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Did you enter a niche you know NOTHING about?

by Caspoor
55 replies
.. And had success? It's a good idea to enter a niche i know NOTHING about? For sure i will read about it when i enter it. so, i can send value to my subscribers.

Your turn.
#enter #niche
  • Profile picture of the author QueenMelanie
    yes have done this lots of times! requires lots of learning, but that's something that i enjoy..
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

    Did you enter a niche you know NOTHING about?
    I did.

    Right at the start, when I was full of all kinds of weirdly distorted perceptions and mistaken impressions and had no idea what I was doing at all.

    I abandoned those niches completely, not long after I realised why they were stacking the deck so profoundly against me.

    Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

    And had success?
    Not I. I don't suggest that it's impossible to have success that way, but there's no sensible reason to struggle with a niche about which you know nothing, when there are thousands of other niches from which you can choose. There are people here earning five figures per month, every month, from niches so "obscure" that they've never even been mentioned in the Warrior Forum at all, but you can be sure that they know about them.


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    • Profile picture of the author aarthielumalai
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      I did.

      Right at the start, when I was full of all kinds of weirdly distorted perceptions and mistaken impressions and had no idea what I was doing at all.

      I abandoned those niches completely, not long after I realised why they were stacking the deck so profoundly against me.



      Not I. I don't suggest that it's impossible to have success that way, but there's no sensible reason to struggle with a niche about which you know nothing, when there are thousands of other niches from which you can choose. There are people here earning five figures per month, every month, from niches so "obscure" that they've never even been mentioned in the Warrior Forum at all, but you can be sure that they know about them.


      .
      Isn't that the truth. When I started out, I bought a bunch of domains in pretty much every competitive market there is out there, because I heard that they were the ones that are making money, and I should go for markets that are already making money. I still hear that advice, from a lot of well known markers actually, but I don't believe that's true.

      I started writing articles for these sites, and let me tell you, it was a nightmare. I HATED those subjects, and it was worse than studying for an exam!

      Then I thought I'd be better off outsourcing the writing. I did, got a bunch of articles written for each site, but I didn't want to upload them because I knew I had to edit them to ensure that they are good enough (I'm a control freak like that). The problem though, was that I didn't really want to read a bunch of articles in the world's most boring subjects (for me), so I never got around to it.

      Then came the marketing nightmare. I didn't really know much about list building or paid marketing then, so I thought the only way to make money from these sites is with my clickbank account, and SEO for traffic.

      I did try some free marketing methods, but I quickly found that my lack of interest in the subject will make promotion a nightmare (again).

      So I started inquiring SEO companies and freelancers, and the prices they quoted were INSANE. I was very careful when I picked keywords. I made sure to pick ones that didn't have too much competition (I was left with very few keywords once I was done), but they hear your niche and they start telling you its a very competitive niche, it'll take months to get any kind of ranking and so on. Maybe they were right, I didn't know much then after all.

      So my advice to you OP, don't go for a niche you know NOTHING about, unless you have money to pay for freelancers and paid ads. If you don't, you are just wasting your time and you'll quickly lose interest, I promise you that.
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  • Profile picture of the author kilgore
    As with lots of people here, I think you're confusing a "Niche" with a "Topic" or an "Industry". A "topic" or an "industry" might be something broad like health care or something really narrow like tennis elbow. But tennis elbow itself isn't a niche -- I can think of lots of niches all related to tennis elbow including (but not limited to):
    • Blogger giving people hints about how to avoid tennis elbow
    • Affiliate marketer promoting elbow braces
    • E-commerce store selling over-the-counter pain killers
    • Author writing a book about the causes and symptoms of tennis elbow
    • Physical therapist teaching people how to do exercises to reduce pain and symptoms
    • Surgeon specializing in treating the worst cases of tennis elbow
    • Etc., etc., etc.
    (You might also note that a business might operate in multiple of these niches at once -- for instance, a surgeon might blog about avoiding tennis elbow, write about book about it and treat people. The key here is that the audiences she's marketing to has to have enough overlap to be interested in all of these niches.)

    The reason I bring this up is that while I think it's absolutely crucial that you do not enter a niche you know nothing about, I do think it might be OK to engage in a topic area where your knowledge is limited (which is what I think you're really asking about).

    For example, to the best of my knowledge neither Garrett Camp nor Travis Kalanick (the founders of Uber) have ever worked in the taxi industry let alone driven a taxi cab in their lives. But both of them did have extensive experience managing and developing software applications and companies.

    Similarly, the author James A. Michener wrote 40 works of primarily historical fiction on periods and places ranging from pre-European contact Hawaii to Poland during the invasion of the Tartars to 1970s Maryland. No doubt he was not an expert on all of these topics before starting writing; but he certainly was an expert on historical research, plot development and writing techniques.

    Overall, I think the answer to your (unstated) question really depends largely on you, your skills and your talents. Are they transferable across topic areas like software development? Or is your knowledge and training too specialized to be transferable? (For instance, I wouldn't want even the best foot surgeon to operate on my brain!)

    I'd also point out that it's almost certainly easier to operate in a topic area that you already know well than one you don't -- at least initially. But regardless, if you're not bringing anything to the table (and part of what you're bringing may be topical knowledge), you're not likely to be successful anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author tristatemedia
    your main goal is tomake money not enjoy. it will be nice if you enjoy but that is not your goal. noe of us enjoy driving to work and working 70 hours a week. IT REALLY BOTHERS MONEY WHEN SOMEONE SAYS "THEY WERE MAKING HALF MILLION A YEAR BUT THEY DID NOT ENJOY IT, SO THEY QUIT AND NOW THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WORK" THEY ARE FULL OF SHIT AND THEY PROBABLY GOT FIRED !!!!!!!! just my 2 sense
    just do it...feel the pain and make the gain.
    do not let people babyfiy you (lol).
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  • Profile picture of the author myob
    Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

    Did you enter a niche you know NOTHING about?
    Absolutely; dozens of times.

    Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

    .. And had success?
    Not always - a few of them bombed out (mostly due to inadequate market research) or expired (ie Mayan 2012 "prophecy"). The primary reason for entering any niche was because of its market potential. Almost all of the skill set deficit was either outsourced or delegated to writing/research staff who were hired specifically for their niche-relevant core skills.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

    .. And had success? It's a good idea to enter a niche i know NOTHING about? For sure i will read about it when i enter it. so, i can send value to my subscribers.

    Your turn.
    I have news for you. Entering a market (which I believe you mean when you say "niche") of which you know nothing is really stacking the deck against yourself.

    You say you will read about it when you enter it. How will you know that what you are reading is any good? Especially if you're talking about any of the classic IM "niches" - Health, Wealth, and Relationships (which usually really means Sex).

    How will you "send value" to your subscribers if you have no clue about what value is for them, nor how to recognize it?

    Even if you do manage to learn some bare bones basics on a niche within a market, someone who really is part of that market can usually spot a fraud trying to pass as an authority. You might be able to fool some newbies who are as clueless about the topic as you are, but you won't fool people who already have that clue.

    You'll increase your odds of success if you pick a market with which you are already very familiar, or where you can bring your own talents and skills to bear (but where you will have to invest much more time up front before trying to "send value to your subscribers").
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      As Lexy and John have said, there are very good reasons why you should stick with the markets you understand and have some experience with.

      If you already have an advantage (i.e. personal experience and a short learning curve), why turn your back on it for something where you are the complete newbie? That just makes no sense.

      Not only that, but what you want to do within the market will be important to consider. Are you going for an eventual authority site and personal "expert" status? If so, wouldn't it be smart to stick with a topic (market) that you know and enjoy? Wouldn't it be easier to assess news, products, and advice if you had some previous personal experience in the market?

      If you're going to help others and make recommendations to them, would it not be advantageous to already have some personal interest and familiarity with the market?

      Yes, anyone can buck the odds and find success most anywhere . . . but why take that approach when you could start out with a bunch of experience and knowledge and passion already under your belt?

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author INSTANTPROXIES
    Yes but eventually you need to learn to share something to your audience...
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  • Profile picture of the author Altered State
    I would only do that in case I could reliably outsource almost 100% of the content creation process.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rory Singh
    I entered a niche [make money online] didn't know jack $hit about it and became successful with it.

    Ignorance on fire was the way for me. I can't stand researching for years trying to get all ducks in line approach.

    That drives me nuts. Just jump in with both feet and don't look back!
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  • Profile picture of the author Thesecret2marketing
    Yes!

    I entered the Internet Marketing niche back in 2010 - and in my first 10 minutes I made $20 bucks!

    So I'm not sure if you want to count that - but hey it went down like that for me.

    Most people who got into the industry began with confusion and struggle - and the confusion and struggle happened for me when I stopped following what my mentor was telling me to do.

    If you want to give your subscribers value - then let them know to follow everything they are told to do until it works like a charm, or until it falls to the ground - and even then to never give up!

    All the best,
    Michael

    Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

    .. And had success? It's a good idea to enter a niche i know NOTHING about? For sure i will read about it when i enter it. so, i can send value to my subscribers.

    Your turn.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Did you enter a niche you know NOTHING about?
    Yes, more then once.

    .. And had success?
    My first real success was with a niche I knew nothing about at the start.

    Just jump in with both feet and don't look back!
    Famous last words.
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  • Profile picture of the author gcbmark20
    Hi,

    "The FASTEST Way to be a success in business is to BE IN BUSINESS"!!!

    What does that mean?

    It means that if you don't take the plunge NOW....

    ....In 2, 3, 4 weeks time you'll be sat watching TV doing nothing much and achieving
    nothing apart from becoming a champion at procrastination.

    But once you are in business...

    ....You'll begin to learn things that you never would have even dreamed were
    possible prior to going ahead with your business.

    You'll make some mistakes sure.

    But in 3, 4, 5, 12 months time you'll be far better off than if you were that same
    person who was waiting for the perfect moment.

    THERE IS NO PERFECT MOMENT.

    besides set up costs for an online business can be INSANELY CHEAP.

    Compared to offline businesses.

    Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

    So, are you ready to go all in even though you feel you don't own the answers yet?

    I hope to see you on the other side soon.

    Good luck,

    Gavin
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  • Profile picture of the author Caspoor
    To all these guys who are saying i SHOULDN'T enter a niche i know nothing about. What IF the things i know about, isn't profitable at all? Should i give up then?
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    • Profile picture of the author writeaway
      Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

      To all these guys who are saying i SHOULDN'T enter a niche i know nothing about. What IF the things i know about, isn't profitable at all? Should i give up then?
      Remember this: the SUREST WAY TO FAIL is to listen to people who tell you that what you're trying to do is impossible. Prove them wrong. Rub your success in their faces. Make them lap it up and laugh at their humiliation.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

      To all these guys who are saying i SHOULDN'T enter a niche i know nothing about. What IF the things i know about, isn't profitable at all? Should i give up then?
      In my not so humble opinion (and experience), there really should be no reason not to enter a profitable niche for which you know nothing about. As I mentioned above (post #6), the required expertise (ie consultants, advisors, mentors, etc) can be outsourced. I think it to be rather foolish to limit your options to only the things you know.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

      What IF the things i know about, isn't profitable at all?
      I find that really hard to believe.

      Everyone knows about something, and almost every niche is potentially profitable. Whether a niche is truly "profitable" isn't determined much by the niche itself: it's usually determined far more significantly by the marketer and her/his skills.

      Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

      Should i give up then?
      No, not necessarily (though that is the right course for some people!).

      Even then, you have some other options ...

      (i) Acquire knowledge of a niche (everything is a learning-curve) but - if doing this - be aware that you'll need some real, in-depth knowledge which is able to make subscribers who already know a bit about it appreciate that you have valuable information to convey which they can't conveniently find elsewhere themselves

      (ii) Choose a business model which minimizes the extent to which you have to have "knowledge of a niche" ("service arbitrage"? Some CPA?)

      (iii) Acquire marketable skills

      All or any of those will almost certainly be a better option than "entering a niche you know nothing about". That's just stacking the deck hugely against yourself. I don't know about you, but for myself, in a field of endeavor with very low overall success-rates, that's not something I could afford to do.

      Be aware that a significant proportion of the people "making up the numbers" in internet marketing (the people who struggle, long-term, and never achieve any real success worth talking about) have a fundamental mismatch between their skill-level and the methods they try to use to monetize online activities: typically, they imagine that they'll find a way to "bluff their way through something" by simply "copying something that works", without needing any real skills/education (and with beliefs as unrealistic as that, their outcomes tend to be fairly predictable).


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  • Profile picture of the author Dovakiin
    Banned
    This is why

    1) Most people fail in IM.
    2) IM has a well-deserved negative reputation.

    People enter niches that they are unqualified for. The fat man selling weight loss products. The IM guru who's never made money online. The dweeb who can't pick up girls selling PUA products. The poor man selling financial advice. The idiot feigning expertise. The kitchen knave acting like the Dragonborn. ETC

    And people wonder why the term "internet marketer" is associated with "scam/bullshit".

    #irony
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  • Profile picture of the author turboshandy
    I have never done this, I'm a strong believer that if you do something you know nothing about, you're probably going to fail at some point Thing is, you're gonna compete with people who know what they're talking about... so it's gonna be difficult.
    On the other hand, everyone is different, so you never know what you can learn about that said niche!
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  • Profile picture of the author linathinfotech
    Its not so easy at all but if you have the passion for it, go for it. You need to give your full time to it and start from scratch.
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  • Profile picture of the author positivegirl
    Hi All.. My honest opinion. It needs just a bit of work to know more than the others. take a bit of time and read about the topic. Sometimes (unfortunately) you don't need to know a lot, you only need to know a bit more than your audience. There is a lot of info out there but people are lazy and don't want to research in a niche even when they need to solve a problem. If you tell them what they want/need to know you will be perceived as their expert. Just because you know more than what they know. You have fun while learning and helping other people.

    Jany Luz Posada
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Honestly, to answer your question, Yes , I have entered a Niche I knew nothing about and have been successful with it. The Mobility Products Niche.

      But it was something that I gained some Passion for because it was really something so important to many.

      That being said I would advise that you take a real hard look at yourself and you might be surprised to find that there are some things you know about that could be profitable. Exhaust that first


      - Robert Andrew
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        In my not so humble opinion (and experience), there really should be no reason not to enter a profitable niche for which you know nothing about. As I mentioned above (post #6), the required expertise (ie consultants, advisors, mentors, etc) can be outsourced. I think it to be rather foolish to limit your options to only the things you know.
        If one has the resources to find and hire the needed expertise, there is no reason not to enter niches of which you know nothing personally. The expertise required here is the knack of finding and hiring competent people.

        My original comments were directed toward what sounded like a typical IM newbie, following a course teaching them to pick a niche based on income potential or some arbitrary rules applied to the result of a keyword tool. Said newbie, lacking the ability to tell whether the reading they do is good or bad, end up with what is convenient or what sounds good. This perpetuates the cycle of misinformation and rehashed trash while the newbie tries to fake expertise.

        Like one of my mentors used to say, it isn't the things you don't know that get you, or even the things you don't know that you don't know. It's the things you know for sure that turn out to be just plain wrong that bite you in the butt.
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        • Profile picture of the author quadagon
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          If one has the resources to find and hire the needed expertise, there is no reason not to enter niches of which you know nothing personally. The expertise required here is the knack of finding and hiring competent people.
          Even this is made harder without knowledge as you have no framework for judging competent people.

          You see this in IM a lot with people 'investing' thousands in marketers and gurus who exploit the expert falicy knowing that the people they are selling to don't know any different.

          Just this week I listened to a 'guru' talking about the importance of exact match domain names. He also advised against buying .net domains as google doesn't rank them then in his demo a .net was number 1 in the seeps to which he proclaimed he could beat that in a week.

          Problem is if you don't know any different you don't get the red flags.

          Personally I don't believe in entering markets I don't know about and this is because I want to position myself as the authority and have credibility and authenticity in my work.

          None of this means you can't make money by going into other markets I just know that on the bad days, when you don't want your phone to ring or you can't face the blank white screen, that I am doing something I love.

          I also know that what I put out as content is quality and unique and I know I've never cheated or short changed a customer/visitor/subscriber and that makes me happy.
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          I've got 99 problems but a niche ain't one
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
            Banned
            Originally Posted by quadagon View Post

            Problem is if you don't know any different you don't get the red flags.
            Indeed. This is a very big and significant issue throughout the entire syllabus of "learning how to do internet marketing", in all its shapes and sizes.


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          • Profile picture of the author myob
            Originally Posted by quadagon View Post

            Even this is made harder without knowledge as you have no framework for judging competent people.
            A method I used almost exclusively when hiring writers/researchers was to place ads in local university newspapers. Their competence could be readily confirmed through reference checking as well as their scholastic achievements and coursework papers (ie term papers, thesis, dissertations). For many of the niches in which I marketed, the only thing I knew (or cared about) was that they were lucrative. IMO, everything can be outsourced, except your dreams and goals.
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            • Profile picture of the author Andre Slater
              I truly believe in picking something you have passion for, like somewhat, or you really want to learn...

              In my opinion it's easier to have success with something you know.

              I wouldn't just pick something.

              Example if I were to just pick SEO

              1. I would have to learn it before really teaching it.
              2. It would take me longer to come up with content...
              3. If I find out I really don't like it then it's going to be hard to be motivated to take action.
              4. I won't be able to stay in long enough to see results... You usually quit and buy another program or another niche.

              Versus

              A niche like MMA for example...

              I love MMA and watch UFC and Bellator faithfully... I can talk about this all day.

              1. Easy for me to teach stuff because I know and practice it.
              2. Easy for me to come up with content.
              3. I am always motivated because I love it.
              4. Even if I don't make money quick, I can stay in the game because I just like it.

              Then I just figure out how to monetize it.

              But that's just my opinion
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        • Profile picture of the author myob
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          If one has the resources to find and hire the needed expertise, there is no reason not to enter niches of which you know nothing personally. The expertise required here is the knack of finding and hiring competent people.
          I could not have expressed this point any more succinctly. But the fundamentals of sound marketing practices are essentially the same for virtually any niche imaginable. Being a rather simple guy, I have always preferred entering the most competitive niches simply because they're generally not only the most lucrative, but most of the heavy lifting, publicity, information research, etc has already been done. As an affiliate, the cost of entry can be quite low.
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      • Profile picture of the author Joe Russell
        No, you don't need to have any knowledge of the niche you want to create an affiliate website on and if that is your mindset you are severely limiting your affiliate income potential.

        I've been doing this stuff super successfully going on 16 years and have only once created an affiliate website on something I had knowledge about. If my only option had been to venture into niches that I had knowledge about I would not be where I am today with affiliate marketing.

        Do you want to be a full time affiliate marketer or do you just want to be a website/blog owner who makes a little extra affiliate income with hobby blog/website created around your knowledge...there is a huge difference.

        If what you are passionate about is a highly competitive niche, then what?

        This is why you need to figure out why you are getting involved in affiliate marketing in the first place.

        If what you are passionate about is a super competitive niche, I hope you have enough of that passion to continue churning out content that hardly anyone will see, in hopes that one day your blog/website will get enough traffic to earn you a few dollars a month.

        Basically, If you have enough time to hang around a forum all day reading or replying to posts you can research enough information about practically any niche to make it profitable.
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  • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
    Entering a market that you know nothing about will definitely lengthen your time to ramp up your business, but it's not impossible. I have worked with people who have jumped into new markets because of a passion or interest they have and learned it really quick, did a great job of uncovering real demand and are still running successful businesses in those areas.

    By the way - some of the toughest people I have had to work with are those that know their market TOO well...for example, the fitness trainer who has 20-years experience, is somewhat jaded and burned out and has forgotten the basics (because they have been doing it so long) typically have tunnel vision that actually hinders their business rather than helps it.

    I would certainly not stay away from a market I really wanted to enter because of lack of experience - but you have to have some serious passion and be prepared to work hard to get up to speed quickly.

    Jeff
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      You don't have to know about the niche, but you better know at least 2 things before you enter:

      1. Know you can make insane profits if you can pull it off.
      2. Know someone (i.e, joint venture partner, silent partner or mentor) who knows the niche.

      If not be prepared for blood, sweat and tears experience or disappointments - before you succeed, especially if it's a competitive market. Which it probably is because money is being made.

      Personally, I've never entered a niche I didn't know that well without those two ingredients going for me (minimum). And even then I've gotten my head handed to me in some niches. The safe-side is ... to go for what you know!
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Russell
      Originally Posted by jbsmith View Post

      Entering a market that you know nothing about will definitely lengthen your time to ramp up your business,

      Jeff
      This depends on what your goals and objectives are. If your goal is to create only one authority website with the intention of eventually developing it into a "business" then yes this could take some time to ramp up without being knowledgeable on the topic.

      If the OP's reason for asking this question is because he wants to get involved in a niche with Affiliate Marketing AS his "business" then having limited or no knowledge of the topic should only hamper him by a few hours to a few days at most.

      It doesn't take long to do enough research on practically any subject to come up with the amount of content you need to create an affiliate website with authority site potential....remember writing reports in school

      If you have some finances to invest you could also outsource your content creation. Content isn't the reason people fail with affiliate marketing as a business, more times than not its because of inadequate keyword and competition research.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ahmed Salah
    Banned
    of course not!, entering a niche you know nothing about is like jumping in the water without being a swimmer you will just sink.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    It really helps to enter a niche you feel passionate about but hey; being honest, I had no clue in hell what I was doing when I started the online bit and when I picked my niche Follow your passion if you want to know at least something at the beginning of your journey lol.

    All the best!

    Ryan
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  • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
    I did get in niches I knew nothing about, have enjoyed success and still do enjoy success in them.

    One of them was something I was interested in, but had hardly any knowledge.

    The other was something I knew about in a round about way, but how I went about building it into what is now my largest income stream by far was completely unknown to me.

    To answer your question on if it's a good idea, the answer is yes if you have a good handle on traffic and monetization.

    If you're not good at traffic or monetization, I wouldn't say it's a great idea. But at the same time I wouldn't say it's a terrible idea bc even if you do know the niche well, you probably won't make much money in the beginning anyway UNTIL you figure out traffic and monetization.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dovakiin
    Banned
    I like how so many people here just admitted to committing fraud. "I didn't know anything about this niche and I made mad money...and you can too!"
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    • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
      Originally Posted by Dovakiin View Post

      I like how so many people here just admitted to committing fraud. "I didn't know anything about this niche and I made mad money...and you can too!"
      How does getting into and profiting from a market you know nothing about fraud?

      Fortune 500 companies do it every day?

      I didn't read any posts in here that said, "i went into a niche I knew nothing about and scammed a bunch of people."

      It's all about going into a niche, providing value in some way, and getting a share of the revenue pie that is up for grabs for anyone who dares to take it.

      If you know nothing about a certain niche, there are people out there in the world who will provide the knowledge for you - for a fee.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dovakiin
        Banned
        Originally Posted by jasondinner View Post

        How does getting into and profiting from a market you know nothing about fraud?

        Fortune 500 companies do it every day?

        I didn't read any posts in here that said, "i went into a niche I knew nothing about and scammed a bunch of people."

        It's all about going into a niche, providing value in some way, and getting a share of the revenue pie that is up for grabs for anyone who dares to take it.

        If you know nothing about a certain niche, there are people out there in the world who will provide the knowledge for you - for a fee.
        Have you ever worked for a Fortune 500 company? If so, what did you do? They certainly do NOT enter markets they know nothing about. They are very calculated in their actions. It isn't a good idea to speak of things you do not know anything about.

        Entering a niche market in the "info marketing business" when you know nothing about the niche is exactly fraud. It's also hypocritical. Just saying.

        But hey, it's the American Dream isn't it? Get rich quick without any skills or education. Guess I'll have to play along and "sell my soul" for a dollar. Everyone's doing it...at least in this thread anyway.
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        • Profile picture of the author discrat
          Originally Posted by Dovakiin View Post

          Have you ever worked for a Fortune 500 company? If so, what did you do? They certainly do NOT enter markets they know nothing about. They are very calculated in their actions. It isn't a good idea to speak of things you do not know anything about.

          .
          Yes many times. I worked for Pepsico via Frito Lay right out of College years ago. I didn't know anything about pototo chips but I learned when I accepted the job and become a sales manager in Route Sales for Frito Lay.

          No Fraud there and I absolutely didn't know anything about the dry snake niche
          But I sure learned
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          • Profile picture of the author Dovakiin
            Banned
            Originally Posted by Dovakiin View Post

            Entering a niche market in the "info marketing business" when you know nothing about the niche is exactly fraud. It's also hypocritical. Just saying.
            Originally Posted by discrat View Post

            I didn't know anything about pototo chips but I learned when I accepted the job and become a sales manager in Route Sales for Frito Lay.
            You missed the part about there being a BIG difference between selling info products and selling potato chips.

            You DON'T need to know squat about food in order to sell it. Certainly not potato chips.

            If you know squat about personal finance, weight loss, PUA, dating, then you have no business selling INFO products and HOW TO products for the audiences within those markets.

            I know that's not the reality here, obviously, but might don't make right...and everyone jumping off a cliff don't make it a good idea.
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            • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
              Originally Posted by Dovakiin View Post

              You missed the part about there being a BIG difference between selling info products and selling potato chips.

              You DON'T need to know squat about food in order to sell it. Certainly not potato chips.

              If you know squat about personal finance, weight loss, PUA, dating, then you have no business selling INFO products and HOW TO products for the audiences within those markets.

              I know that's not the reality here, obviously, but might don't make right...and everyone jumping off a cliff don't make it a good idea.
              I agree with your points in spirit. But are you including the newbies (or oldies) who might not be knowledgeable about a subject. But they still sell it as an affiliate. Not claiming to know, but just collecting referrals and passing them on to experts for a commission.

              That describes a large number of newbies you see asking basic I.M questions with a sig. that says ... "make thousands in I.M". Most are not writing/creating and selling their own stuff as newbies. But I hear many people on this forum castigate (or castrate) them for this. Your thoughts?

              Are we talking about an affiliate marketer or a product creator. No one has discussed that small but important detail yet.
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              • Profile picture of the author discrat
                Originally Posted by The Niche Man View Post

                I agree with your points in spirit. But are you including the newbies (or oldies) who might not be knowledgeable about a subject. But they still sell it as an affiliate. Not claiming to know, but just collecting referrals and passing them on to experts for a commission.
                Roy you literally took the words right out of my mouth

                Originally Posted by Dovakiin View Post

                If you know squat about personal finance, weight loss, PUA, dating, then you have no business selling INFO products and HOW TO products for the audiences within those markets.

                I know that's not the reality here, obviously, but might don't make right...and everyone jumping off a cliff don't make it a good idea.
                Dovaklin,
                If you are a new Affiliate and you are totally transparent to your audience (i.e." I am no expert")
                and you act only as a middleman between the Product Vendor and the Prospect...well there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

                Being a Broker has been around for many centuries now. Taking a "finders fee" by matching these two groups a Vendor with a Prospect (who needs a problem solved) is not only totally legit but it serves a great purpose in everyday business !!


                - Robert Andrew
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                Nothing to see here including a Sig so just move on :)

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        • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
          Originally Posted by Dovakiin View Post

          Entering a niche market in the "info marketing business" when you know nothing about the niche is exactly fraud. It's also hypocritical. Just saying.

          But hey, it's the American Dream isn't it? Get rich quick without any skills or education. Guess I'll have to play along and "sell my soul" for a dollar. Everyone's doing it...at least in this thread anyway.
          Call me what you want, but I won't stop doing what I do because you think entering and profiting from a niche without any prior knowledge of it is fraud.

          I have an education, but decided I wanted to make a lot of money despite it.

          Now I am well educated in providing for my family in abundance and giving back without blinking an eye.
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      • Profile picture of the author quadagon
        Originally Posted by jasondinner View Post

        How does getting into and profiting from a market you know nothing about fraud?

        Fortune 500 companies do it every day?

        I didn't read any posts in here that said, "i went into a niche I knew nothing about and scammed a bunch of people."

        It's all about going into a niche, providing value in some way, and getting a share of the revenue pie that is up for grabs for anyone who dares to take it.

        If you know nothing about a certain niche, there are people out there in the world who will provide the knowledge for you - for a fee.
        Not really the same thing though is it. I mean McDonalds are unlikely to start servicing your car tomorrow without having a business plan, training their staff and suitably covering their arises.

        In IM you get people who decide that they will start an IM business and start promoting products on how to do IM. Normally they come on this forum and ask beginner questions whilst SIG bombing. There's a fair amount of I can't do this thing that I am advertising but here's why you should buy my ****.

        I do wonder how you know you are providing value if you know nothing about the market. Not you personally by the way.

        I can imagine people looking at a market realising they don't know it and then committing to market research before entering the market but that's not what was asked.


        Eric
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        • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
          Originally Posted by quadagon View Post

          Not really the same thing though is it. I mean McDonalds are unlikely to start servicing your car tomorrow without having a business plan, training their staff and suitably covering their arises.

          In IM you get people who decide that they will start an IM business and start promoting products on how to do IM. Normally they come on this forum and ask beginner questions whilst SIG bombing. There's a fair amount of I can't do this thing that I am advertising but here's why you should buy my ****.

          I do wonder how you know you are providing value if you know nothing about the market. Not you personally by the way.

          I can imagine people looking at a market realising they don't know it and then committing to market research before entering the market but that's not what was asked.


          Eric
          You're only talking about the make money online niche and the "buy my product where I will show you how I made money selling how to make money products to people who want to make money selling how to make money products."

          Which I totally get, but there are so many other niches out there.

          Although I will admit that when I got started 10 years ago, it was in the make money online space pushing how to make money stuff.

          It seems like a natural evolution for a lot of people - especially if their first exposure is to that exact thing. They just kinda follow suit.

          But with regards to my original response, I wasn't talking about the IM niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bob Reynolds
    I started off with something I did know much about and it has been a tough hall. The thing that has mad it work for me is that it was something I was passionate about learning and I had some transferable skills. Other wise.... not, I look forward to nailing down my list building, first, and then I will use those skill sets to develop my other niches, that I am much more passionate about. I would suggest finding a niche that you know most about that has a specific audience with a targeted need.
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  • Profile picture of the author n3o
    make money online ^^
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    India Casino Affiliate - Best Casino Affiliate Programs in India
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  • Profile picture of the author Caspoor
    What about using high-quality PLRs? That could help me alot if i don't know much about my niche. I can re-format the PLRs and sending it to my subscribers.

    It's a bad idea too?
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    • Profile picture of the author ProfitFromMyDomain
      Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

      What about using high-quality PLRs? That could help me alot if i don't know much about my niche. I can re-format the PLRs and sending it to my subscribers.

      It's a bad idea too?
      I wouldn't use it for keywords.
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  • Profile picture of the author ProfitFromMyDomain
    Yes 2 projects. All your doing is managing a website. If you find an opportunity in a market where you can profit, why would you pass it up because you have no knowledge in it? That's what hiring writers are for. It's a waste of time to think differently. If you're trying to make money, make money.
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  • Profile picture of the author AaronBurton
    Nope, not that I know of. I tried to get into weight loss but wasn't passionate about it.
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  • Profile picture of the author IrisMKH
    Maybe you could have success that way by presenting yourself as a learner. "My journey to..." and then you might become an trustworthy authority because people see where you came from (knowing nothing) and that your learning methods had success.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by quadagon View Post

      Even this is made harder without knowledge as you have no framework for judging competent people.
      This is where most newbies (and many 'oldbies') fall down. They're taught that you need authority,and generalize that to 'anyone actually selling a product must know what they're talking about.

      I just read one of those "how to write a Kindle book in X days" ebooks where the so-called expert author recommended his "10 Minute Research Plan" - buying 3-5 top Kindle books in the niche and using those as your "research". No mention of checking out the author to see if they were doing the same thing or just copying something else.

      Your EMD example was right on point - someone just entering this market might see that and assume that EMDs are still the only thing you need to rank, or that .net domains never rank. While EMDs were strong a few years ago, and .info domains were associated mainly with scammers, neither is still true. But someone coming into a niche with no background or knowledge, and without the skills to vet their sources, could end up screwing with peoples' lives with the best of intentions.

      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Dovaklin,
      If you are a new Affiliate and you are totally transparent to your audience (i.e." I am no expert") and you act only as a middleman between the Product Vendor and the Prospect...well there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

      Being a Broker has been around for many centuries now. Taking a "finders fee" by matching these two groups a Vendor with a Prospect (who needs a problem solved) is not only totally legit but it serves a great purpose in everyday business !!


      - Robert Andrew
      Robert, the trick is that many affiliates follow the model of "fake it until you make it" authority. Or they run the old "fake hero story" about "I tried a million things until I found this miracle product" BS.

      You're right, of course. There's nothing wrong with being an honest matchmaker.

      Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

      What about using high-quality PLRs? That could help me alot if i don't know much about my niche. I can re-format the PLRs and sending it to my subscribers.

      It's a bad idea too?
      If you know nothing about your niche, how do you know you're getting high quality PLR?

      That's the Catch-22 in this discussion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Saumyashrivastava
    Originally Posted by Caspoor View Post

    ..Did you enter a niche you know NOTHING about? And had success? It's a good idea to enter a niche i know NOTHING about? For sure i will read about it when i enter it. so, i can send value to my subscribers.

    Your turn.
    Yes, I did it many times and really got many kind of information during this type of activities. And after a long time, I established a online marketing business and continually selling products through online marketing as well.
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