Why you should choose a niche for your copyediting and proofreading freelance business

Freelance copyediting can be a rewarding career, offering flexibility, autonomy and the chance to work on a range of interesting projects. It can be tempting – especially as a new freelance copyeditor – to accept work from any industry or area. However, I’m here to argue that while this may be a sensible approach initially while you find your feet, you should eventually choose a niche. By identifying and focusing on a specific area of expertise, you will stand out as a specialist in a competitive market (making you more attractive to your ideal clients than a generalist copyeditor). You will also be able to do the type of work you really enjoy, and focus your marketing efforts in a more direct way.

If you’re a new freelance copyeditor, you may want to first spend some time taking on work from different types of clients and industries to find what it is you really enjoy working on. This was certainly my own approach. I came to freelancing later in my career, after having been employed as a copyeditor and proofreader in various industries including technology, human rights and marketing. I had also freelanced for publishers on books ranging from religion to art history. Then, when I was in my thirties, I did a degree with the Open University in human biology. At first, studying was purely for my own interest, but then when I was then offered a job in the medical-editing industry, I discovered that this was the work I really enjoyed. So when I revisited freelancing in 2018, I decided to set my niche as a specialist medical copyeditor.

Here’s how to find your own niche as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader.

What is a niche?

A niche is a specialised segment of the market for your services. It involves focusing on a particular subject area, industry or type of content that you excel in or are passionate about. This specialisation can differentiate you from generalist copyeditors and make you the go-to expert in that field.

But what if you're not sure what your niche should be?

Start by evaluating your skills, experience and interests. Consider the following questions:

• What are your strengths? Identify the areas where you have strong skills or substantial experience. This could be technical writing, academic papers, marketing, fiction or another area.

• What do you enjoy? What are your hobbies? Think about the types of projects you enjoy working on the most. Your passion for a particular subject can make your work more fulfilling and your expertise more compelling to clients.

• What feedback have you received? Reflect on past projects and client feedback. Are there recurring themes in the types of projects where you’ve excelled or received positive feedback?

• What did you study at school or university? Where there any subjects you particularly enjoyed or were good at?

Research the market

Once you have a sense of your strengths and interests, research the market to identify potential niches. Look for gaps in the market where there is demand but limited supply. This could be a specific industry or area, or a type of content – or both. For example, the area I chose was medical proofreading and copyediting. Then, once I gained more experience, I specialised further on the type of content I worked on (medico-legal reports, medical communications, medical news and public health). There are lots of other types of medical editing out there, but these four areas are what I am strongest in and what I really enjoy. (Conversely, areas I don’t have experience in or don’t enjoy as much are clinical research, medical affairs and regulatory medical editing, so I leave those to other specialist editors.) Once I'd nailed my area and type of content, I renamed the my job title from 'medical copyeditor and proofreader' to a simpler 'medical editor'. This was based on feedback from my typical client: they didn't know the difference between copyediting and proofreading, and indeed what they needed from me was a almost a hybrid of the two.

Evaluate other specialist copyeditors

Identify other freelance proofreaders and copyeditors working in potential niches and evaluate their services, pricing and marketing strategies. Look for areas where you can offer something different or better. This could be a unique combination of skills, a more specialised service or a different approach to client communication.

Test your niche

Before fully committing to a niche, test it out. Start by taking on a few projects in that area to see if it’s a good fit for you. This will help you gauge your interest, skill level and the market demand. Use these initial projects to build a portfolio that showcases your expertise in your chosen niche.

Develop your brand

Once you’ve identified and tested your niche, it’s time to develop your brand. Your brand should clearly communicate your niche and value proposition to potential clients. This can include:

• Website and experience: Create a website that highlights your niche and outlines your experience. Do consider including professional photographs on your website: I’ve found that my clients appreciate seeing a real person behind the words on my website and were more likely to trust me.

• Social-media presence: Use social media to share your expertise, connect with potential clients and engage with your industry.

• Networking: Consider joining industry groups, attend conferences and participate in online forums to build relationships and increase your visibility in your niche.

Market your services

Effective marketing is crucial to attracting clients in your niche. Consider the following strategies:

• Content marketing: Write blog posts and articles that showcase your expertise and provide value to potential clients. You can also consider writing blog posts aimed at other freelancers once you have experience in your chosen field. Although this might seem counterintuitive – as officially they’re your ‘competition’ – the freelance copyediting industry is a close-knit and supportive one, and other freelancers appreciate you passing on your knowledge. As well, those freelancers may pass on a potential new client to you in the future if they’re too busy to take them on themselves or if it’s not their own area of expertise.

• SEO: Optimise your website and content for search engines to attract clients searching for your specific services.

• LinkedIn: Connect with professionals in your chosen specialist area and post interesting and relevant content to your own LinkedIn page.

• Referrals: Encourage satisfied clients to refer you to others in their network.

• Testimonials: Ask your clients to give you a testimonial that you can used on your website and on platforms such as LinkedIn.

Continuously improve and adapt

The freelance market is dynamic, and it’s essential to keep improving your skills and adapting to changes. Stay up to date with industry trends, take courses to enhance your skills and seek feedback from clients to improve your services. Be open to pivoting your niche if you find a better fit or if market demands change.

Final words

Finding your niche as a freelance copyeditor is a journey that requires self-assessment, market research and strategic planning. By focusing on a specific area where you excel and enjoy working, you can differentiate yourself in a competitive market, attract your ideal clients and build a successful freelance business. Remember, your niche can evolve over time, so stay flexible and open to new opportunities as you grow your career.

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A note on terminology: The terms medical copyeditor, medical proofreader and medical editor are often confused and used interchangeably. To add to the confusion, there are yet other terms used for different niches such as plain-English editor, medico-legal copyeditor or editorial assistant (the latter is commonly used in medical communications). I personally use medical editor to describe my role, and medical editing to describe both medical copyediting and medical proofreading, as this suggests a hybrid approach as per my own clients' preferences ... plus, it's simpler! See here for more detail on the traditional differences between proofreading and copyediting.

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To learn more about me and my background, please take a closer look here.