Finding a niche

Even if you are the first company to offer a product or service on the net, you won't be the last. Before you take the leap into cyberspace, ask yourself some tough questions.

1) Why do people chose you over the competition? Is it price, selection, service, expertise, etc.?

2) Can you fill the same niche on the Net? If a geographical location is a major factor in your success, you'll need to find a new strategy on the internet.

3) Can you defend your position in this niche against all competitors? Survey your competition and determine which niches they're filling. Stake out a specific niche in order to create a unique business identity. Today's unique niche may be a crowded shelf tomorrow. Look for advantages that you can defend such as service, quality, specialization and expertise. Price and breadth of selection are more vulnerable to attack.