Whenever we talk about niche marketing, one of the most important aspects is to consider whether the niche you are going to be involved in is a "sunrise" industry or a "sunset" industry.

Do not jump for joy whenever you identify a niche that has very little supply ( ie few web pages from the major search engines ), check the demand ( number of searches ) as well.

Some industries are very susceptible to the developments of trends. Take for example, the simple hand held camera. Companies that dealt in the use of the photo films that are used to capture photographs are now facing hard times as cameras are going digital, and where films are no longer necessary but hard disk space in megabytes are used or pen drives are plugged in for storage. Therefore, unless you are willing to be involved in that niche for a short time, you would want to avoid or skip industries with passing or dwindling interest, or those that are fully matured and going downhill.

Obviously, when we check the demand, the demand at the present moment may still be high enough to justify present involvement, but it is clear that down the road, several months later, even a year, the demand or interest will go down and if you are involved in such a business, you will have been caught at the downside of the industry.

Not all industries are "sunset". In contrast, it is easy to identify some "sunrise" industries, such as the Voice Over Internet Protocol or VoIP.

Communications is the buzz word. We see phenomenal growth in communications especially mobile telephony, and the manufacture and sale of VoIP products. These are exciting niches to be involved in.

Translating this to the online world, there are exciting developments, as off-line " brick and mortar businesses" - corporations that conduct their businesses offline- are sensing the opportunities on the internet. The better informed ones are moving into the internet with online programs meant for the international community involved in VoIP. Interesting programs in this communications niche are returning full time incomes to many online entrepreneurs who are moving into this "sunrise" field, now that it is at the early beginning stage.

Joining a program such as this will allow internet users, and businesses to contact each other for unlimited international calling and to conduct their business 24 hours a day, seven days a week! And to think of it, such a facility can be had at below $10 a month.

This is what I call a tremendous niche opportunity because the entry costs for an online entrepreneur or home business operator is so low...at below $10, but the benefit is so vast- we are talking about international contact for networking or business operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

Using the same principles of low cost, high demand, low supply and vast benefits, gauge the niche markets you are going to be involved in. Are they "sunrise" or "sunset" industries? Do they meet the requirements that I have mentioned above? When you begin your research, measure them according to these additional requirements, and you will be able to ride on some good long lasting niches that will bring in profits to you for a long time. The key is to begin early, and dominate that niche. And the VoIP niche is still in its infancy on the internet!

Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner and Marketing Strategist. He researches lesser known niches and report these online at http://www.cashflowpc.biz where he reveals the latest niche with tremendous potential that any person can get involved in for low cost. You can also refer to free resources on Niche Marketing at http://www.cashflowpc.biz/niche-marketing including the use of a Niche Marketing Keyword Finder tool to uncover hidden and lesser known niches.