Everybody has an idea for a product, a service or a “how-to” manual of some kind.  Many people spend half their lives perfecting a product, learning how to perform a special service and creating a website – only to end up penniless and heartbroken because “no one visits the site” to buy whatever it is they’re trying to sell.

In most cases, it’s a matter of whether you want to “go down in history” as just another entrepreneur, hard-worker, author or you want to “get quality visitors to your site and enjoy the re wards of them buying”

Do some basic common sense product analysis and market research before you begin creating, learning or putting together something you want other people to buy.  The same kind of “research” will save you time, frustration, and money, if you apply the same principles to every “selling opportunity” that arouses your interest.

Make up a check list of questions that must be answered before you embark upon any project or get too deeply involved in any selling situation.  Such a check list should answer the following questions:

l. Who will I sell it to?

2. Do these people really want, and need it?

3. How large is the market?

4. How will I reach these people & get them to buy?

5. Is anyone else selling a similar product, service or book?

6. What makes my product & strategies different?

7. Can I supply the product at a price the customer will pay, and still make a profit for myself?

8. How much time, effort & money will I have to invest in order to reach my profit goals?

9. Do I really have the resources, and the stamina to carry this idea through to success?

Once you’ve answered these questions – completed this bit of basic product analysis and market research – then you can start planning exactly how you intend to sell it, and map out your advertising strategy from there.  You’ll find success in any selling effort, much easier, and much more profitable, if you honestly and objectively answer these “check list” questions before you begin.

It’s absolutely imperative that you analyze the product, and profile your prospective customer – the salability of your product, and the demand for such a product by the people you want to buy.

When people neglect to analyze the product, and answer the basic market research questions, they’re almost certainly doomed to failure.  These are precisely the reasons for failure amongst people who attempt to start an internet business.

Remember, your first task is to determine who your most likely customers are, and then design your advertising campaign to reach those specific people.  Generally, you wouldn’t try to sell garden tools with an ad in a car care magazine; or socket wrenches with an ad in a magazine for brides-to-be.

The bottom line is in knowing your type of customer – presenting your product or opportunity in a style that appeals especially to that type of customer – and then placing your ad in places reaching your kind of customer.

1). I don’t have a service or product I would like to sell.

With a website:

• Potential customers can obtain information about your product within minutes
• Provide a map and directions, showing people how to get to your physical store.
• Allow your customers to order from the convenience of their home

2). I don’t want to let too many people know about my business and/or organization.

With a website:

• Reach more people than by handling out your business card.
• Serves as an online brochure – one can update immediately.
• Add your website visitors to your mailing list or newsletter.

3). I don’t have customers who have questions or need my support.

With a website:

• Your information is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• You provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
• Your phone, fax number and address can be listed so customers can contact you.

4). I don’t want feedback from my customers.

With a website:

• Use a feedback form to make it easy for your customers to give you their input.
• Conduct online product surveys.
• Conduct customer service surveys to find out how you can improve.

5). I don’t want to expand my business, domestically or internationally.

With a website:

• Utilize personalized e-mail and save $$$ on your phone/fax bill.
• You don’t have to worry about being in a different time zone.
• You can offer your information in multiple languages.

6). I don’t need to share information with other locations, salespeople on the road, etc.

With a website:

• Create a password protected page so important information can be downloaded.
• Transfer document via website is cheaper and faster than by UPS, FedEx, etc.
• Unlike a fax, your documents arrive in color!

 If you find that the above applies to you, then creating a website is not for you at this time. However, if you see how “With a Website” your sales, visibility and overall customer experience will benefit by having a Web presence, then you should make creating a website a priority. 

For more information on Creating a Website and to see what Pittman Unlimited can do for your business, please visit our website.

Be sure to leave your comments, below!

Registering a Domain Name and Launching your Website

Register a domain name by picking something with your theme in the name. For example; if your Theme (Niche) is “dog biting”, then your domain name could be dogbiting.com. Unfortunally that name is already taken! Still no ideas!

Try using a Suggestion Tool. Enter your Niche and pick one of the suggestions, that the tool will provide.

Try to use a domain with a “.com” ending; it is the most common, and the one people use when guessing your website.You should also note, that each domain name, whether new or a transfer will come with Free Ad supported hosting.

Once you have your website created, you will now need to upload the files to your hosting package web using an File Transfer Protocol (FTP) software. If you don’t have an FTP software, go to FreeFTP and download the software for free.

Submit Your New or Existing Website to Google

Submit your website to Google for free at Google.com/addurl.

It may take sometime for your website to show up in the google search results. Until then, be sure to share your work directly with friends and family. You have your own online business.

Now that you are up and running, it doesn’t stop here. Keep updating and promoting your website every chance you get.

Get your Website Started Online!

Be sure to visit PittmanUnlimited.com often for more Tips on Creating and Marketing a website.

Try to limit the number of products or services that you’re offering to your customers.  “Information overload” is one of the biggest problems on the Internet.  If you give your customers too many choices they’ll have a hard time making a decision.  The key to avoiding information overload is organization as well as making sure that products and services are directed towards your customers.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that online marketing stop when you generate a sale. Your current customers are the ideal way for you to reach new customers.  You want to get leads from your customers by using marketing concepts such as “tell a friend” e-mails.

One mistake that many small online businesses make is to focus only on self-promotion.  The bottom line is that customers don’t care about you.  They only care about what it is that you’re selling and what you can do for them.  When someone visits your website you have about ten seconds to get their attention before they move on to the next website.  That means that you have ten seconds to tell this person why it is that they need you.  The home page of your website should tell people why your service or product is just right for them.  Your home page should include information about your company and/or have a personal bio about who you are.

If you’re not sure about whether your website is reaching the right people, ask them.  If you provide something of value to people who visit your website they’ll give you information.  Things of value include contests, coupons, and free products.  Make sure that you let them know they can trust you by including a privacy policy on your website that states you won’t share any personal information they provide with anyone else.  Stick to your policy and never sell the information your customers provide you with.  Otherwise you’ll lose and abuse their trust.

Once you know the demographics of your customers you’ll know how to spend your marketing budget.  You can focus your online promotions using targeted marketing strategy.  Even though you may end up with fewer people visiting your website, targeted online marketing is the way to go.

General Market  –> Niche Market
Weddings –> Engagement Rings
Pets –> Dog Biting
Health –> Low Carb Diet
Food –> Vegan                                                           

I think you get the idea. People usually search the Internet for specific things. If the content on your website is general in nature, then you will not be able to appeal to your visitors strong enough to get them to take action. 

Remember, people are self-centered and want to find solutions to their problems or interest. The closer your website is to your visitor’s interests or problems, the more involved they will be with your content.

Benefits of Building a Niche Website

1. Visitors are more likely to buy from you because you have a stronger appeal to them.
2. You can charge a higher price because you’ll be offering a specialized or service.
3. You have less competition to deal with.

 Consider these 4 Steps to Find a Profitable Niche Market on the Internet:

Step 1 — Grab a piece of paper. Write a list of your interests and hobbies – at least five items (things that get you excited).

Step 2 — Write down a list of key phrases/keywords associated with those areas of interest to you.

Step 3 — Go to Google Keyword Tool and individually enter in all your keywords and phrases. This tells you how many searches were done on your keyword/phrase on the Google search engine in the previous month.

 Step 4 — Notice the “Advertiser Competition” bar for your keyword/phrase. You will want it to show pretty heavy Advertiser Competition. Because this means that there’s money in the market.

 Basically, Google Adwords at this point is validating the fact that there is a market. If you don’t see any ads, you might want to think twice about your Niche Market.

Recently we introduced a website marketing system that does this similar type of research. Visit www.pittmanunlimited.com to learn more.

What is a Niche?

A niche or niche market is a segment within your target audience where you will spend the most time marketing your product or service.  Why?  Because this niche is going to help differentiate you from the competition.  And it is going to save you money.

Let’s face the facts and realize that you are not the only person who is offering a product or service like yours.  In fact, in most cases, there are probably 3 to 5 other businesses doing exactly what you are doing.  If you are marketing online, there could be thousands.  Your customers are being swarmed with marketing messages every day.  They are confused by whom they should do business with, and choosing a niche will help you break through that confusion.

A niche is about positioning.

A niche will help you position yourself within the target audience you have chosen and will allow you to compete more effectively for their business.

Let’s look at a real life example.

In the fast-food industry, there are a couple of major players who are aiming at the “sandwich eater” target audience.  The big two in my area are Subway, and Quiznos.

These companies have chosen that audience to allow them to compete in the fast-food market without having to go up against companies like Taco Bell, McDonalds and Pizza Hut. 

Now in the Sandwich Eater’s target audience, each of them has chosen a particular niche to target.

Subway’s niche is people looking for low fat sandwiches.

Quizno’s niche are people who like hot toasted bread.

Both of them are aiming at the same target audience but each of them has chosen a different niche to concentrate on.  This allows each to compete effectively against the other.  Subway owned the sandwich market for a very long time, but Quizno’s found a way to get into the business without competing directly with the leader.

Now, let’s say you opened a new sandwich shop – Small Town Hero.  It isn’t doing very well.  Why?  I cannot figure out why I would buy my sandwiches from instead of from the other guys.  They have chosen a target audience, sandwich eaters, but instead of marketing to a niche, they are marketing to everyone.

Needless to say, your sandwich shop want stay open very long. Not choosing a niche and marketing specifically to it, will kill your ability to compete.

Other niche examples:

Federal Express’ Target Audience is businesses who need package delivery.  Their Niche is Overnight Delivery.

Southwest Airlines’ Target Audience is people who fly.  Their niche is the low budget flyer.

Each of these companies competes in a segment of the marketplace that has a lot of competition, but focuses most of its marketing efforts on a portion.

In your niche, you are the expert.

Your niche is the specific area in your target audience where you will position yourself as the expert.  Choosing a niche allows you to focus on a specific piece of the target audience and make it your own.  And this is the best way to compete against your competition.

Small businesses have a definite advantage in niche marketing.  Small business can survive; in fact thrive, in niches too small for big business to take seriously.  HP would never think of building computers aimed specifically at females who are microbiologists, but you could and be successful.  That is, if there were enough female microbiologists who needed computers in your area!

Choosing a niche stretches your marketing budget.

Positioning yourself or choosing the correct niche is also a great way to reduce your marketing costs.  Jackie the Accountant decided to target restaurants as her niche, rather than focus on all businesses. This allows her to send fewer postcards to a more targeted audience and position herself as an expert in restaurant accounting.

Instead of marketing to the world, Jackie will market only to people who need her service (her target audience) and to better compete against other accountants, she will focus on the restaurant niche. 

A niche also allows you to test new marketing tools before you roll them out to your entire target audience.  If they are successful with a niche, then with minor modification they may also be successful for the entire target audience.

Things to do when choosing a niche:

* Determine the profitability of the niche.  Many niches within your target audience may be too well defined to provide a decent return on your marketing investment.  Just because no one is marketing to that niche, doesn’t mean that it is a worthwhile target.

* Test your product for acceptance within that niche.  The niche may exist, but does your product or service meet their needs or is there even a desire for the product?

* Market to their hot buttons.  Don’t just assume that you can find a niche and do the same old marketing.  Spend the time to determine the best way market to them.  Like choosing your target audience, defining a niche in that audience allows you to target and personalize your marketing efforts.