is my niche too competitive for a new site?

[jacksnfive44]

Hi guys,

This is my first 'real' post and simple question

So i did some keyword research, looked at some competing sites and realized the sit and go niche might be a tough nut to crack. There are a few really good sites out there with good domains. I got a decent domain name i think anyway, which i have registered: 'sitandgo-poker.com'.

The reason I picked sit and go as my niche is because it is what i enjoy playing the most as a casual depositing player and is a strategy that i have researched and done quite well with, granted I admit to being a low stakes player, i just can never put in the volume in the summer months to really build a roll.

Quick aside my day job is seasonal (pool construction) and during the winter the last two years i have played poker as a way to have some pocket cash during the off-season and because its just a fun hobby of mine. I researched general affiliate marketing as I have been doing a lot of web marketing for my day job and my music sites, just so happens i love online poker so felt like a good industry for my first affiliate marketing site.

so what are your thoughts on this niche? too competitive?

[Newjabber]

so what are your thoughts on this niche? too competitive?

Nope i dont think so.
But you should deffitnely get a better domaine without - in it if you are planning on building a big site. The - looks like a spam site IMHO

[pokerextras]

That domain will help with seo. Even with the - in it. The above post is right though. It isn't great for branding.

As for niches being too competitive, there isn't really any such thing in my opinion. Just keywords being too competitive. If you know seo and are willing to put some time/money in, then you can easily rank on google for that niche.

[jacksnfive44]

thanks guys.

I think you are right about the domain not being brand-able. I guess it is a little too generic and i was going for something that would be SEO heavy. Long term tho building a brand should take priority

[pokerextras]

It isn't that the name is too generic. Sitandgopoker .com would be a great name. The problem is the hyphen. Sitandgoworld or something will be available, brandable, and will still provide a ranking boost.

[Squizzel]

I cant really speak for myself because im not a success yet as an affiliate but if you keep hustling and do what you love, (Do you love sit n gos? can you write about them all day? does it make you tick) If you do and you commit to it and put in consistent work it seems almost impossible to fail. Do what you love. Add value, create something awesome.

Thats my plan anyway.

PS. Im not a huge fan on the current domain, without the hyphen it would be awesome. Maybe go for some kind of brandable site like... sitngo(word).com or sitandgo(word).com

gl.

[addz123]

SngGod.com, sitandgoheaven.com [good luck - some samples]

[Michael Martinez]

I wouldn't be so quick to put down the hyphen. Years ago we had to go with seo-theory.com because seotheory.com was taken. We did fine with the branding.

In fact, SEO Theory started out as seo-theory.blogspot.com and that sub-domain still ranks well for the (relatively non-competitive by your poker affiliate standards) "seo theory" query.

You can brand just about any domain that people say without taking a breath in the middle.

[bonusbeast]

Of couse the niche is competitive, basically anything related to poker is going to be very competetive. But online gaming is the best affiliate industry to be in, so put the time in and you will reap the rewards.

[jacksnfive44]

thanks again for all the replies, I really am excited about the possiblities. I found another domain that i liked and snatched it up sitandgoplayers.com seemed more brand able and still decent seo for the keyword.

I plan on using wordpress for my CMS as I know it pretty well and have built on it before, but does anyone have any thoughts on Poker affiliate solutions?

seems like good affiliate deals but wondering more about as a CMS? I know it is an unrelated question maybe i should start a new post?