{"id":134,"date":"2016-10-14T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-10-14T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/?p=134"},"modified":"2021-10-22T18:37:12","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T22:37:12","slug":"freelancers-guide-finding-profitable-niche","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/freelancers-guide-finding-profitable-niche\/","title":{"rendered":"The Freelancer\u2019s Guide To Finding a Profitable Niche"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\u201cCustomers buy when they find that you are in their bull\u2019s eye\u2026 When you have a niche \u2013 either by who you serve or by what you do \u2013 then you stand out as a specialist.\u201d \u2013 Paul Simister,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.differentiateyourbusiness.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Differentiate Your Business<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210411093206im_\/https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Find-Your-Freelance-Niche.jpg\" alt=\"So many freelancers - how do you compete?! Here's a simple guide to finding a profitable niche to get clients fast. \" class=\"wp-image-5447\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As a freelancer or small business owner, \u2018find your niche\u2019 is advice you\u2019ve heard many times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But why is finding a profitable niche so important \u2013 and what does that process actually look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s a niche and why do I need to find mine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Better a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This well-worn phrase might sound like a truism, but when it comes to finding a profitable niche, the logic is sound. After all, it\u2019s the big (or colourful) fish who gets to take his pick of the spoils\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"523\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Party-Cannon-on-the-Bay-Area-Deathfest-poster.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Party-Cannon-on-the-Bay-Area-Deathfest-poster.jpg 523w, https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Party-Cannon-on-the-Bay-Area-Deathfest-poster-204x300.jpg 204w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px\" \/><figcaption><strong>source: <\/strong>https:\/\/conversion-rate-experts.com\/competitors\/<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210411093206\/http:\/\/www.conversion-rate-experts.com\/competitors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a>We have no idea who \u2018Party Cannon\u2019 is but we\u2019d definitely have checked them out vs the other samey (and frankly illegible) options on the bill\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WHAT IS A \u2018NICHE\u2019 ANYWAY?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Merriam Webster was kind enough to furnish us with 2 fitting definitions for \u2018niche\u2019:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted<\/li><li>the situation in which a business\u2019s products or services can succeed by being sold to a particular kind or group of people<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\u201cIf you try to appeal to everyone, you\u2019ll end up appealing to no one.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the most persuasive argument for choosing a niche is that zeroing in on a specific market sector or group of people allows you to identify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Where they are, both on and offline<\/li><li>The communities they are active members of<\/li><li>The messages &amp; language that resonate with them<\/li><li>The problem(s) they\u2019re struggling with<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This information, paired with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/validating-your-business-idea\/\">a business idea you\u2019ve taken the time to validate<\/a>\u00a0is the starting point for a business that appeals to a specific set of people and which solves a specific problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The value of going niche<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">THE CLIENT\u2019S POINT OF VIEW<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Put yourself in your client\u2019s shoes for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re a health coach whose website copy is in dire need of personal training. You know that expert help is needed but you have no idea what to look for in a copywriter or how much it\u2019s going to cost you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You turn to Google to search for a copywriter and, amongst the sea of prose-spouting wordsmiths you spot \u2018Sarah Barton: Copywriting for Heart-Centered Health Coaches\u2019. It\u2019s fair to say she\u2019s got your attention\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On her site she walks you through her philosophy &amp; how she works, all the while showcasing the&nbsp;<em>dozens<\/em>&nbsp;of satisfied health coaches she\u2019s worked with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re immediately confident that Sarah is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Genuinely tuned in to your industry<\/li><li>Committed to helping health coaches like you get results<\/li><li>Able to capture the message you want to communicate in your copy<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Clearly choosing a niche is a powerful tool in your bid to make your business both relevant &amp; attractive to a specific market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">HOW TO CHOOSE A PROFITABLE NICHE FOR YOUR OWN BUSINESS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMany people talk about \u2018finding\u2019 a niche as if it were something under a rock or at the end of the rainbow, ready-made. That\u2019s nonsense,\u201d says Lynda Falkenstein<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If one word deserves your full attention, it\u2019s \u2018profitable\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you\u2019re engaged in a \u2018passion project\u2019, making enough money to keep your business afloat is the 1st order of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/validating-your-business-idea\/\">Validating your business idea<\/a>\u00a0is therefore a crucial step that should precede the steps below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the validation process, you will have conducted keyword research using Google\u2019s Keyword Tool. This will have given you a clear understanding of the level of demand for your product or service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s now time to take that a step further using another keyword research tool,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ubersuggest.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Ubersuggest<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where Ubersuggest differs from Google Keyword Tool is in the fact that it uses your chosen keyword to generate other related (and often more granular) terms \u2013 some of which will likely spark ideas for a profitable niche worth exploring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GIVING UBERSUGGEST AN UPGRADE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before getting started in Ubersuggest, you can vastly improve the value of your research by installing the \u2018Keywords Everywhere\u2019 extension for Chrome or Firefox. Doing this will allow Ubersuggest to show both monthly search volume and Cost Per Click (CPC) for your search terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Installing the Keywords Everywhere extension for Chrome<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to give permission for its installation by clicking \u2018Add extension\u2019 on the notification bar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the extension has been added, you\u2019ll be prompted to enter your email to get your free API key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To complete the setup, enter your API key into the text box as per the instructions provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now when you search for your chosen term in Ubersuggest, you\u2019ll see that two additional columns have been added (Monthly Volume &amp; CPC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">USING UBERSUGGEST TO FIND A PROFITABLE NICHE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Carrying the term \u2018freelance copywriter\u2019 forward from the validation stage, we head to (the now pimped) Ubersuggest and enter the same term. It reveals 4,400 monthly searches &amp; a Cost Per Click of \u00a34.00. While a good indicator of the popularity of the term, getting more granular will allow you to target and reach a more specific group of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Initial keyword search in Ubersuggest<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a skilled copywriter with an interest in and good level of knowledge of health, nutrition and wellness, you might refine your search to \u2018freelance healthcare copywriter\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ubersuggest reveals alternative keywords that can spark ideas for new niches<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the results are damning for your chosen term, Ubersuggest reveals a new possibility, \u2018freelance medical copywriter\u2019 with 20 monthly searches and a relatively low CPC of \u00a30.33<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Naturally, we\u2019d like a higher search volume, paired with likely\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wordstream.com\/keyword-intent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">transactional intent<\/a>\u00a0which, as the diagram below indicates, is the \u2018intent to perform some web-mediated activity\u2019 \u2013 activities that are often related to a purchase.<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210411093206\/http:\/\/www.skilledup.com\/articles\/determine-search-intent-type\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keyword intent indicates what the searcher is attempting to achieve with his search<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Refining your search further, you might enter \u2018medical copywriter\u2019 into Ubersuggest, revealing a more promising 140 monthly searches (more interest) and a CPC of \u00a32.75 which, while not a direct indicator of service demand, does indicate the amount of advertising competition for the term, and its business value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MOVING FORWARD WITH YOUR NICHE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With these steps complete, you\u2019re in a strong position to move forward and conduct further research into the medical copywriting field. The focus and clarity this knowledge presents you with can be the key to occupying a niche that both hits your client\u2019s bull\u2019s eye and is profitable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cCustomers buy when they find that you are in their bull\u2019s eye\u2026 When you have a niche \u2013 either by who you serve or by what you do \u2013 then you stand out as a specialist.\u201d \u2013 Paul Simister,\u00a0Differentiate Your Business. As a freelancer or small business owner, \u2018find your niche\u2019 is advice you\u2019ve heard &#8230; <a title=\"The Freelancer\u2019s Guide To Finding a Profitable Niche\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/freelancers-guide-finding-profitable-niche\/\" aria-label=\"More on The Freelancer\u2019s Guide To Finding a Profitable Niche\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}