As a writer, I’ve had days when my writing just seems to leap onto the keyboard, and the writing is smooth and flowing and as sparkling as a mountain stream. Other days, I prepare to write and my brain just won’t function fully. I can’t find the right words, or the ideas that do come just don’t seem to work together. If you have any of those days, then here are five steps that may just blast away that writing block.
Get an idea book.
How often have you been inspired with a great idea, but you were driving the car or in the middle of a meeting? Do some of your ideas come when you wake up in the middle of the night, but you can’t recall them in the morning? You never know when your writing muse will favor you. Get an idea book. This can be just a small notebook you keep in your purse, pocket or on your desk. When an idea pops into your head, write it down. Soon you’ll have a list of new and unwritten ideas that you can develop into an article.
Outline it.
Now before you start writing that article from a topic in your idea book, take time to write a simple outline about the topic. Think of related ideas, and jot them down, and under each list sub-headings and short notes. Outlines serve to focus your mind as you write, preventing you from getting off the topic.
Don’t worry about grammar.
As you write, just let the writing flow. When you are on a roll, a few spelling errors or grammatical no-no’s don’t matter. Stopping to proofread just distracts from the flow of words. Right now, just get the ideas down and keep the words coming. Then, when you’re all done, edit it for those errors. An easy job if you do your writing with a word processor.
Review, review.
If you’re in the middle of an article and the words and ideas stop flowing, it may be time to go back to what you’ve already written and read it. You may find that you’ve gone off track, and this will often serve to get you back onto your original track. Go back to your outline to see whether you’ve missed a heading or sub-heading that was transitional.
Read it aloud.
Once you finish your article’s first draft, read it aloud. This is one of the best ways to check how it flows. You may not notice small errors, since the brain sometimes registers what should be there, not what is there. However, you will get a much better idea if you’ve been successful in achieving a readable and flowing article.
To find a profitable niche market, begin with some detailed research. You’ve heard the old saying, ‘Do what you love, and the money will follow.” However, this does not necessarily hold true. What you really need to love is the marketing.
To market successfully, and profitably, you’ll want to be in a niche where people are buying, where others have a strong interest or a passion. There are millions of people online every day who are searching for something they are ready and prepared to pay for. You’re looking for committed buyers, not freebie seekers.
Okay, how do you find these desperate buyers? Think of problems that many people have, that they are desperate to find solutions for. Now this could be information, but it could also be some sort of product.
Here are 6 niches or markets you can explore:
1. People who are unhappy with how they look – too much hair, too little hair, skin problems, overweight, poor teeth, etc.
2. People with financial stress – needing credit, about to be foreclosed, needing medical attention, etc.
3. Those desiring to improve their quality of life – work less, have more money, work at home, get a better job, buy a dream car, take a dream vacation, find a soul-mate, etc.
4. People with pets – their pet may have a behavioral problem such as chewing on things or disobedience that needs a solution. They may just be looking for information about choosing a pet.
5. Children – parents will spend on their children for many reasons – educational, living with a disease (ADD for example), new baby items, home schooling etc.
6. Hobbyists – this group is not really looking for a ’solution to a problem’, but they are ready and willing to spend money on their hobby – getting the latest gadgets or supplies. Especially true of ‘craftspeople’.
These key areas are all where you’ll find people who are searching for something to change – where they perceive a problem or lack or desire, and they are willing and ready to pay for a possible solution. Now your next step is to narrow your focus, by doing some further research.
Visit online groups, such as Yahoo Answers, Google Groups, and MySpace to find out exactly what people are looking for. Check out the Movers and Shakers at Amazon, or the Pulse at EBay. Then conduct keyword research to narrow and refine your selection, and you’ll see even more sub-niches come to light. Take your time, be thorough, and you’ll be well on your way to having a successful niche marketing site.
