Aisle Shifters and Spying on Big Business for Market Research Purposes

Today’s issue of The Keyword Informer will touch on one tiny little aspect of market research and how you can ethically spy on big business and steal, swipe and utilize their top sales data and market research (without them even knowing it).

We all love to be stealth and this issue is guaranteed to be just that.

If you’re a niche marketer or a trend marketer of any type with various content sites, then you really want to soak this up and make it a part of your consciousness.

Should you run a regular ecommerce site, affiliate site, content site or whatever you do, then this little reading could expand your marketing perspective and how to be an “aware” niche marketer and how to be always on the lookout for opportunities that can advance you.

First, let’s take a step back.

Back a while ago, I published an issue of TKI that discussed how unsubscribing from email lists you are signed up to was not necessarily a great idea and how you can get great examples from others in your industry of (1) how to properly do email marketing and (2) how not to do email marketing.  (Instead of getting pissed off at other people’s marketing maneuvers, why not just take it as a queue of how you don’t want to be in your own busines.)  ;)

Now, why am I sharing this with you and how does it relate here?

The point I made in that article was to not get offended when people attempt to market to you through email, but rather, view it as a “marketing lesson” and try to understand what the website owner is trying to accomplish.

[read more]

  • Adrianne

    I absolutely loved this. So creative and fresh. No one has brought this out that I know of.

    I will set this in motion myself at my local Sam’s Club!

  • http://www.mikeliebner.com Mike Liebner

    Great article Jim! Trends are hot! Early bird gets the worm! That’s for sure! And trends are very much like long tail keywords – especially at the start of the cycle as there can bevirtually ZERO competition! Easy pickings to rank on top! Have you ever been to Fry’s Electronics? Those guys were originally of the Fry’s Supermarkets (back East) and sold those off, but started electronics superstores in the Silicon Valley which have spread everywhere it seems. They were among the first non-supermarkets to employ the tactics they pioneered such as impulse items. In fact – if you’ve ever been to Fry’s on a busy day – you get stuck waiting in a long line – sometimes 30 to 50 or more deep – despite them having dozens of checkout counters – as you wait in line you pass by irresistable items such as batteries, candy bars, disks, and all kinds of stuff… kind of like getting hit with aone time offer s you try to exit the store :’>

  • Robert M-Scott

    Well I am an in and out man as I dislike shopping. I found this article enlightening as clearly big business has it’s reasons and as said, there is much to be observed. I shall bear that in mind. I do get confused, though, when things that I am looking for have been moved………hmm. Empty shelves are another thing. That must be to do with the season!

  • Jan MacGregor

    Thank you Jim. It’s great to see someone is beginning to connect the dots for folks. There’s a lot more to setting up shop (a successful one) than researching keywords. Keyword information although important is only one piece of the puzzle . Thank you for helping expand the viewscape with meaningful information.

  • http://easyturnkeyhomebusiness.com/ Michael D. Massie

    Jim, for years I have paid close attention to what major chain stores’ seasonal promotions entailed, and often adjusted my own seasonal promotions to match in my bricks-and-mortar business. In fact, I was just noting the local Wal-Mart circular has ZERO high-end electronics, and a lot of exercise equipment, fitness clothing, etc. Funny that Wal-Mart is putting their ad dollars completely into health and fitness – we know it’s that time of year, but they obviously feel it’s the best bet for increasing sales after a dismal holiday retail season. Great article, I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled next time I’m in Costco.

  • http://UltimateHowToGuide.com Kathy

    Wonderful information as usual Jim. It’s often the so called simple ideas (checking out the supermarkets) that have the huge ramifications.

  • http://www.richardmorden.com Richard Morden

    Thank you for helping point us in the right direction. So many of us struggle trying to find a market even though many tools and sites tell you how to drill down into a topic until you find a niche. I compare it to learning how to read because it seems for the longest time we just don’t get it. Blogs like this help clarify a little more how to look for things that are so clear to the experienced blogger yet so mysterious to the new guy.

  • David Keller

    Hey Jim,

    Great article! I also went back and made sure I had your market research article saved. That one is priceless.

    You said:

    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…

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

    Jim, I don’t have 2.5 hours to find that resource. Could you please send it?

  • http://FitnessBlackBook.com Rusty – Fitness Black Book

    Jim,

    You are “spot on” when it comes to buying trends. I run a high traffic fitness blog and promote a few Clickbank products. Ever since January 2nd, my sales have skyrocketed. Probably more than double.

    Also…if I have an article featuring an actor or actress and they release a movie or do something scandalous…a regular post that gets 5-10 visitors per day can suddenly jump to 300.

    I think predicting trends or looking a little further ahead of competitors in your niche is a terrific way to get a lot of “easy” traffic. Great post as always.

  • http://www.wcr-internet-marketing.com.au/internet_marketing/seo-company.asp SEO Company

    Hi Jim,

    Thanks for a great article – it certainly got the gray matter churning.

    Interestingly, Costco is opening their first store in Australia this weekend, and we should expect to see them in Perth, West Australia by mid-2010.

    It just goes to show that market research is closer than you think in many cases.

    I shall look at my supermarket layout in a different light from now on. :-)

    All the best for 2004

    Eran Malloch
    SEM Consultant
    WCR Internet Marketing
    Perth, Australia

  • http://www.wcr-internet-marketing.com.au/internet_marketing/seo-company.asp SEO Company

    oops.. that should be 2009 NOT 2004! LOL :)

    My bad.

    Eran

  • http://www.home-improvement-time.com/2007/08/29/hickory-trafficmaster-allure-flooring/ Rika Susan’s Flooring DIY News

    Great stuff, Jim! I also love using the relatively new Google Insights for Search. I find that extremely useful for new keyword ideas and long tail phrases.

  • http://www.nichebot.com The NicheBOT Guy

    Hey Mike,

    Good to see you, sorry we missed lunch, which we’ll need to do — and Happy New Year bud!

    Oh yeah, Fry’s — I love those guys.

    Holy cow — talk about an alley way of impulse items on both sides as you sit there and debate how many to put back. (chuckle)

    Those guys definitely have it down and we have a Fry’s out here in a North County San Diego — which is in San Marcos, and the structure itself looks like a huge Las Vegas Hotel — it’s gigantic.

    Anyways, as far as trends, you got that right too! They are hot man and as you got it — there’s virtually ZERO competition.

    I’ll have to get you a copy of the Hot Trends — Instant Cash Report and Videos so you can see how this one dude harnesses web 2.0 type traffic within hours to earn as much as 500 clams a day (given the right monetization vehicle whether it be an affiliate program or Adsense).

    Anywho, let’s chat and have lunch sometime this month.

    Best,

    Jim

  • http://www.nichebot.com The NicheBOT Guy

    Adrianne,

    Thanks for mad props on the freshness.

    I really write like I speak — and if you plug that phrase into Google, you’ll find my article on writing like you speak and rehabilitating yourself from the problems that educational training caused us in school.

    One day, when voice recognition gets really good, it should be mandatory that Dragon Naturally Speaking is installed and people use it to train their voice and as a way to direct their computer and get content and articles written faster.

    Not everyone can be blessed with typing 95-100 words per minute nor do I expect anyone to do that.

    Anywho, more stuff coming the following day.

    Best,

    Jim

  • http://www.nichebot.com The NicheBOT Guy

    Robert,

    Hate shopping?

    Just go to your top major online retailers and check
    to see if they have a “TOP SELLERS” section or “TOP
    SEARCH ITEMS” section.

    Look at eBay and see what are the most popular products
    in the particular category of your industry and get a
    pulse on the largest online marketplace.

    Jim

  • http://www.nichebot.com The NicheBOT Guy

    Jan,

    You got that right on the keyword part.

    The keyword research part comes AFTER you found your
    proven market.

    Next up in the awesome giveaways is a way to see
    exactly how many different companies there are in
    real industries (all established through the
    standardized SIC business code system).

    Quite frankly, this is going to be priceless for
    those that jump on this.

    I can’t believe it when I receive the hard copy
    of this thing in my mail.

    I was jazzed when I got this thing in my mail slot.

    Did you know that there are 28,639 Health Clubs
    Studios and Gymnasiums around the entire country
    (as this is probably one of the most comprehensive
    databases in the world)?

    Over 40,382 Janitor Services.

    I cannot tell you the kind of data and ideas I got
    from just 15 minutes of browsing in this thing.

    There are counts of businesses in every single industry
    you can imagine together with all the different types of
    consumers lists that would make anyone literally salivate
    on sight (if they understand know what I’m talking about).

    This type of hard database data that compiles business
    and consumer information around the country tells me
    what industries are booming and I can connect the
    dots online with affiliate programs.

    I can’t wait to share this stuff.

    It’s really going to open people’s vision of what
    industries are truly seismic out there.

    Coming soon.

    Jim

  • http://www.nichebot.com The NicheBOT Guy

    David,

    If you are a full subscriber at NicheBOT, please
    contact customer support with a ticket and they
    will get you the URL for the interview.

    It’s not just available to the general public or
    even to the free subscribers on the list.

    Thanks for doing that David.

    Sorry I can’t give out the URL here — otherwise,
    everyone might be able to grab it — and it’s a
    members only thing.

    Best,

    Jim

  • http://www.nichebot.com The NicheBOT Guy

    Rusty,

    You said:

    “I think predicting trends or looking a little further ahead of competitors in your niche is a terrific way to get a lot of “easy” traffic. Great post as always.”

    Won’t that be just wonderful? I can’t wait to share what’s coming on Thursday/Friday… ;)

    Jim

  • Marcelle Wellington

    Nice article re “Aisle Shifters”. Just one correction though — Costco celebrated their 25th anniversary in Sept. 2008. Jim Sinegal mentioned this at an event I attended in the fall, and my company (Hebert Research) did the original research for the company to get started and continues work with Costco on many projects.

  • http://www.nichebot.com The NicheBOT Guy

    Marcelle,

    Thanks for the clarification on that.

    I am simply counting the years that Costco has been the
    Costco Wholesale brand, and not since they took over
    Price Club way back in the days.

    But thanks for bringing to light that the company has an
    even DEEPER and richer experience and 25 years of sales
    track record to rely on.

    Thanks for contributing!

    Best,

    Jim

  • http://www.PainFreeU.com Nina

    What a great report! I love how you walk us through this process, and the lessons on how it relates to our own businesses. Thanks for sharing, Jim!

    p.s.- Resist buying those chocolate muffins in bulk, okay? They are sooo bad for you. Healthy New Year!

  • http://lists.nextmark.com/ Joe Pych

    In response to …

    David Keller @ 8:24 pm:
    Hey Jim,

    Great article! I also went back and made sure I had your market research article saved. That one is priceless.

    You said:

    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…

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

    Jim, I don’t have 2.5 hours to find that resource. Could you please send it?

    —-

    If the resource is NextMark free list search tool, you will find it here (or click my name above):

    http://lists.nextmark.com/

    Hope that helps!

  • http://lists.nextmark.com Chris DeMartine
  • http://www.petinsurancepro.com/sitemap/ Mikael

    Yet another great article Jim. Now we don’t have those huge stores in Denmark where I live but even with the smaller stores the concept is the same.

    I’ve never really looked at stores like this as I guess I’ve always had the “consumer” look on things. I’m sure that the next time I go shopping it’ll stop and have a look at how things are placed.

  • http://www.affiliatemarketingintro.com Ami

    Thanks, great post

    Jst to say you made a major point about keyword and trend tools. The show you search volumes and give no indication of which keywords actually do sell

    In this business I think we have become so keyword motivated that this little fact just goes by the way

  • http://www.bibleknowledgebookstore.com Chris from Christian Books

    Hey Jim,

    Great piece here, you had a good nugget in your article alot of people might have missed, which is that keyword tools only give you searches, not what people are buying. That is huge b/c many times we get excited if we find a good keyword that might have good searches and low competition but come to find its not a buying keyword, that might be fine for MFA sites but not affiliate or ecommerce.

  • http://www.bibleknowledgebookstore.com Chris from Christian Books

    Just to follow up on my post, just read your market research article and you touch on what I just mentioned. To add to this, one thing people can also do is use PPC to determine which keywords not only buy but convert well.

  • http://tomato-tips.com/balcony-tomatoes.html John from Balcony Tomatoes

    I like the idea of watching what the big movers are doing and getting in front of it as much as possible. One way to do this online is to subscribe to the email list of the vendors you are affiliates for, and watch what they are currently pushing to their list.

  • http://www.marblehost.com MarbleHost.com

    Hello,

    Where you lay your focus is the biggest question. If you already have an online business then you already know where to begin. If you are looking to start over or are completely new then you have to go through a process of discovering markets that are profitable enough for your and are appealing to you. Do you want a fortune 500 CEO’s salary or are you content making $3000 a month ? Only you can answer this question and only you can find the market that meets Your demand.

  • http://newaffiliatesresource.com/2009/04/aisle-shifters-and-spying-on-big-business-for-market-research-purposes/ Aisle Shifters and Spying on Big Business for Market Research Purposes — New Affiliates Resource

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