You might have some idea of which niche you want to focus on if you have built up websites in that niche already. If you have no idea of what you should choose, don’t worry! Finding a niche is not that difficult if you follow the right guidelines.

The first thing you need to make sure of is that it is a hungry, or passionate market. This works well if people have some kind of problem they are desperate to stall. This is where people are passionate about their hobbies can work very well also.

It’s a good idea to make sure people are already spending money in the niche you have selected. You can check to see if there are physical products, or digital products being sold regularly to this group of people. This can be a sign that money can be made here. Advertisements on TV or in magazines is another place to check. Where there are ads, there is money being made!

Basically, you need to make sure you have something to offer a group of people. You also want to make sure the customer base will be large enough to make your efforts worth your while.

If you cannot think of a niche, you just need to brainstorm and work your way from there. You can go to Amazon.com, magazines.com, 43things.com, Yahoo Answers, and many other sites to get some good ideas. Write down anything that comes to mind or stands out to you as a potentially profitable niche to build a list in. Then, you can narrow your choices until you have some good options. Your final decision can be made after some further research.

Most Internet marketers do not limit themselves to just one niche. When you have developed profitable relationships with customers of one niche, add another to your business. This will lessen your dependence on a certain group of people for your income. To make sure your business always stays viable, spread out your assets in this way.

Remember — never take the decision of which niche to choose lightly. Choosing the wrong one could mean you hardly make any money at all, and choosing the right niche could mean you make some life-changing income!

As you take a sip of your early morning double espresso you feel a rush of cool air and catch a movement from the corner of your eye. As if from nowhere there is now an impeccably dressed stranger sitting in the chair opposite. Surprised, you sure are; you didn’t hear anyone knock and before you have time to say anything something he begins in a calm and reassuring voice.

‘Here is the deal’

‘In every city of the world I am going to advertise your product on billboards at the busiest junctions.’

‘I will be able to tell you how many people see the advertisement, their age, nationality and gender.’

‘I will tell you exactly what they think of your product and can even give you their contact details. While they are looking at the billboard I will allow them to view your website and even make a purchase if they feel the urge.’

‘I will have all this all set up in just a couple of days and it will cost you less than what you would normally pay for a small advertisement in your typical trade journal.’

He stops for just a second. ‘Interested?’

Now you might think that such an offer was too good to be true, you might think that you are going to wake up soon or maybe that it really is time to get a lock on that office door.

But let’s just take time to reflect. If you are still reading this I am that man who has come from nowhere and offered you a deal.

The advertising site is on the Internet and the billboard I’m offering is the humble online survey.

Stop for one moment and start to associate an online survey not with ‘market research’ but with ‘marketing’. And not any type of marketing this is ‘Marketing’ with a very large capital ‘M’ and in flashing neon lights. Marketing that is direct, low cost, quick, and effective.

You can advertise a published online survey on a website, or via email and like a billboard by the side of a transport hub, your message will appear in front of people. The number of people that see a billboard can only be estimated where as the number of people that start a survey is a verifiable number.

Online surveys can ask demographic questions such as age, gender and nationality and in doing so allows you to collate metrics about the effectiveness of your promotion and confirm that you are interacting with the target respondent on a one-on-one level.

Unlike billboards where the message is often subliminal, or maybe just trying to achieve brand awareness, with online surveys you have the opportunity to connect with the public to find out what they really think about your product, how it relates to them, how it is perceived.

Using an online survey website it takes only minutes and hours to create a survey and using the power of the Internet an online survey can reach hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis.

Even if you offer a prize as an incentive for people to complete the survey or use Pay Per Click advertising to capture a wider, or more focused audience you will still have low cost but effective marketing.

‘So tell me. Is it a deal?’