For new freelance writers, figuring out what to write about can be difficult. Many of us jump at any chance to write, regardless of experience or expertise in the subject. Like most things in life, having a road map can help you become more successful and reach your goals faster.
Successful freelance writers know what they're good at and can easily identify a niche to write in. Whether you're just starting out as a writer or have been writing for years, it's important to spend some time thinking about finding your niche. This guide is designed to help writers figure out their niche so they can gain new clients and create stunning content.
Why Finding A Niche Is Important
In the world of content marketing, expertise is essential. Having a niche shows potential clients that you have the knowledge and experience necessary to create great content for their site. Business owners want to hire someone who knows what they're talking about because it saves them time and money during the onboarding process.
The other benefit of being a niche writer is that you can command higher rates since you are a subject matter expert. As a thought leader, you can create more in-depth pieces and content that ranks better and thus pays better. Having a niche allows you to hone your skills in a particular arena, further developing your knowledge and making you more valuable to future and current clients.
How To Choose A Niche
There are many methods of finding a niche. Some freelancers, bloggers, and professional writers recommend simply picking your favorite subject and devouring as much information as possible. Others recommend dabbling in a few different niches to see what you're good at. Obviously, choosing a niche and sticking to it can save time and help you become an expert faster. The downside is that without enough thought and planning, you may pigeon-hole yourself into a niche you don't truly enjoy writing in. Use these tips to figure out which niche is best for you.
Figure Out What You Love
If you love what you write about, you're much more likely to be successful in freelance writing. You won't suffer from brain drain or writer's block if you find your niche fascinating.
One of the best ways to identify your interests is to take a look at the types of information you already consume. Look at the types of articles and content you already enjoy reading. Whether it's politics, productivity, or cutting-edge medical innovations, figuring out what types of things interest you can be a good place to start.
Identify Your Strengths
Building a successful writing career is faster and easier when you know what you're talking about. Based on your education and work history, you're likely an expert or proficient in some realm. Ask friends and family what they think you're good at. Figure out what types of information you can effectively share with people to improve their lives. Often times, identifying your strengths and existing know how can help you pinpoint a writing niche.
It also helps to identify what expertise you're lacking. Maybe you're a generalist on a topic, but not very skilled when it comes to the nitty gritty details. If you are knowledgable in medical services but don't know much and medical regulations, you can choose to expand your knowledge or avoid those niche writing opportunities. As a freelance writer, your reputation is everything. Figure out early on what you're good at and what you aren't' good at and take part-time or full-time work that reflects your strengths.
Practice, Practice, Practice
If you're new to freelance writing, it's important to dabble here and there when you're getting started. You can write short social media posts to test your engaging writing skills or opt for short 500-word writing opportunities to test your chops. Whether you choose to become a technical writer, business writer, or draft tutorials on artistic make-up, practice is essential to dominating in your chosen niche.
Be Self-Aware
A hefty dose of self-awareness is critical to finding your freelance writing niche. A lot of people aren't honest with themselves and find themselves writing in an industry that is too complicated or above their skill set. To avoid this, make sure to practice self-reflection. You can use your personal blog to reflect on past writing opportunities. Another great idea is to ask past clients for feedback on your work. Implement this feedback into your works moving forward. Good writers follow up with clients and use past experiences to continually improve their skills.
Talk To A Career Counselor or Mentor
Sometimes getting out of your own head is the best thing you can do to truly understand your skills. Getting an opinion from someone who knows you, but isn't involved in your business can offer clarity when picking a niche. A counselor can help you understand your skills and interests while also keeping your mental health and well being in mind when it comes to your career path. A mentor can also be a valuable asset when choosing what direction to go in your writing career.
Brainstorm Regularly
Most writers tend to stick to one or two niches when writing. However, you shouldn't feel trapped by your initial selections. What drove your interest last year may be different this year. Take time daily, weekly, or monthly to track your stream of consciousness. Write down ramblings, thoughts, and ideas. The best time to do this is either first thing in the morning or late in the evening.
Review your past entries and see if there are any significant shifts in your focus. Pay particular attention to your entries after big life events. If you move from Boston or New York to Los Angeles, you may find your focus shifting. You can then choose to adjust your chosen niche to suit your new interested or branch out into new writing gigs.
The 4 Most Profitable Freelance Writing Niches
In addition to these tips, it's a good idea to decide what kind of writer you want to be. There are hundreds of different niches and different writing styles to choose from depending on your skill set. From personal finance and biz writing to non profit freelancing opportunities, the choices are endless. Many of these niches are also more profitable than others. Here are some of the most profitable freelance writing niches.
Technical Writing
If you're interested in technical topics or have a background in software development, look for technical writing opportunities such as drafting white papers, journal papers, and user manuals. Technical and technology freelance writing jobs are among the most high paying. That's because they involve a significant amount of technical know how, yet writers must still be able to present the information in a way that is simple for the common person to understand. This industry includes writing on topics such as blockchain, software development, supply chain management, and AI.
Ghostwriting
If you prefer to work behind the scenes, you can look into ghostwriting, where you create content for another individual, but don't have your name attached to the final piece. This industry offers lucrative opportunities because writers are paid a higher premium to stay anonymous. Many autobiographies are written by ghostwriters, but the autobiographical subject gets to put his or her name on the cover. Additionally, these types of projects usually involve hundreds of pages and hours of work, thus resulting in higher pay.
SEO Writing
Digital marketing is another profitable niche where freelance writers can grow their careers. These writers will focus on SEO and work closely with marketing strategy team members to create content including landing pages, case studies, long-form blogging sites, and sales pages for the client's target audience. You can find copywriter jobs on job boards such as Indeed and through a freelance writing business like The Writer Finder.
Financial Writing
Finance is another industry where writers are paid a premium for excellent content. While it's not a new niche, it's still an important industry since finance and money-saving tips can change as the markets evolve. Topics covered in this niche include credit cards, personal finance, taxes, and insurance and writers can expect to create content including blogs and press releases as well as sales pieces.
Find Your Niche
Whether you're British, Danish, French, or live in the United States, finding a niche for your freelance copywriting is important. It helps you identify what you do well and choose what types of writing projects you should accept. By choosing where to focus your writing skills, you can perform fantastic content creation for both small businesses and Fortune 500 companies in your perfect niche.
Figured out what you love writing about and want to find new clients? Join us as a content creator at Growth Machine and The Writer Finder to get access to new writing gigs.