Why Targeting a Niche is Important to the Success of Your Freelance Career

I think this is important to every freelancer's success, but particularly to new freelancers, because it allows you to focus: your attention, your message, your marketing and your time. The power of focus harnesses all of your energy and can break down/go through almost any barrier in your way.

The Power of Focus: Focusing Your Attention

It's easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you are first starting your freelance career because it's easy to flit from one ad to the next, trying your hand at this, that and the other. And, while this can be great over time, RIGHT NOW you are trying to lay a foundation for a business. This takes focus.

Everything that you do in the beginning of your freelance writing career is critical. So, choose a niche and build a reputation in that sector first. THEN, later on, you can branch out if you want to.

The Power of Focus: Focusing Your Message

Talking to one group allows you to hone your message. You get to know their wants, needs, problems and desires (their psychographic makeup) much more intimately than if you served a broad sector. The more you know your target market, the better you can serve them. AND, the more money you make.

The Power of Focus: Focusing Your Time

In business, time is money. And, when what you make is directly related to what you produce, time is money in the bank.

Targeting a niche allows you to quickly gain credentials, produce samples, do research, find sources, etc. Eg, if you can produce a newsletter in two hours because you know the industry like the back of your hand, that means more hours for other projects.

If a new realtor hires me to do her newsletter (I work with a lot of realtors and mortgage brokers), I can produce ideas, samples, testimonials, etc., from a myriad of other projects I've worked on. This cuts down on research, brainstorming sessions and set-up time - time that can be put to better INCOME-PRODUCING use.

If nothing else sticks, remember this about niche marketing as a freelance writer: There are millions of them. Why not separate yourself from the pack by becoming a specialist (a niche writer)?