Hey guys, what's up? In my previous post, I talked about why I ditched my previous job and started freelancing. I also discussed some key takeaways before starting to freelance.
Here are those key points:
- Focus on a specific niche and become really good at it.
- Have a plan for how you're going to make money and find clients before you quit your job.
- Freelancing is hard work, but it's worth it.
A lot of you ask me what my niche is and how to pick the right niche.
My specific niche or areas are customer service, admin, digital marketing, and SEO. Most of my experience was with customer service and digital marketing. I didn't have a background with admin or SEO tasks. However, along the way, I taught myself through YouTube, Coursera, and other platforms that offer these courses. I also tried to apply the learnings to my clients' business. That is how I learned how to do bookkeeping, calendar management, documentation, and liaising among other things.
As for the second question, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Picking the right niche is essential for success as a freelancer. It allows you to focus your skills and expertise, target a specific audience, and command higher rates. But with so many niches to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Here are a few tips to help you pick the right niche when you're just starting out:
Consider your skills and passions. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? Make a list of your skills and passions, and then look for niches that align with them. For example, if you're a skilled writer with a passion for technology, you could specialize in writing tech blog posts or white papers.
Research potential niches. Once you have a few niches in mind, do some research to learn more about them. What are the pain points and needs of potential clients? What are the market trends? How much can you expect to charge for your services?
Leverage your past work experiences. What skills have you developed in your previous jobs? What are you good at? Make a list of your transferable skills, and then look for niches that align with them. For example, if you have experience in customer service, you could specialize in freelance writing for customer-facing businesses.
Solve a specific problem. The best niches are those that allow you to solve a specific problem for your clients. When you position yourself as an expert in solving a particular problem, you'll be more likely to attract high-paying clients. For example, instead of simply offering freelance writing services, you could specialize in writing landing pages that convert.
[ back in the day when I was still working at the office haha ]
Once you've chosen a niche, you can start to build your brand and market yourself to potential clients. Be sure to create a strong portfolio of your work, and highlight your expertise in your niche. You can also network with other freelancers and businesses in your niche to get your name out there.
[photo via canva]
The most important thing is to choose a niche that you're passionate about and that you're good at. When you love your work, it shows. And that's what will attract clients to your freelance business.
By the way guys, no cats were harm in the making of this article. If you find this article helpful consider following. Leave a comment too hehe if there is something you want to add. Again, thank you for reading.
Edited the article using Grammarly and bard.
Banner photo edited using Canva.
All photos are mine unless otherwise stated