While a freelancer is a self-employed individual who gets paid on a per-job or per-task basis, generally for short-term work, a niche is a comfortable or appealing situation in life or a job. A freelance writing niche is a specialty in either a topic or content.
Freelance niching means picking a tech niche and narrowing it down to a particular skill. For example, if you are a content marketer, you can narrow it down to visual content marketing and content writing.
Also, choosing the correct freelance expertise can result in more clients, better tasks, and larger paychecks. This blog aims to discuss finding and picking a tech niche that suits your skills and how you can specialize such skills as a freelancer.
How to pick a niche
Picking a tech niche lies with the freelancer taking up the skill, his motivations, and earning potential.
For a freelancer to niche down to a specific skill or service, such freelancers need to know the available tech skills in the market; such freelancers must have picked an interest in a tech skill. A techy interested in web development, for example, must be able to identify if Frontend or Backend web development suits your talents more. Also, if you plan to be a web developer, you must pick a building tool of expertise, e.g., Javascript, Python, etc.
Why Niching?
Undoubtedly, the remuneration that comes with each tech skill varies, and it offers different pay. Specific niches pay more than others, affecting freelancers' choice in niching down.
For instance, a backend web developer would earn more than a web designer. Experienced web designers who have worked in the field for 4-6 years earn an average annual salary between $51,000-$80,000. However, the job, skills, and tools used by the two of them differ-
Skills and tools used by web developers and designers
Designers
Web designers use layout and design tools like WordPress, Adobe Dreamweaver, and InVision Studio. They create the image the site visitor sees. Web designers understand the principles of aesthetics and how to use them to build a strong internet presence for their employer or client.
Developers
Web developers work with different software tools, some created by browsers and operating system companies. Three of the big ones are Angular.JS, Chrome DevTools, and Sass. Although site developers write code, they also consider the user experience. Even though client satisfaction is more important, the overall reason why a freelancer takes up freelance gigs is to make money. Therefore, making as much money as desired is tied to offering high-tech skills that are in demand and sought after. Thus, it is of great necessity for a freelancer to pick a tech niche and become a master in it.
Set Skills
For Freelancers to effectively take advantage of the target audience, penetrate the market skills, and gain clients that need their services, they must have sound knowledge about a particular set niche.
For a freelance writer who does not specify his craft to a place, e.g., Fashion, Sports, Blog writing, etc. It is difficult for such freelancers to gain mastery of their art and taking on jobs that do not precisely align with their line of expertise will only lead to poor job delivery.
Competition
Freelance marketing space is highly competitive; gone are the days when there were limited numbers of tech-savvy persons compared to the number of clients. These days, Freelancers are much more than clients or agencies willing to outsource their job.
It, therefore, became important for Freelancers to specialize in a tech niche to become masters and sought after. Constant upskilling allows freelancers to stand out amongst others and become thought leaders and authorities in the freelance market space.
Drive and motivation
Specializing in a tech skill such that one gains expertise requires dedication and unwavering Drive and motivation. Irrespective of the amount of money a tech niche offers, one key objective of a freelancer is to ensure he retains clients. This can only be achieved when a freelancer has the inner Drive and motivation to deliver quality jobs and earn clients' trust. This is important because it allows freelancers to retain clients and get recommendations.
HOW TO SPECIALIZE AS A FREELANCER
The most important thing to do is to Pick a niche, Take on tasks, upskill, and Networking. Networking with more skillful and knowledgeable freelancers saves time and helps one grow faster in the tech space. Having a network of techies or belonging to a tech community goes a long way in the growth and development of a freelancer.
You get to catch up with the latest trends fast, make friends of like-minded, share, and exchange knowledge and experience. For a freelancer to niche down, it is crucial to pick a niche, do quality research, and learn the nitty-gritty of the niche.
Gaining mastery of a tech niche comes with dedication, sacrifices, and willingness to learn. Suppose a freelancer can devote himself to doing everything needed to become an expert in his field. In that case, he will reap the dividends in folds because tech skills are very lucrative and can finance a quality lifestyle.
Having picked a niche and efforts have been made to learn about it, it is important to take on personal tasks or projects to practice what has been learned. Doing this will help in gaining mastery and smoothen out the niche. Upskilling then comes after, allowing a freelancer to stay updated, and specialization sets in.
Conclusion
Specialist freelancers have the potential to become very successful. Through working on specific projects and marketing themselves uniquely, they can create a service that few others can, thus giving them an advantage in the industry.
By taking steps to brand themselves effectively, staying organized and well-informed about their field of expertise, and automating processes as much as possible, freelancer specialists have the tools at their fingertips for successful specialization.
Freelancers should use these strategies to reach the level of a profession they hope to achieve. Ultimately, if you provide quality work while being focused and organized each step of the way, you have every chance of becoming a successful specialist freelancer. Let your talents shine and make your mark on this world!
