How to Position Yourself in Freelancing

Everyone says freelancers should niche down, but few explain how. My business took off—and my rates doubled—once I niched. It makes sense: hiring a specialist is easier than hiring a generalist. If you need HR tech blogs, you’ll hire a "freelance content writer for HR tech brands" over a generic "content writer and copywriter." Personally, I started as a long-form writer for HR tech brands. I chose that niche because: ✅ There was plenty of work—I already had platform gigs in the space. ✅ The industry had budgets for content marketing. ✅ I had HR experience, which helped me land early clients. I see a lot of misconceptions out there about niching, so here's my 2c in case it's helpful. ⛔ Niching is boring. Getting paid well and having steady work isn’t boring. Trust me. Plus, there's a wide variety of projects even in a narrow niche. ⛔ I should pick a niche I’m passionate about. Want to lose that passion fast? Try writing 6,000 words a week about it. Also, "fun" niches are often oversaturated with other freelancers. Plus, it's hard to predict in advance what you'll enjoy writing about. Writing about sales software (for example) is far more fun than I might have expected. ⛔ Niching means turning down gigs. Niching is about positioning, not rejecting inbound work. Work is work! ⛔ Niching means missing out on projects. It can be hard to get those projects as a generalist anyway. ⛔ I’ll be stuck in that niche forever. Your niche evolves. I started in HR tech and now write about sales enablement and marketing analytics too (among other topics). But, if I were struggling for work, I'd go narrow again. ⛔ Choosing a niche is hard. Look for low-hanging fruit. Where is work coming easily? What industries fit your background? Got two solid portfolio pieces in a niche? That’s a start. Oftentimes, your niche will find you, if you pay attention. Plus, you can niche by industry, content type, or both. Both is often best. The place you want to end up is being "the person you go to for X". ⛔ You're supposed to niche right away. It's hard to niche right out the gate unless you're already experienced in a specific industry. I didn't niche until I'd been freelancing for a while, when I had a few projects under my belt, a better sense of what I was good at and what clients were looking for. Before that, I just took whatever I could get! What questions do you have about niching? Hit me up in the comments. Or share your tips :)

I used to feel like my freelance income was a constant 🎢 rollercoaster. One month I'd be swimming in projects, the next I'd be scrambling for work. Then, I implemented these five strategies to smooth out the peaks and valleys: 1. Land Retainer Deals: Ditch the project-to-project hustle. Offer monthly content packages to build predictable income and long-term client relationships. 2. Niche Down: Become the go-to expert in a specific industry (think "healthcare tech copywriter" vs. "general blogger"). 3. Implement the 50% Upfront Rule: No more starting projects without a down payment. Secure your income before lifting a finger! (Note that this doesn't work in the journalism world.) 4. Create "Productized" Services: Offer packaged deals (like "4 blog posts/month + SEO optimization") for streamlined pricing and easier renewals. 5. Adopt the 70/30 Rule: Maintain a balance of steady, recurring income (70%) with exciting new projects (30%) to fuel your growth. While I still experience some flux from month to month, it's not a huge dip. 👉 Interested in more tips like these? Snag your *free* subscription to Expert•ish Freelancer. 🔗 Link is in the comments. #freelancing #freelancer #freelancewriter #freelancelife

I still remember the day I left my prestigious marketing lecturer job in my 30s to dive into the world of freelancing. It felt like stepping off a cliff into the unknown. The first shock? Realizing I was competing with freelancers half my age. Doubt crept in. "Have I made a terrible mistake?" I wondered, feeling out of place and outpaced. But here's what I discovered: 1. Time is a great filter. Many young freelancers left the field, tried something else, stopped etc. but I persevered. 2. Age isn't a creativity killer - it's an asset. My maturity became my secret weapon. 3. Trust is everything. Clients valued my experience and reliability. Fast forward to today: I'm 41 now I'm not just freelancing I'm building an agency and multiple ventures! The key? Continuous effort and understanding the freelance game: * It's not just about skills - it's about handling pressure and building connections. * Clients want peace of mind and deliverables they can trust. * The ability to manage projects and people is invaluable. For those feeling stuck or doubting themselves, PS: If you take action, nothing can stop you. Here's how to start: 1. Plan your goals: Where are you now? Where do you want to be in 2 months? 2 years? 2. Set SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. 3. Create a roadmap: Use mind-mapping and tools like Notion to visualize your path. 4. Hold yourself accountable: You're in charge of your journey. 5. Regular self-growth checks: Measure your progress or find an accountability partner. See, age takes a backseat when quality work shows up. Your unique experiences are your superpower - use them! #CareerTransition #FreelanceSuccess #PerseveranceWins #NeverTooLate

As a freelance producer, I used to think setting my rate was about math. Annual income goal ➗ weeks worked = rate. Simple, right? But that’s not how it works in the real world. Especially not in our industry. I'm going to share my secret and what I’ve learned over the years: If you’re working with agencies, you’re stepping into a machine. There’s markup. Layers. Process. And you? You are the plug-and-play piece that keeps the gears turning. You’ll get hired. But you’ll also get squeezed. Why? Because in that model, you’re overhead. And overhead ALWAYS gets pushed down to protect margin. Everything changed when I stopped playing by those rules. I started positioning myself as a strategic partner and not a temp, not backup, not someone to “loop in.” >>And I started looking ADJACENT to our industry. Other industry agencies (PR, digital, social, etc) and in-house teams doing experiential for the first time. They didn’t want a producer to slot into a system. They wanted someone to build the system, to guide them, to be an expert. And for that, they were willing to pay 50% more and give me way more control. If you’ve got the experience and the brand to back it up, you don’t have to be a cog. You can be the person who makes the whole thing run smoother, smarter, and with way less risk. That’s what we’re helping freelancers do inside Out Of Office. The strategy. The positioning. The proof. If you want me to break down exactly how to reposition yourself like this, drop a comment or question. I’ll write it up next! #freelancer #solobusiness #strategy #events