how niche is too niche?

"To niche or not to niche?" - that is a question that many freelancers ask themselves, often when they first start out but sometimes mid-way through their careers, once they've got some experience under their belt.

There is arguments for both, but let me also say this...

There's niche, and then there's NICHE. You can opt to niche down into a specific area, much like I've done with healthcare and tech. Thanks to a lot of experience in this area and a big network, I'm known for it. I get referrals based purely on the fact that these are my specialist areas and I'm good at what I do (might as well blow my own trumpet while I'm here). And a lot of clients are looking for someone with very specific experience to support them. Which is great but I have to confess...

EVEN the nichiest niche freelance writers don't know everything!

Fortunately, what we are REALLY good at is learning stuff, learning it well and then communicating it back to an audience. THIS is where our skill set lies.

This week I've re-written a four thousand word article on the role of epigenetics in gene activity. This is a topic I previously knew ZERO about. Zilch. But thanks to a deep dive into the world of genetics, I reckon I could now do relatively well in a pub quiz about it.

But my point is this. Its one thing to look for a writer in your niche, but its something else to expect them to have incredibly specific experience.

If this client had needed a freelance writer with previous experience in writing about epigenetics, the chances of finding someone would have been pretty rare.

So don't discount a freelancer because they don't have incredibly specific experience under their belt. Look at what they have done, provide a good brief and let them work their magic!

And if anyone on here now needs anyone to write anything about epigenetics, well I'm your gal!