interconnected mini-sites - all |
| magazines, gun magazines, fashion & trends | | | | for the mere price of a few coffees and several |
| magazines (like GQ), Sports Illustrated, and some | | | | hours in a pleasant bookstore. |
| recreational magazines (skiing, surfing, hiking, etc.). | | | | Magazines are a rich source for finding marketable |
| 2. Compile a list of at least a hundred different | | | | products and gaining insight as to the buzzwords |
| headlines. | | | | and marketing techniques. Advertisers in |
| This list will yield 80% of the market research | | | | magazines have spent millions of dollars conducting |
| you need to choose hot health products for men. | | | | research and finding ways to reach their target |
| You'll know the buzzwords, the hot topics, and | | | | audience. You can increase profits by paying |
| the current trends. | | | | attention to products in niche magazines and the |
| The other 20% of your research will be thinking | | | | methods used to sell them. |