A blog can serve a lot of purposes.
It can give you an outlet for writing about something you have a passion for.
It can be a way to practice and refine your skills — both writing and digital marketing.
It can help people.
It can be a business in its own right, bringing in money through advertising and affiliate marketing.
But, did you know a blog can also help you build your client base?
Creating a Blog That Supports Your Writing Business
For a blog to help you build your client base, it needs to be focused on the same niche you write for. Which means, to use this strategy, you need to pick a niche both for your writing business and your blog.
Popular niches include:
- Health and Fitness: Diet, weight training, exercise.
- Beauty: Makeup, skincare, self-love.
- Construction: Architecture, buildings, homes.
- Finances: Budgeting, investing, saving.
- Fashion: Clothing, styling, fabrics.
- Car Repairs: Tires, battery, brakes.
There are plenty more where that came from. These are excellent options, because there is no shortage of businesses in these niches looking for writers, and… because each of these niches has the potential to attract a large readership.
When you have a reader-focused blog that aligns with the same focus of your writing business, it gives you a powerful insight into your clients’ audience, and it gives you another way to attract clients — as advertisers and affiliate marketers.
It Starts With Choosing a Niche
When choosing your niche, make sure it’s something you can write about consistently without getting bored or burnt out.
You can zero in on a niche that’s a good fit for you by going through the following steps:
- Observe your passions — Take the time to think about what you love to talk about, places you love to frequent, and activities you enjoy.
- List your skills — What are you good at? What do you have knowledge of? What do people come to you for advice about?
- Reflect on your experience — What did you study in school? Where have you worked, and what did you do in your jobs? What kind of volunteer work have you done?
Look for common threads — things that have crossover between your passions, skills, and experience. Those are likely going to be the niches that are the best fit for you.
Once you’ve identified your niche, the next step is to think about how you’ll serve the people within it — both as a freelance writer and a blogger.
To get a handle on that, work through these steps:
- Identify problems your target market has — and possible solutions. Getting to the root cause of their pain — and offering relief either through the information on your blog or through your writing services — will allow you to help them get to where they want to be.
- Research the market — This is where you see who’s in your market and how to set yourself apart. Offering something different in your market gives people a reason to notice you… and promises solutions they may not have considered or tried.
- Describe your ideal client — Write down a list of traits and characteristics of the person you want to work with as a freelance writer. You want to create an avatar of your best client. And then do the same for the person you most want to be reading your blog — ideally it will be the same type of person your ideal client wants to reach.
Digging Deeper Into Your Ideal Client
Being around people who uplift you can make you feel more vibrant and energized. Being around people who put you down can be a very draining experience.
It’s important to choose wisely who you want to work with.
This starts with creating a detailed description of the people you want to work with and connect with.
For your writing business, consider who you most want to work with on projects. For the blogging side of things, think about the reader you want to serve. In a perfect world this will be similar to the people your ideal client wants to reach.
When building a description of your ideal client, you want to be as specific as possible. It’s imperative to know them inside and out.
Here are three steps to help you get to know your ideal client better:
#1) Where do they love to go?
Write down some places they may frequent. Have fun with this and visualize places where you might encounter them — maybe at a farmer’s market, café, or library. Don’t forget to consider where they like to hang out online, too.
The answer to this question will help you know better where to connect with your ideal client.
#2) What do they love to do?
Jot down hobbies and activities that bring fulfillment to their lives. Think about what they like to read and watch, along with the conversations they like to have with friends.
Your notes here will help you write marketing messages, web pages, and articles that really resonate with your ideal client.
#3) Who are they trying to help?
Picture your ideal client at work. Who is it they want to help and how? What is their mission? What are their core values? How do they want to change their customers’ lives?
The answers to these questions will help you know better who you are writing to on your blog. Remember, you want your blog to reach the same people your client is trying to reach. That will give you instant authority in your client’s eyes, and help you attract more of the people you want to work with — all while helping a larger audience.
Why Having a Niche-Based Blog Benefits You, Your Clients, and Their Customers
When you focus on working in a niche you love and are passionate about, your excitement shines through in your writing. Your reader can sense that.
Having a niche makes it easier for your ideal client to find you and see that you’re knowledgeable of their industry.
You’re also more likely to be consistent with your blog posts and your marketing messages. This will bring more traffic your way and help you stay engaged with your audience.
When you go one step further and launch a niche-based blog that aligns with your writing niche, you help yourself, your clients, and their customers.
First, your blog helps you get to know the people your ideal clients strive to serve, because you’ve made it your mission to serve them, as well. When you have this intimate level of knowledge of your client’s audience, it makes you a much better writer for them.
Second, your blog shows off your knowledge of all aspects of your niche. The more knowledgeable you are, the more trust you build. When people trust you, it’s much more likely they’ll hire you when they have a need.
And third, being a freelance writer and a blogger in the same niche builds you up as an authority within that niche. You become well-known among your blog readers and your paying clients. That can lead to a snowball effect — bringing more and more work your way.
Consider launching a niche-based blog to complement your freelance-copywriting business. It’s a fun and rewarding way to set yourself up for success.
