If I Could Niche Down, I Would Write!

Recently, I attended an online networking event, and when I was in a break out room with another business owner, she asked me, “Why so many services?” That gave me pause! As a new Virtual Assistant, I feel compelled to offer a wide range of services in order to find clients. I’m afraid if I niche down into my one or two passions, I won’t be able to find work. 

At least that’s what a VA agency told me a couple of months ago. They felt I was “too niched” and there just wasn’t work. 

See, I love writing. I want to work as a freelance writer: copywriter, email marketer, blogger, newsletter creator, storyteller. I fell in love with writing when I was a child, and though my writing wasn’t the best (I was 8!)I enjoyed expressing myself and my creativity on paper. 

Most of the writing I’ve done since high school has been research-focused, particularly research papers. I spent many years teaching others how to write and how to edit their papers. I’m a skilled editor and teacher. 

But I want more: I want to tell others’ stories. To help people make connections, learn, and grow. 

I know we have AI/ChatGPT, which has made writing easier, faster, and cheaper. I see a plethora of jobs related to teaching AI how to write and sound more human or for editing AI to make sure it’s correct. 

I feel like the human element is missing, though. That’s what writers do; we bring the human element. 

Storytelling is one way a small business owner can reach potential customers. People are hungry for human connections, and they want to know more about who they’re doing business with. For example, I write a newsletter for a local handyman, and I make sure that ⅓ of the document is about him. His clients love knowing what he’s done, seeing his pictures, and learning more about him beyond his services.

I think people enjoy learning more about others.

Researching is another of my loves. Mostly because it’s a way for me to know more; in the past year, I’ve learned about digitizing certain types of businesses, windows/doors/fencing/water heaters/furnaces, different ways chiropractors can treat soft tissue pain, and how to  help gluteal tendinopathy. 

I read other blogs and newsletters, find websites that help me better understand my subject, and peruse articles that help with my knowledge. I’m no expert on chiropractic care, for example, but I’ve learned so much about how chiropractors help their patients. 

The ability to shape  my sentences or organize my paragraphs, or find better words for expression that resonate with readers is another of my passions. Years of teaching sentence structure has helped me learn to vary my own sentences to keep readers interested. Knowing tone and word choice allows me to convey a clear message to others. 

Plus, a human writer writes from the heart. I know AI can simulate heartfelt emotions, but I pour myself into my work. I like to think that my passion for the subject is clear based on my word choice, sentence structure, and grammar. My contractor receives compliments on his newsletters, and the feedback we’ve received is that people enjoy reading them. 

Ultimately, that’s my goal. To produce content that interests others. 

AI might be faster and cheaper, but there’s something about the act of researching and writing that fills me. Small business owners should consider adding the human touch, the human experience to reach their clients on a personal level.

I’d love to focus on writing, but I also need an income, which is why A Writer’s Ink offers different services including branding, email management, content creation, and of course, anything to do with writing.