Niche Marketing As Viewed From Eastern Thought

By Rick London

keywords: unique gifts funny gifts cartoon gifts funny gift items far side gifts far side merchandise rick london londons times cartoons londons times superstore novelty gifts funny t-shirts funny mousepads funny tote bags funny totes funny key chains unique key chains collectibles clocks funny t-shirts funny tees funny ornaments shopping online shopping product reviews funny christmas ornaments funny caps cartoon products cartoon merchanidse cartoon items offbeat cartoons far side the far side gifts. online shopping shopping funny weird strange hilarious humor cartoons comics

I remember business 101 the first time I went to college a millenium ago. Simplicity and thinking it through was the key. Those were business principles. Do they still hold true? There was no Ebay, Google, MSN, or Yahoo! at the time.

Could there be?

They told us in college, yet again, this time around "do what you know and do best". Do what you love and the money will come. Yada yada. I researched how other businesses started. Peg at Ebay knew a lot about Pez dispensers so that was their focus the first year or so.

We renegade entrepreneurs, at least this one, found that he does not fit into the corporate 9-5 world. They are not too keen on "some misfit" constantly reinventing the wheel, but reinvent the wheel I must, even if I get knocked down, which is often. I can honstely say I have about one success to every 10 failures. The odds were much worse in 1997 when I started

Don't deny the forces of zen, especially the yin and yang. Doesn't matter if you believe in them or not, they do happen. It is a part of making choices. We get pulled one way and then another. Which choice do we make. If you don't believe it happens, try the choice that does not go along with your business instincts and watch the consequences. Not very fun.

There are many "opportunities" on the Internet. I put opportunities in parenthesis because, as you may know from my previous writings, I do not believe in Internet gurus. The only way they are gurus is that they make money off your hard earned money and time promoting themselves. If that is a guru to you, go get him, tiger. To me, it is another snake-oil cyber-sales con man/woman.

The other day I was looking at some statistics of what were the top sellers (especially at Ebay); and, of course not surprisingly, Ipods, consumer electronics, Armani, Gucci, and the usual suspects. I even did further research to find out the few legitimate wholesaler/drop shippers Could this be my "big break"? When I say big break, I do not mean "finally make money on the Internet". I have been doing that for several years and it is virtually on autopilot now. Am I in the league with the big dogs? More like a barbarian at the gate. But I do okay.

I looked around for items I liked and couldn't find any that that were suitable for me. So I approached an Ebay powerseller who happened to be a manufacturer of art licensed goods and we made a deal for Londons Times Cartoons Gifts and collectibles. Then I made a second deal with a print on demand manufacturer of mostly casual wear in Denver. I was my own boss and not having to rely on a manufacturer or back orders. I was a happy camper.

I have a slight advantage over some entrepreneurs (and this is not to discourage you, you can have the same advantages if you work at it); I own a large cartoon site with copyrights to the images.

I own several stores that sell a myriad of products, but none of them really specialize in a niche product. I want to try what the superstars tried when they got started. My "success" evolved over the years by having a following; but not necessarily because I was using the marketing technique of "finding a niche".

So after more research I opened a "funny apron shop"; yes that's right, funny aprons. Nothing too sexy about funny aprons of course. I don't expect Austin Powers to come forward and say "Funny aprons, Shagadellic!!!" But you never know. The minute I started listing the stores in directories and search engines, people started buying. Yes, a cyber-field-of-dreams. Build it and they will come.

Then research further, and find a product on the web that people need, and use, and make it a little different than what others are selling.

Find your niche whether it is cell phones (a certain kind), chocolate, pet treats, organic dried fruits, your own private coffee label (yes I have one of those too), or whatever you think will sell; perhaps do an informal survey or focus group and you would be surprised what people want.

Then promote, promote, promote with blogs, article marketing, ppc engines, pinging, and every other method of which you can think. Suddenly you will wake up successful. The odds are on your side. The harder you work, the more research you do, the more action you take, the luckier you get. In fact, the big dogs did the same thing to become big dogs, and they have nothing on you, if you just allow yourself to take the action. Keep an open mind and be prepared to get off track a few times. As long as you get back on track, that is what matters.

It is not how many times you fall down that count, but how many times you get back up. And if you use your "Zen", you will get back up. It's all a matter of physics, getting pulled back into balance.

Article Source: http://interpret.zar.vg

About The Author
Cartoonist Rick London, founder of Londons Times is famous on the Internet. He started in 1997 with nothing, in a metal warehouse, and now has one of the biggest comic gift and t-shirt mega-stores on the net. He recently launched Londons Times Superstore funny t-shirts, and more