Should I Niche it down or Roam?
Choosing Paths: Niche Down or Roam Free?
Before I chose to write on this, I knew it was going to tear my readers into two: those who are against the niche-it-down mantra and those who advocate for it.
So, where do I stand on this?
Perhaps, if you asked me this question eight years ago, my position would have been different. So here is what I think about it now.
When you decide to freelance your way to survival or financial freedom, whichever is your goal, you’ll hardly take a break to reflect on where you’re headed. The initial goal, in most cases, is to maximize your earnings by offering your skills in whatever niche that fits.
My case is no different. Back in 2014, no one, including myself, knew me as a tech writer/technology journalist. I just wanted to write for whoever was ready to pay regardless of the niche. So, I wrote about tech, health, finance, social media marketing, roofing and construction, sports, etc. I did this for two years and realized that I lacked recognition in any niche. This lack of recognition in a specific area denied me two key things: job satisfaction and the ability to scale.
However, it afforded me one thing: the chance to test the waters before pitching my tent to one area — tech. And considering that I’m pursuing a masters degree program in cybersecurity, I’ve further narrowed my coverage to some areas of tech and have succeeded in building my expertise around them.
So, if you’re taking the freelance route to career building without clarity as to which niche would fit your skillset, you may just need to force yourself through many niches and test which fits best.
The upside is that many people are often carried away by the money they make and never realize that the real deal is buried in being recognized as an expert in a niche.
Of course, many would still argue otherwise but from experience and insights I’ve gathered from friends in the freelance space, they commanded higher pay when they demonstrated expertise in one niche. Besides money, some elements of confidence and satisfaction come with gaining recognition in your field. There is even a chance that you may not need to overwork yourself anymore as you’ll be making more money from fewer jobs than you’ll ever make working for dozens of low-value clients.
Waveapps, a financial software provider, also suggests that the best way to increase your earning potential as a freelancer is to position yourself as an expert in your niche. That way, you stand a higher chance of attracting high-value clients.
So, let’s assume you’re a software developer but majors in front-end languages, it's wise to build your expertise around the front-end stack. Focusing on your core strength enhances your ability to successfully handle any front-end project. Claiming to be a full-stack developer when your expertise lies primarily in the front-end domain may lead to challenges. Clients entrusting you with their projects may face disappointment, and freelancers often don't get second chances. The same thing goes with every other skill out there.
This is my take. What do you think?
Best,
Franklin Okeke