| There are groups of people who are willing to | | | | discussing. Once in the forum, you can review |
| buy nonfiction ebooks: hobbyists. At any | | | | discussion threads from today, yesterday, or |
| given time, these people are looking for ways | | | | a year ago. Don't go back too far if you want |
| to spend their money on their hobbies. Their | | | | to find out the hottest possible ebook |
| passion is your financial gain. What avid | | | | topics. You can participate in discussions if |
| hobbyists want will always make great ebook | | | | you like. FYI, do not drop into a discussion |
| material. Note that I did not say what | | | | group just to market an ebook; hobbyists |
| hobbyists need. You may have certain opinions | | | | consider this spam and will drop you from the |
| on what exactly certain people should need or | | | | group. |
| should read. But those are not necessarily | | | | |
| good topics for immediate ebook profit. Those | | | | When you read and/or participate, you'll find |
| topics may be areas for you to dabble in at | | | | out what this group is buying. All you have |
| your leisure. However, if you want to make | | | | to do is skim to find out what questions they |
| money at this, find out what niche groups | | | | are asking each other about products or |
| want, and hit those groups with your ebook. | | | | traveling or information. What they are |
| | | | interested in buying is a key piece of |
| Find hobbyists and niche groups by searching | | | | information because passionate consumers love |
| the web for "popular hobbies," "enthusiasts," | | | | to research before they buy. This is an |
| or "what America is buying." Or, you can | | | | immediate ebook market. Write a book (see on |
| search specifically for forums and discussion | | | | how to select the best this or that on the |
| groups for hobbyists. In the forums, people | | | | market, related to the current wants of the |
| talk with each other to share ideas with one | | | | enthusiasts. |
| another. Often, they will exchange | | | | |
| testimonials for equipment, upcoming events, | | | | Enthusiasts come in all shapes and sizes. |
| and books. | | | | Think brides-to-be, golfers, whitewater |
| | | | rafters, people who collect vintage baseball |
| One popular site where hobbyists go to talk | | | | cards, wine connoisseurs, gardeners, frequent |
| to one another online is Yahoo!. Check it | | | | vacationers, video gamers, and parents who |
| out. Go to Click "groups." On the groups | | | | put their children into private tutoring, |
| page you'll see a list of categories such as | | | | ballet, and violin lessons before age 3. |
| Business & finance, and Religion. For | | | | |
| demonstration purposes, click on "Games." | | | | There are some hobbies that seem to |
| | | | continually attract enthusiasts, like playing |
| On the games screen, game subcategories are | | | | golf, watching football, restoring old cars, |
| listed followed by numbers. The numbers | | | | and listening to music. These are classics. |
| indicate how many discussion forums are | | | | Then there are some hobbies that seem to come |
| available for that subcategory. These numbers | | | | and go in waves, such as Red Hat Societies |
| reveal a lot. Notice how "role playing | | | | participation, snow boarding, or line |
| games," and "video & computer games" have | | | | dancing. Pick either a classic hobby or a |
| factors of ten or in some cases factors of | | | | fluctuating hobby in its peak season for your |
| 100 more forums than other subcategories. | | | | best odds. |
| "Wargaming" and "paintball" don't even come | | | | |
| close, although those categories are much | | | | A big market on the Internet is the 20-30 |
| more discussion-laden than "horseshoe | | | | set. Here's what they are doing right now, |
| pitching." | | | | according to one survey. They're |
| | | | snowboarding, wakeboarding, traveling, |
| For fun, one day I continued selecting | | | | camping, listening to music, taking |
| subcategories until I arrived at a list of | | | | photographs. They're drinking gourmet coffee, |
| over a thousand (yes a thousand) discussion | | | | rock climbing, playing guitar, camping, |
| groups on Yahoo having to do with vampire | | | | dancing, looking for online love, shopping |
| role playing. Here's how I got there: | | | | for computers and other electronics, |
| Games>>Role Playing Games>>Live Action>> | | | | attending sports events, studying the Bible, |
| World of Darkness>>Vampire: The Masquerade. | | | | exercising, trying to find jobs, and watching |
| | | | movies. Any one of these subjects would make |
| Some of the forums are open to new members, | | | | a great ebook with a buying market standing |
| and you can join to read what everyone's | | | | by. |