Not too long ago I visited Uluru (or Ayres Rock to all you rampaging colonialists). It’s a truly, truly inspirational place… despite how well-worn it is in terms of being a familiar image associated with Australia. As soon as the rock came into view I was completely struck by a feeling of power and immensity.
How does this relate to affiliate marketing? Bear with me! As soon as we arrived, my partner Duncan felt totally let down. We crowded into a camp site with thousands of caravanners, set in a bland resort purpose built for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit the rock each year. Duncan felt his expectations of getting to grips with the huge cultural importance attached to the rock by the ancient aboriginal culture, were melting away.
However, I was unperturbed. I knew that we could still “commune with the rock” despite the thousands of other tourists thronging around the Uluru scene. As always in an apparently crowded marketplace, the road less travelled is the key to a truly great experience. So in accordance with the wishes of the traditional owners of Uluru, we walked around the great rock instead of over it. 10 kilometers of completely deserted, stunning views of the rock. We discovered aboriginal rock paintings, hidden waterholes, and beautiful solitude with the iconic rock. We saw 4 other people in 3 hours. We got the rock to ourselves by avoiding the cattle-like instincts of every other tourist in the place.
… and this is exactly what I find with affiliate marketing. So often I find a profitable wee gem in an apparently hugely overcrowded market. As with the request not to climb the rock, the indicators of an untapped niche are often staring you in the face, you just have to be prepared to find your own road less travelled. Do not follow the crowd. Do not do the glaringly obvious.
In short, often doing things even marginally differently from what you see staring you in the face is they key to finding your own little bit of affiliate paradise!
We made the effort to find the Uluru you don’t see in the media or popular images…
… and boy did it ever pay off big time!
June 13th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Amazing photo’s, it certainly sounds like your enjoying your trip.
Some very useful and philosophical advice,
When looking for a niche I tend to look at my buying habits and then chat to the family/friends about it. Instead of setting up a shoe website, I set up a site for larger sized shoes for ladies, or ladies styles for men ;).
I think everyone should do at least one site that is a bit different from what they would normally do, it could lead onto a new niche and lots of potential.
June 16th, 2007 at 1:41 am
agree completely Andy. Too many people rush in to do the obvious in affiliate marketing… it’s something just “off normal” that brings in the cash for me every time.
The trip is going great, but its increasingly hard to get any work done with the long days of driving!