How to Profit from a Niche – Four Monetization Strategies
Since the creation of NicheChick, many people have asked me how exactly they should use all of this information they are being given. Should they attack it with PPC? With an Adsense site? Affiliate marketing?
Well, the honest answer is – I don’t know. I know that sounds crazy for me to say, but it’s the truth.
Think about the movie City Slickers. There was a critical scene where Jack Palance’s character tells Billy Crystal’s character that the secret to life is “just one thing.” When Billy Crystal’s character asks what that is, Jack Palance’s character tells him that’s what he needs to figure out.
Now, niche marketing is not QUITE that dramatic. 
There’s not ONE true secret. However, the similarity is that there are many avenues and ways to go about profiting from niches, and you yourself need to figure out what’s best for you.
Here are four strategies that have been profitable for me when attacking a niche. Hopefully one of them will appeal to you!
1) Create a landing page that drives traffic to a CPA offer. This is a simple one, landing pages generally only need to be just that – a page. You can also have them professionally designed fairly cheaply. I would suggest finding an outsourcer that will do a pack for you in broad niches – financial, weight loss, etc. – and have them design them in such a way that you don’t need to do any HTML editing to use them different campaigns, you just change out the text. This works wonders!
2) Build a targeted and responsive list. For this, you will need a squeeze page. This is somewhat like a landing page, except the objective is not to drive the traffic to a CPA form, but instead to gather those leads yourself. Ideally, you will have an autoresponder series already in place that will promote products in your niches, interspersed with valuable solid content. This is one of the most profitable ways to monetize a niche.
3) Build a content site that utilizes context ads. This is especially useful for sites that don’t have strong related affiliate products or CPA offers. Many times niches that revolve around local services won’t have anything to directly promote, per se, but the Adsense clicks will be sky high!
4) Sell affiliate products directly. Sometimes, let’s not kid ourselves, you need quick cash. This is when you might want to consider creating so-called “parasite” pages (icky name, profitable concept!) that promote your direct affiliate link. These would be pages on properties such as Squidoo, Hubpages, YouTube, Ezine Articles, etc. that contain direct links to products. There are definite downsides to this. For instance, you’re forced to build links to properties you don’t own, never a great long-term SEO strategy. Next, many affiliate programs don’t allow you to link from pages you don’t own outright, so read your programs terms before going nuts on Squidoo.
I hope these ideas have given you some food for thought when developing strategies to attack your niches. Remember – there is money to be made out there. It’s not important that you have the perfect plan. It’s more important that you have ANY plan – and that you take action!
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Hi Melanie
Found you because you somehow started following me on Twitter. My wife thinks Twitter should have been named “stalker.com” (LOL!) I signed up for your intersesting Niche newsletter. Have been making a phenomenal full time living online for about the last 6 years in a Non-IM niche..selling wood! Now spreading our wings a bit…
Great information! Since I teach my subscribers these things, especially about creating a landing page. I have a series of 5 books that I give to them to get them started, since too much material is out there saying what to do, but not enough telling how to do it.
I also encourage them to promote ClickBank products and use a “cloaked page” utility so that they can load the “hoplink” pages on their own website without disclosing the link.
All in all, your advice is sound and practical and I look forward to hearing more from you!
John
Thanks for the daily niche service.
Stop by my high traffic blog and place
a free classified ad:
http://www.freeadvertisinggallery.com
We have lots of Twitter tricks, too!
Thanks for this article. I appreciate the honesty in this post. I feel that many people buy into the “one size fits all” mentality of everything and feel that the only way to make money online is the one way that is being sold at the time.
I totally agree that the individual must choose what ONE WAY will work for them. Over my 10 years online I’ve found that my “one way” includes many different ways melded into a personally created system that works for me.
I feel if people would do this with their businesses they would succeed faster and easier!
It’s like the “buffet” system. You take little bits and pieces of each thing you like and create a meal fit for you.
Hi Melanie,
Just found your blog (Lucky I found you on Twitter) and love what I’ve seen from your posts.
I’ld like to add that with your “parasite” pages that some of them can earn you money as well. I’ve found that I earn a bit (not enough to make a living) from Squidoo and Hubpages myself.
Of course the affiliate links can add more, but it’s worth saying that the parasite pages themselves can bring in an income. The more you have, the better the income. Plus they rank well in the SERPS.
Ted
NicheChick! You’re amazing and are what so many of LNB’s visitors are looking for. You’re willingness to dig into Keyword Research on a continual basis show your dedication to your followers. Thanks for the great info and service you provide!
Talk soon and have a lucrative day!
Iamare (LNB)
Massive following opn Twitter is key. Looking forward to the newsletter.
Soo after I signed up… 3 hours later, no niche nor researched keywords for the day. What’s up with that?
Melanie, thanks again. great post.
This is what I have been looking for so I can expand into a larger market.
Check your spam folder!
This is really cool stuff, thanks so much for providing all this great info FOC – you are a star!
Cheers
Derek
Hi Melanie,
very useful post. Simple, but efficient strategy for anyone to follow.
I only have one comment to add about the affiliate products. You don’t necessarily have to build links to someone else’s website, you could instead use redirects and/or iframes and promote your own domain for affiliate marketing. Or you could even build a squeeze page on your domain that directs straight to the order page, bypassing the vendor sales page. That way you will not only promote your own links, but you will also build your own list instead of the seller’s list.
Good luck and keep up the good work
Greetings from Estonia,
Margot-Helena
Hi Melanie
I’m glad I found you! Been working hard learning and learning! One thing about this business is that everyday it seems NEW!
You are awesome – thanks for helping make my business easier!
And – you are right – there is no way that one size fits all – you need to give your business a personality of its own.
Looking forward to your reports!
Linda
After reading this I know it is time for me to put a game plan down for me to have a squeeze page, I need leads and I am certain (now) this is the way to get connected with my niche as a virtual assistant..internet and social media marketing. Any suggestions on where to start?
Hi Melanie,
Following you on Twitter & just signed up for your Niche newsletter!
Thanks
Melanie,
Hi, I’m Randy. Disabled guy here (48 next month) originally from San Diego, Ca. but now residing in the Smoky Mountains – East Tennessee.
Just getting started in Internet Marketing, but been in the Web Design field for a number of years.
Thanks for following me on Twitter. I’m now following you as well and signed up for your emails here. Hope to make a go of this.
Thanks!
Randy
Great article…signed up for the newsletter. Looking forward to tips. Appreciate that you state one must find what works for you. I get so sick of programs that try to sell themselves with ‘it worked for me, it will work’ for you concept. Each must find what works for them.
da best. Keep it going! Thank you
Signed up last night before going to bed, confirmed this morning and got my first installment immediately after that. Content looks great, like your style, easy and relaxed with a no BS approach. Now it’s on me to take action. Thank you so much for sharing your work and information.
Melanie,
Just wanted to let you know that i feel you are providing some legitimate information and research here. I will definitely advise my Twitter followers to look you up!
http://www.twitter.com/noscams
Hi, just signed up for your newsletter. Great stuff. Can/should articles be written for the cpa or newsletter signup pages? Of should google adwords be used for those?
I somewhat understand what you’re saying here, but can’t get my head around how to go about getting the traffic for the different methods.
This is great information and so easy once you have a niche. I love writing unique content as well as PLR – Private Label Rights content – so visitors feel they get value when they visit.
Hi Melanie; Looking forward to enjoying your site.
I signed up yesterday, but have not received any info as yet. I’m patiently awaiting the scope on niche markets; so that, I can start moving forward with my business.
Hi Melanie,
I’ve just joined your newsletter, being recommended by someone. As I’m feeling a bit brain-dead at the moment, hopefully your newsletter will give me some inspiration for getting into another niche.
Looking forward to the contact with you.
Just subscribe. Can’t wait your everyday report.
Thanks for sharing.