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5 Free Powerful Ways to Conduct Online Consumer Market Research to Find a Profitable Niche that has nothing to do with Keyword Research

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Hey there,

And welcome to another powerful and insightful edition of The Keyword Informer where we’ll be taking a look at how to really pull up your sleeves and conduct real online consumer market research the right way.

What I am going to reveal may be quite shocking to you given that I run the leading keyword research tool on the internet.

It was just a few months ago when I broke my silence in an interview with the 60 Million Dollar Man and divulged the ways to uncover a profitable and thriving marketplace and revealed an insider tool to detect depth in a marketplace that most do not even know about.

Sadly, most webmasters, newbies and online business owners approach market research (or how to find a niche) the wrong way. Today, I intend to publicly correct that situation. ;)

See, I receive questions all the time from our paid subscribers and newsletter subscribers asking. . .

“How do I determine if I have found a viable marketplace or know that a niche is profitable? What number should there be in the search count?” and so on.

As one of the most sought after global experts on keyword research, most people anticipate that I point them directly to a keyword tool and shoot off some count figure that is like some magical number to someone finding riches. It’s just not that way.

In fact, my answer is quite the opposite. I’ll say something like…

“No — don’t look at any search count. In fact, don’t even look to any single keyword database, tool or source to look for a profitable market. Keyword research is what you do AFTER you have confirmed that you have found a thriving marketplace through a few certain criteria that tells you sales are strong, the commerce being moved shows some stability and, yes, there may be a little stiff competition which is actually a good indication. Why get involved in a potentially shaky marketplace where not much action is happening, right?”

Now here’s the why…

Why Keyword Research Utterly Fails at Market Research

As my trusted friend and colleague, Jay Stockwell of KeywordWorkshop.com had this to say in his article entitled “Keyword Data Is Almost Always Wrong“:

You know what really frustrates me? People who talk about keyword research as if it’s an exact science. Let me give anyone who needs it a “heads up”. Keyword research is not an exact science and shouldn’t be discussed like it is. It’s more of a black art based on skewed and inaccurate datasets. As a result it’s very easy to screw up.

In fact, Jay conducted a search (as an example) of the leading keyword data companies for the phrase “fly fishing” and each of them had different opinions of which keyword phrases were the most popular. He went onto say:

Let me break it down for you. If one tool says that there are 1246 searches a month for a particular keyword, that doesn’t mean you can say that during the past month the entire World Wide Web had 1246 searches.

What this figure means is that in this particular chunk or sample of data, that keyword was found 1246 times. The only time we could ever be sure that there were 1246 would be if the sample was every single search engine on the Internet and included 100% of their search volume. No tool does this – not even close.

In fact, when you look at Comscore.com’s “December U.S. Search Engine Rankings” — it’s very clear to see where MOST of the keyword data lies. It lies with the big five search engines like Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft Sites, Time Warner (AOL) and the Ask Network (and no one currently has that data).

The current keyword databases available to the general public maybe account for 2% of the internet’s total keyword data collected. This is exactly why most services have their regular count number and then another Predicted Daily Count that predicts using a formula how many searches may occur across all search engines for a given keyword phrase. There is no way that a mere sliver or sample of data can predict what is happening on Google, MSN or Yahoo! That is why it is merely called a prediction and should be taken as such.

Furthermore, any keyword database that proclaims to know what the market share is for a given keyword phrase on Google, Yahoo! or MSN is simply giving another prediction and is as good as staring into a crystal ball. There is no way to know any sort of market share for a given keyword unless Google Yahoo or MSN either hand over their ENTIRE set of data or start their own keyword service — and I can guarantee you that won’t be happening any time soon.

This is absolutely why I cannot (in my right mind) recommend to someone that a certain search count in some keyword database would be an adequate measure to find a profitable niche or marketplace. That’s just downright absurd.

I have seen and heard in late 2007 some of these self-proclaimed gurus dispensing information about using the dying Overture keyword suggestion tool to do market research by finding at least 10,000 searches a month for a certain topic. Outlandish! Don’t worry — I’ll have my rant about that one soon enough!

Every keyword database will have a different search count number as to the popularity of a given keyword phrase. So which keyword database is right? They are all right! Each keyword database is accurate as to how many times a given keyword phrase appears in that given dataset. But it has NO relation as to what is going on with the rest of world when 98%-99% of the data is held by the Big Five search engines.

This is exactly why there has been a sudden shift in keyword research professionals relying on Google’s keyword engine that gives hints as to the relative popularity of keyword phrases on a scale of 1 to 5. Although Google does not divulge the search counts for a given keyword phrase, it is easier to trust a source of data that covers 58.4% of searches when it comes to search volume than a source of data that maybe covers 1% of the what the rest of the world is searching. Wouldn’t you agree?

Comscore December 2007 U.S. Search Engine Results

So that pretty much establishes why keyword research has no place in market research and falls flat on its face when finding a marketplace to create a thriving online business.

Simply put, keyword research shows you what people are searching for, not what people are buying.

Sure, you can use keyword research to find profitable keywords to create websites that monetize strictly on Google Adsense, but I do not see that as a sustainable business model that will allow you to prosper for years to come.

That begs us to move on and uncover exactly what factors should be used when conducting market research and looking for a profitable marketplace.

Does a Given Marketplace Have a Published Magazine?

Have you ever walked into one of those magazine stands that has just about every single magazine on every topic you can imagine?

I mean — you walk into the place and it’s just aisles and aisles of magazines.

This is one of the greatest places to do market research. Here’s why.

If a publisher has the money to print up a full color magazine, there’s probably a good chance that there are advertisers that are advertising products, services and information for sale. And if the magazine has been around for a while (each magazine will disclose this information), then there’s a good chance that it’s a thriving marketplace because the magazine would not be continually printed up unless there were advertisers to support it.

A good online source to look for all different types of magazines in different market places would be Magazines.com.

You can easily locate thriving marketplaces. Look at how many golf magazines there are at the magazine. We already know that’s a thriving arena.

The really smart marketers know that the Standard Rate and Data Service (or SRDS) has a searchable database that allows you to uncover how many subscribers a given newsletter, magazine or mailing list has. Do you think that would be useful information when sizing up a marketplace? You betcha!

In fact, during one of my interviews with Michael Campbell, I divulged to him a competitor of SRDS that allows you to search for FREE through a database 60,000 different mailing lists…

Search 55,000 mailing lists

Now that’s what I call getting to the bottom of some real market research. ;)

And paid NicheBOT subscribers get access to the full 2.5 hour interview I did with Michael Campbell that divulges that hidden gem.

Speaking of Michael Campbell, during seasonal times, he likes to go into large retailers and see what the aisle cappers (those products at the end of each aisle) and see what products the retailers are displaying or pushing. This is usually a good indication that the retailer already knows what will sell or is being hotly promoted. Michael advocates taking a notepad with you to the store so that you can record your findings.

What are the Hottest Selling Products on the Planet’s Biggest Marketplace?

Instead of using some database to find out what people are searching for on the world’s largest marketplace known as eBay, why not find out the most popular products people are actually buying?! Now there’s an idea…

In fact, it’s free and it requires absolutely no subscription.

Simply click on the “Buy” button on the home page here:

eBay Buy Button

Then scroll down to the bottom of the screen on the next page and see where it says “Popular Products” …

eBay Popular Products

You can click the “Popular Products” link and instantly find the hottest products that people are buying right now on the worlds largest and most trafficed marketplace. These are items that are either purchased through “Buy it Now” transactions, eBay stores and through auctions that have closed and sales that have consummated. In fact, just take a look and half of your keyword research has already been done for you in advance. :D You’ll have model numbers and exact name brands right at your fingertips.

If that is not the most fantastic and instantly gratifying market research that presents itself right to you, I don’t know what is. ;)

Search One of the Biggest Online Retailers

Another great marketplace to comb through and look at are the most popular products being sold is Amazon.com.

Wanna find out the most popular brand of running shoe to represent or whatever you can imagine?

Check Amazon.com and you’ve literally got instant market research at your fingertips.

In fact, there are number of online retailers that will show you exactly what their “Most Popular Products” are. The only thing you have to do is figure out what you want to sell, put up the website and then do your keyword research based upon your market research.

You can find these online retailers that literally hand over their market research through the “Most Popular Products” section in the fashion industry, electronics, sports and recreation, and more.

The only hard part is choosing what products in what marketplace you wish to represent or sell directly through your own website.

Are You Wanting to Sell Digital Products Instead?

Okay — so perhaps you don’t want to move any physical items through your own website or promote physical products through affiliate programs, but you’d rather sell digital products instead.

So you’ll need an effective way to conduct market research to find out what is selling on a digital marketplace.

The best place to look as a resource and find exactly what is the most popular selling items that digital publishers are moving is none other than the Clickbank marketplace.

Clickbank Marketplace

What’s really nice is that you can easily browse through categories and find out in real time what the highest selling products are moving in this fast paced digital marketplace.

Whenever you click into a category — you instantly see which product is on top and that is the TOP SELLER.

For NicheBOT subscribers, we even have a copy of the Clickbank marketplace right here on NicheBOT for you to search through in easy fashion without ever leaving the site:

NicheBOT Clickbank Marketplace

There’s no guessing whether a product is a top seller or not. You’ll know from the getgo.

Once you find your marketplace, you can then do the keyword research to find keywords to position your website in the marketplace.

There’s definitely a formula here.

1. Find a profitable marketplace first that shows promise of commerce being moved and a hungry audience (a good indication of a hungry audience is finding a magazine that serves the marketplace)

2. Only after doing your market research, then do the keyword research to build out the website and acquire inbound links using the most popular keyword phrases. And when it comes to looking for the most accurate keyword popularity, you’ll want to look to the source with the largest database and marketshare on the planet — Google’s keyword engine.

A Quick Word About Competition

A lot of webmasters/online business owners feel hampered or discouraged that there is a lot of competition in a particular market.

There is NO reason to feel that way. In fact, you should get excited when there is a lot of competition. Here’s why…

If there is no competition whatsoever in a marketplace, there may be no marketplace (or people to market to) at all. You should actually be worried if you don’t find any competitors for a market you wish to enter.

The more competition there is in a marketplace, the more commerce is being moved. The more commerce that is being moved, you’ll have a chance at grabbing a bigger piece of the pie.

One of the best examples of that is David DeAngelis of DoubleYourDating.com.

As you and I know it – the dating market is huge and very very competitive. Yet, in the last couple of years, David has been able to grow his business into a blossoming $20 million dollar a year company. And that’s with all the popular dating services advertising on television of how they can pair you up with the right person.

So I hope that makes it quite clear that you want to make sure there is ample competition in a marketplace which is a true indicator that there are enough customers with cash in hand worth fighting for.

One of the best ways to find out if there are competitors in a niche market is to access the Google Adwords information as to the number of advertisers for a number of the top keyword phrases for your intended marketplace. You can easily do this inside your NicheBOT X account.

Lastly, the more thorough you are in conducting your market research, the more solid your potential is going to be at long term success.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this edition of The Keyword Informer down below… thank you!

Best of success,

Jim Morris, Founder

NicheBOT.com — Finds exactly what people search for

Posted by The NicheBOT Guy on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 12:25 pm 
Filed under keyword research, market research · Tagged with

  • B2B Market Research
    Jim,

    You offered some really great ideas, and resources here for consumer market research. Can you recommend some similar resources for business market research? Clickbank loks useful, but ebay and amazon wont help as much with b2b stuff
  • I have to say it is not only evergreen, it is priceless. Best information (and most complete) I have come across in 6 months of daily digging. (Of course, that may just prove my total ignorance and mental density.) I have been involved with several membership sites and always felt' something' was missing, outdated, biased, or lacking. Sure am glad I found my way here.
  • Rabola,

    We are well aware of Google's tool and the fact that it gives numbers and counts.

    You should read this report about Google's numbers and exactly how accurate they truly are:

    http://www.nichebot.com/blog/160/google-assessment/

    And once again, may I remind you that the Google keyword tool is Google's tool for their advertisers and therefore the data is leaning more towards higher traffic figures especially since Google will estimate in their partner's traffic as well.

    NicheBOT's own tool draws from Google's database and while great, it doesn't return EVERY keyword on the planet because those smaller in demand keywords are not going to show up on the charts because why? Because Google's tool is more interested in showing those keywords that meet a minimum number of searches that an advertiser would be interested.

    I will agree that knowing demand numbers are great, however inaccurate they are, but counting on these numbers is what is called KEYWORD RESEARCH.

    This article is about market research and there is NO better place to do market research than on the actual sales sites that give you the data as noted up above.

    And I can assure you that there is NOBODY asleep here as there is NO WAY that Google Yahoo and MSN would get together and create ONE complete keyword service.

    Just because Google gives us access to their Advertiser Tool only allows us to see what they want Advertisers to see.

    Please show me a keyword tool that is FAVORED to the webmaster that wants to conduct organic keyword research and see the real long tail keywords that are way below the radar of Google's tool because those keywords don't have the minimum demand of traffic for them.

    That's exactly why NicheBOT has multiple keyword database sources and why if you do not fish from one pond, you ARE missing keywords in your marketplace.

    But I digress.

    This article is about Market Research and how to conduct surefire market research that guarantees you'll have an actual market to plunker some profits from.

    Best of success,

    Jim


    And as far as this report being outdated, I beg to differ. It's evergreen! :D
  • Dear sir,

    I think either your report is seriously outdated or you are sound asleep!

    In it you say:
    "There is no way to know any sort of market share for a given keyword unless Google Yahoo or MSN either hand over their ENTIRE set of data or start their own keyword service — and I can guarantee you that won't be happening any time soon."

    Wake up and smell the roses my dear sir, it has already happened!

    May I refer you to the NEW Google Adwords Keyword Tool at the following URL: https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

    Please try to keep with the times!
  • Great content. I learned more reading your article than I have from anything else I've read on the internet and my searches for information. Thank you!
  • martin
    We are always told how to find the hottest best selling products but what if I want to know if the product I am interested to sell will sell well ?
  • martin
    Need some advice here about using magazines.com to gauge the profitability of a market. If a magazine doesn't exist for a particular niche it doesn't really mean that it is not profitable. Take an example, the "Acne" niche market. This is a proven profitable niche. But if you search "acne" in magazines.com, it doesn't return any result. What does this tell you?
  • WoW! Great insight... It`s not the keywords that are used for general searches,it`s the Kewords that are relevant to the Internet Buyer`s!!!

    You want the Keywords that the buyers are using. You don`t want to target the general searcher, you want the "targeted buying consumer".

    This really Narrows the focus in on the Bulls Eye!

    Thanks for the heads up Jim,
    Dwayne
  • Hi Jim,
    Wanted to thank you for the great keyword research tools. With your help we are now ranked number 1 in three keywords with competition of over 15,000,000 sites and number two with a competition of over 100,000,000 yes you see that right. I read this article again because the information is great.

    To your financial success,
    Nancy
  • Mir
    hey

    its an amazing information, but i wonder people would need a quick receipe these days than an everlasting email, no matter if it is as good as this one by Jim and Team.

    nevertheless, every word about the research looks active and true.

    Cheers
    Mir
  • samsogee
    I am still a rookie in internet marketing and finding a perfect niche has pose to be a huge problem. But with Jim;s post, i can smile again. No doubt, this post is SO REVEALING. Thumbs up...
  • Hey Jim,

    That was one of the most complete explanations of keyword research I have read. Thanks for providing such an in-depth look on this subject. I will be awaiting more information from you on this and other subjects you may cover. Keep it up.
  • Thank-you for sharing all this "eye opening" information and resources. It seems like I would be busy the next several days checking them out. LOL.
  • Hi,

    Thanks, great post on market research and keyword research.

    Mike
  • We were happy to see your research on mailing lists reveal our free list search portal. We have an online video now that shows users how to find mailing lists using this tool. It's also on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfVZ7Clfm0s.
  • bet
    I've missed you. Now I understand why Keyword research doesn't work by itself. I will now do Market research. Thanks.
  • I've just reread this after coming in from "Aisle Shifters and Spying on Big Business for Market Research Purposes". Now that I'm quite a few months further down the track of learning my 'new' business, it all makes even more sense than it did the first time I read it.

    My advice to anyone new is to either bookmark all these posts from Jim or do what I do which is to copy them into a Word document then print them out and highlight what is important to you. Each time I go over something Jim's written I highlight it in a different color. It makes it really easy to find what you want and also adds some color to your day - always a good thing. :)
  • Hai..

    Very informative and easy to understand. Before this i did not know much the different between market research and keyword research. Now i know what i need to do. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

    regards,
    arisking
  • Hi, Jim

    I just sign-up with Nichebot, actually today is my second day going over everything, and to my surprise I found this link and article. I know that it was a act of faith that brought me to the page, because the information was truly needed and of good use for me. I was very confused about finding the right keywords and niche market to work with, after this I'm sure were to go and how to find it. I especially like what you said about the Dating sites, and finding a mate, I would never believe anyone would make money with them, you made a believer out of me, after I heard someone made millions!!! What a Info.!!! I live in a big market place NYC, and will be visiting all those huge magazine stores, starting today, to get all those well hidden Niches. Thank you.
  • So much good stuff in the article that I do not know where to start. There were 2 key points. 1) I now understand the importance of market research. I am just 5 websites and thousands of dollars in the hole too late! 2) I understand why search numbers are different. No more spending money on the "tool of the day." You really only need 1 paid tool (Nichebot) and Google as backup.
  • Hi Jim,

    I've been signed up with Nichebot for most of this year, but I don't know where my head has been! I'm just finding all this valuable information and help that you provide. This is great - thanks for all the support(not counting Nichebot keyword search tools)
    Janelle :0)
  • Christopher Rung
    Hi Jim,Thanks for a great read.I have always been told to use keywords first to find your niche market even if you don't have a website yet.I was thinking keyword research and market research were the same thing.You have certainly made it easier to understand thankyou.
  • Great article on market research. So simple I never thought about some of your suggestions. I am going to create a site which gives access to the Most Popular Products on Ebay, Amazon and Clickbank for a given keyword that applies to all three.
  • Jim,

    Thanks for providing such great information not just on keyword research but other topics that has helped me with my online projects.

    I totally agree on your perspective on keyword research.

    Chris
  • Now that explains what i been doing wrong, or at least part of what i am doing wrong. Thanks - that knowledge will help. nice tools
  • Very nice article. Its possible to get lost in the everyday running of a website business. Your article reminded me once again to take a step back sometimes and look at the whole marketplace instead of just sitting in front of the computer all day! Guess I will have to take 1 day a week and spend some time in front of the magazine rack at borders.

    Thanks for the information and a great keyword tool.

    Mark
  • Great information once again! Thanks for the enlightenment on the subject.

    Vitallywell
  • Usana Reset | Weight Managemen
    Hi Jim

    Another great post and I found many nuggets to further my SEO skils.

    Thanks so much for helping each one of us. I have been recommending you to all my contacts and I hope they really see the worth in your advice.

    God Bless, Claude from Usana Health
  • Thanks Jim! This post has been an eye-opener for me. I'm a beginner on niche marketing, but I've always had a hunch that keyword research wasn't the equivalent to marketplace research.

    Even though I somehow was managing to get some clues here and there (I had been using Clickbank, E-bay and Google data as separate entities), your post has set all (or most of) the pieces of the puzzle together.

    Thanks again!
    Anthony
  • James S
    Hi Jim & all-

    Although this article is very eye-opening and I will certainly look at niche research differently from now on, this solution sadly doesn't seem to address the needs of us Adsense farmers.

    I decided years ago that plodding away at AdSense content sites (VREs) without any emphasis on sales or affiliate marketing is the business solution that is right for my lifestyle... Finding the niche market for each of those sites has been one of the very biggest challenges for me.

    I've bought all the tools like Keyword Elite and have subscribed to WT, Wordze, KwDiscovery, and even a few others... And each and every one has clearly failed to represent the real number of searches from Google & the big five search engines.

    After reading this I keep trying to find a way to apply it to a simple Adsense Farming business model, but to little avail.

    Sure, I could use the eBay list and write Adsense sites all day long about products that come up there, (with low competition) but truthfully I don't know anything specific about those products... Hence writing about it is difficult, and they'll convert poorly.

    What I need to figure out is a way to come up with low-competition niches that meet other factors outside of KEI or a mere # of searches now... I just hope it can still be automated with software.

    I don't suppose Jim or anyone else here has thought about the best way to apply Niche search for simple Adsense sites?

    (And for those of you who doubt such a thing is worthwhile, I usually make $200 a day in adsense for just these simple sites, and it keeps growing every day. All shiny-white hat.)

    Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
    James
  • Thanks for an eye-opening article. I guess that gets me to changing the steps I need to follow when searching for information on the net market before I proceed with what I'm doing.
  • Thomas C. Gajdjis
    Hello,

    I like your blog post. I have to say that I put up many pages and sites devoted to popular products on Clickbank. Every one of them got lots of clicks. Yes, the clickthrough was a nice 10 to 25%. After hundreds of clicks to these hot info products, not one sale, not one! Newbies have to be careful when doing this, especially with ClickBank products, the devil is really in the details.

    TomG. - Word from the trenches.
    No website to promote here.. Sig out to lunch.
  • So obvious really... now that you've pointed it out! One of the best things I've ever done is discover NicheBot and Jim Morris.
    Your generosity with information is very heartening to someone who has become very cynical with the IM landscape.
    Thanks Jim
    Wendy
  • Tushar
    Hi Jim,
    This is an awesome article. It opened my eyes. I was trying to do market research using keywords databases. Now I know where to look for market research. Thanks a Ton.

    Tushar
  • Dyskokyd
    OK, Jim. After casually reading so many of your emails, I paid attention to this article and it makes sense. I have some personal goals to generate income through Internet marketing, so you'll be hearing from me.
  • Hi Jim,

    Thanks for giving us such useful and profitable information for free. I can't imagine any of the so-called guru's giving any of this out unless they were making a hefty profit from it. I can't wait to start implementing my newfound knowledge!

    Thanks again,

    Neil Gerstein
    Movies, Music, Games & More
  • Hello Jim,
    Great information on searching for products to promote always looking forward to your next post.
    Thanks again,
    Nick Makaryk
  • What a fantastic post, I am currently moving into niche marketing and found this information very helpful.

    Thanks again, Sally :)
  • Nice article, Jim.

    Your point about cruising retail aisle cappers brings to mind casinos - the tend to put the higher-odds slot machines on the end of the aisle to attract the most attention.

    Particularly with large chain retailers, where very little is left to chance and huge resources are applied towards knowing what sells, simply noting the things that stick out can provide invaluable first-person market research.

    Michael Ullman
    Analogy Marketing
  • Wow! I feel like reading a $97 ebook about how to research a market and dominating niche :D

    Really good information Jim, and definitely useful! Thanks for the article, subscribed and bookmarked!

    Cheers,
    Justin
    http://www.jumpingpet.com
  • Kim
    Thanks, hadn't thought about keyword research this way; how would one know this when being told the results are for the day, or month, etc.

    Isn't David actually Eben Pagen (sp?)...
  • I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere. I admit that you lost me with the beginning discussion, but the main points sank in with your tips. Market research and keyword research are definitely two different things. Now that I have ways to conduct market research, I hope that keyword research will be explained just as well.

    Thanks
  • Hi I have started to look at shopping aisles now and magazine racks to see whats hot. I also tend to look at head lines. I have been using these as titles for my blogs and webpages and am having results. I notcied alot of people here just sign these names instead of using a long tail keyword along with their name. I have been finding good results. Thank Claude from Blogging4TheFuture.com, Brisbane
  • Hi Jim,

    #$%%@& *#&$!!! WHERE WAS THIS ARTICLE 10 YEARS AGO!

    I cannot tell you how hard it is to contain myself and
    language right now, because I've been doing this thing
    backward for almost ten years now.

    I mean come on, take a look around... Everywhere you turn,
    it's all about doing keyword research to find a niche market!
    At least that's what 99.9% of all of the guru's tell us. The
    remaining 00.1% is you, Jim.

    That's the way it is, and has been for many years now, at
    least as long as I've been online, and that's a long freakin'
    time, folks.

    You know, I've come across things here and there about using
    eBay's "Pulse" site and using ClickBank to find a profitable
    market, but with all of this "dis-information" I've had
    crammed into my head for the last 10 years, I just couldn't
    make sense of it all.

    I go to eBay or ClickBank and stare at the products, then go
    and do the keyword research for those products, and it just
    wouldn't add up. I would think to myself, how in the world
    are these people making the big stockpile of cash that they
    are, when it doesn't add up in the keyword research?

    So, I've struggled for years trying one thing or another,
    when this whole time, I should have been in competition with
    all of these other companies, then I would have at least been
    in the traffic mix.

    I'd look at all of the competition and think, crap, there's
    no way I can compete with them, no way!

    Well, watch me go now, I've been sitting on thousands of dollars of custom programmed software that's going to finally make it to market, and it's going to blow some people out of the water. ;)

    Thanks Jim, this article brought a tier to my eye, really, I
    almost started crying when I learned this info. WOW, how
    cool. Thanks man, I appreciate it.

    (Man, I feel like an idiot!)
  • I have been on the internet for some time now and have read a lot of ebooks about keyword research and your information makes more sense thay anything else that I have read.

    Thank you!!!
    Tom Craft
  • Hi Jim ... Readers n Posters ... I like many of Nichebot users just popped back after getting an email reminder *There is a new comment on the post* "5 Free Powerful Ways to Conduct Online Market Research to Find a Profitable Niche that has nothing to do with Keyword Research". nichebot.com/blog/117/market-research/

    I just thought because I do it automatically ... does any one else use the Print Friendly Button at the bottom of Jims Article ... if not you should what a better way to read this page and of course if needed print it out for future reference … just a thought?

    ... Well worth the click back here Great comments and Answers every one ... very knowledgeable...

    All my best to one n all
    Phillip Skinner

    PS … Lot of dead pages in those links on your page (digital cameras with viewfinder @ 3:39 pm:) Can you rectify as I’ve booked marked this URL .. "My interest is Cameras right now" LoL
  • One of the great blog posts. As ever full of great, useable and FREE info. I'll print it out and make good use of this one
  • That eBay idea is the best! I can't believe after all the many visits to their site I never found their Popular Product list...
  • Wow! The information about keyword research here has been one of the most valuable pieces of internet marketing information that I have read in a long time. Even more so than most of the information in most of these so called pricey internet marketing ebooks or courses.

    I too was always hung up on search count, and this almost always slowed be down greatly when trying to determine a profitable market.

    And you are right Mr. Morris. It is kind of funny that you are the founder of Nichebot, yet have provided some anti keyword search information. Thanks for the free, unbiased advice. =D



    Misato Katsuragi
  • Doug
    Thanks, BIG TIME! As a newbie IM'er, I've felt confused about the different search results/competition ratios espoused by this or that guru and by the different (and seemingly contradictory) results returned by various search tools. You're like a coach reminding me to master the fundamentals and stop trying to latch on to a magical formula that just ain't there...
  • I finished writing my own take on the difference between market and product research at http://www.internetmasterycenter.com/blog/2008/02/29/the-difference-between-market-and-keyword-research

    Happy reading!

    best regards,
    Nelson
  • Thanks for the very informative article.I'll
    be using the info right away.
    Wishing you the best,

    Mike
  • Thanks again Jim Excellent WoW Factor Free Information again...
    There’s an old saying when the student is ready the master will appear … certainly true in this case … this information is only of value if the reader takes action and invests money, time, effort in you your products and becomes a DOER!! … Thanks Jim this knowledge will help complete the loop for a lot of wannabe marketers and that folks includes me…

    All My Best To You And Yours
    Phillip Skinner
  • wow, I feel stupid now after I read your post. Really good information and simple. I don't know how I missed it. It changes my whole marketing strategy. thank you
  • Sam,

    I think you are a little puzzled. This kind of market research can uncover BIG niches as well as SMALL niches alike. It depends what you decide to get involved with -- golf or sewing patterns.

    I hope you didn't take it as you had to get involved in really big niches where the big players are. You can easily find other niches that don't compete with sites like Andy Jenkins swords site or things of that nature.

    It all depends how you filter, sift and pick through the information. There are many things being sold on eBay that are smaller type niches that no big players are in. Of course, there needs to be competition or some sign of it or there may be no commerce moving through that market space.

    Hope that was clear.

    Self Esteem -- the Michael Campbell interview comes as part of your paid NicheBOT subscription once you decide to stay beyond the 14 days.

    See you on the inside, ay?

    Thanks again for everyone's comments.

    Best,

    Jim
  • Carolyn
    Brilliantly awesome, busting from the seams with info. I'm totally designing a Web Page Around my own affiliate account. That is when I get this stuff down.
  • To think, all these years I've been doing it bass
    ackwards!

    Thanks for making it easier, and potentially more
    profitable.

    Outstanding article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Sam
    Thanks for the article. I enjoyed reading it but I am a little puzzled here. I hope you will post my comment even if I don't completely agree with you.

    While some of the tools you have mentioned are exceptional for generating ideas (i.e.: ebay popular categories) the risk is getting into a saturated and very competitive area.

    You see when you play against the big boys things aren't that easy.

    The small player is usually better off looking at a small niche market, easier to reach and then (eventually) expand into a bigger, more competitive (and more lucrative) market.

    What I usually do, even before using some of the keywords tools out there is to go and expand the list to get ideas and maybe pick up an angle I had not thought of originally.
  • Where is the Michael Campbell mp3 interview download link?
  • Very informative article! Many so called seo guru's have not even touched on doing your keyword research based on your market research and how you can use ebay for market research. I'll be looking into joining nichebot.com. Nice!
  • Good stuff. I have a number of keyword tools including nichebot, but the missing link has always been what niche do you search the keywords for?

    Put in the way you have described it, it's easy and logical - but when you're trying to do so much as a one man band that magical piece of information was missing.

    Out of the darkness came light - and now I can see the light I'll be following these simple steps.

    Many thanks
  • Sue
    Hi Jim,
    I really enjoyed your post and appreciate the time you take to provide such helpful info.
    I'm new to all this. Keep up the good work, you have a new fan
    Cheers,
    Sue
  • My thought is this: I am overwhelmed at the secrets you’ve just divulged in this article. Should I not admit that I’d been doing keyword research instead of market research? :( Hey could this be a major reason most of my websites are flopped?

    I think so! Reading this now has really, really OPENED MY EYES to new realities, ideas and opportunities I can dig in right now. You know, I’d never see Ebay.com or Clickbank as veritable places to conduct market research. (In fact, I’ve not visited ebay.com for many years now.)

    This unfortunate ignorance account for reason most of us are lagging behind and why it’s been possible for so-called gurus to cheat many of their hard money. Now I am ready to revamp my online business for higher blissful results.

    Thanks again Jim. This article and “Online business and online systems are much like snowboarding! An insider story…” have really made my day. Bye friend. :)
  • First a big thanks to every who gave a good read to the article and expressed your comments -- very much appreciated.

    RRKBhat,

    To answer your question, you quote me and then said:

    QUOTE:

    "And when it comes to looking for the most accurate keyword popularity, you'll want to look to the source with the largest database and marketshare on the planet — Google's keyword engine."

    QUESTION:

    Here when you say, "Google's keyword engine", do you mean Keyword Tool in Google AdWords?

    ANSWER:

    Yes -- I am speaking of the keyword engine in Google AdWords -- and more specifically -- I'm referring to the TWO tools that can be found in NicheBOT:

    1. 1-Click LSI Keywords tool which has a video on the page with the hyperlink; and

    2. Google Keyword Cruncher tool which pulls up to 15,000 keywords per root keyword from 243 countries covering 41 languages.

    In your second question, you quoted me and then asked:

    QUOTE:

    "One of the best ways to find out if there are competitors in a niche market is to access the Google Adwords information as to the number of advertisers for a number of the top keyword phrases for your intended marketplace. You can easily do this inside your NicheBOT X account."

    QUESTION:

    I'm unable to locate this feature inside my NicheBOT X account. Please tell me where this tool is present?

    ANSWER:

    You can see the Get Pay-Per-Click Video by clicking on the hyperlink in this sentence. You first need to acquire keywords from a source or import them and then retrieve the Pay-Per-Click data from NicheBOT's Google Adwords connection as shown in the video.

    Bill,

    I totally agree with you that you can't just take those end cappers as the holy grail and that those are CERTAIN sellers.

    Like anything -- testing must be applied first to any idea in small doses to see if the niche can be marketed online. And that should actually be added to the article to make it thoroughly complete.

    In fact, just recently, in one of NicheBOT's Quick Fix and Q&A Corner Live Call-in Show our Special Guest, Michael Campbell, just discussed how he went after a billion dollar industry with an affiliate site that sold beef jerky and he candidly indicated that the people just didn't buy the stuff online.

    And that's why you must test, test, test.

    When you can convert a profit at about 2.5% as Michael was saying -- you've got a potential winner that you can continue to advertise.

    But you bring up a good point and I will definitely add in the important part of testing before completely committing to a niche market.

    Tomaz,

    You said...

    "Also, in my tests (not opinions!) the Wordtracker tool is pretty accurate with the number of predicted searches above 20."

    After looking at our own logs across multiple properties and multiple top 10 positions, we also have concluded that WordTracker's count in tests (not opinions) to be the most accurate in relation to the actual traffic received.

    Thanks to everyone for their comments.

    Best,

    Jim
  • Wow Jim,
    i have listened to your interview with Derek Gehl numerous times as i am a member of Derek's forum and receive the monthly telecom CD.
    The information provided in this post is priceles to anyone wishing to set up a website to profit from marketing products. I must admit i was not aware of the popular search function on ebay, or Amazon surely armed with this information and a well keyworded and targeted sales copy; entrepreneurs have the foundations to begin an online business. My 1 single point would be to harness the traffic which supersites such as ebay have, and drive it to your very own online business using permissable methods of which there are many.

    Thanks Scouse Paul.
  • Thanks for some more very usable information Jim.

    I heard a mystery guest on a tele-seminar last night say to think of every keyword as a different customer and to think of your ad (PPC) as your salesman. What we really want are not just visitors, but customers.

    If we can get into the heads of our customers, that is half the battle in picking out the money keywords. Fulfill their desires....

    Ted
  • Hi Jim,

    If the student is ready the master will come. That's exactly what I need right now to determine the niche for my new membershipsite. Thanks alot!
    Roland
  • Wendy
    Good informative read - and sort of confirms something I noticed while on ebay myself (though I didnt know about the popular items) I had started to see which games went and which ones didnt, eg 42 all time classics for nintendo ds you can see how many people are bidding for it while so called more popular games more or less stagnate...

    Thank you for the info greatly appreciated...
  • Interesting how similar the examples in this article are to the recently promoted Longtailcash product...

    Also, in my tests (not opinions!) the Wordtracker tool is pretty accurate with the number of predicted searches above 20.

    You can test that if you have some #1 rankings on Google, Yahoo and MSN for such keywords. As you now, the #1 ranking gets around 40% CTR.
  • This is what I did more or less to get where we are now on website development and discovering what we can use for income for a long time. Unlike a lot of others we're focused on sales of real items and not on intellectual properties. Jim's insight and thought processes needs to be studied in depth and then applied in the steps he outlines as they worked for our company (I think as we're still building our sites).

    Jim, once we get it all worked out and online how do we become that dominate force we have been talking about. The mothods we have been discussing look fine, but how can we speed up that process from one or two years to one or two months?

    You touched on one other thing a couple of weeks ago while you where discussing which keywords would be best suited for a particular project. One of those that was touched on was Frank Kern? Because his name is on those notes pages with a circle on it? I tried to do a little research on this subject but the website found was shut down.

    Regards, John
  • Your article hits the nail right on the head. It is a perfect and well written evaluation of the unfortunate or generally incorrect advice many new marketers get. Which could also explain why so many fail to make any money online.

    I come from a background of conventional business, which included selling products through wholesale and retail channels. Doing market research the old fashioned way required lots more leg work and using many of the same kinds of tools you describe here. Anyone that wants to sell online should repeat this mantra over and over - people buy products, not search engines.

    Congratulations on your great article and thanks for providing a realistic and sensible overview of what market research really is and how it should be done.
  • Hi Jim,

    What a breath of fresh air. I've been a numbers junkie for the past few months but now after reading your words above I'm discovered a whole now approach that I'm looking forward to using in my future website.

    The insights that you talk about have really helped me change my view on keyword research.

    Thanks,

    Jason
  • Hi Jim,

    This is just a heads up...

    I've been a product designer for many years and can walk into any major retailer and see products on the shelf I had a hand in bringing to market.

    The advice about using end cap displays for market research needs to be tempered with the fact that many stores RENT those end caps for money. The vendor pays the store even if the product flops.

    FWIW, the real movers are the items placed on the shelves at eye level for their given catagory. This is how the stores ensure that customers see the products.

    Michael Campbell really knows his stuff, but your readers should be aware that relying on end caps can have the same drawbacks as relying on those search results. Where he really shines with this advice is the part where you can see what is being highly promoted.

    Just don't fall into the trap of believing those items will be big winners. I have a product in Wal-Mart right now using their 'stacked on a pallet-high visibilty' display that hardly moves unless a store employee demonstrates the product in front of prospects. Then the item sells like crazy. We've had these on end caps with the same result.

    Hope this helps, and thanks for all your help. You are a good source of info, keep up the good work.
  • Jim,
    Thanks for the great info. You seem to be the only one preaching the truth in the IM/SEO arena. I am definately going to use your advice on my websites and blogs from here on. I'll have to do some re-engineering on my current sites too. Thanks again.
  • Laura
    This is the single most useful and informative article on internet marketing I have ever seen. Period. I've been buying information like this for almost a decade, and everyone seems to promise big things, then gloss over all the details you've so freely given in this article. I have tried so-called 'step-by-step' easy methods and found that the steps never go as advertised because the reality is much, much more complicated than that. You've blown the lid off of this vital information and I am just awestruck that you've offered it up for free, while all those other guys were charging sometimes big bucks for something much less useful. I am so glad I came to NicheBot!
  • rrkbhat
    Hi Jim,

    Thanks for your Out Of The Box but yet Practical solution in finding profitable niche markets.

    I need two clarifications:

    (1) You said that:

    "And when it comes to looking for the most accurate keyword popularity, you'll want to look to the source with the largest database and marketshare on the planet — Google's keyword engine."

    Here when you say, "Google's keyword engine", do you mean Keyword Tool in Google AdWords?

    (2) You said that:

    "One of the best ways to find out if there are competitors in a niche market is to access the Google Adwords information as to the number of advertisers for a number of the top keyword phrases for your intended marketplace. You can easily do this inside your NicheBOT X account."

    I'm unable to locate this feature inside my NicheBOT X account. Please tell me where this tool is present?
  • Carol Luther
    Best analysis of market research steps that I've ever read! I have used nichebot since it was in beta, but your insight will certainly make my "time on task" more productive.

    Thanks for sharing...
  • Bob
    Jim,
    Fantastic information. I got more out of that than some things I paid for! Keep it up.
    Thanks,
    Bob
  • Jack
    I'm glad you had to tell us! Most informative and to the point!

    Usable information without a price! Thanks Jim and keep up the good work.

    This will help immensely on my research to build my website!
  • Last night I did Amazon dig from business view you describet, a smashing success and I’ll have a lot more to say about that later. You wrote a nice review, including some great examples. Now I planning dig ebuy and local offline magazines and hope found great ideas for new domain names.
  • Hi Jim one n all.... excellent tools excellent information excellent way forward as I was going through these keys to keyword information I was thinking how lucky we all are to have this system as nichebot to work for us in such a way … high end research saving time, money, pain, yes this new NicheBOT Classic IS unleashed and it's very much oh so awesome … thanks to Jim and all your team....

    All my best to you and yours
    Phillip Skinner
  • Tom
    Hi Jim,

    You finally answered a question that has had me puzzled for quite a while. It has to do with picking a Niche by using only Keywords.

    I get bombarded everyday with "GURU'S" telling me their deep dark secrets of how you can find a Niche by just using Keywords. This way you will find a Longtail Niche what will make you tons of money....except for the fact that there won't be any prospects to buy anything from you on a regular basiss.

    You go against the "normal" train of thought from these experts who tell you that a big market is too much work and you should find that tiny market and make a killing.

    I am a Avid Nichebot member and also a SMARTS Stompernet member. Don Crowther of SMARTS also tells everyone to get into the big markets and grab your piece of the pie.

    Both of you are on the same wave length and have helped me realize these "GURU'S" don't know squat when it comes to Niche selection.

    Thanks for doing the interview with Michael this week...it was very informative. I hope he will return soon.

    Thanks again,

    Tom

    PS. I took your Niche Domination Course a little over 2 years ago and I am going to reread it because I am sure I will find something in it to help me with my new website. Reciprical Linking will be my first reread.
  • Thank you Jim. A great article with great information.

    I was buzzing around the beehive but now I'm in the honey.

    All the best,
    Rus
  • Robelyn
    Being new to the IM world I am currently attempting to soak up as much information as possible.

    I don't know about Niche Bot but I am growing to appreciate the guy standing behind it as a very genuine, sincere BUT most of knowledgeable person.

    I like your take on reality Jim and am looking forward to business in the near future.

    RP
  • That's great information Jim and thanks for sharing it.

    All so logical and easy too. Now why didn't I think of that? Because we have our own fields and that's why I need to hear what you've uncovered! Keep it coming!

    Thanks again

    Colin
  • Hi Jim,

    What a GREAT article! I really liked the no fluff, straight to the facts approach. I didn't know about eBay most popular and after a brief peek at it, I'm enthused!

    I also had no idea about ClickBank on NicheBot so I guess I need to poke around and find that information. This is an awesome post and I will be sure to bookmark it.

    All the best!
  • You DID miss one method of search counts; to know how many visitors a single keyword focused website gets in the #1 or #2 position, then compare that to the listed counts.

    It gives loose number of what your site would get in the same position for a different search. Just compare the two with Google Trends.
  • Hi Jim, as usual very well done. I tell a lot of people to get on your mailing list so they can learn the real scoop.

    I have used some of your suggestions with good results went to a seminar and i knew more than the person giving
    it. I'am not trying to be arrogant but it's true.

    The more i learn, i find there is so much more to learn, this is good, keeps my mind active. Wayne
  • Len
    you've got a ton of knowledge and you are always more than willing too enlighten us and I appreciate it.
  • Phil Davis
    Hi Jim,
    Your article reminds me, why do they call it common knowledge when it is anything but common. Your frank comments and insightful observations are always good to read.

    Market research is one of those subjects that is seemingly shrouded in the mists, invisible to most observers and all so necessary for survival and success. Instead of adding to the mystery as so many gurus do you have brought some clarity and some actionable items for us to work on. Thanks for the great ideas and resources.

    Phil
  • Nice post Jim. It is true that you should always research a market for its potential profitability before doing keyword research. A quick check at ClickBank will reveal a lot about what sells, if you are interested to sell digital products.
  • Jim, thanks for the great post. Without a doubt markets need to dictate a niche, not a keyword. Just seeing the huge discrepancies found in keyword tools is proof that keyword research isn't an exact science. I'll check out a few of the links too, I appreciate the post.
  • Thank you Jim, went through all the information above and just have to agree with you. I have listen to quite a few of your calls now with Michael Campbell and am slowly and steadily gaining access for my website. Some of my sites listed are now listed in the top 3 in google all becauase of you. Thanks a million. Claude
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