How do you find a niche writing market? And, what exactly is a niche market? It can be confusing for people just getting into freelance writing because there are so many choices and opportunities.
Let's face it. You can't be a one-stop-shop writer, like a Walmart or Target. You could, but if you specialize in something, your odds are better than if you don't. Some think that it's better to go where the money is and then develop your passion. Others disagree and say the opposite is better. It's really up to you to decide.
What is a Niche Market?
Let's begin by defining it. It is a specific section of the market that you choose to target. Simply choosing to be a freelance writer of everything is too comprehensive. You want to narrow it down and target a specific audience. Basically, pick something and become an expert at it. Spend time increasing your knowledge and focus on that target. Eventually, your expertise makes you an authority on it.
A writer specializing in hair coloring is more likely to draw a larger audience than a writer who writes about beauty as a general subject. A basic beauty blog will be all over the place, making it difficult to follow if you want something specific.
And realistically, one is good, two (maybe even three) is even more strategic. What if the market collapses on the niche you chose? It'll leave you trying to pick up the pieces because you put everything into a single basket. What if you find you really don't like it after spending a year working on it? It's better to have a few. Any expert worth their salt will agree that it's good to be versatile. Furthermore, you can't write about everything for everyone, but you can specialize in a few topics.
How to Find a Niche Writing Market
Now, how do you go about finding your niche market? It's not as simple as scrolling through a list and picking something. Some writers develop their niche by writing about many topics and discovering one or two they are better at writing than the rest. Additionally, you discover which topic you enjoy writing about the most in this manner. Even the most flexible writers have their favorite subjects.
Some people spend hours researching the marketplace to find something lucrative. Sometimes—even if they don't like it—they still write on it because of the hefty return in profits once they have developed it. Admittedly, until recently, I never actually settled on a writing niche. Although I have written on a plethora of topics, some more than others—I know my personality.
It doesn't matter how much money something *might* make me. If it's uninteresting or I can't get behind the product, then there's no way I can force myself to do it. I know because I've tried writing about topics that I KNOW make money, but I can't bring myself to do it.
It's important to choose topics that interest you and narrow it down from there if you want to jump right in. For example, let's say you want to write about beauty. OK, you'll want to narrow it down from there. Let's use hair again:
Beauty > Hair > Coloring > Coloring at Home
There are many topics within the hair coloring niche, so you don't have to stick with one topic, like these:
Beauty > Hair > Coloring > Coloring at Home > Color Correction
Beauty > Hair > Coloring > Coloring at Home > Blondes
Beauty > Hair > Coloring > Coloring at Home > Hair Color Removal
Beauty > Hair > Coloring > Coloring at Home > Balayage
See what I mean? However, if it's something like hair coloring, in which you have zero experience, skip it. There's a huge difference between writing in theory about how hair coloring should work and actually doing it. Also, as with all topics, it is to your advantage if you have hands-on experience. Since I highlight and cut my own hair, I'm speaking from experience. I would never take advice from someone who didn't seem to be an expert on hair coloring. I would never write about it either because I'm not an authority on the subject. I work with my hair, and that's it.
People Want Solutions
That brings me to this. If someone has a problem and you can provide the solution, then you've hit the jackpot. People need/want a solution to their problem. Let's take weight loss, for example. Lots of people want to lose weight. It's a ginormous, saturated market. Even so, there is ample opportunity to work on an angle for individuals trying to lose weight. You could do something like this:
Health > Fitness > Weight Loss > HIIT Training
Health > Fitness > Weight Loss > Running
Health > Fitness > Weight Loss > Dieting for Weight Loss
I'm sure you're catching on... If you can give someone the answer to their problem, then you're going to get results. You have to provide something they can use in their everyday lives. Is your solution useful for your readers? Are you helping them fix their problem? Is it unique and better than someone else's solution?
Research Your Options
Research, research, research. This brings me back to what I mentioned above: Write about as many topics as possible and develop your expertise. Write more, acquire more information, and then determine which one (or two!) pays the best. If the niche you chose is not profitable, you will have to go back to the drawing board. If you write about several topics, then you can crunch the numbers between them. Not every market will be profitable.
Make a decision, then spend time researching companies that might need someone to write about their brand. If you're already writing in their niche and can demonstrate your expertise, then you might be able to land a writing contract out of it.
Don't forget to make contacts along the way.
Honestly, as a writer, when you combine your passions with hard work and a personal spin on things, the possibilities are endless. Nobody is an expert when they start. It takes a lot of time and effort with a strategy to really get anywhere and achieve results.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below! I appreciate all feedback.
Happy Writing!!