• Diversify or Niche? Or Are These Two Different Things?

    At About.com, I recently wrote a blog post that pushed reader/writers to “add one thing, make more money.” I based this advice on the roll out of my translation management service, which gave me almost immediate (financial) payoff. This financial payoff has allowed me to continue to write- to continue to work at About.com, to produce more trade magazine articles, and, basically, to keep my business here at my home, growing well, paying the bills, and working within my lifestyle. I even manage to get my articles in other languages, thanks to the people at Architekst and their translation services.

    But many, many writers advise against being a “generalist.” The basic argument there is: don’t write about everything, anything, because you will never then be known as the niche expert in a certain topic, and therefore won’t be able to command the highest rates. And I basically agree with that. There is a short list of topics about which I will write and edit.

    So, what’s my advice then? Diversify or niche?

    I think these are two different things. When I say “diversify,” I am telling you to put some variety in your DELIVERIES. If you are niche in, say, Latino issues, you can deliver into that niche in different ways. You can write magazine articles for magazines like Hispanic Executive, Latino Leaders and Adelante Forward, write grants for Latino-oriented non profits, edit Latino books like The Encyclopedia of Latino Culture, and write brochures for Latino-owned businesses. You are still niche, but your multitude of deliveries exposes that niche to more people, while still establishing your expertise. You can also use your knowledge of that niche to expand your services. If you function in (example again) Latino circles, you probably have some knowledge in providing, oh, I don’t know, say, Spanish translation services and management.

    GWP LLC is very diverse in delivery. I write, edit, teach and translate for publishers, magazines, companies, people, and organizations. Yet, I’m very niche in subject matter. While I perform all these functions (above), 98% of them are performed in the niche areas of Latino issues, K-6 education, business, and the freelance life. I write articles for Latino magazines. I edit for educational curriculum companies. I teach at the local community college on business and freelance topics, and I manage large translation projects for publishers (who, actually, happen to be education-oriented publishers, anyway).

    So, my advice, fellow writers? Diversify your niche.

2 Responsesso far.

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    • beth schaeffler says:

      Took your “Writing for Magazines” class and had an idea for an article. I can’t begin a new career right now, but planning on retiring form present job early and hope to supplement my income with writing. I thought I could pass the idea to you because it might fit your “niche.”
      A friend’s husband was elected 2010 president of the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors- the first hispanic to hold the position! Can pass more information to you, but was not sure how to contact you