Step 2:

I upload software to my server. Now, I need to create a landing page and use that to distribute software to potential subscribers.

I've done some advanced planning and realized that my target market will be people who search on key phrases like free e-book software and free e-book publishing software. They're likely to be marketing types; and, even if they aren't, they're likely to be interested in subject of writing e-books.

So, on my landing page, I'll present The Ultimate E-Publishing Newsletter. My copy will presell tips, tricks, tools and resources every e-book author or publisher needs. In exchange for opt-in, I offer PDF Moto software and give a full description of its features and benefits.

Step 3:

I now have people opting into my list in exchange for software and it's time to follow up with them. They receive a 6 part ecourse from my autoresponder which presells How to Write and Publish Your Own Ebook in Seven Days. Obviously, I've got my affiliate id embedded in every link!

Conclusion

Now, that wasn't too hard. There are a variety of other follow up actions I can take at this point. For example, I could invest profits from e-book sales into creating a full site devoted to e-book publishing. My opt-in list is a source of immediate, targeted traffic I can send to site once it launches. In order to maximize my efforts, I could poll my entire list for their ideas on what products and information they'd like to see next.

Can you see power in this approach? I took nothing more than a free piece of software and used it to collect prospects from a very active niche market. I can repeat this system over and over again using other types of freeware – everything from calorie counters to auction tools. There's always an e-book or a premium software product which I can build into back end. Better yet, I can leverage all of my back end profits into hiring someone to create a unique product just for me, further enhancing value I bring to that niche market.

So, if you're struggling to get started with a site of your own, consider this lazy man's approach to building niches. You'll have fundamentals in place in record time, freeing yourself to focus on marketing and making sales.

John Calder is the owner/editor of The Ezine Dot Net. Subscribe Today and get real information YOU can use to help build your online business today! http://www.TheEzine.Net

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Getting started

The easiest way to get started is to visit www.blogger.com or www.typepad.com. Both contain a simple “3 steps to success” process that helps you publish your first blog within five or ten minutes after you arrive at either site.

Costs are surprisingly inexpensive. Blogger, a part of www.google.com, is a free service. Typepad is free for first 30 days, less than $15.00 a month thereafter. Best of all, you usually don’t have to pay a penny for design or production costs. Both Blogger and Typepad offer dozens of templates, which you can customize by changing colors, layout, or type.

What about content?

Start by taking an inventory of currently available newsletters, special reports, and web site content. Look for content you can use to create an information archive blog, like www.rcpmarketing.info.

Can you extract tips from previous content, so you can create a tips blog, like www.rcpdesign.info or www.rcpwebblog.info? If you often speak at events, conduct workshops, or host teleseminars, create a calendar blog like www.rcpevents.info.

Why not create a commentary blog focusing on an single aspect of your expertise, like www.rcpnewsletters.info, or a book review blog? Because they are so easy and inexpensive, you may want to consider multiple blogs for different markets you serve—or want to serve.