You want to start an online business by building an online presence, but where do you begin? Choosing a niche market is your first step. Here’s a breakdown of three main niche categories with examples to help you pick the perfect one:
Evergreen Niches
These are the reliable workhorses of the online world. Think weight loss, dating, or personal finance. Content you create today will likely still be relevant years from now. The upside? A steady, potentially long-term income stream.
The downside? Stiff competition – everyone and their cousin is vying for the same audience.
Just a few more examples to get you started…
- Fitness
- Healthy eating
- Disease prevention
- Finding and keeping love
- Marriage
- Raising children
- Managing money
- Investments
- Self-improvement
- Goal setting
- Overcoming challenges
- Building confidence
- Meditation
- Photography
- Cooking
- Gardening
- Do it yourself
- Starting businesses
- Marketing strategies
- Pet ownership
- Fashion and beauty
Remember, even within evergreen niches, there’s room for specialization. You can carve out your own space by focusing on a specific target audience or a unique approach within the broader niche. so for instance, maybe you focus on weight loss for busy professionals or dating advice for over-50s.
Trending Niches
Ever heard of “riding a wave?” Trending niches are like that. Get in early on a hot topic and you can make serious bank (for a while). These niches can potentially become evergreen or fizzle out as trends shift. Remember the 80s aerobics craze? Trending niches can be lucrative but have a shorter lifespan. Use tools like Google Trends to identify hot topics.
At one time cryptocurrency was a hot topic, but no longer. So many are already ‘into it’ – and it has a poor reputation as there are many scammers. At the time of writing (May 2024) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications are trending.
A few more trending niches to get you started…
- Navigating the Metaverse
- Understanding Web3
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications
- Sustainable technology solutions.
- Social & Wellness Trends such as breathwork, forest bathing
- Nootropics and biohacking
- The “Comfort Food” Craze
- The “Great Resignation” and the Future of Work
- Upskilling and lifelong learning
You may like to use Google Trends to investigate what’s trending.
Obscure Niches
These are the hidden corners of the internet. Sure, someone might be searching for “camping in Antarctica,” but the audience is likely too small to be profitable. Obscure niches can be a fun exploration, but for building a sustainable online business, they’re best avoided unless you’re incorporating them into a larger, related niche. Think of them as a niche within a niche – a highly specific area with limited interest.
Here are some examples of obscure niches…
- Crocheting sweaters for hairless cats
- Training parrots to solve puzzles
- Creating obstacle courses for dwarf rabbits
- Medieval cheesemaking techniques
- Fashion trends of the Victorian mourning period
- Repairing and restoring vintage technology
- Hyper-localized services such as dog walking in a specific town
- Creating jewelry from recycled bottle caps
- Designing furniture using reclaimed wood
Remember, “obscure” doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no audience, just a smaller and more targeted one.
Which Niche is Right for You?
It depends on your goals. Evergreen niches offer stability, while trending ones can bring quick profits. The key is to find a niche you’re passionate about and can see yourself building content for in the long run.
Remember, a niche doesn’t have to be massive to be successful. It just needs to be focused and have a dedicated audience. Choose wisely and watch your online presence flourish.
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