A Different Type Of Question...

[incrediblehelp]

OK so I am an SEOer. I have worked on many different websites. I have had much success in optimizing them and getting the rankings they want. These websites have also done well as far as profitability, but most of the time I wasn't privy to this info because I was doing organic SEO and not PPC. I have worked on so may website in the past that it sometimes seems like a 7 year blur.

What was my favorite to work on? Which one had the best success? When looking back if I had to pick one, which would I choose to be in as a business of my own?

These are important questions. Also lets understand that I am asking these questions not to rate my own success as an SEOer, but as someone starting fresh online. Someone that basically had marketing knowledge and wanted to start their own online store. What type of business would they pick?

This is the question that I would like to present everyone else out there. If they had a to pick a client or website of their own that overall they felt was making the great money and had fun working on what would it be? Sure some of you would pick the website that you have already been working on over the years and I think that is a great answer. Maybe your in a tough niche and still having good success, but if you could (or would) start over what niche would you pick?

Now let me clarify. I am not asking to resell advertising on this new website or make a MFA (Made For AdSense) website. I have had success in optimize MFA websites, but I don't feel that this type of income is a long term solution. I have also had great success in all types of affiliate marketing, but once again this is not ownership of the actual business.

Maybe I am just venting a little here or just pondering working truly for and by myself, but at some point as a independent marketing consultant like myself or even a great marketer that works for a larger company you have to ask yourself inside...can I do this on my own. In the past I have worked at a larger SEO company. I quit that job and have been self-employed consultant for the past 3 years. I am making great money doing this, but what about ownership of this whole thing? Bottom line is this type of work can dry up during certain periods of our economy and having ownership in your own online shop or store would help in economic downturn. Of course this decision is not based on financial gain so much as just taking pride in something that I actually own for myself.

So tell me WPW members, if you could pick a new business to get into for yourself what would it be or if you feel your already in the perfect niche what is it?

Looking forward to hearing everyone else opinions and experiences if you care to post them.

[brian.mark]

Whatever you do, don't try getting into tool parts. The margins seem decent until you start looking at the labor hours involved and the data upkeep. It's just a real pain. I'd imagine most small item sale sites are that way... decent margins because nobody in their right mind wants to deal in the volume it'll take to really make something happen.

Personally, I can't think of any business that I'd want to run. If I could own it and provide direction, that's one thing. But starting from the ground up is a ton of work before you start really seeing any money, so it's tough to think about doing that again. I know it wouldn't be power tools, either. It'd have to be a niche... perhaps hammocks. They seem to have decent margins, aren't quite as much of a beast of scale (a hammock is usually $50 - $150, not in the under $5 pricepoint) and seem so peaceful.

I'm interested in seeing other responses. It's easier to say what I'd never do than what I would do... because if I knew what I wanted to do for sure I'd already be there.

Brian.

[Jabber_uk]

Well I already run a business (small at the moment but looking promising for software sales soon). I wouldn't go back to being an employee if I could help it.

As for being in the right business - thats another matter! <thinks>

Ok, I've thought about it. I have connections in many different businesses as it happens (doing websites helps that) so, If I chose to change then it wouldn't be too difficult. However, with the possibilities of the software we produce, then I think I am in the right business.

The stress at times has been terrible, the issues of home life versus work have been bad. Has it been worth it? It has in so far as I am a stronger character now because of the experience. I have yet to see the big rewards financially though.

"Its not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up!"

[SEOforGoogle]

Since I sorta already fall into the category of selling my own ebook, it makes it much easier to spend the extra time and hours responding to questions that clients/potential buyers may have. Also, by selling the ebook, it lets me know that I am helping others obtain their business goals.

But the most important element of the business is that I can set my own schedule and decide what/where/when to do business.

But, if I had to choose some type of new business to start, it would prolly be something to do with kid clothing/toys/furniture - there is soo much money being spent in that industry and you know it's not going away anytime soon...

[incrediblehelp]

Good responses so far.

The trick is to find the right niche people are already searching and spending at a good rate online. Find a supplier that can handle inventory or drop ship for you at a reasonable cost. I don't want to carry inventory, but I would if I could manage it and have it not cost an obscene amount.

[ctabuk]

I have several mortgage niche's which is difficult to do as the competition is fierce, but the rewards financially are substantial, but whatever you do in the SE world, make sure your website title reflects what you do and that if you use forums so does your username.
My mortgage niche - high rise flats - PRC Concrete -
Best search term result Right to Buy Advice

[Jabber_uk]

We (Anything IT) are a small company whose weaknesses have been sales/marketing and administration.

We are in talks with a large successful company in our area about having them do admin for us and for us to use their sales and marking skills.

In return we can carry on doing what we enjoy - the techie stuff!

Together we will go far I think.

My point? Do something you enjoy. Let others do the crap stuff that you hate.

[incrediblehelp]

Yes but Jabber this is what I want to get away from. I would like to create ownership in my own website/business instead of offering techie skills, marketing skills, nunchuck skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills to clients.

I know this question is so open ended it is hard to answer, but the bottom line is I would like to apply my marketing skills to my own product line or website. Sure creating a marketing biz has been great and money is good, but I want the challenge and eventually secure of doing this for myself. I can always come back to offering by services and skills out to other companies.

[Tubby]

I think that you need a certain percentage of "love"
Of course I am talking about myself. (who else could I talk about)
When I decided to create a website (1998) I wanted somewhere where a few of my mates could find some car parts. . ** yes I am an Idiot ** After about two years I discovered one of my mates was buying parts on ebay, he confirmed that I was indeed an Idiot by telling me so in so many words. But last year I gave away my full time job, and my web pages now supply my income. . I realise that in the great sceme of things that what I own and love is very very small, But I love it, I love every email from users that have found the part they were looking for, I love chatting to users. And recently When the USA had troops In Australia for a military exercise. . I was extremely happy to get several visitors phone me with peculiar accents. saying thing like 'howaryall I will be In Gladstone on friday where yall' (well something like that, I have an unopened bottle of bourbon from Kentucky on my shelf that was handed to me from A US seviceman that had an Early Hillman back home and he spent some of his hard earned leave sitting under my house looking at my Junk.

My two sons tell me I spend a lot of time playing on the net. . I tell them It is a Business!

I love it, I love It, I love it. and If ever I work out exactly how to do it properly. . I expect I will love it some more.

Yes I do spend the odd day slumped over my keypad in dispair when a computer goes down. . But getting out of bed in the morning is extremely easy and I often find myself flicking through a few emails before I get dressed with a cup of tea first thing in the morning.

Owning my own website is a dream occupation. I am currently looking at traveling with my work, Pack up a laptop, , and fly off to visit the world. . I do need to adjust my work format though.

What does sometimes amaze me is loyalty of my users. . Yes I have been 'dropped by google' and had my asss kicked a few times by people bigger and better than me, but I have a loyal band of users, and to me that loyal band is all I ever wanted.

Mostly any advise I ever offer is based on what I have learned myself. If I were offering advise on what sort of web business to get into. . my advise would be Pick a business where you can get to know your users - People have always been the most interesting thing that exists on this planet, Pick a business that involves people - not items. . .

[Jabber_uk]

You want ownership of a business/product? I think if I wasn't doing what I am doing, I would choose to import/export something in a niche that isn't yet filled or take advantage of a situation (in the world) that needs import/export.

So there you have it - you got it out of me - I would be an importer/exporter if I wasn't doing what I am doing now. :-)

[Grokodile]

Well, I'd do a directory of course!

Seriously though, having worked in the real world enough, I'd like the freedom of working for a virtual endeavor, full time. This would allow me to make my hours my own, travel freely and still be able to work, and most importantly, to earn income continously whether or not I was putting in any hours myself.

Unless you have the money to invest in an already running business, and to pay people to manage it on your behalf, it is very difficult to jump into any type of business and then have it run on something similar to auto-pilot. I think the web is one of the few things that can do this... if you have things set up appropriately.

Anyway, back to griping about the real world, even as an overpaid consultant, there really are only so many hours in a day. Eventually you hit the wall of earnings, the limit of pay rate and hours you are willing to work.

[internet-marketing-cr]

I know what I want to do, it's just that is going to take some time, but I am visualizing it and alredy started working on it.

I would say we should get involved in something we feel passion for, something we know we can be good at, that interest us very much, something in which we can give to people our best.

Personally I am talking about Health-tourism, I have passion for the subject and it interests me very much.

[Gert Leroy]

Originally Posted by brian.mark

It'd have to be a niche... perhaps hammocks. They seem to have decent margins, aren't quite as much of a beast of scale (a hammock is usually $50 - $150, not in the under $5 pricepoint) and seem so peaceful.

Brian, i live in Natal, in the North-East of Brazil. We have some producers of artisanal hammocks in the region. If one day you need a supplier... And relax, i won't rip you off, i'm not Brazilian ;o)

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

if you could pick a new business to get into for yourself what would it be or if you feel your already in the perfect niche what is it?

I've been struggeling with this question myself for a long time. I have a directory about martial arts shops in belgium - you can call it niche - and i'm earning pretty good money on Adsense. I've been thinking about starting to sell martial arts stuff through the site, but haven't come that far yet. I guess SEO'ers are no sales-men..

Originally Posted by internet-marketing-cr

I would say we should get involved in something we feel passion for, something we know we can be good at, that interest us very much, something in which we can give to people our best.

Untill now for me this is online money making, based on Adsense and SEO for clients. My next goal will be selling products online, and my biggest question is: WHAT PRODUCTS ?????????

[A. Smith]

For the purpose of making money (yes, that's the goal in business after all), find something that cannot be done in places where wages are much lower than where you are. So, avoid anything crafty, anything that requires fabricating, anything to do with textiles for example can be done so much cheaper in China than in the US. Anything requiring hand labor, such as woodworking or upholstery, can always be done cheaper elsewhere.

I have 2 businesses, one is just doing ok as it is a textile-related business. There is just no way to compete with people who live on $1 per day! My other business is real estate related and requires much less time and brings in more money. I just love my first business, and it is at times more a labor of love than a profitable venture.

Another approach: go to your local college or university. They have a bunch of tests/profiles than you can take and that then recommend certain professions/fields. Even if you don't follow their recommendations, the questions asked are excellent. Things like: do you like to work with people or are you more of a loner? your interests, etc.

Also, don't disregard any hobbies. Many have turned hobbies into profitable and ENJOYABLE businesses.

So, making money is the idea, but doing something that you enjoy is really important.

[roam_dx]

Expect some clients to play the devil here offering eye popping money to keep you working with them. This is of course assuming you are good at what you do, which we all know you are.

You'll have to do some serious soul searching other than the product searching. Been planning something on these lines for a year now, still working on it.

Also, the dynamics of the retail business are quite different from that of providing services even if both often work towards the common goal of driving sales.

Services, IMHO, is the one that appears to be more profitable globally for small business. Retail is good if you can achieve profitability by getting better deals with your suppliers due to your rlationship/volume than your competitors can.

Good luck.