Money Digest: Niche Marketing Overview

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No matter how big a company was and no matter how focused it was towards their desired market, there will still be segments of the population with unmet needs. These small portions of the population have unique needs but because of their size, main stream providers don’t bother to serve them. As a result, members of these groups usually become desperate buyers. They have the capability to buy but there’s no available product for them.

It is understandable why large providers do not enter their market. It is because it’s not practical for big companies to do so. However, for those desiring to earn cash from home, these small markets can be the opportunity. Marketing on the unique needs of a small group of hungry buyers is what is commonly referred to as niche marketing.

The Advantages

One of the advantages of niche marketing over mass or mainstream marketing is that because of its size, there are usually no or just small competition. Also since it was small, you don’t need a big capital in starting. Management of niche marketing business is just simple compared to mass marketing.

Examples

One good example of a niche marketing business is the business of selling stylized cell phone housing. The major cell phone makers cannot go down

to the customized level of producing stylized cell phone housings. But there are small numbers of people for one reason or another wants to have a different look for his/her phone. This s

mall group or niche is not profitable for mass marketers, but for small time entrepreneurs, it was.

Another good example is cellular phone repair. Because the usual warranty for cellular phones are usually one year, phones that does not work after one year end up on the trash can. In developing countries there’s an increasing need for repairing cell phones. This market is small enough for cell phone manufacturers but is large enough for small time entrepreneurs. The niche market of cell phone repair became a successful niche market opportunity for many.

What’s next?

After introducing niche marketing, what’s next? Let’s now discuss how to find the best niche market or sometimes referred to as hot niches.

Credit Cards-A Friend or a Foe?

Do you have a credit card? Well, if you do, your just one of the millions of people around the world who wants to avail the advantages of having one.

A credit card is a piece of plastic card that can be used to purchase goods and services. It looks like an ATM, usually with your name and card number inscribed on it. The only difference between the two is that credit cards can be used for buying things based on the sole promise of the holder to pay his debts under an agreed terms and conditions. You can buy as much as you want until you reach your credit limit within a month. Credit limit is the maximum allowed debt in a given month. Credit limit varies depending on the type of credit card (Classic, Premiere, etc) and also varies depending on the paying capacity of the person applying for it.

Credit Card Advantages

Credit card makes money transactions a lot more convenient. You don’t have to bring a lot of cash. All you need is to present your credit card on merchants that accept it. They will just swipe it on their machines and in the split of a second, the item is already yours. The cost of the item will automatically be reflected to your account. You’ll just have to pay it at a specific date of the month.

Another benefit of having a credit card is that it can be used in online shopping in the internet. Most airlines are capable of online booking so you don’t have to go to their sales office to purchase airplane tickets. Also, the popularity of online shopping like Amazon, eBay, and many other e-commerce websites are growing. On all these, credit cards can be used to transact online.

For emergency situation where you need immediate cash, you can do cash advance on the nearest ATM machine that supports the credit card you have. Visa and MasterCard are two popular credit card payment services that can be found almost everywhere around the globe.

Credit Card Dangers

The only disadvantage of having a credit card lies on its potential dangers. Most of these however, depend on the holder’s attitude. One of these is overspending. The “huge” purchasing freedom provided by having a credit card can be a trap to everyone especially if you are not a disciplined person. Many who fell on this snare found themselves covered in deep layers of debts until the point that they cannot manage it anymore. They cannot anymore bear the debts that are increasing every month due to the high interest rate.

Also, take care of your credit card. Stolen credit cards can be used to purchase goods and services charged in your name. This is not limited to physical stealing but also information stealing through the internet. There are many ways that were invented by cyber criminals to hack information about you like your credit card number and PIN. With this and other information, they can use your credit card to purchase for themselves.

On all these disadvantages, there are still ways to minimize the risk. With regards to overspending, the solution is to practice discipline. On the security risk, the solution is being vigilant. Transact only on your trusted vendors whether online or not.

Credit Card: Friend or Foe?

The answer to this question depends on the person. Examine yourself first before deciding to have one.

General Motors' Diet-True or Hoax?

Have you heard about the so called General Motors’ diet? It has been circulating in the internet for quite a long time now and stimulated variety of reactions. Some say that it’s true and effective and some say that it was just a hoax. We’ll if haven’t heard of it, let me explain a little summary of it.

The General Motors’ diet is a seven day diet program that claims to reduce a person’s weight by at least 10 lbs. Each day within that seven-day period you will be eating different kinds of food from fruits to vegetables and grains. The sequence is very important as explained in the document. It says there that it was a program that will help your body to smoothly undergo the process of weight reduction.

Here’s a copy of that document.

General Motors Diet

General Motors Diet, a Hoax?

Many people are doubting the authenticity of this diet program especially its claim that it was developed for General Motors' employees and their dependents. However, there are also those people who tried and proved to themdelves that it was really effective.

The safest thing to do is to consult a professional dietician or a nutritionist to find out beforehand if this is really effective or if it will cause any complications on your body. Nowadays, there's  a lot of hoax stories that are coming out in the internet taking advantage of the web. The need to be careful and selective to what information to believe is ever increasing.

Also, when a particular diet program worked for your friends it doesn't necessarily means that it will work for you. Everyone has a unique body due to the difference in lifestyle, medical history, etc. Again, to be safe, gather enough trusted information before taking in anything that will affect your health. "Health is wealth!"

Earn Money Online In Three Ways

The internet has been a great opportunity for many to earn extra cash. Here are some ways of earning money online.

Blogging

Blogging is one of the best way to earn money online. Aside

from the fact that it's virtually free because there's so many websites offering free blog space, some free blogging services like Blogger.com allows you to hold advertisements on your pages. Some of the advertisement program you can use are:
Google Adsense
Bidvertiser
Nuffnang
Adbrite

Aside from ads, you can also earn by participating in the so called PayPerPost (PPP) campaign. You will just post a blog article about a specific topic or product that was sponsored by a an advertiser.

Similar to PayPerPost is Blogitive. You just have to post an article about sponsored topics.

You can also try affiliate programs. One good example is by Amazon. You will just allow them to display a specific product on your site. If someone bought it through your site, you will receive incentives.

Paid to Click (PTC) sites

Although the viability of this business model is still being doubted, it still attracts millions of people aiming to earn quick cash at home. All you have to do is to register your valid email address and you can start clicking sponsored website links. Usually, PTC sites requires you to stay for a couple of seconds in a particular site. Some well known PTCs are:

Neobux
PPLinx
Clickers Union

WARNING: Be careful when participating in these type of websites. Some of them were just scams. Better consult forums about a particular PTC before joining.

Paid Surveys

Some marketing firms offers paid surveys on the internet. All you have to do is to register with a valid email address and supply the necessary information. If there's an available survey that suits your profile category (country, age, indusrty), you will receive email alerts from them.
Some of these marketting firms are the following:

GlobalTestMarket
SurveySavvy
SurveyHead

WARNING: Just like PTC websites, be careful also when participating in paid survey websites. Some of them were just scams. Better research like consulting forums about a particular survey before joining.

My Ideas on Blog Comments Moderation

I really appreciate when someone put comments on my blog. It’s a sign that I caught some interest from my visitors. It is also a way where my readers can freely suggest anything he wants with regards to the blog post. But I made a decision to moderate the comments. For the sake of those who are not familiar with blogging, comment moderation is an option where you can decide whether allow comments to appear immediately on your blog or wait for your approval. In my case I opt to choose the latter. I have reasons why I did so.

Avoiding Spam

Like most bloggers, I don’t like the idea that someone will put comments unrelated to the blog posts. Some people use blog commenting to promote their products. This is not entirely bad, for me it’s OK if someone will promote his or her product but I want it to be related to my blog posts.

Inappropriate Words

As the owner of the blog, I have full responsibility regarding what will appear on my website. I personally choose not to include comments that are sarcastic, insulting, about indecent sex, gambling, pornography, drug abuse, discriminatory and other similar things. I want my blog to be something that has “value” to the readers. I want it to be informative and helpful to many.

Freedom of Speech

I support freedom of speech and I am well aware that a blog is a place where one could express his opinions. That is the very reason why I’m blogging-to express my ideas! BUT, I’m not a believer of ABSOLUTE freedom. When there’s no limitation to one’s freedom, there will be ANARCHY. When we are given freedom, we must also use it with discipline and manners considering not only ourselves but others. We are entitled to our own opinions and ideas, but if those ideas and opinions will hurt others, it is better to just keep it to ourselves.

I guess I already explained my standpoint regarding comment moderation. To my readers, please do not be offended if you don’t immediately see your comments appear. Please feel confident that your comments will show up in a day or two if it is worthy of appearance.

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

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Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is really cool! I've watched it and I laughed all the way from the beginning to end. Just like the previous Ice Age
movies, the adventure is full of fun. The movie will take you in the world of animals that behave like humans. Emotions...sarcasm...jokes...fun! Problem arises but was conquered by being together as friends. I guess, if we just imitate these "animals", the world would have been a better place.

Interesting things to look at:
-New friends (Buck, Scratte & Mommy Dinosaur and her babies)
-Ellie and Manfred will have their first baby.
-The world beneath the layers of ice.

I am an ever loyal fan of cartoon movies. Though far from reality, they convey lessons worthwhile to ponder at. Some of my favorites are the following:

1. Finding Nemo
-Learn a lot of lesson about parenthood...being balance regarding the freedom the children should have.


2. Ice Age series
- Friends are great assets...no matter who they are...It's kinda funny to think about the friendship between a mammoth, a sloth, and a saber tooth cat. Though different from each other, they developed friendship that keeps getting stronger as they cling with each other during difficult times.

3. Shrek series
- I really love the realistic lessons we can get from this movie. Shrek tells us the reality...that fairy tales are not only for the handsome and the beautiful. Looks are important but is of no value compared to what is in the heart.

Cool! Very Cool! Enjoy the movie...fantastic!