Choosing a niche for your copywriting business is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It can limit your options as a copywriter, so you want to be sure that this niche is something that’s right for you before making it the focus of your business. But, choosing a niche can also allow you to solely work with the type of client or the medium that you love the most.
So, today Nicki and Kate are giving you everything you need to know about when it’s right to choose a niche and the best way to choose one. Our hosts also share how you can target one industry or type of project without formally making it your niche.
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A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[0:50] Nicki and Kate introduce today’s topic (which may come as a surprise) which is when it’s alright to choose a copywriting niche if you want to. Remember, it is not at all necessary and frankly not something you should do it you’re just getting into copywriting.
[2:22] Kate notes that neither her or Nicki have ever decided to niche. But, if you wanted to, you should only do it after you’ve gotten the necessary experience. She mentions that there’s no set timeline, but you need to have enough experience to know what a good niche for you might be.
[4:10] Nicki points out that you need to spend some time writing for the industry or medium that you think you might want to niche in so that you can be sure it’s something you want to do for every project. It’s important to do this for a broad range of clients before you choose the niche.
[7:59] Kate illustrates that each client is totally unique, so you can’t judge an entire industry based on one experience. You need to work for multiple clients in the same industry before making a definite decision on working in that industry or not. The same can be said for the type of medium you’re working on for a project.
[9:17] Nicki makes the point to remind listeners that you can focus on an industry or medium without ever formally making it a niche. You are more than welcome to target your pitches at a certain industry or medium so you still get the chance to work with clients you’re excited about, without ruling out opportunities with other types of clients.
[13:42] Keep in mind, the only good reason to choose a niche is because you really, really love that type of copywriting. But, it is never alright to choose a niche because you think clients want you to have one area of expertise; that’s simply not true. People only care that you are an expert in copywriting, and that you can take their voice and effectively convey their message.
[15:53] Sometimes a client will change the project drastically right in the middle of your timeline for completing it. Nicki acknowledges that sometimes this problem can’t be avoided for whatever reason, but also notes that you need to make sure you’re getting paid for the work that was already done. Don’t do the work of a project and a half for the price of one!
[17:04] One thing to keep in mind when choosing a niche is you are taking opportunities away from yourself. Sometimes, a client may see the work you did for one aspect of their business, like their email funnel, and want you to work on another part, like their website. By choosing a niche, you wouldn’t be able to help your client in that scenario, which is far from ideal.
[21:07] Our hosts explain that you’ll be paid well regardless of what industry you’re writing for. So, you don’t need to choose a niche because you think it will help you reach a certain financial goal. It’s actually easier to make more when you can write for a bunch of different industries and mediums.
[23:48] Nicki and Kate wrap up the episode by reminding you that it’s your career and you can choose to make it whatever works best for you. But, remember that you should only choose a niche because it’s something you love, and you should be aware of how selecting a niche can close you off from other opportunities in copywriting.
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
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Ep. 83: From Freelancer to On-Staff Copywriter – Christina’s Story
Last Updated on September 10, 2023