How Do You Find Your Niche as a Freelance Writer?

The importance of choosing the topics you want to write about

After you have decided to find work and earn money as a freelance writer, the next step you should accomplish is to find your niche. What kind of topics would you be writing about as a freelance writer? Who could be your target readers? What kind of clients would hire you to write for them?

Finding you writing niche is important because this would affect the next steps you need to take such as preparing your portfolio, enhancing your profile and pitching for work. Without a niche in mind, your efforts could be scattered and your qualifications may not match the demands of your ideal client. Don’t waste time or effort. Find your niche as soon as possible.

Here are some of the things that could help you find your freelance writing niche:

1. Your work experience

Consider your background before deciding to become a full-time writer. What kind of training or education have you received? What kind of jobs have you taken? How much experience do you have in a particular area?

On a personal note, I came from an accounting and audit background, having worked for more than twelve years as an internal/risk based auditor. I have also graduated with a degree in Accountancy and passed the CPA Board Exams.

For a long time, after my job resignation, I tried to forget where I came from. I wanted to write about other topics. In the end, however, I remembered that my previous experiences could help me become a better freelance writer. So I applied for jobs that needed technical writing, particularly those that needed someone with a background in accounting.

How about you? What kind of work experience could help you find the niche you’re looking for?

2. Your passion

You need to take an inventory of the things you’d like to do and pursue. What do you read most about? What are your hobbies? Do you like to cook? Do you spend your free hours reading romantic novels?

Consider whether you’d want to write content for sites about local recipes or whether you want to write something about relationships.

3. Your income expectation

How much income would you like to earn? If you need to earn much, consider writing about topics that could pay you more.

Here are just some of the niches that could pay you a higher rate for your writing:

- Finance, banking, insurance and accounting related content

- Business and entrepreneurship

- Articles about software and technology (B2B/SaaS)

- Real estate

- Cryptocurrency

-Digital marketing

Here are the types of contents that could pay you more:

1. Writing e-books

2. Ghost writing

3. Writing long-form content

4. Writing for e-mails/sales funnels

5. Online courses

6. Case studies

7. White papers

8. Sales/landing pages

9. Writing video scripts for YouTube, etc.

Putting it all together

You may not always have the perfect combination of skills, passion and income potential, but try to find the niche that can combine these things in a way that would work for you.

If you are not sure, try to test yourself. Write a few articles on Medium or Vocal and find the topics that you enjoy writing. You can also enroll yourself in a short course or find a coach that could guide you for a start.

Try to envision yourself writing for several years from now. What topics could you see yourself writing about most? What niche can earn you the income your desire?