Niches, Top Performing Entrepreneur Secrets And Beliefs…IMPORTANT Stuff!

Welcome, hope you are having a terrific weekend.

As I put this week’s Online Marketing Tips together I’m looking out my window at a somewhat cool and rainy day…a reminder that there are only a few weeks of summer left leading us into the last Quarter of 2014!

How time does fly, doesn’t it?

This also marks the time of year I am getting contacted by many of you with questions and for advice as that sense of panic sets in realizing that they are still in the same spot now as they were at the start of the year…

Wishing They Were Running A Profitable Online Business

Just like “There’s No Crying In Baseball…”

“There’s No Wishing When It Comes To Building A Solid, Profit-Producing Business” 

While the prospect of operating your own online business can be confusing, “wishing” alone is not going to but it.

Instead, fundamentals such as…

• Choosing solid niche markets that align with your passions and interests
• Working a proven business model to turn a profit
• Leveraging your strengths to bring value to your marketplace
• Knowing how…and then DOING it…to reach your target market
• Understanding…and USING…the keys to influence, persuasion and consumer psychology to deliver value for profit
• Supporting and then expanding your customer base

These are the principles of running a highly profitable business online…and you can do it to.

So, in this issue, we help get you rolling and help expand your profits with timely, practical tips you can use.

Let’s get rolling.

1. Niche YOU!

I often hear, “Jeff – how do you pick a profitable niche market to start (or expand) your online business”

Picking a niche market is critical, the mistake that is so often made is that we pick a niche based on objective information (demographics, # of searches, ad rates, etc…) OR we pick our niche market based on what we see someone else being successful with – which really doesn’t make a lot of sense does it?

Would you pick a life-long career based entirely on the fact that your neighbor or a stranger has a high-paying job in that career?

It **may** lead you to investigate it sure…but you quickly understand if that is the type of job that you would like or are willing to dedicate a significant chunk of your life to and you make a decision that factors in what is right for you.

The same thing holds for picking niche markets.

Just because PERSON X made a Million Dollars in the dog training niche or dating/relationship niche doesn’t mean that is the right niche for you.

Is it possible to make YOUR next $Million in those niches – SURE!

But WILL YOU? 

Only if you have enough interest, passion and willingness to engage meaningfully with your market will you even have a chance.

Finding niche markets is funny business…many people train you to chase after the “golden nuggets” that appear to hold the most potential, however what has always worked for us (and for thousands we have coached and worked with) is to pick niche markets and niche opportunities that both hold strong commercial potential AND give you that sense of passion, interest and fulfillment as you work toward growing your business.

So, keep that secret formula in mind when you use the techniques outlined in our past Blog Post “3 Quick Techniques To Find Hot Niche Markets” – I guarantee you that if you combine your passion with a niche market that holds commercial value you will be unstoppable.

2. Are All Entrepreneurs The Same?

I’ve had the benefit of working with thousands upon thousands of different entrepreneurs offline and online…

Entrepreneurs who have started and grown Multi-Million Dollar online businesses, entrepreneurs who have built brick-and-mortar $100+ Million businesses, individuals who (some very late in life) have transitioned from employees to entrepreneurs with 5-6 figure online businesses and many others in-between.

Of course each of these people have their own distinct personalities, strengths and weaknesses.

Some are highly driven, type-A, all-or nothing risk takers while others are amazingly introverted, quiet and laid back…yet they all managed to succeed in their own way.

The question is though…“are there any similarities that would be important for ME to known as I build my business?”

The answer to that is YES…and we outlined 5 of those in a past blog post over at:  “5 Tips From Top Performing Entrepreneurs”

There are two similarities that I wanted to highlight in today’s issue of Online Marketing Tips though, because they are especially important.

a) Entrepreneurs Don’t Settle For What Is – Every single successful entrepreneur I have met and worked with see’s more pain, anxiety and discomfort in the status quo (keeping things as they are) than with change.  That can’t be said for most people.  Most people see tremendous comfort in their existing job, their secure paycheck, their existing way of living (even their typical drive into work is rarely changed).  Non-entrepreneurs fear change and so they may “wish” they could be entrepreneurs, but every ounce of their being screams NO!    So, if you are struggling to start your own business or can’t seem to get over a hump (sales, leads, revenue, etc…) take a CLOSE look at your own beliefs around comfort and pain – namely do you have the right amount of pain associated with status quo and the right amount of belief around change?  I kid you not, this dichotomy can explain (and potentially change) much in your life.

b) Meaningful Action Takers – So many “wannabe” entrepreneurs I have met over the last decade simply fail this test…they are either big talkers who won’t take massive action OR they are reckless action takers who’s actions are largely not meaningful to the business.  If you want to succeed with your business then make sure 1) You are willing to take massive, long-term action toward your goals and 2) Make sure you understand the critical factors and actions that influence sales, revenues and profit in your particular business…strive to focus 90% of your time on these activities and REFUSE to be distracted.

3. Happiness Is…

This past week was especially challenging for anyone going through periods of unhappiness, anxiety, depression or mental illness.

The death of Robin Williams by taking his own life after years of struggling with mental illness and addiction resulted in the spotlight being turned on the silent affliction of mental illness and unhappiness in life.

It goes without saying that you cannot hope to excel and achieve great things in your life (business or otherwise) if you are struggling daily for survival with either physical or emotional health issues.

Slowly we are coming out of the dark ages in terms of re-creating an environment where the stigma with mental health issues is being reduced (though there is still a ways to go for sure)…and though I haven’t personally been inflicted with severe mental illness, we are all touched by people who are and we all go through times/periods of our lives when we do need some help getting unstuck and rekindling that happiness and sense of wonder that tends to disappear for long stretches.

This blog article “How To Get Unstuck From A Depressing Routine” has helped many people overcome temporary ruts or unhappiness in their lives, has allowed them to break free of boredom, temporary depression, unhappiness and once again find that inner passion and drive to experience their true potential in life.

Go ahead and print that blog post out, keep it near you…if you are going through one of these points in your life, review it each day to help rekindle your hope, change your thoughts and eventually, break you out of your rut in life.

WRAP UP!

I wish you all a wonderful wrap-up to the summer season.

Get out there and balance your work time with some family and friend time.

Enjoy the last few weeks of the warm(ish) summer Season, we all need a good balance of friendship, family, fun and hard work – that makes the most rounded and successful business people I know.

Until next week, I am wishing you MUCH success and happiness.