There is NO SUCH THING as a too competitive niche! Here is how I make money from them.

27 replies
Hey Warriors.

Just woke up and decided to start off my day with a nice post on the good old Warrior forum!

So let's get to it.

I have seen a lot of people saying things like 'don't go after the competitive niches, stick to low hanging fruit, avoid over saturated niches, etc.

While I do agree with this to some extent, it doesn't mean you can't make A LOT of money from highly competitive niches.

These niches are competitive for a reason...

Because people spend like crazy in them.

So if anything, a competitive niche is a GOOD thing, rather than a bad thing.

Even if you do basic affiliate marketing, you can still make bank off these niches.

Here's how you can do it.

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Get Into The Niche As Soon As Possible!
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When I first started IM about 6 months back, I was curious to see how hard it would be to get into an over saturated niche.

So I registered a domain name in two VERY competitive niches right off the bat.

That is key. What I have noticed is that it takes awhile before the search engine will trust you in niches like this. The sooner you register that domain name and and get it indexed, the better.

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Then Drip Content Over Time
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I also think this is another key point to breaking into a niche that is highly competitive.

What I did was buy 10 articles, and drip them over a period of 5-6 months. About 2 articles added to my site per month.

One thing I noticed about these niches is sites that grow stale get phased out very quickly(which is good for us if you have the content to support it).

By adding content overtime, you are fresh in Google's mind.

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Build A Small Amount Of Links Over Time
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Contrary to what you may think, you don't need a ton of back links to get organic search traffic in niches like this.

All you need to do is steadily build up a small amount of links over time to your main domain name and all of your sub pages and you will eventually start to move up in the rankings.

I'm talking like 5 links per month to each of your sub pages and root domain.

Slow with consistency is important here...

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Simultaneously Build Supporting Sites
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This is something you should do if you are serious about making money in the particular niche.

I like to have at least 3 sites hosted on different servers if I am serious about a niche I want to work in.

I will simultaneously build content and links to each one of those sites over time, just like I did in the instructions above.

After they get ranked and have something I can leverage, I will link the two support sites to my main website. I will even create links within the articles of my support sites to each of the articles of my main money site.

This is good to do for two reasons:
  • You can get search traffic to your main site and your supporting sites.
  • Your support sites will highly boost your search rankings of your main website.
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You Won't Get Much Traffic - But It Doesn't Matter
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This is something I find really cool about working in a competitive niche.

People searching for these terms are so hungry that you need hardly any traffic to make sales.

One of my sites gets no more than 20 visits per day, and it is making me about $500-$600/m. Conversions for these sites are ridiculous. I have another site that gets about 5 hits per day and it makes me around $200/m.

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It Really Isn't Much Extra Work Either...
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I'm sure a lot of you are thinking it is going to be a lot of extra work to break into a competitive niche, but it really isn't.

In fact, I would say I'm not really doing anything extra that I haven't done with some of the lower competition niches I am in besides for spreading the content and link building out over a longer period of time.

If you have a good system in place, this equates to hardly any extra work on your part because the process is practically the exact same thing.

That's it! Just get out there and make some sites in any niche that you want to get into. Don't let the competition deter you, because you WILL make money off it!

Trust me.

Don't go too crazy now ;P

-Daniel Brock

P.S. Feel free to ask me questions. I will check in from time to time.
#competitive #make #money #niche #thing
  • Profile picture of the author hotftuna
    Hello Daniel,

    My primary niche is very, very competitive.

    I agree with your post but I would add one thing. To rank in my niche, domain age seems to be a determining factor.

    I see many folks work on adding 20+inbounds/day. Personally I think that that is nuts.

    I am always looking for quality inbounds. If I can get two really good inbounds/week, I can maintain or gain rank.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
      Originally Posted by hotftuna View Post

      Hello Daniel,

      My primary niche is very, very competitive.

      I agree with your post but I would add one thing. To rank in my niche, domain age seems to be a determining factor.

      I see many folks work on adding 20+inbounds/day. Personally I think that that is nuts.

      I am always looking for quality inbounds. If I can get two really good inbounds/week, I can maintain or gain rank.
      Yep! That's exactly right!

      Especially about your domain name age - which I why I suggested to register your domain name and get it indexed ASAP.

      I was also in the add 20 links per day boat not too long ago until I realized that slower = better.

      After all, how many newly created sites out there can start pulling in 20/links per day? Very few new sites have the direction needed to go viral like that.

      I believe that the search engines pick up on your aggressive link building campaigns because of this idea.

      I could be wrong, and it could be a total coincidence, but IMO, slow and steady > massive dumps of links.
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    • Profile picture of the author aaron_nimocks
      Originally Posted by hotftuna View Post

      I agree with your post but I would add one thing. To rank in my niche, domain age seems to be a determining factor.
      Its not really domain age, it's more link age. The longer a link has been pointing to the site the better because it seems stable.

      Domain age alone really does nothing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Moneyland
    Hi Daniel,

    A great post. I am wondering why the 3 sites would be hosted on different servers? Is it so google cannot see they are really the same? Would the three sites be selling the same thing but just different content?

    So the main purpose is to use these supporting sites to link to the primary site so it will rank better? I may use some seo services from a company for my website ranking so I may try this aswell.

    Thanks
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    • Profile picture of the author Darth Executor
      Originally Posted by Moneyland View Post

      Hi Daniel,

      A great post. I am wondering why the 3 sites would be hosted on different servers? Is it so google cannot see they are really the same?
      I'm guessing is so google can't see they're both pretty much from the same person. In other words, you don't want google to think your site's getting linked because you own it. Rather, you want google to think the site's getting linked because it's relevant. Of course, you want to keep it relevant, but you also don't want google to see it as a conflict of interest.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
      Originally Posted by Moneyland View Post

      Hi Daniel,

      A great post. I am wondering why the 3 sites would be hosted on different servers? Is it so google cannot see they are really the same? Would the three sites be selling the same thing but just different content?

      So the main purpose is to use these supporting sites to link to the primary site so it will rank better? I may use some seo services from a company for my website ranking so I may try this aswell.

      Thanks
      Google can 'discover' your network of sites if they are all on the same server.

      I also have a web hosting company that I run so I have virtually all the assets I need to spread my sites across different networks.

      If you don't have the resources, you can always create a free blogger or wordpress.com blog and use those as your support sites.

      Obviously the more you can make and build links to the better. Some niches I am in I have 5+ domain names for just one single niche.
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      • Profile picture of the author sandra98
        Originally Posted by Daniel Brock View Post

        Google can 'discover' your network of sites if they are all on the same server.

        I also have a web hosting company that I run so I have virtually all the assets I need to spread my sites across different networks.

        If you don't have the resources, you can always create a free blogger or wordpress.com blog and use those as your support sites.

        Obviously the more you can make and build links to the better. Some niches I am in I have 5+ domain names for just one single niche.
        Hi Daniel,

        Does it mean that if I currently use one hosting account to host all the URLs I have, that means they may all be hosted on the same server?

        Do you know of a web host that will put different domains on different servers if users request them?

        I think I understand your point about the free blogger and wordpress.com sites.

        I am guessing the alternative is to start hosting accounts with other hosting companies? Provided we have extra money to spend, does this approach work?

        Thanks for any insights!
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        • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
          Originally Posted by sandra98 View Post

          Hi Daniel,

          Does it mean that if I currently use one hosting account to host all the URLs I have, that means they may all be hosted on the same server?

          Do you know of a web host that will put different domains on different servers if users request them?

          I think I understand your point about the free blogger and wordpress.com sites.

          I am guessing the alternative is to start hosting accounts with other hosting companies? Provided we have extra money to spend, does this approach work?

          Thanks for any insights!
          This would be called 'SEO Hosting'. Just do a search on the big G, and you will get all the companies you will need. I personally run my own hosting company, so I have plenty of IPs spread out over networks to work with.

          I do also have a couple of accounts with other companies like HostGator just to throw in another batch of IPs into the mix.

          trueitalian,

          I love it when people say that and just give up. I'm like 'OK I bet it's too competitive...', and as soon as they are gone im there behind them racking up the sales.
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      • Profile picture of the author tremayne
        Originally Posted by Daniel Brock View Post

        Google can 'discover' your network of sites if they are all on the same server.
        How about if they are with the same host but one of the sites is on a reseller account and the other is not?

        Sydney
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  • Great advice. The problem is, people want instant success. Imagine if people do what you just outlined in 10 highly competitive niches, and held on for a couple of years. In a year or two, these sites would really start creating some insane income.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
      Originally Posted by Charles Montgomery View Post

      Great advice. The problem is, people want instant success. Imagine if people do what you just outlined in 10 highly competitive niches, and held on for a couple of years. In a year or two, these sites would really start creating some insane income.
      I totally agree with your instant success comment.

      I was in the position too - I just wanted to see instant money for my effort.

      I am now shifting from quick short term profits to more long term projects, and so far its working pretty nicely.

      If you wanted to get the best of both worlds, which is what I did, I would try and create one website in a highly competitive niche to 10 websites in relatively low competition niches.

      It works like a charm. I am now going to try and build up some weight loss websites as those will be some sweet assets for me later on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Bard
    I just made a video and a blog post about this very subject.

    "Let the Longtail Keywords Come to You"

    Pick a competitive niche (where the money is) and start writing posts based on what people are using to find you with.

    It always works for me. I've been able to go into a niche and within 18 mos be a high ranking authority site.

    Of course, using the method I wrote about is not the only thing to do but you can start at the bottom of a niche and using "feedback" from your visitors start climbing to the top.

    Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author RoxanneKing
    Very interesting stuff. My niche is competitive and I have limited time so I have been building links and content fairly slowly so I was getting a little worried it wouldn't work. But based on this it looks like I'm actually on the right track!
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    • Profile picture of the author yrre7
      Well said....I think targeting small niche won't make you more money...it's less work, but you won't get as much back as a competitive niche..
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  • Profile picture of the author Magius
    great post, as i am really new to this i feel this will help out quite a bit. A+
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  • Profile picture of the author Fraggler
    Yeah I agree. It is also one of the benefits of writing original quality content. You will naturally hit long tails that the search engines don't have enough data on. Enough content you will get enough of these long tails to make the site worth while. In the competitve niches you can always start with the searches that are very low but still targeted just to keep you focused. Over time the other traffic will come in.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mattk
      Originally Posted by Fraggler View Post

      Yeah I agree. It is also one of the benefits of writing original quality content. You will naturally hit long tails that the search engines don't have enough data on. Enough content you will get enough of these long tails to make the site worth while. In the competitve niches you can always start with the searches that are very low but still targeted just to keep you focused. Over time the other traffic will come in.
      I have always been of the opinion that writing for the reader is the best way to do seo. I like to keep keywords in the back of my mind, but I like to write like I'm having a conversation.

      If this is not a good way to do things, please let me know.
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      • Profile picture of the author tremayne
        Originally Posted by Mattk View Post

        I have always been of the opinion that writing for the reader is the best way to do seo. I like to keep keywords in the back of my mind, but I like to write like I'm having a conversation.

        If this is not a good way to do things, please let me know.
        Hi Mattk:

        I don't know whether it is or not but it's the way I write. The following are some recent results for me so I'm not going to change:

        The stock market for beginners [no quotes]
        #5, 26, 30 of 125,000,000
        [with quotes] of 7,840,000
        #1, 10, 20, 27, 30


        Stock market for beginners [no quotes]
        Of 112,000,000
        #10, 30, 32, 38
        [with quotes] of 609,000
        #1, 23

        Good luck!

        Sydney
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    I couldn't agree with the OP more. I've found one great way to compete in these ultra-uber-super-duper-competitive niches is also to find a distribution channel that they don't utilize or under-utilize. For example, I found that in one of the niches I'm involved in that virutally no one uses the power of free publicity, specifically, coming on the radio as an expert guest. It's like hunting fish in a barrel man.

    Another great way to find keywords is to check your server logs and see how people found you. Nice post Daniel. I love competitive niches, especially the ones with rabid buyers.

    RoD
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  • Profile picture of the author ecdavis
    Daniel,

    Nice post. Important reminders on three points. First, that competitive niches can be just as viable as less competitive niches--that niche viability depends somewhat on the willingness of those interested in the niche to spend money. Second, that one of the "secrets" of using the Internet is to set up networks to support your primary domains or, better yet, to buy aged domains in related subject areas and surround your main domains with them. The third point I like is that getting started doesn't have to be more complex, that you can do it with as little fanfare as hitting the fantastico button and 5 or 10 posts. I would also add, though its a little off your topic, that in my opinion it is also important to work out a business model and plan, but that can come later. Personally, I think its more important just to get started, and I like the "get-startedness" perspective your post takes

    Evan
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
      Originally Posted by ecdavis View Post

      Daniel,

      Nice post. Important reminders on three points. First, that competitive niches can be just as viable as less competitive niches--that niche viability depends somewhat on the willingness of those interested in the niche to spend money. Second, that one of the "secrets" of using the Internet is to set up networks to support your primary domains or, better yet, to buy aged domains in related subject areas and surround your main domains with them. The third point I like is that getting started doesn't have to be more complex, that you can do it with as little fanfare as hitting the fantastico button and 5 or 10 posts. I would also add, though its a little off your topic, that in my opinion it is also important to work out a business model and plan, but that can come later. Personally, I think its more important just to get started, and I like the "get-startedness" perspective your post takes

      Evan
      That pretty much sums it all up. Nicely put!

      emigre,
      I have thought about the same question myself - and I'm not 100% of the answer to be totally honest.

      However, Im sure it would take up a lot of effort for the search engine bots to keep a log of every single IP a certain domain name has been hosted on. They totally could though...

      Your best bet is to set it up correctly from the start so you don't have to deal with that.


      tremayne,

      Nice rankings you got there! how long did that take you?
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      • Profile picture of the author tremayne
        Originally Posted by Daniel Brock View Post


        tremayne,

        Nice rankings you got there! how long did that take you?
        I'm embarrassed to say! Each article took no more than an hour or so to write. Because they result from my experience, they required no research. What took the time was spinning the blessed things and sending them off to some 300 directories! What a pain that is; it's a job I despise - and yes, I do have good software for this!

        I don't think I tracked them before the second or third day and they were already in the positions described in my last post.

        I saw a few moments ago that both have slid to #35 without quotes! I normally don't bother with tracking; I'd rather spend the time getting on with the next productive task. There's always too much to do, isn't there?

        These were from a series of 25 articles which were written but halted after five had been released. People managing my product launch wanted them kept for part of the launch and perhaps for affiliate content.

        All the best,

        Sydney
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  • Profile picture of the author dilynn3
    Great posts from all--good subject matter. It is all trial and error individually. As long as we are not losing a boat load of money, it is a great deal of fun to see what works and what doesn't--while hoping of course, that we land all of our sites in the high performing categories 100 percent!
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  • Profile picture of the author dougk48
    Some good info there Daniel, thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author emigre
    hi Daniel, thanks for your inspiring post.

    Do you think it's "too late" to distribute sites to different hosts after they've been linked together on the same host?
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