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