In this short compilation episode, Steve revisits conversations from across 11 years of the Being Freelance podcast archive to explore what actually happens when freelancers specialise in a niche. Full of stories of how these freelance creatives found their niche and the impact it had.

You’ll hear:

THE IMPACT OF NICHING
How specialising can make marketing simpler and sales conversations easier

Why expertise can lead to higher-value opportunities

HOW TO FIND YOUR NICHE
How to choose a niche based on experience, enjoyment or values

Why your niche doesn’t have to be permanent

Featuring insights and stories from James Barnard, Liz Painter, Katie Chappell, Ayo Abbas, Louise Shanahan, Eman Ismail, Estelle Hakner, Ebonie Allard, Hannah Dossary and Stephen Adams.

Whether you’re just starting out or rethinking your positioning years into freelancing, this episode might help you scratch that niche itch.

FULL EPISODES for each guest
James Barnard
Liz Painter
Katie Chappell
Ayo Abbas
Louise Shanahan
Eman Ismail
Estelle Hanker
Ebonie Allard
Hannah Dossary
Stephen Adams
Paul Jarvis Q&A

Hosted by freelance podcast editor and video podcast editor Steve Folland.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

For years, Mark Grainger’s freelance business ticked along nicely.

Referrals. Word of mouth. Repeat clients.

And then… things went quiet.

In this episode, we explore what happens when the reliable stream of freelance work slows down. And what it really takes to respond proactively rather than panic.

Durham-based freelance brand copywriter Mark shares how he:

- Repositioned himself from a company name back to his personal brand

- Niched by service rather than industry

- Started experimenting with LinkedIn outreach

- Refocused on building more durable business foundations

- Leaned into community rather than retreating

Mark is refreshingly honest about the uncomfortable parts of freelancing, especially business development.

“I have a business, but I’m not a businessman.”

We also talk about lifestyle businesses, pricing flexibility, work-life balance, and why it’s vital to acknowledge the harder seasons of self-employment rather than pretending everything’s fine.

If freelancing has felt quieter lately…
If you’ve relied on referrals and now need a Plan B…
Or if you’ve ever felt uncomfortable selling yourself…

This conversation will reassure you - and might just nudge you to get proactive too.

Go say Hi to Mark on LinkedIn!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

This is the first time I've done this as an episode.

A quick behind the scenes of what I'm up to with my own freelancer business - as a freelance video and podcast editor.

If you'd like to go even more behind the scenes, check out my freelancing life vlog on YouTube.

If I'm going to pay for an advert for my services, there's something I need to do first...

And you can do this too.

It's not about a major overhaul of your website.
Instead sit with a fresh cuppa and fresh eyes and see as if you're someone discovering you for the first time.

If someone clicks through on LInkedIn to your profile, what will they find?
Mine is linkedin.com/in/stevefolland

Likewise to your website.
Mine is stevefolland.com

Look at your LinkedIn profile.
Is it up to date for the work you're doing today? Do the links they click out function properly?

Look at your website.
Are the services you want to be known for the most obvious?
Does your contact form work?
Is your blog active or making it look like you've gone out of business?

If you're going to shout about yourself so that people pay attention, make sure what they find is true to you today.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland