How do you become so busy that you're turning away work? You specialize.
This excerpt from our copywriting course, "Writing Words that Sell: Freelance Copywriting" tells you how to decide on a specialty.
As a copywriter, you can specialise in any field that you know
something about --- or in any field that you want to learn about,
just because the field interests you. Or in any field that's
"hot". When technology was hot, if you knew anything about
computers and software you could rest on your laurels, because
there was no end of work available.
If you'd like to specialize, but aren't sure where to start, make
a list of everything you know something about. Once you start
making a list of everything you've done and learned about in your
life, you'll be amazed. It's good to do this kind of list-making
periodically, especially if you're feeling as if you're in a rut.
Take it chronologically. Start with your teenage years. What were
your hobbies in high school? What part-time work did you do in
high school and college? What was your first job? Your next job?
If you've had children, add "parenting" to your list. If you've
had a health challenge, add "health" to your list.
Long before you get to the end of the page, something will jump
out at you. How would you feel about that as a specialty?
Let's say that you've chosen "Food" as a specialty. You're a keen
restaurant-goer, have been on a foodie's tour of France, and are
a mean cook in your own right. You like food, and think it would
be fun to write about it.
Or maybe you've just bought a new house, and you did a lot of
research and found that you like reading housing industry
material. The real estate market always needs copywriters, and if
you find the field congenial, you might have found a new niche.
