Deciding to niche down in your freelance social media business is a great idea. But the big question is, what's next? How exactly can you make it work? Let's dive into the essential steps you should take.

The way we see it, there are 4 ways to niche down:

1. By sector or industry. For example, you might only help businesses in the financial sector.
2. By service or platform. For example, you might only work on Instagram or only offer ads.
3. By outcome or objective. For example, you might focus on growing someone's community or generating leads.
4. By doing all four – this is our preferred method! For example, you might help accountants to generate leads on Instagram.

But picking a niche is just the first step. There are a few more steps to make it benefit you.

1. Nail Your Messaging.

Clear and consistent messaging is crucial. Every word you put out there—from your website to social platforms—should speak directly to your niche so they know, without doubt, that YOU are the one they should be working with.

Guidance

• Revise your website's “About Me” and “Services” pages.
• Update your social media bios to echo your niche.
• Rethink your content strategy to align with your niche focus.
• Call out your audience in your content so there is no question as to who you help – you'll see us doing this on our Instagram.

2. Be a Real Human, Engage!

Authenticity wins. Skip the robotic sales pitch and start engaging naturally with folks in your niche to build relationships with people who could become future clients or introduce you to others who might.

Guidance

• Identify key players in your niche.
• Carve out 15-20 minutes a day to engage with them: like, share, comment (social media managers should not outsource this vital piece of the marketing strategy, by the way!)

3. Get Those Referrals 🤩

Word of mouth still rules. Referrals are like gold in this business, but they are only a great marketing strategy if you're asking for them.

Guidance

• Ask the RIGHT people for referrals to the RIGHT people.
• Use the ‘Say My Name Strategy', (available in The Inner Hub), to craft a friendly but professional email template you can use over and again.
• Directly reach out to previous clients who were happy with your services to update them on what's changed and see if they need your support.
• Use the ‘5-minute follow up' (available in The Inner Hub) to reconnect with old leads who fit your new niche.

4. Create Niche Content 📝

Content is king, and niche-specific content is the crown jewel. It can position you as an authority in your niche and ensure people remember you so they come back to you when they're ready to hire, and say your name when someone else needs help.

Guidance

• Create a niche-focused content calendar.
• Make any generic content niche relevant simply by adding the niche audience into the hook or caption.
• Mix it up: blogs, videos, infographics. Keep the content fresh and relevant.

5. Optimise for SEO

Good SEO ensures you're easily discoverable by people in your niche who are actively looking for what you offer.

Guidance

• Update your Google My Business listing with relevant keywords.
• Revise your website's meta descriptions and tags to include niche-specific keywords.
• Remember the importance of SEO on social media content

6. Build Relationships with agencies and other freelancers.

Agencies and freelancers who already service your niche can be a valuable source of steady work. Often, agencies struggle to hold on to great marketers and need help from freelancers, while other freelancers who are overwhelmed with clients might need help serving them. Building these relationships can benefit you both.

Guidance

• Compile a list of agencies in your niche.
• Use the “Superhero strategy”, (available in The Inner Hub), to introduce your services and the value you can bring to their clients.

7. Contribute to Niche Groups and Communities

Being active in online communities related to your niche not only builds your reputation but also gets you in front of potential clients.

Guidance

• Find 2-3 online groups where your niche audience hangs out.
• Update your Facebook group profile to speak to your niche audience.
• Be a regular contributor: share tips, answer questions, offer insights.
• Become the most helpful person in the community.

Wrap-Up

And there you have it—a no-nonsense guide for niching down your freelance social media business. Follow these steps, and you'll go from ‘just another freelancer’ to a recognised authority in your niche.