selling an e-book if SEO isn't an option.

[Makaveli2007]

Im not quite sure if that fits perfectly in here but I think its the best option.

I was gonna create a website on a problem that I can help people out with. I also know a lot of common misconceptions about this topic and have given people advice on forums which they obviously appreciated.

I would really like to create a website on that topic b/c it's really such a large problem for such a huge group of people and I know I could write great content on that topic.

However the SERPs look less than promising for every keyword Ive checked. Im gonna look into PPC later (havent done much PPC yet) but I doubt that will look more promising.

Has anybody an idea how I could solve this problem? Maybe create an e-book and a website with an excerpt from the e-book do some PPC to find out/proove if it sells..and if it does ask people with related sites/sites where the target group mingles to do a joint venture with me..possibly giving them more than 50%..and of course showing them that it actually did sell (hopefully) on my PPC site?

Or maybe just give it away for free try to make it go viral (which I guess would be rather hard because I think its hard for an idea to go viral if the field is extremely large..).

Any ideas?

EDIT: just checked the google adwords top bids...which are around 50cent/click..which means I would need a conversion rate/price that I probably wont be able to get..in order to see black not red ;(

[edited by: Makaveli2007 at 7:34 am (utc) on June 25, 2007]

[LifeinAsia]

However the SERPs look less than promising for every keyword Ive checked.

What exactly do you mean by that statement? Do you mean that the sites that are trying to promote the same as you are extremely strong/competitive? If so, then you just have to be more competitive. After all, someone has to be in the top position- why can't it be you?

It may also be just a matter of being more creative in keywords.

Also, there is no reason why you have to bid the top bid for keywords. Especially if it will result in a negative ROI.

Plus there are other games in town besides AdWords.

However, in the end, you may find that you are trying to enter a market that is simply too competitive and that it won't be worth your time/effort/money to try to get into it. If that happens to be the case, you can still congratulate yourself that you did due dilligence research and didn't make the plunge. Unlike many others in similar situations who made the plunge without thoroughly researching ahead of time and are now bankrupt.

[Makaveli2007]

However, in the end, you may find that you are trying to enter a market that is simply too competitive and that it won't be worth your time/effort/money to try to get into it.

That's exactly what I meant by the SERPs look less than promising :-) I know theres no need to bid at the top for PPC but if the top bids are so high, that youd need a conversion rate of about 5% just to be profitable well..uphill battle.

The thing is those sites that rank so high arent trying to promote the same thing as me..they all look at the problem from a different angle..thus my product would definitely be unique (and I think of great value otherwise I wouldnt even consider this knowing how competitive the SERPs are..).

As for keyword creativity I dont think its the case, either..unfortunately ;(.

As for the research...people tend to call me an overanalyzer so Im not very likely to plunge into a hypersaturated market if there are nice niche markets hehe..just thought maybe someone else has tried something like that by promoting a good e-book without search..but its probably just not worth it

[Beagle]

The thing is those sites that rank so high arent trying to promote the same thing as me..they all look at the problem from a different angle..

That's where your keyword creativity would come in. What might people type into a search engine if they're looking for your angle and not someone else's? [ETA: I don't mean that just in terms of AdWords, but also in terms of SEO.]

If you're still active on the forums where you provided good advice, put a link to your site in your signature if that's allowed (a lot of forums will allow it if you're a regular contributor and not just someone who comes in to drop a link). People who already appreciate your advice would be a good place to start word-of-mouth traffic.

[edited by: Beagle at 11:40 pm (utc) on June 25, 2007]

[Makaveli2007]

Hi thx for the advice..as for the different angle it's kinda hard to explain, that but believe me Ive done extensive keyword research..and tried everything that came to my mind, but that field is simply very crowded. Actually Im more SEO than webmaster and usually roam the SEO forums and come to WebmasterWorld "only" to get advice on internet-related non-SEO issues that I cant get on SEO forums.

Most other SEOs who know me think of myself as a person who overdoes keyword research and call me an overanalyzer lol...Im pretty sure Ive done extensive research on keywords and simply cant find anything with a high enough volume that isnt totally crowded (even with sites that arent even trying to promote anything).

I guess Ill just drop that idea and look into one of my other ideas, I guess this one would be a bad field to get into b/c of the overly competitive nature..