My Journey to Finding a Double Niche as a Freelance Content Writer
In late 2013, I was navigating the unpredictable world of freelance writing in India. At the time, I was paid Rs. 500 for an 800-word article. Fast forward to 2018, I won my first $1000 client. It took almost 5 years to realise I deserve better. I had my daughter in 2017, and I told myself, something needs to change. And, that was – “I need to shift my perspective. I need to change my lens.”
Does it take 5 years? NO. You don’t have to wait that long.
I am sharing my story to encourage freelance content writers and make them believe that they can aim high and achieve things that you dream of.
Whatever happened between the gig that paid me peanuts, and the assignment that changed everything. When, I did not know who I was writing for and what I was writing, I felt like a jack-of-all-trades, struggling to carve out a specific niche that could elevate my career.
But when I landed on a $1000 client, I realised the importance of a niche and then doubling down my niche to secure my career.
My Double Niche
My first niche was Marketing Technology (MarTech) and second was Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This story is about how I arrived at them, and how you can arrive at it faster.
MarTech: My First Niche
I have been a marketer since 2006. Marketing as an industry was being changed by technology rapidly in 2017-18. Marketing Automation Platforms were on a rise, finding their sweet spot. Account-based marketing was a sought after strategy to land on enterprise clients. Personalization in customer experience became a must-have. Everyone was recommending a Chatbot to the martech stack. And, the words AI and machine learning were being infused into everything other positioning statement.
In general I got curious about how technology was changing the way people do marketing. I started reading a lot and then started writing about it. This lead me to give critical insights, and owned a PoV with strong opinions about MarTech as an emerging sector. I loved the attention as I got better at it.
That led me to realise that MarTech was as effortless niche that I can empathise with and write for a living. That was a defining moment that led me to choose MarTech as my first niche.
AI: My Second Niche
Everyone is an AI expert, and I wanted to be one too.
But, let me tell you, it was definitely not as easy as I thought.
When I was writing for a digital marketing agency as a ghost writer I stumbled upon the importance of understanding and exploring AI. To begin with AI just meant a chatbot with human names. Then, I started digging deeper.
Eventually, I drilled down my interest to Generative AI (GenAI). Because as a writer I was insecure about being wiped out of work. It seemed too cool to be true, and scary to believe.
But, here I am in the profession of writing prompts and making life easy for many companies. This is a much longer story and something for later.
The Turning Point: Landing a $1000 Client
From the time I decided I need to stick to a niche until I actually found a $1000 client in 2018, it took 6 months. Trust me this could have been shorter, if not for my mistakes and naivety. My journey took a pivotal turn six months later when I landed my first $1000 client. This client was a martech startup, from my first niche.
Let’s pause here.
The Power of a Double Niche
Identifying my double niche in martech and AI was not an overnight process; it was a culmination of months of exploration and learning. Here’s how I pieced it together non-linearly:
- Self-Assessment and Skill Inventory:
- Reflecting on my strengths in technical writing and my passion for marketing, I knew I needed to find a niche that leveraged both. Writing about martech and AI seemed like a perfect fit, given my growing expertise in these areas.
- Market Research:
- I continuously monitored industry trends and demands. Reports from Gartner, MarTech, Scott Brinker, McKinsey and BCG to understand complex technologies to a broader audience. Reading became an everyday habit. This helped me be in a prescriptive mode rather than a doer mode.
- Client Feedback:
- Feedback from my clients helped me simplify technical concepts, making them accessible and engaging. Collaborative brainstorming helped me validate many of my ideas.
- Networking and Community Involvement:
- LinkedIn was my universe of meeting new people. While I got 50% of my new gigs from word of mouth, the other 50% was from Linkedin.
- Content Analysis:
- Using tools like Google Keyword Planner, I identified high-demand, low-competition keywords related to martech and AI. This SEO-driven approach helped my content reach a wider audience and attract more clients.
Future-Proof your writing career
By the end of 2018, I had established myself as a specialist in martech and AI writing. The journey was challenging, but it was also incredibly rewarding. Understanding and embracing these niches allowed me to offer unique value to my clients, secure higher-paying projects, and build a sustainable freelance career. The experience taught me the importance of continuous learning and adaptability, especially as a freelance writer.
Reflecting on my journey, I am grateful for the serendipitous discoveries that came my way from my double niche. It transformed not only my career but also my approach to freelance writing,
Here is how you can identify your Double Niche using GenAI tools.