Good Idea Or Bad Idea...?

[vesonexdean]

Hey everybody,

To make a long story short over the past two
years I've lost 85 lbs. living a healthier lifestyle.

And since I've lost weight, everyone I work
with asks me how to lose weight, without
dieting and trying the latest shake or diet
pill.

I love helping people with this problem but
I've noticed a pattern (a niche) a lot of people
like me, recently moved out of the house and
now they're cooking for the first time
(most are college students, like myself)

And rather than learning how to cook they buy
fast food until they're weight becomes
too much to handle.

I wanted to build a business around this niche
maybe write an ebook, definitely start a blog,
and a 'ning' group for my audience to
socialize.

But I don't have all the pieces in place, I know
I'm passionate about this but I don't know
how to monetize (member site, create my own
products)

I just don't know if I should pursue it or not.

Thanks for your help guys,

[businessman413]

Well, as we all know. dieting is a huge niche, which is good. So now I'd advise you to do some resarch. Start researching and seeing if there are enough college students out there who have the problem you described. If there is, that's great! This would be a really targeted niche, within a niche.

You could do a little keyword research to find this out. For example, use google adwords free keyword tool. Just type in a keyword, and it'll return to you a rough idea of how many times that keyword has been searched in the past month. Your just looking too see if there is a good amount of interest in that.

Even if there's not a lot of interest with college students, (but I think there should be), you could look for another specified niche. If you are going after college students though, might I suggest you not only aim at the angle, stay healthy, but also aim toward saving money. "Instead of going out for fast food, buy these foods and you will save loads of money"

As far as the product creation goes. It doesn't have to be that complicated. You could just simply write an e-book, or make some videos.

Now, you are of course going to need to market this product correctly, but that's a different story.

Hope this helps, and feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

To your success,
Jacob

[MisterMcJib]

write an ebook and build around that. once you have a product, you will have a better idea of what to do next.

[jmeijers]

Quick guideline:

- Examine market
- Write eBook or book (can be switched around with next)
- Blog to attract people (has to have really good content)
- Use blog to sell eBook
- Optionally setup a forum
- Create other products for the same niche, repeat

Maybe you should look into your market a little more. It can be college students who moved out, but also young professionals with busy lives tend to eat unhealthily.

Regarding market research, I would suggest looking at competitors and then identify which would make your approach fit the student/young professionals better than the existing ones.

[vesonexdean]

There's already been a ton of great advice given, I appreciate the feedback guys.

Jacob:

Well, as we all know. dieting is a huge niche, which is good. So now I'd advise you to do some resarch. Start researching and seeing if there are enough college students out there who have the problem you described. If there is, that's great! This would be a really targeted niche, within a niche.

You could do a little keyword research to find this out. For example, use google adwords free keyword tool. Just type in a keyword, and it'll return to you a rough idea of how many times that keyword has been searched in the past month. Your just looking too see if there is a good amount of interest in that.

Even if there's not a lot of interest with college students, (but I think there should be), you could look for another specified niche. If you are going after college students though, might I suggest you not only aim at the angle, stay healthy, but also aim toward saving money. "Instead of going out for fast food, buy these foods and you will save loads of money"

As far as the product creation goes. It doesn't have to be that complicated. You could just simply write an e-book, or make some videos.

Now, you are of course going to need to market this product correctly, but that's a different story.

Hope this helps, and feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

To your success,
Jacob

The saving money aspect is genius and something I hadn't thought about...don't know how I didn't think about that but that's an awesome idea. You're right the marketing part is a different story but luckily I've spent the past 8 months learning how to generate traffic to targeted blogs, so at least I have that out of the way...lol.

MisterMcJib & jmeijers:

Thanks for confirming the idea about the ebook, I'm definitely going to create and build on that like you said MisterMcJib.

jmeijers:

I can't thank you enough for giving me a title to fit around that certain niche, I didn't know how to shorten "recently left home, eating fast food everynight, not knowing how to cook students"

I had the idea there but I didn't consider "young professionals" thanks for that and the guidelines.

Well I've done some keyword research on the subject but I'm going to throw young professionals and saving money in the mix as well....So what do you guys think of a hybrid niche showing young professionals/students how to save money and eat healthy.

Probably not original but like you said jmeijers I'll look at the competition and do it better than they did...I mean I've lived through it so I know exactly what it feels like.

Anyway thanks again guys, I appreciate the comments.

[vesonexdean]

I've noticed that there aren't too many actual "sites" dedicated to college students/young professionals health...

I've seen a lot of articles and tips based on the subject but no real site dedicated to the subject.

I've also looked at the Google Adwords tool, and nothing really comes up for young professionals but it does for college students and in doing some other keyword research it looks like the college student and saving money angle is what I'm going to aim for.

But with no dedicated sites to that it sounds like one of two things it could be good I could have the go-to-site for the subject or it's not worth aiming at this subject, that's why there isn't a dedicated site...

But being an entrepreneur is about calculated risk right...

Anyway what do you guys think?

[businessman413]

I also did a little research and I'm definetly seeing an interest. I see what you mean with there's just tons of information, and not really any products. But none the less, I believe you could still be successful with this. Especially if you include the, "saving money" factor. Plus, like you said, you've had personal experience and really know what you are talking about, so that could be a good selling point.

[Frinkenstein]

As an alternative to writing an ebook, you could start a blog and/or forums. You could write about all the stuff you'd put in an ebook (and more). On one hand, you'd be giving that info away for free, but on the other hand it would be easier to generate traffic IMO. You could monetize the blog through the usual ways (adsense and affiliate deals).

You could also go a different route and brand yourself as a weight loss coach and provide personalized coaching services for individuals. It could be done in your community, or via distance through skype, email, etc.

I think there are lots of ways you could take this. good luck.

[vesonexdean]

As an alternative to writing an ebook, you could start a blog and/or forums. You could write about all the stuff you'd put in an ebook (and more). On one hand, you'd be giving that info away for free, but on the other hand it would be easier to generate traffic IMO. You could monetize the blog through the usual ways (adsense and affiliate deals).

You could also go a different route and brand yourself as a weight loss coach and provide personalized coaching services for individuals. It could be done in your community, or via distance through skype, email, etc.

I think there are lots of ways you could take this. good luck.

You know what Frinkenstein I really like incorporating that idea into what I want to do...I've done alot of thinking and planning before I posted on the forum and I've come up with this so far.

Like businessman413 said there's an interest in this niche so I'm going to go with it young professionals/students living a healthy lifestyle and all of the things that will improve by doing that.

I've learned a ton about driving traffic to a site so I was going to use my favorite ways of generating traffic to get people to my website that I'm going to create.

I'm going to use Youtube ALOT, love making videos and surprisingly there aren't that many that have to do with "healthy lifestyle" more on my least favorite word which is "diet." I'm also going to use ezine articles to drive traffic.

My website is going to continue the trend of free tips, information, and personal videos of my own continued weight loss and shift in lifestyle.

I'll have a "newsletter" that people can sign up for that after a few emails will talk a little about my ebook. I don't want to introduce it too soon because I want to build a relationship first.

Within the ebook I was thinking of incorporating my services as a consultant, at first I really didn't want to do that because I don't have a degree in it, I mean I was three years into a B.A. of science but it hardly gives me the credibility I thought I would need to become a 'trusted adviser' for weight loss.

But recently I read something about Tony Robbins (the extremely successful, life coach) not having a degree...

So I think that's where I want to go with it, what do you guys think.

Again I appreciate all of the feedback, it's really helped me zero in on how I want to approach fulfilling my dream of helping people better their lives like I have.

[clearlycody]

informational products can sell extremely well.

you just have to zone in on your targeted market and market well.

have a good e-book and word will spread!

good luck to you

[businessman413]

You bring up a good poing in not needing a degree. But that also gives me another idea. So, say you don't have a degree... In order for the people to trust you enough to buy from you, they are going to need some proof, besides you. Have you helped any friends loose weight? If you have, you could tell them what you are doing, and ask them for a little testimony you can put on your site.

Let's say you haven't helped any friends though. You could use the Internet... For instance, go on some forum where college kids are, and give them advise. If they seem to be satisfied, tell them what you are doing and ask them for a testimony.

By doint this, you will have erased the, "Why should I listen to you" factor.

Again, good luck. It sounds like you're on to something amazing!

[vesonexdean]

You bring up a good poing in not needing a degree. But that also gives me another idea. So, say you don't have a degree... In order for the people to trust you enough to buy from you, they are going to need some proof, besides you. Have you helped any friends loose weight? If you have, you could tell them what you are doing, and ask them for a little testimony you can put on your site.

Let's say you haven't helped any friends though. You could use the Internet... For instance, go on some forum where college kids are, and give them advise. If they seem to be satisfied, tell them what you are doing and ask them for a testimony.

By doint this, you will have erased the, "Why should I listen to you" factor.

Again, good luck. It sounds like you're on to something amazing!

Awesome idea!

I haven't helped anyone to a large extent outside of my immediate family but a testimony from them would obviously be bias...lol.

But I like the idea of a forum...

Another thing that my parents told me recently was that due to the fact that my dad was in the military for a certain period after 9/11. He's eligible to pass the GI Bill to a dependent...

Which basically means I could go back to school for free AND get paid to do it...

I could essentially quit my job and focus on this while taking classes that have to do with actual health, lifestyle weight loss, I'm already three years into a biology degree (focused towards pre-med and pre-pharm) but I could shift my studies because I'm passionate about this stuff...

I'm going to work on the testimony part so I have all of it set up by the time I have my blog/site set up...

Again thanks for all your help.

I love being able to come here and talk to the same "species" of people who understand having to quench the entrepreneurial thirst, early on in life.

[vesonexdean]

Ok I have another idea...well 2, so I'm driving traffic to my website yadda yadda yadda...

Here's idea number 1:

In my newsletter I gradually start talking about my e-book and of course embed a link to the sales page and sell my book that way, within my e-book like someone mentioned before I can embed links to affiliate products that have to do with living a healthy lifestyle...

Idea number 2:

With my free newsletter I offer a 10 or 20 minute free video report explaining a couple aspects (in-depth) on living a healthy lifestyle. Then lead to my ebook that way, that has the affiliate links in it...

Oh and one more thing...just throwing stuff out there...

What about within the ebook doing some sort of up-sell? Maybe a membership site or personal consulting...what do you guys think?

[sanilbd]

You could do a little keyword research to find this out. For example, use google adwords free keyword tool. Just type in a keyword, and it'll return to you a rough idea of how many times that keyword has been searched in the past month. Your just looking too see if there is a good amount of interest in that.

[businessman413]

As far as idea number one goes... I'd advise you come up with some tips to email your customers every week or something. And you could just put a link to your website at the end of the email.

As far as the second idea goes... That's great, exactly what I plan on doing with my product. Might I just suggest, that in order for them to get this video, they have to give you there first name and email. You may have been planning that, but I just thought I'd throw it out there.

Also, that's a great idea on upsellling. Maybe just put a little note at the end of the e-book saying. "How would you like to have me as your personal dietist?" or something like that. I really have no idea how to word it, but you get the picture.