How to get ideas for new websites (revised)?
I have recently discovered that the algo to discover new website ideas I used to apply in the past does not work as efficiently as I would like to.
So, what other ways can you use to get ideas for the websites that will be competitive? One of my greatest discovery of the latest time (that seems so obvious) is to focus on new and emerging products, services and trends.
I certainly use a few of the ‘old’ discovery ideas, but you should remember that it is a hard task to complete with websites that people started years back in all those popular (and profitable) online niches – mortgages, credit cards, insurance, making money online, real estate, health, etc.
I do not say that you should not try, I just want to say that you will have much better chances to succeed if you focus on some new trends that are happening in those industries (a real estate sample – zillow.com)
What are those new sources of ideas I currently use? I have a list of trend, innovation and futurist websites that give me ideas:
PFSK
Influx Insights
Agenda Inc.
SpringWise
Trendwatching
Nowandnext
Corante
iftf
Plausiblefutures
Shapingtomorrow
Trendcentral
Ginthinking
Imaginatik
wfs
I also use top news and business portals: Forbes, CNN, Economist, TechReview, NYtimes, etc. and websites focused on new online technologies, applications and services (techcrunch, readwriteweb, programmableweb)
Summary: These new sources do not do miracles – I mean do not expect to discover a load of new cool ideas after reviewing them just once. I keep visiting and reading them practically every day scanning for something new and promising, making notes and then adding new notes, keeping an eye on one industry, product or service waiting for some proof from more than one source.
All ideas go through WordTracker demand check – if the search volume is low at this time – it does not mean that I send the idea to the trash basket. I just make a note that it is not the correct time to develop this topic right now. Next is a look at Google SERP first page – who are on top?
Monetization is the next issue on the list. Certainly, there is always contextual advertising (YPN, AdSense), but it is much more profitable to run some CPA program along with that. If you expect many eyeballs, CPM is also a viable option.
Contextual ads from my experience tend to be less frequently clicked (visitors get blind to these units as they once got blind to banners) and less profitable (there is too much online property now aiming at a limited number of advertisers).
Technorati Tags: website ideas, seo, affiliate marketing, internet marketing
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