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Niche marketing is an old and very successful marketing strategy whereby a company focuses on marketing and selling to an clearly defined segment of potential consumers. The company earns by supplying an unique product or service to this narrowly defined market that other companies have not met or provided.

Are there potential buyers online? According to the Central Intelligence Agencys latest figures, there are over 185.55 000 000 internet users in the United States alone, of these around 139.52 000 000 active users. The Computer Industry Almanac that compiles statistics on global internet users, records an staggering 934 000 000 users for 2004 and this market continues to grow.

Do these users buy online? Statistics gathered on internet users, show they do and their numbers are increasing. For instance, in December 2004, online sales rose by 53%, from USD 795 000 000 of the same days 2003, to USD 1.22 000 000 000 2004, (gathered by CMP Media a service provider of information and marketing services to the technology and healthcare industries). For each unique marketing hook, product and service, your business blog can tap in, thats how plenty of niche markets you can serve.

The next question then to answer: Can your blog be the perfect vehicle for reaching and marketing to your niche?

You should realize that successful blogs go a step further in providing excellent content, as well as regular updates or new content. Most websites provide these services. Rather it is the ability of these blogs to provide the author and the readers a venue for one-on-one conversations, in an impersonal medium. By sharing commentaries, thoughts and opinions, the author positions himself or herself as being an authority in his or her field of work. If you write content that is relevant to their needs, theyll remember and keep returning to your blog.

But thats not all; you need to have an abiding passion for the subject matter or product youll sell. Without this, your blog wont stand out and carve itself a niche apart from the other blogs.

In essence, a well researched and crafted business blog is a potential revenue center. It has the authors personal touch and speaks to the need of this particular consumer. As every marketing analyst knows, when a seller understands his or her consumers well, this seller gets their business.