Going to bookshops to identify a hot market

The day may come when people do all of their researching and reading online but it isn't here yet. Fiction, of course, will always be in print... it would be hard to curl up with a good novel in front of the fireplace on a cold winter day with a computer. Research, however, may eventually all be done online. People buy 'how-to' books and books that are devoted to solving their problems and/or making their lives better every day. By identifying the hot market books that are being sold in bookshops (online and off line) you can identify a hot niche marketing topic. Go to the bookshops in your area and take note of the kinds of non-fiction books that are stocked. You should particularly note the ones that are self-help or how-to books. If you can create the opportunity, ask the stock boy which ones are selling the best. He's the one who knows what is being restocked most often. That failing, ask a floor salesperson the same question. Asking the bookstore owner or manager is the last option. They are more likely to be pushing the books that aren't selling well in order to make a sale. Learn by whatever means you can which self-help or how-to books are the hottest sellers. Another option is the online bookstores. You can't, of course, ask for information from a person but you can research the site and determine which of the non-fiction self-help or how-to books are highest in sales. Finding out what books people are most often buying can give you some insight into what the hot market subjects are. Armed with this information, you can go about creating a niche marketing website that will have a better chance of becoming successful.

Advertising temptations how small businesses can handle them

New advertising ideas and techniques most always get the quick attention of the optimistic small business owner. The first time you hear about a something new to use or adapt, your mind races forward, especially if the testimonials are realistic and seem to relate to what you are doing. To illustrate, picture that ad salesperson standing right there in your business. Temptation is staring you in the face. "It's a great deal," they tell you. Do you go for it or not? Here are three sets of realistic questions to ask yourself as you evaluate the proposal: **************************************** 1. Take a step to the side and consider this. Is your current advertising already covering the basics? Is this new temptation part of your basic advertising plan or does it fall in the "next level" category? Remember that you've got to do the basics first, just as you have to open a showroom before you can decorate it. So make sure you are doing the basics well before you move to the next level. **************************************** 2. Will the new idea or technique stand on its own as a profit generator? Can the new idea or technique be integrated into your basic advertising thrust so it can compliment what you are already doing? Will it contribute to building a cumulative advertising effect? **************************************** 3. Can you afford it? Is your advertising budget already strained? Will this advertising method pay for itself? Or will it break the bank? **************************************** Background: The informed small business owner keeps good records of all promotions and advertising. You want to develop enough information to figure out what works and what doesn't. It's called learning from your experiences of being in the trenches. Temptation stares you in the face at the least expected times. Temptation can come from hearing or reading about super results others have gotten with their advertising. Often it appears when a salesperson tells you about the "great deal" they are offering. Temptation can come from looking forward to how great it would be if you could get similar results. It always sounds so easy. Is temptation worth listening to? By giving yourself honest answers to the three questions above, you'll know if it's time to move ahead to the next level and succumb to your latest advertising temptations. © 2006 Jon Sinish