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Niche market research August 6, 2007

Posted by Niels in : Magazine, Personal , 1 comment so far

Craig and I followed up on our list of niche markets from this weekend. We picked seven that we really liked and ran them through Wordtracker’s Free Keyword Suggestion Tool. Following that up with Google’s Search Sponsored Links gives us an idea of how many people are searching in our markets and whether anyone is already making a product for them. Ed Dale pointed out something that surprised us in his podcast - that competition is not a bad thing. Seeing other products in a niche we were considering is a good sign - it means that the niche is profitable. All we have to do is outmarket our competition and we’ll learn to do that this month…

Your thoughts?

My interview in Kiplinger’s Personal finance June 20, 2007

Posted by Niels in : Beauty and the Geek, Dating coach, Magazine, Personal , 2 comments

Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine profiled me in this month’s issue. Unfortunately, all you can get online is the blurb: “From Engineering Geek to Dating Coach: A PhD student in electrical engineering changes direction after a stint on the reality TV show Beauty and the Geek.” But if you swing by your local bookstore, you can check me out on the last page of the July 2007 issue. I do have to say, it was a great experience working with a photographer who was working to make me look cool rather than geeky.

Your thoughts?

Go or no go? November 29, 2006

Posted by Niels in : Magazine , 7 comments

It’s time to make a decision on the magazine.  Craig and I sent everything we have to Samir “Mr. Magazine” Husni, the world’s foremost expert on magazine startups.  He thinks our idea has potential, which is what we wanted to hear.  But we have a long, long ways to go.

According to Prof. Husni, most of the magazines he sees fail because of a lack of funding.  Even starting small, only 4-6 issues a year, we’re going to need between $750k and $1 million to last.  Of course, we don’t have that kind of money, so we’ll be approaching investors.  But we have to have something to show them first, i.e. a pilot issue and a business plan.  And Samir suggests that a $50k prelaunch budget is reasonable. 

That $50k would be raised from friends, family, and other people who believe in our idea.  I’m pretty sure we could raise it.  But we have to be fully committed to the magazine, and I’m not sure I am.

I love the idea of being the one who takes all this incredible information mainstream.  The standard advice for men on how to start and maintain relationships is terrible.  A lot of it is worse than terrible.  Buying flowers when you screw up?  Do women really want to be with a man who has to buy them into a good mood?

However, I also want to make a lot of money at a job I enjoy.  If I went into industry, I would be making six figures now.  It would take years for me to make that kind of money at the magazine, if ever.  And I’m not sure I would even enjoy the work.  The emotional reward is incredible to be sure, but I don’t know if it would be enough to overcome the tedium of what I expect to be basically an administrative job behind a computer.

Frankly, I don’t know what to do.  Any advice?

Your thoughts?

I need a lawyer! September 20, 2006

Posted by Niels in : Magazine , 3 comments

I need a lawyer!  Or an attorney, or at least someone who can tell me what the difference between the two is.

The magazine plan is still chugging along, and we know we need some legal advice.  But we don’t know enough to know why.  So we need an attorney familiar enough with the magazine business to tell us why we need him.  I know there will be copyright issues and contracts when we purchase content, but what else, I can only guess.  I think I’ve got the incorporating process mostly figured out, but I’ve got a few questions on that, too.

Now that half the world can track me through the facebook mini-feed, I’m hoping for some prompt assistance.  If you’re stalking me and you’ve spent some time in law school, or just know someone who has, please help me network a bit.

Your thoughts?

Still an introvert September 16, 2006

Posted by Niels in : Dating coach, Magazine , 7 comments

I met a couple female friends of Deepthy’s today.  We had dinner at Nobu (fancy-schmancy!) and went bar-hopping for the rest of the evening.  They were really interested in my work as a dating coach and the magazine idea.

They reminded me that there’s an untapped market out there.  We teach men how to become more attractive so they can meet new women, and we teach them the relationship skills to maintain a quality relationship with them.  A lot of guys who come to our workshops have been through divorces and want not only to start dating again but also to learn the skills to make sure it never happens again.  But we shouldn’t be just targeting the guys who have been through divorces.  Guys in relationships need to know how to keep that spark, how to keep their partners attracted.  We should be helping guys before the divorce occurs.

Our magazine needs to address that also - how to keep the fire in your relationship.  I’ve been promised some media coverage in New Orleans when we finally launch, which will be great.  Once again, it’s all about who you know.

I had a great evening.  I really connected with some new friends and some quality flirting occured out at the bars.  But I’m home now and I’m exhausted from being “on” all night.  I’m jealous of my friends who are extroverts and are energized by social interaction.  It still drains me.  Not as much as it used to, which I find really encouraging, but there’s no question that I’m still an introvert.

Your thoughts?