This week I asked our panel of experts…

“Do you survey your customers? If so, do you have any tips for making the surveys work better or examples of what is working right now? Got lessons learned to help my readers avoid mistakes?”

I know that you'll find the responses helpful.

Terry Dean of My Marketing Coach says:

I LOVE surveys!

You can get your customers to tell you what to create…and they'll even give you the language you use when you sell it.

I've done multiple different kinds of surveys. The easiest is to simply come up with a list of product titles you're considering offering and asking subscribers which one they're most interested in buying. That's an easy way to get started on your first survey.

But the most common survey I've done includes at least 3 questions. I've asked many more questions at times, but you will get a lower response as the questions increase.

1. What is the single most important question you have about ________________?
2. Why do you say the above? Why, specifically, would that be important to you?
3. How difficult has it been for you to find what you've written about above elsewhere?

The first two questions are open ended where they give you the answer. The last question is a multiple choice with 3 possibilities: Very Difficult, Somewhat Difficult, Not at All Difficult.

• The first question finds out what people want (to help you find or create the product)
• The 2nd question finds out WHY they want it (also giving you ad copy for your website)
• The 3rd question lets you know if others are offering something similar (If people say it's not difficult to find it actually lowers the value of their answers in the overall survey).

Now let me give you the biggest mistake I've made with surveys and one I see others make all the time.

You must survey the traffic source you plan on using!

For example, I surveyed my list and created a product. The product sold like crazy to my list, but the moment I went outside my list to other traffic sources it did poorly.

I'm going to chalk it up to my subscribers being much smarter than the average online marketer. Once I went out to other audiences, they weren't ready for that product.

On a recent survey, I surveyed my list. I also got a regular JV partner to send my survey to their list. And I purchased Facebook ads to my survey targeting some of the same interests I plan to go after later.

Each survey was tracked separately giving me information for both developing the product and changes I can make to the promotion as I reach different audiences.

Survey the traffic where you plan on offering the product.

Shannon Cherry of Learn How I Get *Paid* to Attend Events says:

I am not much for surveying in the traditional sense of the word. Like many people, I find lackluster results using a traditional poll. That's because you are asking (or begging or bribing) others to do you a favor.

Instead, I poll my community in a different way: by giving something – my smarts. We all know that – like it or not – people really want to pick your brain when you have something to share. I capitalize on this by hosting an open Q & A session every so often. I let them ask me anything, and I answer honestly without selling on the call. And I make sure people don't have to be on the call to ask their question (which I will still answer live on the call).

This not only shows my value in a tangible way to people thinking about working with me, but I also get great fodder on what their pain currently is and where I should focus my efforts in terms of product development and promotion. It's a win-win.

Dr. Mani of How to Set Goals says:

Here are my tips:

a. Keep surveys really short (under 2 min. for user) – and tell them
b. Offer incentives to encourage participation
c. Offer to share results with the group – and follow through

Kelly McCausey of Solo Smarts Podcast says:

I have surveyed my community a few times in a traditional way, using a form on my website. If I can get enough people to respond, which takes a lot of effort, I do feel like I get valuable output to use. I'll keep doing this every few years I'm sure, but in the meantime, when I really want to know what my people are thinking about – I have another way.

I've been offering ‘Open Phones‘ for a few years now. In a nutshell, I announce a window of time and invite my community to call me for free advice and answers. Sometimes it's wide open to all questions and a few times I've focused on something specific.

The information I gather on these calls is pure gold. Fears, technical road blocks, specific sticking points, the real felt needs of my target market are spilled out in my lap. Call after call I'm jotting down ideas about blog posts, podcast topics, products ideas – you name it. For me, being able to ask clarifying questions and plainly ask the caller if they'd be interested in _____ product is a gift. Because we're chatting casually, they don't say ‘Yes' or ‘No'. They say ‘Well, if it ____ and ____ for me and ____, yeah – I'd buy that.'

I can't make decisions based on one person's thoughts, but it does inspire me and often leads to great projects.

Learn how to Offer Open Phone Lines. Click here for info.

Connie Ragen Green of Affiliate Marketing Case Studies says:

I survey my high-level mentoring students regularly to get their feedback and to make sure I am providing them with the tools they need to become
successful.

Many times I am surprised at their responses, and would not have had the opportunity to serve them with what they want and need from me unless
I had asked.

Felicia Slattery of Signature Speech Secrets says:

I have surveyed my folks from the very beginning and their answers have shaped my entire business.

I have always liked Survey Monkey, but I also actively use and monitor the answers I get on social media. But when you use social media to survey your people, you've got to be careful. For example, if you use Facebook, like many of us solo and home-based folks, you're likely connected with not only customers and potential customers, but also high school friends, college friends, past co-workers, neighbors, family, colleagues, and more.

In case you haven't noticed, EVERYONE on social media has an opinion and when you ask for it, they will give it to you. When asking about things related to your business, however, pay the closest attention to what your customers say – they are the ones who will be buying from you!

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

Well everyone gave such great info, I'm off the hook.

So, as I'm about to get ready to have guests of to watch the Packers game, I'll keep it short and sweet.

I love surveying my audience (and also giving feedback) when a few things are taken into consideration.

1. Make it short.
2. Have most (if not all) questions be optional.
3. Give a space for typing in suggestions.

If it's fast and easy to do, many of your people will gladly participate. And, if you make certain questions optional, and don't force them to choose if nothing applies, then they'll answer the ones that they feel strongly about and leave the other alone.

Plus, you want to allow a few open ended questions for those who have ideas for you that you hadn't thought of.  It's a great method of finding out what your market needs from you to serve them better.

And, the final step of course, is to actually USE the info. Don't file it away. Use it to improve your business and give your peeps what they need.

There are lots of different methods of using surveys. If you want to get fancy and provide people with solutions that are customized to their needs, check this one out for ideas. http://nicoledean.com/likes/marketing-quiz/

Talk soon. Big hugs.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

This week I asked our panel of experts…

“Oftentimes people criticize those of us in the Business niche as not knowing how to make money elsewhere.

I figured I'd ask this week… Do you have a presence in other niches outside the business world? Care to share?”

I think you'll find the responses interesting.

Lynn Terry of Niche Success Blueprints says:

I do, and I always have – through my entire 17+ years in business. I personally feel it's tough to teach leadership if you're not a leader, motivation if you're not motivated, and business strategies if you're not a successful business owner. It's through in-the-trenches hands-on experience that you can inspire, share and teach other people what's working and what's changing, etc.

Of course, the majority of niche marketers don't teach what they do – they simply make an awesome living at it, quietly. The “Internet Marketing” space makes up a *very* small percentage of the people who are making a good living online.

My primary website is TravelingLowCarb.com where I share my fun travel adventures and what I'm eating along the way. It helps inspire people with a busy lifestyle to stick to a healthy diet – even when they're on the go, or juggling family/work/home/etc like me.

I have a great time with TLC! I run a low carb challenge group several times a year that currently has over 23,000 members. I'm very active on social media, sharing my food choices and travel pics. I get to work with fun brands, go new places, try new foods. And I get to help people make healthy lifestyle choices and achieve life-changing health goals. It's amazing fun!!

I love the idea of choosing a niche that takes you in the direction of your ideal lifestyle – what you most want to spend your time doing. And I do love to travel and eat! I recently took a “low carb road trip” and enjoyed a weekend on the beach, for the sole purpose of sharing how easy it is to “eat low carb on vacation”. You can't beat that for “work”. That trip increased my Facebook Page engagement by over 300%. Fun stuff.

I teach my business model and marketing methods in a series of weekly training modules called Niche Success Blueprint. I include live examples, and share everything I'm doing in my own business, to help others create a business that's as fun as mine – and show them how to take it to maximum profit potential with a variety of revenue sources.

When people ask me what I do for a living, I often joke “I get paid to eat. What about you?”

Dr. Mani of How to Set Goals says:

Most of my work is now in niches outside business, but here's a very important lesson I'll share through my answer to your question, which is… “No, I do NOT care to share”.

The lesson? Don't reveal your niches… especially to those who might be/become your potential “competition”

Shannon Cherry of Learn How I Get *Paid* to Attend Events says:

Most people do not know I am a best selling author and ‘media personality' in the parenting niche. It's kind of funny because I am certainly not an expert in parenting. I barely keep my head above water with it some days. I also am considered a wine expert and give presentations on how to discover new wines based on your personal preferences. (Hmmm… perhaps there is a reason I am considered a parenting expert AND a wine expert. I believe the two aren't unrelated )

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

When I first started out back in 2004, I went into a LOT of niches. A lot. Way too many to be honest.

I had (and still have in some cases) sites related to the following:

• Romance from a Woman's Perspective
• Food and Cooking
• Exercise Videos
• Home Decor
• House Cleaning & Organizing
• Preschool Themes
• Themed Kids Crafts
• Asperger's and Autism
• Dieting and diet trends
• Romance novels, specifically Paranormal and Time Travel ones.
• Kids books and getting your kiddos reading better
• Saving money
• Homemade Beauty Recipes
• Laser Hair Removal (don't judge me) lol!
• and more.

And, yes, I do still have some of those. Many of them still actually make a bit of money, so I've just sat on them for years and years and years – but I've been letting most of them go or selling them one by one.

I've already sold a few and there will be more announced soon, so stay tuned. If we're friends on FB or you're on my list, you'll see as I post these for sale.

I chose this question because I've always felt that I needed to have my finger on the pulse of what was working outside the Business to Business community in order to truly be a teacher to those who were in other niches, too. It's been a credibility thing for me.

As I've grown my business, though, I've gotten away from diluting my brand but I found other ways to still stay “real” to what's out there:

• I've worked for clients in other industries. I've actually worked as an Affiliate Manager for a few clients in niches outside of business – and it was very fun.
• I've had lots of one-on-one coaching clients who are in other niches. That way I can help them, we can see what works, and adjust. I've been so very fortunate to have worked with coaching clients in many industries – scrapbooking, family/parenting, Direct Sales training, and more.
• And, of course, at the Beachprenuer's Ladies Only Retreat, we attract amazing women in lots of industries. I love masterminding with them. I've been blessed to work with women in aromatherapy, personal organization, and raw food/smoothie niches, as examples.

I'd also like to give a shout out to my friend, Pat Flynn, who has ALWAYS kept it real and transparent with his peeps. For instance, he's currently working on a site about Food Trucks and using it as a case study for his peeps to learn from You can follow along here: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/foodtruckr/

So what about you?  Have you dabbled? If so, do you have any crazy niche stories that you want to share?

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS. If you want to learn how to earn more passive income, no matter what your niche, check out the free audio on this page: incometweaks.com

As you may know, I recently released a course called “Sticky Social Media” that has been a huge hit. The course comes with training videos showing 17 ways to quickly create graphics for social media sites. It also includes tons of other stuff, but you can see all of that on this page: Sticky Social Media

That got me thinking if I missed any good tools. So, this week I asked our panel of experts the following question.

“Regarding social media graphics.

What tools do you personally use to whip up quick and easy graphics to share on Social Media sites?”

I hope you like it.

Lynette Chandler of Tech Based Marketing says:

Right now, my favorite tool is Pixlr because it is online and I don't have to fire up clunky graphics software.

I even created a Pinterest Pixlr tutorial complete with downloadable templates -> Get the free Pinterest Pixlr Tutorial & Templates Here

I also use Keynote and finally, two fun tools on the iPad. FrameArtist+ and Over. FrameArtist+ is a little bit more versatile than Over but I love the fonts that come with Over. Their artwork packs are also really cool.

Dr. Mani of How to Set Goals says:

Nicole, this is one question I can answer

I have a screen capture tool called CaptureMe (for the Mac) which can resize and grab any portion of a screen for use as an image.

To edit an image by adding text or a quote, I make this ‘grabbed' image (the one I grabbed from my screen) the background of a table cell (takes a basic understanding of HTML to do this), and type in the text as the table cell's content. Sizing, positioning and any other formatting can be done with adding <b>, <i> or <center> and <align> tags.

Then, I use CaptureMe again to snap a photo of the edited image – and share it on social media.

Might sound elaborate or complex, but on average it takes me 3 minutes to modify and get ready an image, which beats the time it might take using a program or online image editing site!

Hope this helps.

Lou Bortone of Video in a Day says:

As Facebook (and obviously Pinterest and Instagram) become even more visually oriented, I think it's crucial to make your posts stand out with groovy graphics.

Quotes, tips and quips can all be turned into more interesting and compelling visuals using free online tools like ReciteThis.com and Pinwords.com. If you've got something to say, why not make it more fun to look at?

Kevin Riley of Blogpreneur Training says:

Although I have Photoshop on my Mac, I often am on another computer and want to quickly edit an image on the fly. In fact, I edited all my photos on my latest trip to Europe without Photoshop. How?

I used a fantastic new online image editor called PicMonkey. It's free for most functions (for a few bucks a month you can use all their functions, but I've never needed these) and you can edit an image in under a minute. Then, you download it back to your computer.

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

As part of our Sticky Social Media training over at CoachGlue.com – I created several videos.

We decided to make two of them public for those of you who are curious if the training is simple enough to do yourself.

Here I show you how to use a free tool called KeepCalm-o-Matic.co.uk

It doesn't get much easier than this.

• The “Keep Calm” website is: http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/
• To see more videos like this one, grab the training at Sticky Social Media

You can see the graphic that I created using the Keep Calm-o-Matic here:

We also show a few paid (but powerful) tools in the Sticky Social Media training.

Here's one that I use myself.  Instant Infographics

Again, here's where you can grab the  Instant Infographics tool.

And, you can grab our training at: Sticky Social Media,

Sample created with the Instant Infographics program:

I hope this gave you some ideas and made you smile.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS. Of course, be sure to check out my contributors to this post:

• Lynette Chandler of Tech Based Marketing
• Dr. Mani of How to Set Goals
• Lou Bortone of Video in a Day
• Kevin Riley of Blogpreneur Training

This week I asked our panel of experts…

“This one is for those of you with older kids. What are you actively doing to encourage their entrepreneurial spirit – and increase their financial IQ?”

I think you'll like the ideas presented below.

Connie Ragen Green of Affiliate Marketing Case Studies says:

My step-kids are so old they have kids of their own now, and we have encouraged them to be entrepreneurial since they were little tikes.

My oldest grandson is seventeen now and has a variety of projects he is involved with. This includes some niche websites, but also businesses he has created to help offline companies where he lives. He has aspirations of being a film maker, so he makes videos and sets up YouTube channels for his clients. He does so well that he paid for one third of his new car a few months ago, making me and his parents extremely proud.

As far an increasing his knowledge of finances, he reads books and magazines on this topic, as well as taking courses geared for young entrepreneurs at the local community college. I've even learned some valuable things from the information he has shared with the family.

Dr. Mani of How to Set Goals says:

The key to entrepreneurial success, imho, is pursuing something with passion which will add value to others. The money typically follows, but the desire for profit is a good motivator to get past the hurdles and pain of starting out.

My teenager doesn't get an allowance – she gets tips, advice and guidance on projects that can help her raise the money she needs for whatever purpose is top of mind at the moment.

I still recall with amazement when she was 5, wanted a Barbie doll (Princess Anneliese, anyone?), and when promised a ‘matching contribution' to what she raised, coming up with the staggering sum of Rs.1250 – in just 5 days! (She crafted hand-made cards, and sold them at “extortionate” rates to grandparents, btw)

The philosophy of “singing for your supper” continues to this day, with very encouraging results. Baking and writing are the new card-making – and prices are more “real”

We discuss money and finance, both in the abstract and in terms of tangible impact it can have – on lifestyle, on attitude, on belief systems.

Nothing is “out of bounds” in these discussions, and by being forced to justify expenditure choices/decisions, we (parents and teen) both have gained better insight into financial/fiscal responsibility.

Another technique we started (but didn't sustain) is the 3 envelope method I learned in a guide.

You divide the monthly allowance (what's that?! we replace it with project profit) into 3 equal parts, to go into 3 envelopes… labeled ‘spend', ‘save' and ‘give'.

The first is to enjoy now. The second is to invest (an opportunity to teach investment principles here). The third is to donate to worthy causes and those in need.

In the few days we did practice it, the impact was dramatic – especially in the last category. Imagine a 7 year old buying her favorite candy bars… to distribute to street urchins near a temple. The joy and smiles on those little faces is priceless… as is the knowledge that my little one learned a very precious life lesson.

Tiffany Lambert of Squidoo Quick Commissions Guide says:

Kids are funny! I have three kids – ages 20 (Dylan), 13 (Shawn) and 8 (Scarlett). They would LOVE to have the money I make, and they get all inspired to launch something, but they only want the tip of the iceberg – not the hard work involved.

I think part of the problem is that during my hard working, struggle years, they were too young to see the elbow grease I had to put in just to earn enough to pay the bills. They see it as “automated” now.

The other day we went swimming at my Mom’s and (as a kick in the pants to my Mom), I said, “While I’ve been swimming for 2 hours, I’ve earned $343 in my PayPal.”

But that automation was from previous working hard to develop residual income streams. So what my kids will do is get all excited about Squidoo or a blog and they’ll launch it, post content for a little while, and when the money’s not there, they quit, get bored, etc.

Now Dylan did see some success a few years ago. He wanted an air soft rifle that cost $300 and I wasn’t going to do that. So he created three lenses on Halo – the video game. They ranked SO high because he was a gamer and spoke their language.

He asked me to sell them to my list and I did – he got $100 per lens, enough for that rifle. Right now, he works at a local restaurant/bakery in catering and he’s very happy with his pay raise – but what he makes in a month is what I make in maybe half a week.

He thinks it’s insane, but yet he doesn’t sit down and say, “TEACH ME!” I think kids have to do their own thing for awhile and I hope someday he’ll want to learn. Every time he complains about co-workers or a boss or a customer, which is rare for him, I do nag him about not having those problems as an entrepreneur.

Shawn has his own gaming blog. He’s diligent about developing content. He was so proud of his header – he did it himself – but it needs a professional one. It also needs some sort of monetization strategy other than the AdSense on the sidebar.

But I don’t have time to go through and link to each game. He created this site: gamingscout.com and he enlisted the help of two of his classmate friends to create content. They review games they like, etc. Shawn initially wanted to be a game tester, but I explained that he wanted to follow in John Reese’s footsteps and launch his own gaming company.

Scarlett wants a fashion website – but I haven’t launched it yet for her. She wants all sorts of fancy stuff I have no clue how to help with, like games for girls, etc. And I know she’ll be disappointed if it’s not earning the same kind of money my sites do.

All three of my kids are watching my “Debt Dragon” journey. Although I’ve been earning six figures for awhile now, we spent beyond our means – and they’re learning about that, about paying cash, etc. My oldest is already a saver and an earner – not a wasteful spender.

It takes time, and we can’t get frustrated when our kids don’t have the same entrepreneurial spirit that we have. They’re just kids. But I do hope one day they learn the ropes so that they’re never at the mercy of the job market.

Lain Ehmann of Crafting Your Business, Step-by-Step says:

I've asked my kids to pick a topic they're excited about and we've been creating content — blog posts, videos, etc. They each have a WordPress blog they toy around with, and I'm actively helping them learn the skills I wish I'd known.

Also, just exposure to entrepreneurial ideas helps a ton. We watch “Shark Tank” and talk about the investors' decisions and the pitches. We also listen to business podcasts together. Not every day, and not religiously, but enough so they are familiar with the ideas and terms.

Kelly McCausey of Solo Smarts Podcast says:

I started working at home when my son was eleven and I remember how impressed he was when I started to ‘make money out of nothing' at the computer. As my online success grew and I said goodbye to the day job, he was proud of me.

We're both stubborn and a bit rebellious which can make working for others difficult. I thought for sure he would follow in my footsteps and pursue self employment but that hasn't happened yet.

Every now and then I try to sow seeds of interest. I know he has what it takes to be a solopreneur like me – I just don't see the hunger yet and to be honest, that frustrates me a little. I can't ever remember a time in my life when I didn't want ‘more' from my work.

This is where I remind myself that he's young, there's plenty of time for that spark to develop. When and if it does, I'll be so happy to lend support. Until then I'll just keep building and improving my own business – making this self employed life look GOOD from the outside

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

I  have a 16 year old son. He’s smart. But, he can be a slug.

Seriously. Like a video-game playing slug who doesn’t shower.

We’ve done a few things to help him to have a productive summer – while still having time for fun – and hopefully learning a few things about productivity, scheduling, intelligent financial IQ, and entrepreneurship. (Which, in my opinion are topics that are seriously lacking and under-taught in schools.)

Here are a few ideas for you to steal from me.

1. Daily Task List.

My kids, as I’ve mentioned before in my “Surviving Summer with Kids at Home” have a weekly task chart broken up by days.

It’s just an excel spreadsheet that they check off every day as they are accomplishing their tasks.

If my son takes it upon himself (takes initiative) to complete his tasks daily without being reminded – or comes up with extra tasks to do – he gets a cash bonus. However, if I have to ride and remind him to do things from his list, he gets nothing extra – just room and board.

2. Learning Basic HTML Skills.

My son is currently going through the CodeAcademy.com training. (It’s free.) It’s a great program and he’s picking it up pretty quickly.

My husband wanted to pay him hourly to do the CodeAcademy training but I flat out refused that. Instead we are going to give him a big bonus at the end, if he can demonstrate thorough knowledge of coding when he finishes.

(Translation: If he takes his time and initiative to go through the course, he will be rewarded – no matter how long it takes him. To me that's much more of an entrepreneurial attitude than an employee mindset. Don't you agree.)

3.Reading.

As part of my kids' daily tasks they must read a “mom approved” book. My 16 year old reads two hours a day and my younger daughter reads 45 minutes a day.

Mom approved books are getting much more practical over the years. We rotate fiction with a non fiction book, like “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” or a book about “Teen Entrepreneurs” or a Steven Covey book about Time Management – all good stuff that I wish I had been asked to read at a younger age.

Considering the kids have reading on their lists, they have to do it before technology comes on. Pretty sneaky, right?

4. Exercising his Most Important Muscle.Both of my kids also doing Lumosity.com – which is a brain training program. I’m doing it, too, and we’re competing on our progress. I'm pretty impressed at our progress. My memory has improved tremendously already.

Your turn.
What are you doing to encourage independent thought and initiative and financial knowledge in your teens?

Best of luck.
Nicole

PS. I'm getting so many good ideas reading this that I'm thinking this should be a Kindle book. What do you think? Want more of these ideas?

I just returned from an amazing weekend at the NAMS Workshop in Atlanta where I spoke/taught as well as spent a bunch of time in the one-on-one room giving attendees 15 minute clarity sessions. I also got to relax and enjoy time with my friends and meet new friends, as well. (More on that, though, soon.)

As I was in the airport waiting to head back home, I thought of a great question.  This is what I asked.

“What is your biggest tip for those of you who fly often to make life easier, be more comfortable – and/or to earn the most out of your trips in the way of frequent flyer miles, etc?”

I hope you enjoy the responses. I did.

Rachel Rofe of How To Get Every Book You Write Onto The First Page Of Kindle says:

1. Get an AmEx Platinum card! This gets you into all their lounges at airports. SOOO great – you get outlets, extra room, business centers, free food/drinks, and lots of other goodies..

2. Those Xpress Spa stations at the airport = my favorite invention of the month. 25 minute manicure as you sit on an EPIC massage chair. Love.

3. If you go on American Airlines, splurge for the extra legroom and go for aisle 8. You get exit-row legroom (right behind first class) and you get off the plane sooner. (Side note: I got this entire row to myself. WOOHOO!)

Jeanette S. Cates, PhD of Plan Your Online Business says:

I consider travel time “my” time. So while others are stressing about a flight delay, I'm relaxing with a book I've been too busy to read or downloading a new app I can play with. That takes all the pressure out of the trip.

I also have a standard packing plan – for 3 day weekend events, my mastermind meetings, and week long trips. So when it's time to pack up, I print the appropriate packing list – and relax, knowing I won't forget anything.

I always check my bags. No sense in stressing about overhead space or working around things under my feet. If I'm traveling with a computer, I use a rolling bag to save wear and tear on my back. But increasingly I tuck my mini-ipad into my purse, pack the keyboard and we're off!

I use my noise cancelling earphones on the plane and generally start with a relaxation audio so that I'm in the right frame of mind for creative thinking. This time on the road is great for letting new ideas come out. But if you don't give yourself the “time space” you'll never get those deep ideas.

Enjoy the trip!

Kevin Riley of  Blogpreneur Training says:

Avoiding jetlag. I love traveling and have been taking intercontinental flights since I was a kid. One thing that I do, which IMO leaves me without any jetlag (I'll fly from Osaka to Switzerland – an 8 hour time difference – and easily adjust to the local time instantly), is to stay awake.

I stay awake most of the flight (with just a 1/2-hour catnap somewhere over Asia) and watch a ton of movies. I'll get inspired and start writing stuff in a notebook (my popular Recipe For Commercial Videos was conceived on a flight to Austria in 2008, when I saw a German commercial on the plane). I eat all the airplane meals (yes, I'm brave that way), have a few drinks (a little alcohol is always nice, but I don't get carried away – except for that one flight to Calgary in 1978), and I drink tons of water (get them from the tray coming around and help myself at the dispenser near the kitchen). Very important to stay well hydrated, as airplane air is dry.

When arriving at my destination, I do NOT go to sleep or even take a nap if it's still afternoon or early evening. I always stay up until 10-11 pm, no matter how tired I am. This way, I get a good sleep, wake up refreshed at the local time's morning, and get right into the swing of local time.

Mark Mason of LateNightIM.com says:

I travel all over the world for my day job. On any given week, you can find me podcasting from a hotel in Taipei, Taiwan or blogging from an airport in Bangalore, India. As a result, I am constantly on the lookout for power to charge my iDevices.

By far the best travel gear investment that I ever made was when I bought a HyperJuice battery. This external battery can charge my MacBook Air, my iPhone and my iPad (or any other USB device). I just charge it up before I leave home (or the hotel) and put it in my backpack. That way, I never run out of power on the go.

By the way, a great Swiss Backpack made for laptops is another travel godsend. Don't leave home without it.

Felicia Slattery of Signature Speech Secrets says:

As you know, I had a rough go of it with my health last year, and all work, including business (or other travel) screeched to a halt. However, I found my frequent travel tip also worked for my stays in the hospital as well.

In my career as a professional speaker, I have traveled to loads of events across the country. And I find a few things with regard to packing make life so much more fun!

1. Master Travel List
Several years ago, while I was on an organizational kick, I read about creating master lists for everything. The only one that's stuck with me to this day are my travel lists. I even created travel lists for my kids so when we go on family vacations I can simply print a list for each child and check things off. For my work, it's been such a time-saver because instead of re-inventing the wheel every single time I have to get ready to leave, I simply print my list – which I like printed on actual paper rather than on a device – and start checking off what I need as I pack it.

2. Pre-Packed Toiletry Bag
The one time I didn't follow through on this, I ended up speaking at an event right after the amazing, late, great Zig Ziglar; we were in Florida (humid-city, as you know) and my wild wavy hair was without hair spray. So on the most important speaking day of my career, I had a bad hair day. I learned to never again skip this tip for myself. Of course before a trip, things are crazy busy, and there's always last minute work things going on. But after a trip, you can arrive home and take a deep breath and regroup. Part of my regrouping and unpacking process involves assessing everything in my toiletry bag and refilling or replacing everything before putting it back into my closet. Then it is ready to go for the next trip and all I have to do is pull it out and pack it. Part of this tip includes having doubles of everything I need; one for daily use, one for travel use. So I have my regular daily toothbrush, for example, and I have another toothbrush already packed in my toiletry bag. Same with deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, gel, razor, shaving cream, dental floss, toothpaste, soap, comb, brush, and yes hair spray. If I'm running low on anything, I add it to my grocery shopping list and when I get home from shopping, I refill or replace what's needed and then store the bag until the next trip. Then before a trip when I'm running around at the last minute with everything else, I don't have to worry about stopping somewhere to pick up more deodorant. It's ready to go and totally stress-free!

3. Pre-Packed Suitcase
Now I don't go as far as having all my clothes in a bag ready to go, but like the toiletry bag, I have a few things I bring with me on every trip. So I re-stock when I get home from the trip, so when it comes time to add all my clothes, I don't have less to remember. I keep a set of workout clothes packed, a bathing suit for the hotel's hot tub after a long day, a pair of my favorite comfy socks to wear at night – because every hotel room is freezing to me, etc. That means fewer items for my master list and fewer things to throw together when I have to leave.

4. Pre-Packed Briefcase/Business Bag
Are you seeing a theme here? After I get home I re-stock my business cards, neatly arrange my extension cords that I threw in the bag after the event while rushing to get back to the airport, check to see if my pens still have enough ink, and make sure I have a clean notebook ready to go for the next time I have to make a dash out the door for the airport.

Dr. Mani of How to Set Goals says:

My biggest tip is really a “non-tip”. Before flying, ask yourself if you really have to! The answer to that question is “No” so often, that I've rarely found myself on board an airplane for anything other than on a holiday trip

We often hurry and rush around to keep “doing” stuff that we rarely ask if there's an alternative or work-around. With communications technology becoming so wonderful,
there are few circumstances where, at least as an online entrepreneur, you're forced to travel anywhere at all.

Connie Ragen Green of Affiliate Marketing Case Studies says:

The smartest thing I did last year was to apply for a security clearance through the Global Entry – http://www.globalentry.gov/ – program. This program is open to all United States citizens and the cost is only one hundred dollars every five years.

I travel extensively these days, and during 2012 I flew thirty-six times, including domestic travel and international travel to China, Thailand, Finland, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom. This program made it all go smoothly and saved me lots of time, while also reducing the stress that can be associated with flying these days. Many times I do not have to remove my shoes, jacket, or laptop, and I no longer wait in line or fill out customs forms.

More and more airports around the world are now recognizing this program, and I do not think it is too much to ask of us to take this extra step to ensure our safety and the safety of others.

Karon Thackston of Step-by-Step Copywriting Course says:

Oftentimes, what I DON'T take is as important as what I do take. I'm not known for packing light (all those shoes take up space!) so I try and save inches wherever I can. The better hotels have great brands of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, etc. in the room so I leave all those bottles at home and use what's provided by Marriott, Hilton or wherever I'm staying.

I also don't bring a lot of cash. Practically every place along the way takes credit or debit cards from the parking lot to the food kiosks/restaurants at the airports. I carry a little moola for tips and whatnot then put everything else on the card. Not only do I not have to worry about running out of cash or paying ungodly ATM fees, but I get extra bonus points for using my cards. Plus, it's very easy to keep up with my expenses since they all appear on my statement every month.

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

I don't fly as much as some of my friends, but I do travel more than many people (averaging 6-12 trips per year between personal/family and professional), so I've developed systems to make the travel less stressful.

Standard Printable Packing List. I have a standard packing list that I print before every trip.  I cross off items as I put them into my backpack or suitcase and it ensure that I don't do anything silly like leave my cell phone, charger, favorite lip gloss, wine opener or prescription behind. I highly recommend you do this as forgetting something important can stress out your trip as you're running around trying to get it replaced.

Standard Luggage. I use the same backpack (with the laptop pocket in it) for every trip. That way I know which pocket has my passport and itinerary, which pocket contains my earplugs, where my money is, and where I can quickly access my iPad to read on the flight.

Standard Travel Clothing/Patterns. Personally I like routine when I travel. I check my suitcase now so that I can put all my liquids (shampoo, etc.)  in it and not have to worry about it. I wear sneakers/gym shoes because it's easy to run through an airport in comfy shoes and my feet are warmer on the plane. I pack my belt so I don't have to take it off during screening. I have my prescription in my backpack in case my suitcase gets lost. All the usual stuff – just makes it much easier for me to relax, especially when coming home from an event when my brain is super tired.

Know What Stresses you Out. If going through security stresses you, then just check your main suitcase and strip down to essentials before you get into the line. (Taking everything out of your pockets, removing your belt, etc., before you even head into the security area.) For me, the noisiness of the plane rattles me. Therefore I actually wear double earplugs. I have one set in my ears. One pair over them. This relaxes me quite a bit.

Always Be Earning the Points. One thing I'm definitely slow on the uptake on is earning points. This past weekend, Connie and David Perdew each invited me up to the Concierge area at the Marriott where we were staying to talk. There was food and service up there and personal guests were welcome. DUH. I stay there often enough now that I certainly *should* be racking up points with them. I'm now all signed up.

Get Loyalty Points at the Airport. I just found out this weekend that some of the airports have loyalty cards. So if you fly through Atlanta (or to Atlanta) a lot like I do, I just register with them and I can earn Delta miles or other miles just for buying stuff like water or meals. Cool. http://thanksagain.com/ for instance, http://thanksagain.com/atl is the Atlanta one.

Well that's what I've got for you today off the top of my head. What is your biggest tip for relaxed travel when going to events like NAMS?

By the way, I hope to see you there in August. I'll be there! Click here to join me.

Best of luck.
Nicole

If you've missed past Expert Briefs, you can click on the undies to see them all –>

So, on that note, this week I asked our panel of experts …

It's nearly the end of the year, so I'm personally looking
back over the last year. My question this week is

“Where does your money come from?” 

Here are their responses they so graciously shared.

Tiffany Dow of The Guide to Shiny Object Syndrome says:

I get my Internet income from a variety of sources. I’ve always loved having many different sources because of the panic I would feel (and uncertainty) if I relied on just one stream. So my income is divided up into 5 parts:

1. My own eCourses
2. My PLR store
3. Digital affiliate income
4. Affiliate marketing on Amazon
5. Ghostwriting

When it comes to the lion’s share, it would have to be my own ecourses – because not only do I make money directly, but I worked to recruit an army of affiliates to promote for me. This provides approximately 40% of my online income. The best tip I can give you on this is to forget who else has already done what. Do it your way and you will have fans!

Next on the list is my PLR store. I’ve been building this for years and now have almost 500 products in my marketplace. It runs on autopilot and I have affiliates promoting it, earning 50% of the cart sales. Most PLR sellers create about 5-10 packs and quit, but volume is key to waking up and seeing $200 cart sales. PLR accounts for about 30% of my sales.

Digital affiliate income is what I consider my reviews to be. Here’s a tip on earning from digital reviews: whenever I buy any product, I implement and review it right away. It pays off because people trust me when they see my results unfold. The profits are twofold: once from the sales you make reviewing it as an affiliate, and again because you’re taking action and implementing! I make approximately 25% of my income from reviews.

The last two items on my list – affiliate income on Amazon and ghostwriting are very small players in my income, but not because I’ve failed at them. Combined, they only add up to about 5% of my income. I rarely ever ghostwrite anymore (just primarily to keep my skills sharp) and I’ve sold off (flipped) most of my Amazon sites and Squidoo lenses, so I’m just now building them back up. Best advice? KEEP the money makers. Build a portfolio, instead of flipping for fast cash.

-> Want more from Tiffany? Check out her The Guide to Shiny Object Syndrome

Bob Jenkins of How to Use Mindmaps to Organize Your Business says:

Hey Nicole – I love having a diversified set of revenue sources to balance out the ebbs and flows of having a business.

Here's my breakdown from October 2011 – October 2012:

• 40% – Personal Coaching Clients
• 16% – Mindmap My Business 3-Day Virtual Training
• 15% – Affiliate Income (Affiliate Marketing)
• 13% – Information Products
• 12% – Hotseat Holiday Workshops/Retreats
• 1.4% – Domain Sales
• 1.4% – Welcome To The Call
• 1.2% – Beef Jerky

A few things are interesting from this list for me (and from reviewing these kinds of numbers).

First, if I was like most coaches, I would be missing out on a ton of revenue without the additional revenue sources like information products and information products.

The 3 private label sources (Domains – GoDadady, WelcomeToTheCall – Instant Teleseminar, and Beef Jerky – Jerky Direct) that make up a combined 4% are both neglected and rarely advertised. I consider spending more energy on them, but then I remember how much more fun I have coaching and teaching virtual workshops.

Some of these sources are also inter-related, in that they provide the same customers multiple levels of access and intensity. If I sold in a bunch of different niches, it would be harder for me to improve my revenue/customer numbers.

For example, the Hotseat Holidays both lead to and stem from personal coaching clients.

As for affiliate income, my top generating recommendations over the past year have been for Lon Naylor (Learn Camtasia), Clay Collins (TheMarketingProgram), Digital Access Pass membership software, and Aweber autoresponders.

-> Want to learn more from Bob (and get uber-organized)? Check out How to Use Mindmaps to Organize Your Business

Connie Ragen Green of Affiliate Marketing Case Studies says:

The end of the year always means that I will be reviewing and thinking about my online business to see what worked, what I loved doing, and what I need to completely revamp and update in my business.

2012 has been a year of great growth for me. I am now speaking internationally, which was a goal I set for myself at this time last year. This is my sixth full year online, so I am now more comfortable in every area of my business. You may have heard about the ‘10,000 Hours Rule', a concept based on a study by Anders Ericsson and discussed throughout the book ‘Outliers: The Story of Success‘ by Malcolm Gladwell. The premise is that one needs to accrue ten thousand hours of experience in an area before being able to move to the next level of competence and understanding. I am now at the point in my business where major changes are more likely to occur.

• 50% – Affiliate marketing continues to account for about fifty percent of my income. I enjoy the responsibility that comes along with only recommending the people and products I love, in the exact areas that are relevant to building a successful online business.
• 25% – My own products and courses account for another twenty-five percent of my income, and I now stay tightly focused on what I create and sell under my brand.
• 25% – The rest of my income is derived from my high level Mentor programs, my Weekend Retreats, and from speaking at live events around the world.

My recommendation is to write down everything you are doing to generate income in your business to see which things are working best for you. The ultimate goal is to have a profitable business that allows you to engage in activities that you enjoy while serving the needs of your target audience.

-> Want to learn how Connie wins so many Affiliate Contests? Check out her Affiliate Success Case Studies.

Kelly McCausey of Solo Smarts Podcast says:

Where does my money come from? Had an interesting situation come up this week on Facebook. Lynn Terry and I have a big 1200+ member group working through a 90 Day Low Carb Challenge and someone got it in their head that we are some sort of Ninja Marketing Geniuses who make money every time someone clicks a link or likes anything. Lynn said ‘If only that were so!' LOL!

Affiliate marketing does represent a nice chunk of my income and it is one of my favorite sources since it tends to be the income that keeps on coming long after I did whatever I did to initiate it. It comes naturally as I recommend the tools, people and resources I have found most useful in my own online business.

Information product sales is another valued source of income for me. I have six different courses/workshops for sale right now plus a membership program. Sales come through my own list and via my amazing affiliates.

As we discussed not long ago, a surprising source of income for me is the check I get from an advertising network for displaying their ads on my small mom and family focused blog network. Sponsored posts, paid promotions and the like are all nice extras for my budget from month to month.

Occasionally I go back to my roots and generate cash with my graphic and web design skills. In fact, I put the word out last night that I'm accepting a couple of new clients. (I'm raising cash for something important!) I don't want to service clients on a regular basis, having a skill others are willing to pay to tap is a powerful thing.

I've dabbled with a few other things this year but unfortunately most of that didn't turn out to be the turn on I'd expected and I've let those projects go dormant. I think it's important for everything to know that every project and idea is not going to be profitable. I learn from these disappointments and use those lessons to be smarter about everything else I do.

Finally, I earn money by coaching clients one on one. What might interest everyone is the fact that this is not my primary income. Several people have told me that that is what they assume – that I'm getting RICH by coaching others. I'm not THAT coach who only makes money from coaching. I actually make money from real life projects that have nothing to do with telling someone else what to do as you can see here.

Flexibility, variety, having these choices is a dream come true for this solopreneur. I wish you all the same!

-> Want to learn more from Kel? One of the ways she earns money is through Podcasting. Check out her Smart Podcasting Course.

Jeanette S. Cates, PhD of Plan Your Online Business says:

What a great question! I generally know my numbers, but I was curious about how they have changed over the years. In fact, I pulled a spreadsheet for 2000 – 2012 and here's what I found:

• In 2000, my revenue was half consulting and half products (which includes teaching classes). That was fairly early in my Internet Marketing career, so that makes sense.
• By 2005, revenue was 25% affiliate programs, 15% adsense (the heyday!), 20% consulting, and the rest in product sales.
• By 2010,revenue was at 20% affiliate programs, only 8% consulting (who had time?), 20% member sites (the hot thing that year!), and the rest in product sales, including partner products.
• This year, it's steady at 30% affiliate sales, 22% consulting, 22% member sites, and the rest in product sales.

It's so important to have a mix of revenue sources. As some things come and go, other items remain steady. You may have years when you create a bunch of products and others when you want to work more closely with your clients in smaller sites and consulting. Remember – it's YOUR business and you get to choose how you make your living!

-> Want to peek inside Jeanette's head and get ready for next year? Check out Plan Your Online Business

Dr. Mani of How to Set Goals says:

Interesting question, Nicole.

Here are my answers, as they apply to online infopreneur income alone:

• Affiliate marketing – 25%
• Freelance writing – 20%
• Adsense – 5%
• Infoproduct Sales – 30%
• Books on Amazon – 5%
• Membership sites – 10%
• Other – 5%

It helps that I periodically review this set of numbers, and see how well they match my overall goals for the year. That way, I'm able to tweak and focus on what matters for the month or quarter.

-> Want to learn more from Dr. Mani? Check out his report about How to Set Goals

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

Well this has been interesting to me to read the responses. 

My income is similar to my friends above.

1. My Own Product Sales
2. My PLR Sites
3. Affiliate Marketing
4. Personal Coaching
5. Google Adsense (Niche Sites)
6. Web Hosting
7. Amazon Kindle
8. Consulting

I'll get into a bit more detail on each.

1. My Own Product Sales.

I have several training products that I sell to intermediate and advanced level online business owners.

My most recent one that I'm super proud of is ContentDrafts.com – how to keep your blog fresh.

I also have some courses at the beginner level, including the ones at MomsTalkBiz.com

2. My PLR Sites

I have three PLR sites.  Each is slightly different in focus.

EasyPLR.com
I opened EasyPLR in 2006. At that site, I mainly sell packs of articles, reports, and ecourses. There is no membership component involved. The goal with the site is to get people to make an impulse buy as it's a low priced item and then find out they love me and my stuff and trust me. Then they become repeat customers.

YummyPLR.com
Yummy PLR was opened after EasyPLR (I believe in 2007). We sell food PLR there, including PLR recipes. This site is a membership model and many of our members stay for years.

CoachingPLRContent.com
I opened Coaching PLR content with Melissa Ingold in 2010. At that site, we want to arm our customers with resources, tools and presentations they can use to expand their expert status even further. We have worksheets and PowerPoints slides and scripts and all kinds of stuff with PLR rights. A lot of our customers use our presentations to create video training and to do live webinars, as well.

3. Affiliate Marketing

I don't have exact numbers in front of me, but I would say that I earn approximately 50% of my income through affiliate marketing.

This varies from promoting things like Hillbilly Housewife ebooks on a niche site – to promoting exercise videos from Amazon on another niche site, to promoting services like Aweber here, on my blog and to my lists.

4. Personal Coaching

I take on a handful of personal coaching clients at a time. I spend a lot of time one-on-one with them which is why I only work with a few. I find it extremely rewarding and I love it.

I focus on Infoproduct marketers who have at least one product, who already know who their customers are, and they have their product up for sale (or nearly there). Once they get to that point, I have a blast helping them to multiply their income.

5. Google Adsense on Niche Sites

I still have some niche sites with Adsense on them. For four years, Google paid my mortgage. But, now? Not as much. It's just a nice little deposit every month. The good thing is that I don't have to do anything to earn it.

6. Web Hosting.

I am a partner in a web hosting company – MomWebs.com (with Kelly McCausey).

We focus on helping newbies who are skeeeered of technology to get their WordPress sites up and running. (Many of them switch from Blogger to WordPress with our help.) So that project brings in some monthly cashola, as well.

7. Amazon Kindle

My Kindle earnings are small, but they will be growing next year.

You can see a few of my Kindle books here:

8. Consulting

On occasion, I will do hourly consulting for online or offline businesses. I don't do this too often, simply because I don't like to have a schedule where I have to be somewhere (even on the phone) at a certain time – yeah I'm weird like that. But am always open to having someone buy an hour of access to my brain.

Well that's an overview. I hope it was interesting to you.

Talk to me.

Is this what you expected to hear?

Is it similar to your income streams? Or different?

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS. If you like this post – share it and check out my friends’ sites. That’ll make me happy! Appreciate you!

Here are the folks who contributed today…

• Tiffany: The Guide to Shiny Object Syndrome
• Bob: How to Use Mindmaps to Organize Your Business
• Connie: Affiliate Success Case Studies.
• Kelly:  Smart Podcasting Course.
• Jeanette: Plan Your Online Business
• Dr. Mani: How to Set Goals

If you've missed past Expert Briefs, you can click on the undies to see them all –>

This week I asked our panel of experts a question that I received from one of my blog readers who answered the questions in my “How Can I Help You? Questionnaire” …

“If you were going to start over in a new niche
(not internet marketing or business related)
– how would you choose which niche?
Also, how would you know that it would be profitable before jumping in?”

I think you'll find the answers this week interesting and hopefully inspiring.

Dr. Mani of MoneyPowerWisdom.com says:

That's easy (and topical) for me just now – because I've been doing exactly that lately, and outlined a detailed plan for my own reference as I went through the steps I've been teaching others for many years!

About choosing a niche, I'd start with these things:

• identify MY passion (because I'll have to work the niche for a long time, and I won't do it unless I love what I'm doing!)
• assess THEIR demand for this information/entertainment (because without an eager audience, a niche cannot be profitable)
• evaluate the PAIN that people in the niche are experiencing, and seeking relief from
• see if I can offer (or source) such a SOLUTION based on my own experiene/expertise, or access to others who have it
• estimate how easy it will be to REACH my ideal prospect with my marketing message
• decide if there's enough paying POTENTIAL in the niche (are people already spending money, how much, and on what)

That's the bare-bones outline, of course.

You can observe the process in action if you follow what I'm doing with my new project over at my Money.Power.Wisdom blog by clicking on the link by my name – where I'm teaching my ‘new' audience how to live their dreams!

Alice Seba of Contentrix says:

I think before embarking on any niche as a business, it would have to meet 3 criteria:

1. I have some interest in the topic. While I certainly have writers and others on hand that could help me in just about any niche, I have to be interested and have some understanding of it, or I wouldn't be able to sustain it for long. I need to be able to understand what direction we should be moving and actually care about it. I don't really believe in the mantra, “take your passion and make it your business” because not all passions make good business. I also think that turning a passion into a business can drain your passion. So, being somewhere in the middle where it's interesting and can keep my focus is favorable.

2. It has to be a reasonably deep niche that a lot can be done with it. I prefer not to scatter my marketing efforts across a ton of niches and while there are some wildly profitable shallow niches, it's not how I do business. I like to put full and complete dedication into things, grow them and seriously, keep selling more products to the same people. It's so easy to develop that trusting relationship by delivering great products and service…and then just continuing to help those that already trust you. Why work so hard to keep finding new customers?

3. It has to be profitable, which is obviously part of your question. How do we know if something can be profitable?

A profitable niche can be found when you see other products selling well in that market. That means looking at things like available ClickBank stats, affiliate network stats, long-term advertisers on Google, pay-per-click prices. In other words, seeing others who are already doing well there. I'd also start by building a list in the niche and testing out different products through affiliates links and seeing where it could take me. Creating a list doesn't require a lot of time or money investment and it's an ideal testing ground to see if things can work.

Shannon Cherry of S.A.L.E.S. System Formula says:

Interesting that this is the question this week, as one of my goals this year is to expand my profits into profitable niches.

And because I am ALWAYS trying to think of ways to ‘write off' stuff in my business, I just started a niche site called samoyedcareandtraining.com

In November, we got a Samoyed puppy named Maisie, so focusing on a site about her and her needs seems to fit the bill. Up since About mid-Dec, it's already making money… and that not kibble! Why is it working? Because this is a breed I love- as do thousands of others.

So my suggestion to others is to find a niche you are already involved in yourself. That way, not only will you make some money, but also be able to ‘write-off' many of your expenses.

I think a wine tasting site is next… then I can tell people I get to drink wine and get PAID for it.

Susanne Myers of AffiliateTreasureChest.com says:

When we are first starting out as affiliate or information marketers, it's so easy to pick just anything we're passionate about and build a website around it. We often find out later that the topic either isn't as popular as we thought it was going to be, or that people interested in it just aren't buying. It's certainly true for the first few websites I built. After quiet a bit of trial and error and some guidance from my mentors, I've come to realize that I need to keep two things in mind when first choosing a niche.

1) Is It Popular?
This is simply a matter of figuring out if people search quite a bit for the main keywords in this niche and if there are plenty of books, products and other websites in the market.

2) Does It Solve A Problem Or Entertain?
I find that the most profitable websites either solve a problem or entertain. A good example of an entertaining website would be a book or movie review site for example.

My favorite though is if I can help my readers solve a problem. Here are some examples of problems and niches that I've built successful websites in.

• What Should I Cook Today? – Meal Planning Site
• How Can I Get My Toddler Out Of Diapers? – Potty Training Site
• How Can I Save Money? – Family Budgeting Site and Frugal Living Site
• My Baby cries all night – A Baby Sleep Site

Other great niches are:

• Headaches/ Migraines
• Backpain
• Finding Love (or getting back lost love)

Do you see how you can help them solve a problem?

Once I have a niche that I think solves a problem an shows some traffic potential, I like to submit it to a few more tests before diving in and building a site.

I don't look at all of these elements for each site, and will move forward even if a niche doesn't pass all the tests, but they are a good indicator and if you can't find the information or if your niche can't pass most of the tests, it's probably a good idea to drop it and look for a different market or even a slightly different niche within the same market.

Books And Magazines Test – Go to your local bookstore and see if you can find books and magazines for this niche. They can be a bit broader than the actual niche you go into. For example, you may be going into a “baby sleep” niche and there may not be a magazine specifically for that. You should however find baby books and baby magazines that include some articles or chapter on getting your baby to sleep.

The Walmart Test – I learned this one from Nicole. Ask yourself if your readers can buy the products you're offering at Walmart. If so, it's probably not something you can successfully sell online since it's just so much easier to buy it at your local store.

Google Ads – Google some of your main keywords and see if there are quite a few different Google ads on the search results page. If so, it's probably a viable market.

PLR Test – People who sell PLR are very good at finding profitable niches and topics since there will be quite a few website owners who would be interested in PLR articles and reports (and who can afford to buy them). Look if there are some PLR packs available in your niche at some of the quality PLR sites.

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

In my Weird Niche Wednesday posts, I've talked about some CRAZY niches. The funny thing is that I actually get search engine traffic for them… apparently people search for these things.

Not that traffic equals cash in all cases, but it is interesting how much bizarre traffic I do get from writing about these topics.

For instance, in just the first 17 days of this month, I've gotten traffic for each of the following phrases from the Search Engines…
(I linked to the individual blog post for each term so you can see why on earth that would happen.)

• bad toupee
• turkey inflatables
• cats in wigs
• pimento loaf
• bear on a bicycle
• cat butts field guide
• naked people duvet cover
• strange bacon products
• biker baby names
• funny misheard lyrics

Obviously I'm being silly today and I am not suggesting that you put all your eggs into the cat butt niche, of course —  but that's because everyone else took all my answers. So, instead I defer to them.

Recommended Resource

Check out Susanne's Niche Research Packs if you're thinking of entering a new niche. She's done the research for you.

In each pack, you get…

• Detailed niche description
• Who your target market for this niche is
• List of affiliate products available
• 100 domain name ideas (plus list of modifiers for hundreds more)
• Detailed keyword report for over 1000 keywords
• 100 article and blog post ideas
• 15 different author resource boxes
• 2 different detailed marketing plans (beginner and advanced) with action steps to get you up and running right away.
• List of available PLR products for this niche
• Recommended tools and resources

Here's the link: Niche Research Packs

Recommended Resource #2: Free Webinar by Kevin Riley

Click on the arrow above to go to the page where you can listen. (You'll find this video free to listen to on that page.)

It’s Your Turn.

So, now, I’ll pose this question to you. Do you have any special tips for choosing a niche?  Any “oops I chose a stinker of a niche” stories to share? I’d love to hear your comments!

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS. I have created brandable ebooks from several of the previous Expert Brief columns that you can use to earn money by giving them away.

Here are a few of my favorite Expert Briefs:

• Do Successful Marketers actually use PLR?
• Are Internet Marketers Evil?
• Show us your Home Office!

If you've missed past Expert Briefs, you can click on the undies to see them all –>

This week I asked our expert friends something a little different …

Let's say that you're being paid a million dollars to be stranded on a deserted island for one month. You'll have a nice bungalow and will have food and water delivered as well as necessities like soap and sunscreen – but NO technology.

You can, however, pack up to 10 books.
Which books would you bring? Why?

So, let's have a look at what everyone is packing for their island trip this week…

Mark Mason from MasonWorld.com says:

Well, if there was no technology, I simply would not go. LOL But, if you forced me to go, books would be critical. I'd think in terms of what my goals were for my stay.

With all that time on my hands, my goals would be:

1. Spiritual health

Book 1: Bible with annotations (probably an NIV edition)
Book 2: 1 year Bible study guide (would have to research which one)

2. Fitness.

I have always wanted to learn Taekwondo

Book 3: Learn Taekwondo

3. Entrepenuer/Finance Plan for when I return

With a million Dollars to spend, I would want to have some books to motivate/stimulate my business mind

Book 4: Tribes by Seth Godin
Book 5: Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk

4. Betterment of self

I would want to read the following classics (or read them again)…

Book 6: Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Book 7: Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights
Book 8: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote
Book 9: Geoffrey Chaucer, Canterbury Tales
Book 10: Tolkien, Lord of the Rings Trilogy

So, the point would be that with these 10 books I would return from the island better than when I arrived, with $1M in my pocket.

Dr. Mani of DrMani.com says:

Mmmm… LOVE this question.

I read, on average, one book a week (though I try to do more) – and this gives me a chance to go back through memory lane and browse through my bookshelf to come up with some picks.

I'll split my answer into two parts.

A. If I *knew* for sure that I will be rescued from that desert island in one month to return to my business and professional work, here's what I'd take with me:

1. E-Myth Mastery by Michael Gerber – because it is the most solid grounding course in the essentials of entrepreneurship and business building.

2. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini – because even though I've read it five times through, each reading adds value in a new way about the core elements of influencing behavior.

3. The Robert Collier Letter Book by Robert Collier (recently republished by his estate) – because it is the best collection of sample copy and brilliant analysis of the mindset behind writing explosive copy that sells.

4. Secrets of Successful Direct Mail by Dick Beson – because, let's face it, direct mail is back with a bang, and no one teaches the principles behind it better than Mr.Benson. It's one book in my collection I would never give away!

5. Cardiac Surgery by Kirklin and Barratt-Boyes – because I'd want to review and revise some sections of it before getting back to work a month later!

B. If I had no idea when (or even IF) I was going to get off that desert island, my choices would be VERY different. No point getting ‘business building' books then, right? So this is what I'd pick up:

6. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl – because I simply love the philosophy shared by this holocaust survivor that puts everything else into proper perspective.

7. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle – because I can read it over and over, and find peace and calm even on that remote desert island, knowing that's what matters most at that point in time!

8. The Singularity is Near by Ray Kurzweil – because I haven't finished reading it yet, and believe it worth doing.

9. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Ablom – because it will help me see just how simple and uncomplicated our existences are when you get right down to what matters most.

10. Aladdin Factor by Jack Canfield – because he teaches the power of ASKING with total confidence and belief that you'll get what you ask for… and I'll be asking to be let off the desert island soon!

Looking forward to read the recommendations of other experts, thanks for letting me be a part of this one, Nicole.

Shannon Cherry of List Building Promotion Secrets says:

You know, I love reading, but since I do so much of it for work, it's hard for me to want to read at all!

So please, pay me to be stranded… please! And here are the books I'd bring:

1. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. This is one of my all-time favorites and I do try to read this every couple of years.

2. Contact by Carl Sagan. Unlike the movie of the same title, this is a love story… about a daughter's love for her father.

3. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. My daughter is named after the heroine of this trilogy. She gives up love to save the world.

4. Birdsong: A novel of Love and War by Sebastian Faulks. My husband bought this for me when we first met… and I never got to finish it. But he swears it's the most beautiful story.

5. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I know the movie by heart but not the book… yet.

6. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 8 comics. I am a Buffy addict. And this anthology leaves off where the series ended so I can still get my Buffy fix.

7. Chases Calendar of Events. With this book, I can plan all my marketing around other holidays and events when I get back!

8. Autobiography of Mark Twain. This man is brilliant. Enough said.

9. Oh, the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. A classic to read before bed every night.

10. How to Weave Hawaiian Coconut Fronds by Jim Widess. Hey I need to do something more than read!

Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:

Again, I actually asked this question because I need some good book recommendations. I always strive to make myself a better person so I read as much as I can.

However, I know already what 5 of the books I'd bring even before I asked the question.

3 Notebooks.
I'd bring 3 empty notebooks and I would spend the month writing. I can't even imagine how much I'd accomplish in that time. Just think how creative you'd be without the distraction of technology.  I could take those notebooks home at the end, and hire a Virtual Assistant to type them all in and, voila!, I'd finally have all of my next infoproducts done!

One Journal.
A place to write my thoughts that weren't related to business. I'd write notes to my kids, jot down my personal reflections during the long, quiet days, and any “ah-ha” moments related to becoming a better person.

I think this qualifies.
A photo album of my family. I'd miss my kids too much if I couldn't see their little smiley faces.

For my last 5 books, it's more of a struggle.
On the one hand, I'm thinking I should bring LONG books because I read really fast. Like maybe I could finally read War and Peace or re-read Gone With the Wind.

Decisions, decisions…

CONFESSION: There are books that I'd like to bring vs. the books that I would actually bring.

I'd like to think I'd bring something to make myself a better person, but probably, I'd just bring some steamy sexy vampire novels. A month is a long time to be alone, if you know what I'm sayin'. 

However, if  I were to list the books that I'd hope I'd bring (and not the steamy ones), I can only think of one, and probably not for the reason you're thinking.

The Bible. Yeah, I know. It's a standard answer. But, I've never read it, and I think it would be interesting because it's something I know very little about. I'd want a version that put things into historical context and included annotations to explain the differences in perspective of each chapter, preferably in a scholarly manner.

Then, what I'd do, is to ask some people who I admire what they'd recommend and then bring those books.

Oh wait. That's what I just did.  (Pretty smart, eh?)

As for genres, for my last four books, I'd like to bring..

1. A time-management book. I love them and could read one every day. (Yes, I get the irony there.)
2. A classic novel that I haven't read.
3. A biography or autobiography of someone I admire from history. I like to see how people actually handle situations, not just what they “say” they'd do. Actions speak louder than words.
4. A financial investment book. I'd want to know how to best handle the million dollars that I'll be handed.

Now,  let's hear from you …

Your Turn.

Which 10 books would you bring?

Loretta gave me a great idea. She wanted to post a list on her blog and link to this blog post.

So, let's all do it. If you'd like to answer this question, please post your list on your blog (with a link to this post if you wouldn't mind) and then comment here to let us know where you posted your book list so we can go see!

Warmly,
Nicole Dean

PS. I have created brandable reports from several of the previous Expert Brief columns that you can use to earn commissions by giving them away.

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