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The WP Minute brings you news about WordPress in under 5 minutes -- every week! Follow The WP Minute for the WordPress headlines before you get lost in the headlines. Hosted by Matt Medeiros, host of The Matt Report podcast.
Finding your niche as
a WordPress freelancer.
You can use WordPress to
build all kinds of websites.
There are no hard limits when it
comes to looks or functionality.
That freedom is powerful.
You can build sites that
handle e commerce, memberships,
and large databases.
You can tie in with third party
APIs and create headless front ends.
However, such power may be
overwhelming to freelancers.
Each type of site has its intricacies.
Learning them can be difficult.
And some are more profitable and
relevant to your business than others.
That's a good reason to find a niche.
Developing preferences for site
type, client type, and price
range is helps narrow your focus.
From there, you can find
projects that fit you best.
The result is a leaner, more
efficient freelance business.
In addition, you'll become
an expert in your field.
How does it work?
And how do you find your niche?
We've got some tips for discovering and
doing what you like best with WordPress.
Be open to different types of projects.
If you're new to freelancing or
don't have a niche yet, Determining
your path is part of the fun.
You might as well treat
it as an adventure.
Keep an open mind as you
look for new projects.
Pay particular attention to the types
of sites you haven't built before.
The same goes for plugins and
clients in different industries.
Don't be afraid to
consider the unfamiliar.
Perhaps that sounds counterintuitive.
How can you develop a niche and
be open minded at the same time?
It's all about gaining experience.
If you've only built brochure
style sites, How will you know
if e commerce is a good fit?
You'll only learn by rolling
up your sleeves and trying.
The trick is to find projects
that won't overwhelm you.
For example, a site that sells
a single product could be the
perfect match for a beginner.
Avoid sites that require
a heavy dose of expertise.
The more projects you'd complete,
the more data you'll gather.
Use it to understand your pros,
cons, likes, and dislikes.
Look for opportunities that
match your preferences.
For this section, we'll assume
you have some experience building
different kinds of websites, and
perhaps you've found a potential niche.
The next step is to look at the market and
identify opportunities to make it work.
Dedicating yourself to a niche is
great, but it must be sustainable.
Otherwise, you'll be stuck working on
projects that don't match your preference.
They might also get in the way
of booking ideal gigs later on.
Let's look at a few examples.
Medical related websites.
In this scenario, we're focusing
on a specific industry, the medical
field, which is large and has
a variety of potential niches.
That includes doctor's offices, suppliers,
non profit organizations, and more.
It might make sense to pick one or
two of these sub genres to start.
But which ones?
Here are some things to consider.
Geography.
Are there potential clients in your area?
Or are you willing to work
with anyone, anywhere?
Connections.
Networking is always a handy
skill, but it's vital when you're
working within an industry.
The right connections can help you
find clients and expand your business.
Features.
Are there features that are
common to medical websites?
Do you have a reliable and
efficient way to provide them?
Budget.
Research the costs associated with
building websites in the industry.
Finding specifics may be difficult.
However, the goal is to determine how much
you'll need to charge to be profitable,
and how much clients are willing to spend.
Competition.
Can you identify other freelancers
or agencies in this niche?
Are they doing great work or not?
A lot of competition may make
it harder to book new clients.
However, it might also be an opportunity
to one up those providing poor service.
The above factors will help you determine
whether the niche fits and give you ideas
for standing out in the marketplace.
Membership websites
and online communities.
Next, we'll focus on a
particular type of website.
This niche is all about building online
communities designed to serve members.
The need for membership sites spans across
industries and non profit organizations.
The factors in our first
example still apply.
However, some considerations
revolve around technology.
Plugins.
What plugins will you use for
building membership websites?
Will you buy into an ecosystem,
like WooCommerce and its extensions?
Does it make sense to choose different
plugins based on project needs?
This is useful for determining
your tech stack and calculating
software license fees.
Third party services.
What services will you
integrate into client websites?
Think of payment gateways, mailing
list services, customer relationship
management apps, and web hosting.
There is also a chance to
focus on specific tools.
Note any fees associated with
these services as it will help you
provide accurate project estimates.
Organizational side . Membership sites
can have a few members or millions.
Do you want to work with
smaller organizations, big ones,
or somewhere in the middle?
The technical side of a niche
is challenging and subject to
change, but having a solid plan
provides a great place to start.
To expand your niche or not.
There are a few reasons why you
might want to expand your niche.
Sometimes they're too narrow and
don't generate enough revenue.
In addition, the skills you've acquired
in one area might also apply to others.
It's an opportunity for
growth in either case.
The first is more about need, while
the second is a chance to evolve.
Once again, it's worth keeping an
open mind when considering expansion.
Look at related areas that could benefit
your business and boost your bottom line.
There is some risk involved,
and it's okay to be choosy.
Before jumping in, ask
yourself a few key questions.
How will my current skills apply?
Working with different industries or site
types could mean learning new skills.
Think about the potential
impact on your time and revenue.
Can I use the same themes and plugins?
The ability to repurpose themes and
plugins makes it easier to expand.
Significant changes here can
still be worthwhile, but beware
of the required cost and effort.
What are the most impactful differences?
Even related industries and site
types can have stark differences.
That could be anything from legal
requirements to client budgets.
It's good to discover
these things ahead of time.
How will this change
impact my current clients?
Consider what an expansion means
to your existing portfolio.
Will you have less time to work with them?
Will costs go up?
Ideally, there should be a link between
your current niche and the new one.
The more similarities, the
easier the transition will be.
It also bodes well for future success.
There are also scenarios when
thinking outside the box makes sense.
Just be sure to consider the
consequences before committing.
A niche can transform
your freelance business.
There are so many benefits to
developing a niche for your
WordPress freelance business.
It helps you find a target audience.
No more marketing to the masses.
It also brings clarity and
focus to your workflow.
You also have a chance to learn
about an industry or site type.
Your knowledge will level
up as you gain experience.
Eventually, you'll understand a client's
needs like the back of your hand.
You'll also be able to find the
best solutions for your clients.
Pick the right niche and your business
will become a well oiled machine.
Your expertise will help
you manage existing clients
while also booking new ones.
A niche may be just the thing to get
you moving in the right direction.