Best-paying freelance writing niches to help you stand out in 2022
In the long run, freelance writers will benefit from finding a niche. Here is how you can find your voice as a freelance writer and decide on the most profitable route.
The common phrase “Riches are in the niches” might not be entirely wrong. For freelancers, many are still on the generalist path and struggling to find their niche.
When you start freelancing, the very first thing you need to work on is finding your niche. Simply put, having a niche means to be a specialist in a certain field. This is your key to success as a freelance writer.
As a specialist, you are considered as more credible and legitimate compared to generalists, who tend to know a little bit from every field, but do not have in-depth knowledge of any one. Specialists know their forte, expertise, and strongest skill sets. This means that you are likely to finish any task faster, and makes you more trustworthy to clients.
Freelancers with niches are valued more highly and get paid more. For this reason, it is recommended for aspiring freelance writers to spend a bit more time researching and figuring out their niche. In the long run, this can prove to be more useful than merely producing different types of writing that do not pay as much.
| High-paying freelance writing niches |
How to find a niche as a freelance writer
If you started out as a generalist, you might feel all over the place. There are tons of topics that interest you, but you might not have mastered any of them.
Firstly, you need to know which topics you like writing about. Whether it's music, the subject from university that always gives you good grades, or your current investment interests in cryptocurrency — everything is up for grabs.
The next step is understanding your area of expertise. This is easier if you already have prior experience in the field. For example, maybe you came from medical background and you're confident writing about health and medical writing because you’re already familiar with the common topics and technical terms. Writing about such a topic would be easier because you already have the fundamentals in your head.
However, if you decide on a niche that you are interested in and do not yet have extensive experience, it is crucial to dedicate time to mastering and reading up on the field before marketing yourself as a specialist in the area. Aside from using free resources on the internet, you can try talking to other experts or even signing up for online courses.
High-paying freelance writing niches
After understanding the steps to find a niche, the next thing for you is to identify profitable niches in any market you can write for.
Here are some examples of high-paying freelance writing niches:
1. B2B whitepapers
Whitepapers play an important role in various marketing strategies. They establish the company as a credible thought leader in the field. Publishing whitepapers is an effective way for companies to build influence and generate leads. But it is not always easy, as it requires deep expertise, which is where freelance writers come in.
With this niche, your job is to supply and execute content in a way that results in profitable decisions for your client. The important thing here is to drive your readers to be potential buyers and lead them into paying customers. According to Demodia, a freelance writer with whitepaper experience often gets paid anywhere between US$5,500 and US$7,000.
2. Longform content
Long-form content usually comes in the form of an article that is longer than 2,000 words. Most of the time, in-house marketers don’t have the time to write such lengthy posts consistently, and, for that reason, a freelancer steps in to fill the void. According to Creative Side Marketing, the pay for long-form articles can start anywhere from US$75 to US$400 per post, depending on the topic, amount of research required, and length of the post.
However, keep in mind that you shouldn’t just overload the article with information in order to meet your targeted words. Any content that is written should ultimately add value for the reader. Furthermore, you should also keep SEO in mind when writing, so that the article can help drive more traffic to your client’s website.
Stella Estee Samantha
3. E-books
Most freelance writers with this niche know what kind of marketing tools are the best for directing and generating leads. They are also able to help define the corporation as an expert in their industry. E-books tend to be less formal than a whitepaper and are often more freely distributed.
The pay for e-book writers varies, but most of them pay well. It can range from US$1,500 to US$5,000 depending on the topic and amount of research required.
4. Video script writing
There is no doubt that video plays an important role in any marketing strategy. Even right now, social media platforms are incorporating more videos and transitioning to become video-based platforms. By offering video script writing services to potential clients, you will be one step ahead of the curve.
Even now, freelance video script writers are paid US$61,959 a year, according to Zip Recruiter. At the moment, Indeed has approximately 952 writing gigs for video scripts, which is a testament to increasing demand for this niche.
Jessica Tan
5. Book ghostwriting
Book ghostwriting is ultimately the most lucrative freelance writing job out there. As the name implies, the real author isn’t getting the credit; instead, credit goes to the client. For that reason, these freelance gigs are often the highest-paying gigs in the market. Not just because you are writing on behalf of someone else, but also because you need to match your writing style with your client’s and convey the requested message to the reader.
Consequently, ghostwriters generally earn around US$30,000 to US$100,000 per project. Clients are willing to give high prices because they know that writing a book doesn’t come easy. It requires skill, expertise, and an extensive amount of time, given the length of a book. More experienced freelancers may even charge additional hourly fees if the project extends.
6. Email marketing
Email marketing continues to be one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and convert them into customers. In this niche, you will need to come up with copy for sales funnels and launch campaigns. As such, success relies heavily on copywriting formulas.
If you have a background in marketing or advertising, this is one niche that might come more naturally to you. The type of content you will be working on is often found in newsletters, landing pages, and announcements. In this space, it’s normal to see writers earn around US$58,000 annually.
Stella Estee Samantha
7. Finance
Finance has always been a relatively high-paying niche. This is partly thanks to clients naturally being banks and other well-funded financial institutions. They can afford to spend more money on high-quality content. Because finance can be a stale topic, modern clients like to invest in writers who can punch it up and make stories more interesting and digestible. But this still requires a solid understanding of the technical aspects of finance, along with a knack for coming up with novel content. Not everyone can do it.
In the same vein, cryptocurrency is another decently paid niche, especially for those who understand it well and are comfortable with technical writing. As crypto is an up-and-coming area, many audiences require a writer who can boil a topic down and make it understandable for everyone. If you’re able to do so successfully, this can make you a highly sought-after writer. It also means that you can expect to earn around US$52,000 a year.
8. Sports
If you enjoy sports, you can definitely carve out a name for yourself. The type of content can vary widely. Topics can vary from news on individual games, college sports, major league sports, and equipment reviews. Because not many writers focus solely on sports, the niche presents an opportunity to make money, especially for those with an in-depth understanding of (or even personal experience with) a specific sport. The niche is also one of the more exciting ones, as there is always something new in the world of sports, be it a new star player, controversial trades, or an upcoming season. The pay will be somewhere in the ballpark of US$51,000 a year.
Jessica Tan
9. Tech
Technology is a niche that will never fall out of style. There is money to be made in this space, due to the sheer scope and depth that clients are looking for. For example, there is demand for technical writing in yearly reports geared toward businesses, alongside demand for articles on the rise of a region’s unicorns. The variety of topics is also not to be underestimated. You may find yourself writing about areas like B2B tech, blockchain, cybersecurity, venture capital news, new phone releases, gadgets, and so on. Expect to earn around US$64,000 a year for regular freelancing.
10. E-learning
Throughout the pandemic, it’s become clear that the demand for online courses has increased. Take a look at how many learning platforms and individual educators are trying to sell courses to the masses today. This is good news for you as a writer; not only is it a new niche and an opportunity to earn some cash, but there also seems to be no limit in terms of how long it will remain relevant. Fees for this niche range around $47,000 a year.
11. Travel
Ever wanted to make a living by checking out places off the beaten path? There’s good news. Travel writing is a thing. But while it sounds sexy, it also required true grit. It’s tough to get recognized as an authoritative travel writer. In the beginning, freelancers need to be able to foot their own travel costs, consistently put out elite content, understand how to pitch, and fully commit to their vision. For those who do make it work, it’s common to see them earning a wage of around US$52,000 a year.
12. Entertainment
This might just be the most fun you can have as a writer. As an entertainment writer, not only do you get to cover everything from star news to celebrity gossip (if you’re into that), but you also get to write reviews of concerts, TV shows, and even movies if you feel like it. There’s no shortage of audiences ing this niche, which means that you can expect to earn about US$47,000 a year for consistent freelancing.
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Enricko Lukman
