When I look at successful internet marketers or people making money online none of them seem to be going after small or non competitive topics.

When I look at people peddling ebooks and keyword tools or struggling to make a full time income it’s then I see people suggesting to find non competitive niches.

Is Niche Marketing Stupid?

Two themes that really stuck with me from affiliate summit were:

1. Think big (from the awesome keynote)

2. Big thinkers don’t choose low volume niches (from meeting great people)

Both of those points are contrary to the common wisdom of pick a small niche topic.

Certainly there is money in any niche, but is it really worth the time? Wouldn’t the time be better spent attacking a topic with tons of volume?

My successful acquaintances don’t think small.

John Chow has techzone that focuses on “tech” and his personal blog that focuses on “internet marketing”. Both are huge topics.

Problogger has a popular “photography” and “blogging” blog. Both huge topics.

Gary Vaynerchuck picked the topic of “Wine”. Huge topic.

Zac Johnson has done well targeting “myspace”. HUGE.

Shoemoney is notorious for dominating “ringtones”. HUGE.

The list goes on and on.

The success story I never hear:

“I am a super affiliate because I specialize in topics with very little competition.”

“I make boatloads of money by building sites on topics with low traffic.”

This things just don’t happen. If they do they are the exception to the rule. I couldn’t even think of one.

Think Bigger

I’m not sure where the “niche marketing” started other than from someone who was trying to put together a good line of crap to sell an ebook.

Yes money can be made with a small niche site. That isn’t my argument. Rather, why bother? The odds are better you will hit the lottery than retire from a few niche sites.

Why not go for something worth more than dominating “fly fishing in southern Indiana?” You are going to be putting in the same amount of hours either way.

Are you seeing the same things as me? Where are the success stories of people making a good living on small niche sites?