Home Based Business Adviser

The most important part of putting together an information product is quality research. If you do a search you will find tons of information products in which the creator slapped together some content and started selling it. I have purchased some of these myself and it really ticks me off. If you want to be known as a quality information product provider then you must take the time to do the research. If you do, then you will will stand head and shoulders above those marketers who only do the bare minimum. You will be able to create a quality product that people will want to recommend to others.

I came across an acronym that I thought was a perfect way to remind me of the major sites I need to visit when researching new ideas for an information product. That acronym is S.I.T.E.

S – SUPERCENTER
I – INFORMATION hubs
T – TARGETED search
E – ENVIRONMENT

1. SUPERCENTER
Google owns the largest percentage of search traffic online and is the first place most people look to find any kind of information. Honestly, with all the tools that they now provide it is easily THE best place to begin your search for information. You can find information on virtually any topic on the planet. If there is a “supercenter” of search, then Google owns that title. There are some pretty good tools available for niche research (I use Micro Niche Finder) but Google is free and a great place to start. When you begin your searches be sure to search for terms using “how to” and “ways to” in addition to the keywords and keyphrases you are searching that are associated with the topic you are interested in.

2. INFORMATION Hubs
There are several sites that I use, which I refer to as information hubs. This just means that they are general purpose sites that provide information on many, many, topics. Wikipedia is one of the biggest. eHow and HowStuffWorks are also great places to research a topic. Even About.com is a good place to find information on niche subjects and give you numerous ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Sites like these can give you a quick snapshot of the topic and provide you with some valuable insight into the major concerns within the niche. However, don’t just use the information you find here alone, dig as deep as you can to get the info necessary to create a standout information product.

3. TARGETED Search.
If you really want to become a research specialist you will look to specialty search engines. These are search engines that many people don’t even know about, but that can provide you with valuable information on a topic. If you are looking for answers to questions you might try:

• AllExperts.com – You just find a category you are interested in, choose a volunteer, and then ask them your question.
• Answers.com – Similar to AllExperts, only you don’t ask a specific expert, you ask a question and all answers are provided to you concerning that question.
• Info Please – Nice site if you are seeking trustworthy facts. You can search across their various almanacs, their encyclopedia and their dictionary.
• Questia – A large library of books, journals and articles that are searchable by title, author, subject, publisher, content and more.

4. ENVIRONMENT
Last but not least in your research efforts you can use forums as an excellent source of information on many topics. Forums offer the perfect community-style environment for picking up ideas. There are two kinds of people who visit forums, those who already have specialized knowledge in the niche you are researching and those who are seeking information just like you. Many times the information that you find in forums is not even indexed by the major engines. This means that for all practical purposes this information is fresh and new to everyone other than those forum members. Another reason to search forums is that you can give your product that insider’s view that is so important. If you aren’t an expert on your topic, you can fake it by researching in a forum.

RESEARCH BONUS: Don’t forget the library! I know, you will have to get up off your duff and actually drive there BUT libraries and bookstores are hotbeds of knowledge. Perennial topics like baby care, gardening or finances can greatly be enhanced by research through books. Dust off your library card and spend an afternoon studying how other people have organized information on the topic.

Use these research ideas and you will make your information product a useful resource for the people in your niche. It does take more time to dig deep into a niche but you will it to be definitely worthwhile when you have satisfied customers who purchase from you over and over again!

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