Building Credibility in a Writing Niche

Many freelance writers start out as generalists. In other words, they write about a variety of topics across multiple publication formats. They may spend part of their day writing a blog for a car dealership before turning to a press release for a law office and a travel article for a regional magazine. This kind of writing is an excellent way to build up a portfolio, create connections with clients, and figure out what kind of writing you enjoy the most. In fact, being a generalist is so fulfilling and useful for freelance writers that some decide to continue to follow that path throughout their careers. It’s the easiest way to make sure that work is always available for you—after all, when you can write about anything, you can take any kind of client you want.

However, some writers get into freelance writing specifically because they want to write for a specific industry or cover a specific topic in depth. Developing a writing niche has its benefits. It’s often a good way to quickly increase your earnings, since you can create a reputation as an expert, and it narrows the pool of clients on which you have to count. Key to success in a writing niche is building credibility as an expert, which can seem challenging when you start a new career as a freelance writer. Fortunately, you can build a reputation as a credible expert in a field even if you are new to writing. Follow these steps to grow your credibility and establish yourself as an in-demand writer in your chosen niche.

Focus on Your Resume

If your portfolio is not yet stocked with writing samples, let your resume do the talking. What qualifications do you have that will demonstrate your expertise? Make sure your resume highlights things such as:

• Educational background, including relevant courses
• Work experience in the field
• Field-relevant certifications
• Awards and recognitions in the field

If you can complement your niche-related background with quality writing samples, you can show a potential client that you have the knowledge to produce the kind of pieces they want and the writing skills to do so in an engaging way.

Get Social

Focus on developing a professional social media presence that highlights some of the skills or background relevant to your writing niche, and then use your profiles to engage with other experts in the field. Take part in conversations on social media and in comment sections. Share interesting media clips about your niche. Be a recognizable face and name in your field, so that potential clients will see you as someone who is part of the conversation.

It can also be helpful to have your own blog on which you publish niche-specific work that you can then share on your social media accounts. Even though these pieces are self-published, they will bring you further into the conversation in your field and show others in the industry that you have a voice that matters.

As you create content for your blog, focus on making content that educates. Try anticipating the issues that potential customers may be having, and then address them in your work. For example, if you want to write in the medical field, you may be aware that providers are struggling to juggle meetings with drug reps with the time they need for patient care. Writing a piece that offers recommendations for managing that issue will let potential clients know that you are familiar enough with the field to recognize an industry-specific pain point and can offer solutions with authority.

While you’re getting social online, don’t forget to do it the old-fashioned way as well. Attending networking events and niche-relevant conferences is a good way to win the trust of others in the field and create connections with customers.

Ask for References

If you have experience in the writing niche you want to target, ask former co-workers, bosses, and clients to write references for you that confirm your knowledge and expertise. These references can be a good way to address concerns clients may have about your lack of previous publishing in the field, since they don’t have to simply rely on your assurances that you are knowledgeable.

Similarly, as you gain clients, ask each one to write you a testimonial at the end of the project. The more of these you can build up, the easier it will be to convince new clients that you can actually deliver on the promises you are making. Their testimonials will demonstrate that you have a track record of success.

Don’t Cut Your Prices to Attract Clients

Many freelance writers think that cutting their rates to go after a niche or to get a chance with a publication is a good way to get a foot in the door. However, this idea often backfires, and it can be especially detrimental when you are trying to build credibility. The vast majority of people who hire freelance writers aren’t looking for the cheapest writer that they can find. They want quality work, and they expect to pay a fair price for it.

If your rates seem drastically lower than other writers in your niche, there is a good chance that clients will be turned off. They are likely to assume that your low rates are an indication of the quality of your work and the validity of your qualifications. In most instances, they will want to pay more for a writer whose work they assume will be a higher quality than yours, based on your rates alone. Bargain-basement freelance writing is a losing game, and it’s especially detrimental when you’re trying to break into a writing niche.

Whether you dream of fast-paced days as a generalist or want to dive into niche writing work, you’ll find the tools you need at Writers Work. Connect with our freelance writing community to get advice and leads from other writers, get access to clients who are actively looking for skilled writers to hire, and hone your craft with the help of our writing coaches. Contact us today to learn more about membership.