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One of the things that causes the most angst for new affiliate marketers is choosing a niche. In part 1 of this series, we'll examine one of the reasons for this and whether the worry is justified.
Pick a passion or pursue the popular?
The first problem is the subject itself. Beginners read advice to pick something they're passionate about. As soon as they turn around, someone else is telling them to forget passion and follow the money by choosing the most highly profitable niche they can find, whether they like it or hate it. Still others recommend an approach that combines both ideas. So they end up feeling like no matter what they think of, they're in a huge maze and each way they turn there's a dead end.
Well, here's some guidance through the maze. I think the third suggestion above is the best, and here's why.
It's not enough to simply say, I've always been fascinated by the duck-billed platypus, think I'll make a site about it. Or, I love making snowmen out of nothing but packing peanuts and glue—I think the world needs to know about this. (Uh, it doesn't.)
For typical affiliate marketing, it must be something that has products associated with it that you can promote, and something that is in at least some demand. If there's no competition at all in the niche you're considering, maybe there's a reason. Be sure it's something people will actually pull out their wallet for. 
But you don't think you have any "passions" to build a site around—does that mean you should simply dive into the most profitable niche you can find, regardless of your interest level?
Well, for some people, the answer may be a qualified Yes. If you can remain motivated to work on a site about a topic you care nothing about, great. More power to you! Most, though, will have difficulty sustaining that interest long enough to start bringing in some real cash. Once the money starts rolling in, it might be easier because that regular influx of cash can be mighty motivating in itself. But if you never get that far because you're bored out of your gourd, what's the point?
There's also the question of whether the niche is oversaturated or dominated by so many big guns that a newbie has no hope of competing. The niche might be making a lot of people a lot of money, but for each person that rakes it in, there are 1,000 who can never get their site higher than page 50 in the search engines, and they make little to nothing. So making popularity or profitability your only criteria is not always the way to go.
That's why, if the subject you prefer is either not in demand, has no products associated with it, or it's a niche that everyone and their brother is fighting for, I think you should find a happy medium. Take a subject that you do have some interest in but that also interests others, meaning there are buyers out there. As long as it's something you don't mind researching and writing about, it should keep you interested long enough to at least complete the site and then throw it a few crumbs every so often. If, after researching the competition, it's an arena that you feel you can do well in, it might be a great choice.
You might even find that it becomes a passion! See "How to choose a subject for your affiliate site" for more information on how to brainstorm ideas.
In Niche Anxiety Part 2, we'll talk about the fear of competition while choosing a niche.
I LOVE my “job.” Affiliate marketing takes work, but it doesn’t feel like work.
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