19 Freelance Writing Niches That Additionally Pay Huge Bucks in 2021

Suppose it’s unattainable to seek out worthwhile freelance writing niches in 2021?

Right here’s the reality:

Whereas some niches, like journey, have been hit laborious by the coronavirus pandemic, different industries are nonetheless doing effectively.

On this submit, we’ll cowl the completely different niches out there to freelance writers, and offer you steering on how to decide on the proper one for you.

Now, earlier than we start, right here’s a warning: Don’t get hung up on the excellent freelance area of interest for you. That’s a approach to procrastinate and by no means get began.

Prepared? We’ll start with a couple of elementary questions…

What Precisely is a Freelance Writing Area of interest?

A contract writing area of interest is a specialization in both a subject or a content material kind.

A subject is “what” you write about, and it’s in all probability the very first thing you consider if you consider a distinct segment. Examples embody private finance, digital advertising and marketing, and know-how.

You even have content material kind — the “how” you write about it, or the shape your writing takes. Some examples are weblog posts, case research, and white papers (we’ll talk about many extra in a second).

Which do you have to give attention to if you’re a brand new freelance author?

In my view: content material kind.

In reality, you might not wish to focus on a selected area of interest subject in any respect within the early phases of your freelance writing profession. Gaining expertise ought to be your first precedence.

Later, you possibly can, and will, think about specializing.

Right here’s why:

“The Riches Are In The Niches”

You may earn extra by specializing, by changing into an “professional” in your chosen area of interest subject or trade. Why? Potential purchasers are keen to pay the next charge to writers who perceive their trade and their viewers.

In any case, as a contract author, you might be offering advertising and marketing companies to your purchasers. And to create glorious advertising and marketing and weblog content material for a shopper, you could know the way to communicate on to their prospects or prospects.

Plus, specializing helps you write sooner. In addition to the data in your head, you’ll develop a financial institution of ample analysis sources you possibly can draw on as a distinct segment author. And the faster you possibly can write, the upper your hourly charge will likely be.

Additionally, having a contract writing area of interest provides you a place to begin in your advertising and marketing technique. You’ll know which companies to pitch and what writing companies to supply them.

And pitching companies, or proactively in search of area of interest writing tasks, can pay greater than passively responding to content material mills and job board advertisements.

What Makes a Freelance Writing Area of interest Worthwhile?

Worthwhile niches can come and go. Relying on what occurs on the planet, developments can shift at any time. Previously worthwhile industries could be crippled in a single day, as we’ve seen with COVID-19.

Concentrate on these three key ideas that decide the profitability of a possible area of interest:

1. The kind of freelance writing that pays essentially the most is the writing that has essentially the most substantial influence on a shopper’s SALES.

The extra income your writing can probably generate, the upper charges you possibly can earn.

2. The advertising and marketing price range or the cash purchasers have out there to pay for content material or copy, will decide charges.

Clearly, if a shopper can’t afford to pay you, you received’t earn a lot. Nonetheless, it’s straightforward to overlook this, particularly when you focus solely on what you WANT to jot down about.

However if you wish to maximize your freelancing earnings, go the place the cash is —the place there are worthwhile, profitable companies with a advertising and marketing price range.

3. Pay charges are influenced by the ratio of the provision of writers to the demand for these writers.

Goal for niches with a low provide of writers, however excessive shopper demand.

For instance, there’s a excessive demand for writers who perceive search engine marketing (search engine optimization writing). However there aren’t as many writers with this technical ability, so the pay for the sort of writing will likely be larger.

Conversely, keep away from niches with a lot of keen writers, or excessive provide. For lots of the “enjoyable” matters, there’s an ample provide of writers who wish to write about them. However since there’s solely a lot demand, the excessive provide of writers will drive charges down.

Okay, so now let’s dive into essentially the most worthwhile freelance writing niches to contemplate.

We’ll begin with the completely different content material varieties…

Freelance Writing Niches: 9 Excessive-Paying Content material Sorts

Keep in mind, the extra your writing can influence a shopper’s gross sales, the upper it pays. So all of those content material varieties are both below the umbrella of content material advertising and marketing or copywriting.

1. Lengthy-form Weblog Posts or Final Guides

These kinds of posts aren’t fluffy 500-word ones written off the highest of your head, however as an alternative, detailed, well-researched posts over 2,000 phrases in size.

Final guides present in-depth data. They include all the data a reader will want on a topic, multi functional submit.

Lengthy-form content material has a conversational and accessible writing type. Making complicated matters straightforward to grasp will likely be a superpower on this profitable area of interest.

You’ll additionally wish to study fundamental search engine optimization techniques to compete. That approach, you are able to do every thing you possibly can as an search engine optimization author to assist your posts rank in search engines like google and yahoo resembling Google.

The most effective a part of this content material kind? Companies have a unending want for running a blog content material, which creates ongoing demand.

Plus, there’s the chance for retainers. Retainers pay you a set quantity in return for a set quantity of weblog posts, for instance, $1,200 for 4 weblog posts monthly. As a contract author, this offers you a little bit of safety and stability, at all times a plus!

2. E-Books

E-books are glorious advertising and marketing instruments for each massive and small companies. They’re used to each generate leads and to place the corporate as an professional in what they provide.

E-books are usually printed as PDFs and could be anyplace from 10-20 pages lengthy. Like weblog posts, they should current helpful data, resembling “how-tos,” on matters that curiosity the corporate’s prospects or prospects.

E-book pricing varies extensively and might vary anyplace from $1,500 to $5,000 relying on the shopper, trade, and the quantity of analysis obligatory.

They pay effectively as a result of they are often lead magnets in your purchasers. The e-books are free in change for prospects’ e-mail addresses.

That prospect is then positioned in an e-mail gross sales funnel or will obtain the corporate’s publication. The hope is that by means of “nurturing” that lead and forming a relationship, the corporate can convert that lead right into a paying buyer.

Right here’s an instance of an e-book from the Freelance Author’s Den:

Some companies check with their e-books as a “white paper,” which leads us to our subsequent worthwhile area of interest:

3. White Papers

White papers are usually extra formal and critical in tone than content material like an e-book or weblog submit. They could include technical data. They’re in style within the know-how area of interest and are normally written for the B2B or enterprise to enterprise market.

White papers current an issue, then discover options, certainly one of which will likely be your shopper’s services or products. They attempt to persuade readers with out crossing the road into gross sales. They don’t immediately promote something. As a substitute, they help within the gross sales course of.

Many of the information will likely be provided by your shopper, though your interviewing expertise will come in useful right here to get the data you want.

White papers can differ in size, though they’re usually round 5 to 10 pages lengthy.

Like e-books, they’re usually used as lead magnets for e-mail lists. Since they’ll result in gross sales, they’re extra worthwhile for you as a freelancer.

How a lot do white papers pay? As reported by That White Paper Man:

“In keeping with the largest trade survey ever taken, it prices $5,000 to $7,000 to rent an skilled white paper author.”

As he notes, the research referencing these quantities is 10 years outdated, so charges could possibly be even larger now.

4. Case Research

Case research pay effectively as a result of they assist drive gross sales. They supply social proof by showcasing tales of consumers’ success utilizing the services or products of your shopper. They exhibit the transformation a buyer skilled.

The basic format is:

• Describe the problem the client confronted.
• Clarify the resolution the corporate offered.
• Present the outcomes the client achieved through the use of the corporate’s product/service.
• Present a conclusion designed to assist prospects make a shopping for determination.

Case research could contain interviewing each your shopper and their prospects to get the perfect data. These are long-form testimonials written in story format. These tales must be fascinating and supply worth to the reader.

5. E-mail Writing

This worthwhile freelance writing area of interest sounds straightforward, however it’s difficult to do effectively. You’ll have to create content material that may acquire readers’ consideration, in direct competitors with all of the noise of their e-mail in-box.

You’ll want a background in copywriting or at the very least a strong grasp of copywriting ideas and formulation. In any case, the first goal of e-mail is to promote, however fastidiously. It is advisable have interaction the reader first, earlier than making an attempt to promote them something.

E-mail has a superb return on funding in your shopper. In keeping with HubSpot:

“You could be questioning if e-mail remains to be a worthwhile advertising and marketing technique. In reality, e-mail generates $38 for each $1 spent, which is an astounding 3,800% ROI, making it one of the efficient choices out there.”

Which means purchasers can afford to pay you! However to earn effectively, you want to have the ability to convert your purchasers’ leads into prospects.

You may create e-mail sequences or emails for gross sales funnels. You’ll wish to take your e-mail readers on a purchaser’s journey from the notice stage to acquisition, or the purpose the place they make a purchase order.

You may additionally write e-mail newsletters in your purchasers. These assist hold subscribers engaged together with your purchasers and knowledgeable about their enterprise.

Constantly producing newsletters assist your purchasers construct a relationship and belief with their subscribers. And since your shopper might want to talk frequently, newsletters could be a superb retainer mission.

6. Gross sales Pages or Touchdown Pages

This content material kind requires you to jot down compelling copy, so put in your copywriter hat!

You may write web site copy for a corporation’s dwelling web page, for his or her “About Us” web page, or for product pages. You may additionally create the opt-in pages for lead magnets (just like the e-books or white papers we coated).

You’ll write copy designed to both convert guests to prospects, to get prospects to purchase, or to seize leads.

Writing copy for net pages is a difficult type of copywriting, so that you’ll wish to begin by establishing your self and changing into an professional in a subject first.

7. Video Script Writing

Video is changing into among the best methods for companies to achieve potential prospects. In a latest Forbes article about 4 content material advertising and marketing developments to look at, video was primary:

“Video is wildly in style, and cellular video consumption will increase yearly. (…) Once you work video into your advertising and marketing plans, it ought to accomplish two fundamental goals: Promote your services or products in a compelling approach, and share your model story.”

Companies want scripts for web site movies on their dwelling pages, their gross sales pages, or for product excursions. They could additionally want scripts for webinars, one other gross sales software.

YouTube is now a high search engine, and somebody has to jot down all that spoken content material. Why not you?

Corporations have to each inform their tales and to create information-rich movies to draw potential prospects.

8. On-line or E-Studying Programs

On-line programs and on-line training is a discipline that’s booming, and so are alternatives for instructional content material creators. Particularly in case you have a background in instructing or perceive how individuals study, this may be a superb freelance writing gig for you.

Right here you’ll write content material for programs. Most programs contain a mixture of textual content and video, so be ready to jot down video scripts as a part of this writing job.

9. E-book Writing (Ghostwriting)

“The position of a author is to not say what all of us can say, however what we’re unable to say.” – Anais Nin

Ghostwriting books is without doubt one of the highest-paying niches on the listing, however, after all, it’s additionally time-consuming and difficult.

You assist your shopper get their story, or their concepts, out of their head, and right into a guide. The books you’d write may vary from quick e-books to self-published books (like on Amazon), to even historically printed full-length books (for knowledgeable writers).

As a ghostwriter, you do all of the writing work, however your title wouldn’t be on the quilt. All of the credit score goes to the shopper. Additionally, the guide must be within the shopper’s voice or type, not your individual.

You may be employed by both people or companies who want high-quality content material written below their names or manufacturers. For instance, individuals resembling enterprise executives, enterprise homeowners, and different professionals who aren’t writers and have little interest in writing the books themselves.

For this, you’ll earn a candy charge, and it isn’t unreasonable to start out round $10,000 relying on the scale and scope of the guide.

Freelance Writing Niches: 8 Excessive-Paying Matters

Earlier than we dive into the listing of worthwhile niches, understand that nearly any subject could be worthwhile relying on a mix of your expertise and a shopper’s price range for writers.

Nonetheless, the extra experience that’s required to write effectively on a subject, the upper it’s going to pay.

For a useful listing of prospects, listed here are a few of the most worthwhile freelance niches.

1. Finance / Private Finance

Should you can write about monetary matters, effectively, that is the place the cash is. In some instances, actually, that is the place the precise cash is.

You’ll must be detail-oriented and cautious to test your info on this house! You’ll wish to convey probably dry matters to life by including human touches like tales or case research, however with out “fluff.”

You may write for private finance blogs, and proper now, content material about budgeting is in demand!

Much more worthwhile are banks, bank card firms, and mortgage lenders. All of them want you to teach their customers, and plenty of have spectacular blogs you can write for or coaching supplies you can assist them develop.

Different prospects on this house are accounting companies, monetary planning companies, or funding firms.

All of those monetary companies want your writing expertise to offer helpful data and assist type relationships with prospects and prospects.

2. Cryptocurrency / Blockchain

Cryptocurrency and blockchain are scorching matters associated to finance. It entails a great little bit of technical writing and know-how, and also you’ll have to study plenty of jargon. However when you perceive blockchain know-how and might clarify it to others in a approach they’ll perceive, you positively wish to look into this area of interest.

3. Know-how Writing

That is one other space the place you’ll want specialised data to land writing gigs. Additionally, when you can write in a approach that engages the reader on this probably dry space, you’ll be an in-demand freelancer!

You’d be writing about know-how resembling computer systems and smartphones. Cybersecurity can also be a scorching discipline and one that may solely develop as extra companies transfer on-line.

4. Digital Advertising

As an increasing number of companies are shifting on-line, digital advertising and marketing firms want content material to elucidate their services and products to prospects.

They’re normally in search of long-form, in-depth guides, designed to show each ideas and techniques.

There’s all kinds of subtopics on this space. Right here’s a couple of to consider:

• Content material advertising and marketing
• E-mail advertising and marketing
• Social media (Fb, LinkedIn, and so on.)
• Search engine optimization
• Internet online affiliate marketing

A good way to study this area of interest is by beginning your individual weblog and experimenting with these strategies.

5. SaaS (Software program-as-a-Service)

Corporations that promote their software-as-a-service want to elucidate their product to prospects and prospects. Not solely do they want copy, like web site copy, and e-mail newsletters, however in addition they want long-form weblog posts in tutorial and how-to codecs.

For instance, ConvertKit has a weblog designed that will help you get the perfect outcomes from their software program:

SaaS is a high-margin (worthwhile) enterprise mannequin, so these firms can afford to pay you effectively.

6. Different Well being / CBD Merchandise

Writing about well being and wellness, typically, is a strong area of interest subject, however various well being merchandise are an particularly scorching space proper now.

If you’re educated about CBD merchandise, you can goal dispensaries, CBD shops, and even hashish blogs.

7. Training

In a quickly altering world, training and ability coaching is extra necessary than ever. Persons are in search of training and coaching to develop expertise for both acquiring new jobs or to create new companies.

On-line course suppliers, universities, and pupil mortgage lenders are a couple of potential purchasers that want your writing expertise.

8. Actual Property

If you would like native purchasers, realtors may use your writing experience. You may create dwelling shopping for guides, data items about native legal guidelines and ordinances, and even some enjoyable articles about dwelling decor and the way to stage homes on the market.

Right here’s an instance from an area realtor’s web site:

Find out how to Choose the Finest Freelance Writing Area of interest for You

As defined right here, you wish to select a distinct segment that makes use of your experience, that you just take pleasure in writing about, and that may pay you effectively. On the intersection lies your very best freelance writing area of interest.

Let’s take a look at every of those in additional element.

What’s Your Space of Experience? (Or What Are You Keen to Study About?)

It’s at all times finest to start out with what you realize. Take a look at the industries you’ve both labored in or are presently working in. Should you begin with the data you might have, this may present the quickest payoff in your freelance profession.

However you possibly can study as you go. By studying content material in your area of interest and staying updated with trade information, you possibly can develop your experience. You’ll wish to study the trade jargon and study the “language” or most well-liked vocabulary of your target market.

So both begin with one thing you might be already an professional in, or select an space the place you might be keen to spend the time to learn and study all about it.

What Are You Passionate About? (Or What Do You Get pleasure from Writing About?)

Be cautious in selecting a distinct segment solely as a result of it’d pay effectively. A scarcity of ardour will present up in your writing, and readers will choose that up and lose curiosity themselves.

At a minimal, ensure you have a eager curiosity within the subject.

Take a look at what you take pleasure in writing about, or the matters you gravitate in the direction of when there is no such thing as a revenue motive.

Should you aren’t positive what you wish to write about, don’t fear about specializing but. By staying open to writing about something, you might uncover pursuits or passions you didn’t know you had.

How To Validate and Take a look at Your Freelance Writing Area of interest

Now that you’ve got some concepts of what you wish to write about, it’s time to validate and take a look at it.

Is There a Market For It (And Does It Pay Sufficient For Your Wants)?

If you wish to earn effectively as a contract author, ensure there’s a marketplace for the kind of content material you’d like to jot down. It is advisable discover companies with budgets.

Keep in mind, you might be promoting the outcomes you get purchasers as a contract author. You aren’t paid to jot down, you might be paid to promote.

A great way to check the market is to see what’s marketed on job boards. As a reminder, to get the best pay charges, you’ll wish to pitch firms immediately, however job boards might help with the analysis.

The Final Freelance Writing Area of interest Take a look at

“Work is the bridge between goals and actuality.” – Jared Leto

There’s at all times a distinction between what you assume one thing will likely be like and what it’s really like. Stated one other approach, you possibly can’t really know what you wish to write about till you begin writing about it.

So, to try it out, create a writing pattern. This can be a low-risk approach to check out a unique area of interest.

For instance, possibly you assume you’d love to jot down B2B SaaS content material for Content material Administration Resolution suppliers. However you then examine “headless CMS options” (sure, that’s a factor), and your eyes glaze over. Not a great signal.

You’ll want a pattern anyway for potential purchasers, so this solves two points directly. Create a pattern to each take a look at the area of interest and to have one thing to point out prospects.

Bonus Tip: A superb approach to take a look at a unique area of interest is to jot down a visitor submit. This can be a three-for-one deal, as not solely are you able to take a look at the waters, present proof you possibly can write in that area of interest, however you can additionally acquire publicity to potential purchasers.

If Nothing Else, Simply Get Began

Take a deep breath.

If you’re new to the freelance writing biz, don’t fear about particular niches but. It’s okay to be a generalist.

Begin exploring these worthwhile freelance writing niches. However consider this course of as a collection of experiments to unfold over time.

Use this data to select a couple of subject niches to place your self in, and get began.

The necessary half is to start working in your freelance writing enterprise. And as you acquire expertise, be able to area of interest down and specialize.

However determine to decide. Begin experimenting right this moment.