What About Your Locality Being a Niche?
It is my observation that the area of thinking locally while having an online business is still one of the most underserved and creatively thought through Internet niches out there. I've mentioned it here before, but about 50% of local businesses still do not have a Web site. Think of the way you could target a locality that you live in and know the general rhythym of and how the people think.
But I'm not only talking about brick-and-mortar stores slapping up a Web site and thinking they're in business. Nor just thinking about brick-and-mortar primarily at all ... that's another issue.
A pure-play Internet business connected to various niche groups within the community have barely been tapped at all by online marketers. Now we've got to keep in mind that some of the same reasons why a offline store doesn't serve a local market could still be the same reason an online one couldn't; the lack of enough people in a niche to make the business viable.
But there are tons of areas that would still be of tremendous interest to local people. What about history, news, sports, media events ... it's just endless.
I'll give you an interesting example from where I live now that has historical interest. George Armstrong Custer was stationed in this area for several years before he was transferred out west. Think of the numerous things that I could develop that not only would be of local interest, but would definitely go beyond the locality.
But if I had an interest, I could dig up all the records and develop a history and even contact people locally that might have an interest in promoting something about it, etc. You start with anything like that, and you can go into area after area locally that you could get into and make into an online business.
Thinking locally for a niche can reap a ton of rewards for the online market. It can make you even more of an expert in the eyes of the people around you and even open up other doors. Don't neglect this vital opportunity.
Other Niche Marketing Resources:
Niche Marketing Considerations: Beef as a Case Example
Niche Marketing: Targeting the Best Prospects
The Two Faces of Niche Marketing
Niche Marketing - How to Find Your Perfect Niche Market
» Lessons Learned from the Slowing Growth of Social Networking Web Sites from TheAlphaMarketer
What's happening with the social networking space, as advertising numbers are projected to fall short of expectations for 2008, and overall growth starting to plateau; especially with market leaders MySpace (NYSE:NWS-A) and Facebook?The answer is t... [Read More]
Tracked on: June 14, 2008 10:26 PM | Permalink to Trackback