Writing Niches: Choosing a Lucrative Niche as a Newbie Writer

Published: July 18, 2025
Updated: 1 day ago

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Writing Niches: Starting as a content writer feels like walking into a buffet; where you’re excited about trying everything. But just like piling too much food on your plate, writing about everything that excites you only leaves you overwhelmed and stuck. I know because I’ve been there.

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The hard truth is that writing what excites you isn’t always what people want to read or what gets you paid. That’s why so many newbie writers struggle to gain traction. However, people’s reading habits are more predictable than you think, and there’s a proven way to tap into that.

But what exactly is a niche, and how do you find yours? Let’s break it down.

What Exactly Is a Writing Niche?

What comes to your mind when you think of a baker? Or a tailor? Well, you obviously know that one bakes while the other sews clothes.

But then, what about a doctor? Several thoughts could come to your head about this one. I could probably be referring to a brain surgeon, a paediatrician, or maybe even just someone with a doctorate in philosophy.

How does this relate to a writing niche? You see, writing, like other professions, is a vast field where many people are playing, and it’s easy to get lost without proper focus.

You want people to think of something when they think of you, rather than just have the idea of a generic writer. That’s where having a writing niche helps. Your writing niche makes you stand out in the writer’s crowd.

The beauty of a writing niche, though, is that it is not set in stone. You can start with a particular niche, experiment with it for a while, and then pivot where necessary. It’s all up to you and what your audience is interested in.

Why Do You Need a Niche as a Newbie Writer?

If you’re still wondering why you need a writing niche as a newbie writer, then think of this:

When I first started as a content writer, I thought to myself, I love to write, so why not just write about everything? And so I started to write.

I tried everything from fashion to travel, food, health, lifestyle, and even tech. Yet, in over six months, I had no results. Frustrated, I started to question my life’s choices about whether content writing was for me, at least not until I found a niche. The ‘take-home’ of this little story is to find a niche.

Finding a niche will help:

Position yourself as an expert and go-to person for that particular subject.
Reduce your workload because, trust me, writing about health in the morning and tech by noon is exhausting.
Find clients who will value you and pay you more because they are assured that you know their lingo.

How to Choose a Lucrative Niche as a Newbie Writer

Now let’s get to the main gist of this story: selecting the right niche as a newbie writer.

Finding a writing niche doesn’t have to be rocket science, nor is it like a marriage where you are bound for life.

There are endless opportunities to explore and keep trying out different niches until you find your IT.

This guide will limit your trial-and-error stage and help you choose a writing niche that aligns with your interests and pays you in the long run:

1. Start With Your Interests

As a beginner, sticking with a niche is easier if it excites you. Maybe not where the money is right away, but then, let’s start somewhere and then move from there.

Plus, doing what you are passionate about won’t always feel like work, at least not all the time.

Begin by making a list of topics you enjoy. Are you into fashion, food, or finance?

You can take a few seconds to think about this and write down everything that comes to mind immediately so you don’t forget.

Pro tip: Don’t confuse hobbies with niches. Just because you love watching Netflix movies doesn’t mean “TV show reviews” is your calling. Unless you’re a natural at witty commentary, then, by all means, review away! But regardless, you can still try.

2. Research, Research, Research

Before you jump in, find out if people actually care about your potential niche.

Remember that the entire essence of writing niches is to make you stand out, but how do you stand out when nobody cares about what you write?

So don’t get tired of ‘finding out.’.

Use tools like Google Trends, Ubersuggest, or even plain old Twitter (X) to find out what people are searching online. This is usually an effective way to know their interests.

While doing your research, ask yourself:

Is there an audience for this niche?
What is the volume of interest from people for this niche? Essentially, how many people care and read about the topics in the niche?
Are businesses in this niche hiring writers?
What’s the competition like?
Can I see myself writing about this consistently?

Thoroughly research the interests that you wrote down earlier to know which among them will make a lucrative niche for you to begin with.

For example, in Nigeria, fintech is booming. Fintech startups like Sycamore and Cowrywise, and more established Fintech companies like MoniePoint and Paystack frequently need content writers to explain their services to local and international audiences.

So if you are interested in tech, that’s a niche for you.

3. Balance your Passion with Profit

Now that you’ve figured out which of your interests people care about, you can balance your passion with making profits.

If you’re a natural storyteller, then niches like lifestyle blogging or copywriting might be perfect for you. If you’re more analytical, then technical writing or finance content will be a better fit for you.

Whatever you decide on, ensure it’s something you can profit from. Your previous research will guide your selection process.

Quick Tip: Health, tech, and finance niches are evergreen areas where clients often need content. For example, in Nigeria, the demand for health-related content such as mental health awareness is rising, which could be a good place to start.

4. Evaluate Profit Potential

Here’s the unglamorous but necessary part: check the profit potential.

Some niches that your interests fall in might be lower-paying than others, but what can help is choosing a niche that has profit potential.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet of profitable niches:

Technology: AI, software as a service (SaaS), and emerging tech companies are profitable industries for writers.
Health and Wellness: You can write on mental health, fitness, and nutrition.
Finance: You can write about investments and personal finance hacks.
Digital Marketing: This includes SEO, content strategy, digital advertising and social media trends.
Education: E-learning and online course creation are booming, so why not explore them if they align with your interests?

5. Test the Waters

Try writing a few sample pieces before you finally commit to a niche.

Share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn to see people’s reactions.

The more responses, the better. Monitor their responses and adjust accordingly where necessary.

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Lucrative Niche as a Newbie Writer

It’s easy to end up making avoidable mistakes during your search for the right and profitable niche.

But rather than wait to let experience be your teacher, don’t you think it’ll save you a lot of time and effort (let’s not even talk about resources) to learn from others?

On that note, here are some mistakes to watch out for:

1. Chasing Trends Blindly

A simple but effective formula is sticking to what you know and can confidently write about. Sure, AI is hot right now, but if you can’t write about it confidently, then it’s a no-go.

You can only decide to follow trends that you’re not familiar with if it’s something that you’re willing to learn.

2. Being Too General

Ever heard the catchphrase “jack of all trades”? Well, there’s a continuation to that; “jack of all trades, master of none.”

As much as you can, avoid being a “jack of all trades.” Clients want specialists, not someone who writes about quantum physics one day and cupcake recipes the next.

3. Ignoring SEO

SEO knowledge is in demand among businesses expanding their online presence.

How to Stand Out in Your Chosen Niche

At this point, you should have a desired niche in mind already, and that’s a start, a great one. But it’s one thing to choose a niche and another to stand out.

Here’s how you can stand out in your chosen niche:

1. Create a Portfolio

Your portfolio is a compilation of your best works.

The last thing you want is to have a potential client ask you to send your portfolio to them, and you’re left wondering what to send or how to quickly compile your works! (I’ve been there, and the feeling is nothing close to being nice.)

So simply start writing and then gather your write-ups in a document, which you can attach to your social media for people to easily access.

Another common hindrance to building a portfolio is the desire to have a portfolio that makes people’s jaws drop to the ground.

You might feel that you haven’t written your best piece yet or that you don’t have the perfect design skills to create an impressive portfolio.

But you don’t need to be a designer to build your portfolio. You can probably contract a proper web designer to help you build a portfolio that stands out and looks cool later on in your career, but starting out, you don’t need that.

Just put your work in a document, make it accessible, and you’re good to go!