High-Income Business Writing Podcast

#345: How to Be a Generalist AND Specialist at the Same Time

May 8, 2024

The podcast discusses the dilemma of being a generalist or specialist in business writing, highlighting the importance of defining a target market for better marketing strategies. It explains how to have variety in work while still focusing on a specific niche for success.

05:17

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Quick takeaways

Being a generalist does not limit variety; focus on specific clients for efficiency.

Define target market by common attributes, not just industry, for a successful freelance writing business.

Deep dives

Importance of Narrowing Your Focus

Many writers struggle with the idea of narrowing down their focus instead of being generalists. The key point made is that being more focused does not limit the variety of work you can get. By targeting specific clients, your marketing efforts become more effective and efficient. This approach allows you to accept opportunities that may not fit your target market but can still be valuable.

Target Market and Specialization in Business Writing

5min

I’ve heard this argument hundreds of times: “I don’t have a specific target market, Ed. I’m a generalist who works with all kinds of businesses. So I’m having a really hard time narrowing things down, and I’m not convinced I should.” When I ask them about their motivation for continuing to do things this way, I typically get a response along the lines of, “I want variety in my work. I don’t want to be writing for just one industry.” And that right there is the crux of the problem. Most people who view themselves as generalists use the “work and client variety” justification. I don’t blame them. I want variety too! But that’s a logical fallacy. There’s a way to have your cake and eat it, too. But you have to look at this challenge differently. In this week’s (short) podcast episode, I explain how to do that. And how to arrive at a well-defined target market that works for you AND keeps things open and flexible for unexpected opportunities.

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High-Income Business Writing Podcast

#345: How to Be a Generalist AND Specialist at the Same Time

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Importance of Narrowing Your Focus

Target Market Beyond Industry

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts