There are some hurdles but if you are open to learning and applying what you read, then of course some of those hurdles won't have such a heavy effect on your business.

The other hurdle of course is getting so wrapped up with what is going on, on-line, that you forget that there is another world besides on-line to consider.

Taking time and working your off-line market does a great many things for you.

Things, like:

1. discovering new markets that can drive your on-line sales in a huge way. Placing ads in your local newspapers and in community newsletters is a great way to gain exposure and hits to your web site. Hits from people who might not necessarily know that you existed otherwise.

2. finding and building alliances with off-line business owners is another way to leverage your marketing efforts. You could find an off-line business owner who compliments your products and services and co-author a newsletter together. You both promote newsletter and market to each other's client base.

BUT ... that doesn't mean you throw your hands up in dispair and give up ;o) Stick with me for a few minutes and we'll go over a few ideas that come to mind and see if they get your creative juices flowing.

Firstly, what heck is a "Niche" anyway?? I mean I am sure you have seen word flying around Internet and a lot more lately. You've seen newsletter articles and email letters from some of top guru's now sprouting "Niche" as new "catch" word of time.

The term is NOT NEW. Basically a "niche" is finding a specific target market and catering to their specific wants and needs.

Ummm let me give you an example...

As a marketing coach/consultant my business is providing a service "marketing" to businesses. Now obviously business arena is too general so what I want to do is break it down into bite size sectors or smaller target markets. I may want to deal specifically to needs and wants of Dental Offices and decide to specialize in Dental Office Marketing. I could take on legal sector and specialize in marketing legal practices.

Get where I am going here??

I can't be all things to all businesses out there, so I break business sector down into target markets and find ones that I want to specialize in and cater to that group specifically.

Now, you may be thinking ok, that's good for you being a marketing coach, but I am an affiliate for a progam...how does "niche marketing" affect me?

Glad you asked ;o)

When people first come online with desire to start some sort of eBusiness they typically go into "emarketing" niche and promote products/services with a marketing theme. It makes sense from a marketing point of view, you go where there is demand.

However, with demand also comes competition and "online marketing" arena is saturated and highly competitive.

So...what do you do?

Well, what you need to do is sit and think of markets outside of "online marketing" arena which could also use your products/ services and target your messages specifically to them.

Umm I feel an example coming on here...ah ok, here is one for you.

Lets say you are an affiliate for an autoresponder service. Excellent service because you know that anyone who starts a business online needs an autoresponder. While that is great, what isn't so hot is fact that you are not only autoresponder service in cyber-land and they too are targeting same niche you are.

But...the difference between you and them is this article ;o)