How to choose a niche for your writing career

As a freelance writer, you can be either a generalist or a specialist. Generalists do not have a niche and usually take any type of gig they find interesting. Of course, it can be a good starting point to gain some experience and develop skills. But if you want to make more money and build a reputation, you need to be an expert in a narrow field. But how to choose a niche for your writing career?

How to choose a niche for your writing career
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Why Is It Important to Have a Specific Writing Niche? 

Well, imagine that you are looking for a writer to create content for your IT outstaffing blog to boost your business. Which one would you choose – an author that is writing about anything, from lifestyle to gardening, or an expert technical writer that is qualified specifically in IT outsourcing blogging? The answer is obvious. 

Being a niche expert has several benefits: 

  • You’ll grow as a professional and build in-depth expertise; 
  • You’ll have more high-paid writing jobs
  • You can become a trendsetter and thought leader in your specific niche
  • You’ll get more direct offers from businesses and individuals from the same sphere. 

If a business knows what they need exactly, they will come to the best service provider. 

How to Find Your Writing Niche? 

Before I get into the exact steps, let’s put some things straight.

First of all, you do not have to put all your efforts into one niche. Especially if you are a beginner and do not know how to sell your blog posts or articles on the web. You can try two or three and see what works best for you. 

Secondly, you do not have to stick to the same choice forever. Interests change as well as life circumstances. Maybe you enjoy fitness now, but in 5 years you’ll be more into yoga.

The writing niche can be changed and it is absolutely normal.

Vasy Kafidoff

Thirdly, you can start with something broader, like real estate, and narrow it down with time. For example, become an expert at landing page author for New York real estate agencies. 

Now, let’s go through the process of finding your niche. 

List All The Things You Are Good At 

To start with a niche you do not have to be a Ph.D. in this subject. It is something you know better than an average person and you are willing to learn about it more as you work.

In general, if you’ve read two or three specialized books on the subject, you know more than the majority of people about it and know how to hook your reader

Make a list of things you know about. It can be something like:

  • Your previous work experience; 
  • College degree or specialization; 
  • Something you constantly read about; 
  • Something your friends or relatives ask your advice about; 
  • A hobby or interest you had for a long period of time. 

Name at least 10 things. Or 9, it doesn’t matter. You just need to focus and choose where you good at 😉 

Make a List of Things You Like to Write About

If you are going to focus on one thing, you’d better like it.

It doesn’t have to be a life passion, but simply something you enjoy. If you absolutely loathe finances, do not go into that niche, no matter how profitable it seems. 

I have shared a list of 50+ profitable writing niches with low competition just for you, check it out 😉

Make a list of 10 things you love to write about, whether it’s movies, healthcare, exercise, travel, or parenting. 

Now compare two lists and find some overlaps. For example, you have worked in a clothing shop and you enjoy styling or you have an education related to finance and you are interested in cryptocurrency. These overlaps are your potential niches. 

Research the Market 

As soon as you have a couple of options, it is time to see if there any demand for such services. Of course, passion is important, but if your niche has no clients, it is going to be hard to monetize a blog or sell articles. 

You can simply use Google to look for: 

  • Job postings on this subject; 
  • Publication on the topic; 
  • Advice on how to write on this topic; 
  • Companies and platforms that might be interested in this niche; 
  • Salary rates, hiring options; 

You can also check out LinkedIn professional writers that specialize in this or related subjects. If there is enough demand on your option – congratulations, you’ve found your niche! You can also try searching for freelance proofreading work online to get a better understanding of the niche. If not, try to check other options from the list. 

Now you know how to choose a niche for your writing career

Choosing a niche might take a while and it is completely fine. You can try different things, look for lucrative opportunities, and work on the style.

The perfect recipe is:

  • something you know well
  • something you enjoy
  • market demand

And you can even narrow it down to a specific type of writing, like copywriting, blogging, creating white papers or press releases, ghostwriting, SEO, advertising, or writing technical pieces.

The narrower the niche is, the more one can earn as an expert. 

What to do next? Write, write, write 😉

Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a founder and mastermind of KAFIDOFF.COM. He has a strong interest in education, modern technology, marketing, and business management.

If Vasy is not working, you can find him somewhere in the world attending a Rock Concert with his mates.

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