We often consider "small" as insignificant, as though anything "big" is justifiably sought after and respected. Yet, the tide is changing somewhat as investors and business proprietors recognise that "small" is actually the new "big."

What am I talking about?

Well, there is no doubt that popular products and services, investments, people, ideas etc draw "big" audiences and attention. They receive a great deal of focus because the media always try and tap fads and exploit them for their own purposes.

But, they are relatively inefficient at posting good returns on investments - particularly for those late to enter the market. Those who recognised the opportunity and milked it are the ones enjoying the cream. The ones who hear about it via the media, like you or I, have already missed the boat.

For this reason many investors are turning their eyes back to the small. The seemingly insignificant investments that large stock miners miss and the popular group have little time for. For small is found in the 'niche'.

This is a handy tip - which I won't charge you for, consider it a freebie - because if you can understand that niche's are the new big, then small investments no longer require mortgage-risking levels of debt.

Now, before you head off pioneering that niche goldmine, consider that sometimes opportunities can only be met with a full-hearted commitment. If you're wanting to keep to your plan of investing small and growing your investments slowly then passing some of these 'golden' opportunities are inevitable. Get over it.

So, if you want to invest small here are a few tips;

1. DRP's or DRiP's are an easy way to drip-feed your investment into large companies by building your portfolio slowly. They usually only require a regular contribution and can offer some good leveraging of purchasing expenses. Here's some more info...


2. Join an investment group often we can achieve far more as a group than by ourselves. The concept is called synergy (The effect of two or more agents working together to produce an effect that is greater than the sum of the parts.) More investment capital, more investment ideas. Makes a whole heap of sense.


3. Invest in smaller stocks there are a ton of cent priced shares available especially through speculative mining companies. After some in-depth research you may find their prospects of success are reasonable and therefore worth the risk (albeit small). It's much easier for a cent share to double to 2 cents than it is for a blue chip stock to double from a $35 base. Not for the faint-hearted though!


4. Invest in mutual funds or listed property trusts these usually only require a small investment because they're accessing funds from a larger audience and can therefore leverage their investment potential. They can usually return a good profit as well.


5. Diversify away from personally owned stocks and properties non-listed small business and property developers may also be an avenue to try for small investors. The risk is greater bu the returns are usually proportionate.

This is only a short list of small investment possibilities. A plethora of opportunities abound provided you are willing to accept the paradigm shift of thinking 'small' is the new 'big'.