Does this sound familiar to you: “Choose a freelance niche if you want to get paid well“?
If so, you’re not alone!
Whether you’re a beginner or have been feeling stuck for a while, you’ll probably have heard other freelancers harping on about choosing a niche.
But with so many options and advice floating around, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure about where to even begin.
This is especially true if you’re a freelance writer, where the difference between getting paid as a generalist and as a specialist is staggering.
But you’ve come to the right place 👋
Having been in the same place and doubling my income after choosing a niche, I understand how important it is.
In this guide, we’re going to delve into everything about a niche – from its definition to the tips for choosing a profitable one.
What Is a Niche and Why Do You Need One?
A niche is a focused segment of a broader market, usually tailored to a specific demographic. Put simply, a niche is a sub-category and a specialized subject of a bigger market.
In other words, you no longer do “everything” for “everyone” and provide a specific service to a specific market.
For example, healthcare is a broad market.
Personal training, nutrition, and mental health are niches within that market. You can keep your niche as broad as ‘health and fitness’ or get more specific and choose a sub-niche like ‘weight loss’ or ‘bodybuilding’.
You can also niche down by your service. For example, social media marketing for a specific platform like Twitter, writing long-form blog posts, writing sales pages for info products, and motion design are examples of service-based niches.
And in today’s ever-evolving gig economy, finding the right niche could be the game-changer that sets you apart from the competition.
Finally (so many ways to niche!), you can select your niche by the audience you want to serve, rather than the industry.
For example, if you want to target young working mums, you have the option of writing for recipe blogs, productivity and time management tools, and other brands that sell products and services to young, working mums.
As a rule of thumb, the more specific you get, the higher you’ll get paid, especially once you gain specific knowledge.
So, in an ideal world, you’d niche down your service and your market segment.
3 Major Benefits of Choosing a Niche
1. Mo’ Money!
This might seem counter-intuitive and you might ask “How can a smaller market pay me more?” But focusing down has the potential to double your income.
Why?
Because as you specialize, you gain expertise and become a subject matter expert. Clients want freelancers with experience who have done a particular service for similar businesses in the past.
Plus, you’re more likely to receive inbound referrals and establish long-term client relationships, boosting your financial stability.
2. Get Clients Quicker!
Whether you’re a freelance writer or a digital marketer, the market is competitive. But when you’re known for one thing, you’re automatically top of mind for potential clients.
For example, let’s say you write landing pages for e-learning platforms. Whenever an e-learning platform is looking for a copywriter, you’ll get tons of referrals because not many people are providing that specific service.
Even if your niche is just to write landing pages, you’ll still close more clients than you would by branding yourself as a “freelance writer”.
By narrowing your focus, you make it easy for potential clients to understand exactly what you offer and how you can solve their specific problems.
3. More Enjoyment!
The best part about freelancing is you can choose your projects and work on what makes you happy. But when you don’t have a freelance niche, you don’t have a choice – you’re doing SEO writing one day, and the next day, you’re writing a sales page.
As most projects might not pay that well, you won’t always have the option of refusing a project. When you’re finding your niche, you can choose what you work on so you no longer hate your workdays.
Do you really need a niche? Or… is having a niche a good idea?!
Having a niche is lucrative but there are cons if you try and hone in too fast.
So, is there a time when you should not niche down?
First, if you’re new to freelancing and just testing the waters, going all in on a niche and putting yourself in a pigeonhole isn’t the best idea.
For a few months (or even years, like I did!), you need to block out the noise of other freelancers telling you to “niche down” and be a “generalist”. Easier said than done, but it can help you in the long run!
Write for a range of companies to understand how you like working, what kind of people you like working with, and what you enjoy the most.
Once you know these basics, you’ll have a strong foundation to build on.
If you try to niche too quickly, you risk ending up in a niche that you don’t enjoy but are too afraid to change as it’s the only thing you’ve got experience in.
7 Examples of Different Freelance Niches
Here’s a list of different high-paying freelance niches, including technical writing, and B2B writing niches. It’ll help you even if you’re not a freelance writer:
1. Web 3.0
This is the first pick because the market for Web 3.0 and the Metaverse is still in its nascent stages and the market is unsaturated. The market is expected to reach USD 81.5 billion by 2030.
2. Metaverse
Similar to Web 3.0, the metaverse is a new and upcoming generation of shared digital reality. It comes under the umbrella term of virtual reality. If technical writing niches appeal to you, this can be a lucrative option.
3. B2B software
There are many opportunities in working for B2B or business-to-business software companies. The companies can be working as SaaS (software-as-a-service) or PaaS (platform-as-a-service).
As the target audience is businesses, the deal sizes are usually larger and more profitable for the selling companies. This translates to a higher budget ($$$).
Again, if you’re into writing, B2B is one of the most high-paying freelance writing niches.
4. Education
Education is no longer confined to the four walls of a school. In fact, more and more companies are launching info products and e-learning platforms than ever before.
What’s more, this niche isn’t limited to funded companies. Even influencers and experienced people in a field are launching their own products. This means you have a larger market. It can be as niche as a course for Instagram growth or as wide as a coding program.
Sub-niching further to specialize in a topic or audience will help you bag higher-paying projects here.
5. Finance and Fintech
The finance industry in general is extremely lucrative. Whether you’re a freelance writer, designer, or digital marketer, the finance industry needs high-quality service providers.
New apps and software are always emerging in this field, making the FinTech market equally lucrative. Or you can choose to write for less technical niches like personal finance, while still getting paid well.
6. Cryptocurrency
This is another high-paying freelance niche, provided you invest the time to learn the nitty-gritty of the niche. This can be highly technical to work for, but if you’re interested in the topic, you can get well-paying projects.
7. Alternative medicine
The revenue of alternative medicine in 2021 alone was expected to be $21 billion in the US. This shows how huge the market is. Whether it be essential oils or health supplements, every project can be highly well-paying.
How to Choose a Niche: 5 Considerations
Finding your niche can be confusing with so many options available. Here are five questions you can ask yourself to choose the perfect niche:
1. What Do You Already Know?
Choosing a niche is about specializing in a specific area. Is there something you already know that you can leverage? What are your interests?
You might need to do some digging to understand what you can use in freelancing.
Remember: You don’t have to be the world’s leading expert on a freelance niche to work in it. You might think you need to be a pro at something. But you learn a lot on the job.
The more you write, the more you’ll learn, so as long as you have some working knowledge, you’ll be golden.
For example, suppose you studied psychology in school. That becomes your competitive advantage. You can then niche down or choose to remain broad in the “psychology” niche along with a particular service you decide to offer.
Or, suppose you’ve always been interested in technology and keeping yourself up to date with the new tech coming out. It might have been just an interest and you didn’t necessarily attend school for it. But you already have the (a) interest, and (b) prior knowledge of the field.
2. What Are You Good At?
By now, you have a list of the industries or topics you know about. Next, you need to select a service. What is it that you can already do?
For example, if you had an accounting or bookkeeping job, that’s something you can do already. Or you might be good at programming and can become better.
3. What Do You Enjoy Doing?
This might sound cliche but you can’t do a thing that you absolutely despise, especially when you’re going the solopreneur route. When you’re working on your own with nobody to report to, you can easily fall into a rut.
So, consider the services and industries that you would enjoy working for. You don’t have to love it, but anything that you can do without hating every single Monday morning will work.
4. Is There a Market for It?
Once you know what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing, you need to research the market. How big is the market? How much do they pay?
You might love the idea of writing about making glittery soap, but is there a market there that will sustain a career in it? Are there enough brands that will need your help?
You can go on Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn to search for the service. This tells if people are looking for freelancers:
5. Can I Learn More about It?
Is there scope and resources for you to learn more about a niche? Are there books, blogs, and courses you can access that will give you more insight?
A niche is about finding the sweet spot between your interests and the market needs. You will have to research and look around, but once you find it, it’ll be well worth the time spent.
If you’re still confused about choosing a niche, I’ve created an in-depth roadmap for you to choose a freelance niche and create your client avatar easily.
You can get it here.
5 Tips for Choosing a Profitable Freelancing Niche
Here are five tips you can use to choose a niche that pays you well without exhausting you:
1. Combine Two of Your Interests to Find a Profitable Niche
Let’s say you’re interested in the software and education industries. Instead of choosing one of the two, combine the two and find companies in the ed-tech industry. This will set you apart in the market.
When you combine two of your specialties, usually (tech) + (interest), you’ll find you’ve discovered a gold mine of companies that pay well, and you’re the ideal service provider for them because you have a very specific knowledge that entails both industries.
2. Dabble in A Few Different Niches
Instead of choosing a niche just as you start freelancing, try working in different niches for some time. This will give you an idea of what you like and what you don’t.
If you choose a niche rigidly from the start, you might always have that “what if” feeling about another freelance niche. Once you have rich experience working across industries, you’d know what’s best for you.
3. Look for Competitors
Competitors are not as bad as it seems. Having competitors means people are already getting paid for doing a service in that niche – they’ve already validated your idea.
You can take this a step further and research the average project rates that the freelancers are getting. You can do this by searching your service and industry on Upwork or Fiverr. If the prices are high enough, it’s again a good sign.
For example, when you search “B2B writer” on Upwork, you’ll find the hourly rate of other freelancers and the total amount they’ve earned up until this point.
However, if you choose a niche and you don’t find many people providing the service you want, this could be a sign that you need to reevaluate the niche you’ve chosen.
4. Study Trends and Ride a Wave
If you’re not able to decide on a freelance niche, find trending industries with growth potential. If the demand is growing rapidly, there won’t be a supply of freelancers as quickly. If you can work on positioning yourself as the expert and ride a wave, that can turn out to be pretty lucrative.
But how do you know what industries are on the rise?
You can use Google Trends to look at how the popularity of a keyword has grown over time. If it’s on an upward trend, it’s a sign that you can still ride the wave.
5. Run a 30-day Experiment
As soon as you have a freelance niche, run an experiment to get your first paying client within 30 days.
The goal of this is to validate your idea as soon as possible and to also see if you’re compatible with the niche.
To do this, brand your social media profiles and website to position yourself as the specialist. It’s as simple as changing your LinkedIn and Twitter “about” sections to talk about what you do. For example, “I write ad copy for ed-tech brands.”
Don’t overcomplicate it. The idea is to see how many clients you’re getting and test the potential of the niche.
You might have to run 2-3 such experiments to find “the one” niche. Alternatively, you can also pick 2-3 niches at once and focus on getting clients for them simultaneously.
How to Change Your Freelance Niche
Remember that when you’re choosing a niche, you’re not tied to it for your entire life. A niche is fluid, and so is the market.
Doing it the second time is easier, so, don’t be worried if your current niche isn’t the best for you. Follow these four simple steps to change your niche:
1. Create Samples in the New Niche
Just like the first time, you should have some work to showcase when you’re pitching potential clients. While you already have samples from your previous work, they might not accurately represent your work capabilities in the new niche.
Plus, if you have relevant samples in your freelance niche, it’s always easier to convince potential customers to give you the project.
This becomes even more important if you’re changing your service instead of just an industry change. For example, let’s say you want to shift from copywriting to running Facebook ads. In this case, you will have to create a new portfolio to showcase your skills in running Facebook ads.
Pro tip: You can take up one or two beta clients, where you work for a lower cost than usual to get an initial project under your belt and an all-important testimonial. This will also help you refine your work process and give you a better understanding of what’s involved in your new area of expertise.
2. Rebrand Your Website and Social Media Profiles
Revamp your social media profiles and website to explain your current niche.
Keep it as simple as “I do X for Y” to communicate your value proposition to your potential clients. This step is important because if you’re pitching yourself as an ads manager but your landing page describes you as a copywriter, you’ll confuse prospects and dilute your authority.
What’s more: If you use the correct keywords and optimize your website properly, you can also get inbound leads over time.
3. Pitch Clients in Your New Niche
Now that you have relevant samples and rebranded website, you can pitch clients in your new freelance niche. Take up a 30-day challenge where you pitch prospects daily and land a new client within 30 days.
If you’re confused and not sure where to start, take this free training where I give you my 4-step system to land your next three clients.
4. Collect Testimonials and Repeat the Process
The first client in your new freelance niche might not pay as much. But the first testimonial and case study will help you a lot in landing the second client.
Why?
The testimonial from a client shows the social proof of your work quality. This also helps the next prospect trust you more.
Once you have a second testimonial, getting the third project becomes even easier. Get the third one and now you can easily get clients in your niche.
As you work on more projects, your skills will get more refined and you’d slowly become the “expert” in your niche.
3 Major Benefits of Choosing a Niche
Earn More, Stress Less
It might sound counterintuitive: how can narrowing your focus result in earning more money? The secret lies in becoming a specialist. Clients are willing to pay top dollar for someone who knows the ins and outs of their industry and can offer tailored solutions. As you niche down, you’ll become a recognized expert, making it easier to command higher rates and enjoy financial stability.
Think about it: Would a tech company invest in a general writer or someone who specifically understands software development cycles and tech jargon? Specializing positions you as the go-to expert—and experts get paid more.
Be the Obvious Choice
When you’re known for one thing, you immediately stand out. The freelance world is competitive, and clients often don’t want to sift through dozens of generalists to find someone they can trust. Being hyper-specific in your niche means clients will think of you first when they need that particular service.
Example: If you focus on creating SEO-optimized content for sustainable brands, people in that niche will refer you and think of you whenever there’s a need, because you’ve made it clear what you offer and who you serve.
Work on Projects You Love
One of the greatest freedoms of freelancing is the ability to choose projects that genuinely excite you. Without a niche, you might find yourself juggling unfulfilling or low-paying gigs just to keep the lights on. By niching down, you can align your work with your passions, making every project more enjoyable.
Pro tip: This isn’t just about making money—it’s about building a career that energizes you rather than drains you. Imagine spending your days working on topics you find meaningful and interesting!
Your turn! Ready to Find Your Freelance Niche?
Choosing a niche isn’t as complicated as it’s made out to be. Ultimately, it’s about what you can do well, what you like doing, and if you’ll get paid for it.
The best part is, you can change a niche if it’s not serving you well and find the ideal niche through trial and error. Once you have selected a niche, start pitching and let the market verify your idea.
Want to steal my £250 warm pitching stragegy? Watch my free training here where I simplify the process for you and give you the system to keep a consistent flow of clients.
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