13 Content Writing Domain Specializations or Niches to Write For

Content writing is a rewarding field to work in. You can be a generalist, but writing in a niche has many advantages:

• You can hone your skills and become an expert in one area
• Focusing on a domain specialisation lets you focus on creating quality content that is tailored to a specific audience or industry
• It can help you build relationships with key people within that target market
• You’ll get a reputation and become a thought leader in your domain

Not to mention, when you become knowledgeable in a certain area, it becomes easier to write about it. You stand to make more money with less effort if you can position yourself in a niche industry.

But it’s hard to know which content writing domain specialisation to write for.

Not to worry – I’ll help you figure out which niche is right for you.

In this post, you’ll learn about the top content writing domain specializations, and you’ll get tips on figuring out if it’s right for you. Let’s go!

13 Content Writing Domain Specializations You Should Know

What do I mean by ‘domain specialization’ in content writing anyway?

A domain is an area of knowledge – it’s specific and limited in scope.

So, a domain specialization simply means being an expert in a certain body of knowledge.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely a content writer or learning how to become one. And if you like, you can specialize by writing about finance, travel, or something else.

The following list of writing specializations should help you figure out which one is right for you!

1. Marketing Writing

This is the most popular niche for copywriters. You’ll be creating online content like:

• Blog posts, including long-form content
• Website content
• Landing pages
• Sales letters
• eBooks
• White papers and 
• Social media content

The goal is to help companies promote their products and services.

Marketing writing focuses on understanding the psychology of consumers, how to craft persuasive messages, and SEO best practices.

Here, your content writing services aim to drive high-quality traffic and build a brand’s reputation.

Another interpretation of being a marketing writer refers to creating content marketing material. That is, you share informative tips on the topic of marketing. You’ll produce content for a brand that offers marketing products and services or for a marketing-focused publication.

What a marketing writer earns:

• Salary.com: The average is $75,839
• Glassdoor: The average is $58,213
• Zippia: An average of $60,693. 

2. Technical Writing

Technical content writing refers to content that explains complex concepts or procedures in a clear and concise way.

If you’ve ever searched for ‘how to recover my account’ or ‘what to do if I forgot my password’, then the top results you found are likely examples of this type of writing.

Technical writers need to have a solid understanding of their subject matter, as well as strong research skills.

It’s ideal if you have at least a bachelor’s degree in a subject like IT, engineering, or some other field. And while this isn’t necessary, it does make you a more authoritative writer.

This specialization is also great for people in highly technical fields who want to switch careers. You’ll need to know a few best practices on technical writing. And you also need to know how to use technical writing tools. For example, you may need to know how to use DITA. Or you may have to use AI writing tools and be good at prompt engineering and using the right tones of voice.

Different businesses and industries will have their own set of requirements for a technical writer’s skill set. So, do your research to learn how best to build your skills in this area.

It’s also worth knowing the salary of a technical content writer:

• The US national average salary is: $71,675 (Glassdoor)
• The average hourly salary is: $36.10 (Indeed)

Compare it to the salary of a general content writer:

• The US national average salary is: $52,645 (Glassdoor)
• The average hourly salary is:  $19.40 (Indeed)

There’s a steep difference, indeed!

It may be harder and take more time to establish yourself in this arena, but the compensation is well worth it.

3. Academic Content Writing

What is academic content writing?

It’s written content for educational and research purposes.

This type of content includes academic papers, articles, dissertations, textbooks, and more.

To become an academic content writer, you need to have a deep understanding of the subject you’re writing about and research it thoroughly before writing.

But you also need to know standard guidelines for writing academic content. And you’ll have to adapt to the writing styles of various journals, publications, and academic institutions. For example, you’ll need to:

• Use a formal tone of voice
• Use precise words and terminology
• Avoid slang, informal tones, and unnecessary phrases
• Structure your writing according to the institute’s standards
• Carry out literature review
• Support your statements with research
• Know how to cite from different sources
• Use the appropriate citation style

And much more.

Academic writing is complex and takes time to master. Getting into this domain specialization is best if you like to pay meticulous attention to detail. And if you like to read a ton of research papers.

This writing style is best for professors, researchers, and students who can learn and practice the academic style of writing. It also helps your reputation in this field if you are active in an educational or research institute.

What do academic content writers earn?

• Glassdoor: $47039 
• Comparably:  $57366 

According to the data, it doesn’t offer much higher compensation than general content creation. But it’s still an interesting and challenging field to enter if you have an academic and research-oriented mind.

It’s also a great alternative work-from-home career for anyone who has gone to college and wants to apply their research and academic writing skills.

4. Legal Writing

Legal writing is an in-depth specialization that requires you to be well-versed in legal terms, procedures, and cases.

You need to know how to read and interpret legal documents, analyze facts, and present them clearly.

You’ll also need to be familiar with the rules of legal citation as well as using different style manuals, such as the Bluebook. Bluebook is a guide for legal citations, which helps refer to other sources.

What do legal writers do? They:

• Do research on laws for local and national legal news
• Research past cases, legal precedents, and more
• Consult with lawyers, experts, witnesses, and other parties
• Create documents like wills, contracts, and so on
• Edit and proofread their work
• Write and explain complex legal terminology and situations into user-friendly content

What kind of content will you write as a legal writer? It depends on what kind of legal writing work you’re doing, to begin with, but here are some formats you’ll write in:

• Blog posts, articles, news pieces, emails, etc. for informational or marketing reasons
• Feature articles for online publications and traditional print media
• Business documentation
• Briefs
• Policies
• Contracts

And more.

It’s clear that you have to have experience and education in the law to do this job. Not to mention, your knowledge and expertise will be affected by where you work and the region you get your knowledge from.

So, what is the annual average salary that legal writers earn?

• Glassdoor: $57091 per year
• Comparably: $55,870 to $202,538 and a median of $154,167
• Salary.com: $54759 but typically between $44548 and $69249

There’s a good chance of making six figures with legal writing. If you’re in the legal field and want to change careers but still work in the same field then you can become a legal content writer.

5. Sports Content Writing

Love sports?

Then it’s possible to combine a passion for sports together with content writing.

Sports content writers offer their skills to cover events, create marketing pieces, conduct interviews, and write previews and reviews of games.

They also provide an analysis of tactics used by teams or individuals during these games.

Typically, a sports content writer creates updates, blog posts, and news content for media publications, sports apps, news agencies, or their own blog.

To do this job, you should have experience writing content and know how to convey action and emotion in the copy.

And, of course, it’s critical to keep yourself updated with sports news. This means watching the news, attending live sports events, being aware of behind-the-scenes developments, etc.

What do sports content writers earn?

• Indeed: $38,071 a year
• Comparably: $38,109
• Salary: $39,030 (Median), with the higher end averaging $49,920

You can also work as a freelancer and earn anywhere between $13 to $50 USD an hour.

6. Fashion & Lifestyle Content Writing

The fashion and lifestyle industry depends heavily on content to promote products and services.

This makes content writing for this sector a great option for anyone who loves fashion and trends but also has an eye for the written word.

Fashion content writers create stories, news pieces, blog posts, advertisements, and other forms of content on topics related to fashion, trends, and lifestyle.

To be successful in this role, you must have a good knowledge of the industry, including the top brands, trends, and influencers.

You should also understand the different writing styles used in this industry (blogging vs. print media). It’s also important to be aware of celebrity style and know how to create engaging content.

And that’s not all; while anyone can learn about lifestyle topics and the fashion industry, it helps to have a degree in bachelor’s or master’s degree in media communication. That is if you want to easily find employment with a fashion magazine, fashion news publication, or style blog.

What kind of salaries do fashion content writers make? There isn’t a lot of information about how much fashion writers make. Many such writers work on a freelance basis, although there are many job roles for fashion-focused writers.

• ZipRecruiter: $57,247
• Glassdoor: $38,768

7. Social media Writing

Social media writing needs a different set of skills than other forms of content writing. Social media writers are experts in crafting messages that engage and motivate people to take action.

They must understand how people interact on different platforms, what kind of language resonates with them, and how to write for a particular audience.

In general, people on social media respond well to casual writing.

They aren’t interested in overly structured content or promotional, self-serving material.

So, if you’re interested in writing social media posts and know how to create emotions, engage readers and make them act, you should consider becoming a social media writer.

However, you most likely will have to do more than just write content. You’ll also have to create visuals and graphics, video content, and other forms of media.

And lastly, you should be aware of SEO practices for social media as well as the latest trends in social media marketing.

What kind of salaries do social media writers make?

• ZipRecruiter: $50,292
• Glassdoor: $40,915
• Salary.com: $49,057 

8. Travel & Hospitality Content Writing

A travel writer is someone who crafts stories and articles about their own experiences traveling or visiting particular destinations.

Travel writers need to be able to write compelling content that will capture the attention of readers and have them book their own trips.

Travel and hospitality content writers must have a good knowledge of the destination or topic they are writing about, so they can provide accurate information to their readers.

They should also have an interest in the hospitality industry and be able to research topics such as airfare, hotel accommodations, and tourist attractions.

While this is a very attractive job, it’s not easy to become a travel writer.

Today, there’s a great deal of competition as many people create travel content for free online.

And there’s high competition with many experienced writers who get the most preference.

I suggest that you build your experience and create a good content portfolio to increase your chances of getting a job in this field.

What kind of salary does a travel writer make?

• Glassdoor: $52,731
• Salary.com (freelance writer): $46,862 to $70,069 

9. Video Game Content Writing

Video game writers play a key role in the gaming industry.

While it’s obvious that you need to love video games and have a great knowledge of the medium, it doesn’t hurt to know the basics of writing and storytelling.

A good video game writer should know how to develop characters, craft engaging stories, and create compelling dialogue.

To be good at this domain specialisation, you should consider learning screenwriting, as well as the basics of narrative design and game design. With storytelling and world-building skills, you can create a cohesive story that works in gaming.

What kind of salaries do video game writers make?

• Glassdoor: $51,162 
• Comparably: $60,250 (Median)

10. Health Writing

These are content writers who specialize in writing about health-related topics, which can also include wellness, nutrition, and fitness.

Health writers must have a good knowledge of medical terminology as well as the ability to research health topics accurately and in-depth.

They should also be able to take complex medical information and translate it into easy-to-understand language that the general public can digest.

While it’s technically possible for anyone to do health content writing, someone with a medical background or at least some knowledge of healthcare should create this content.

This is because search engines like Google have high standards for ranking medical content writing.

Search engines focus on experience, expertise, authority, and trust (EEAT) when it comes to ‘your money or your life’ writing.

To be an in-demand content writer in this field, you need to have a background in medicine. Or, at the very least, do extensive research to ensure you deliver accurate content.

What kind of salaries do health writers make?

• ZipRecruiter: $61,518 a year
• Talent: $95,973 per year 

11. Fitness writing

Fitness content writing is related to health content writing, but it isn’t as technical. Not to say that fitness topics don’t need expertise and experience!

Personal fitness writing requires creating content related to:

• Healthy eating
• Exercising
• Weight loss
• Weight gain
• Motivation

And more.

The fitness arena needs lifestyle content, well-researched medical information, and helpful advice.

Fitness writers should understand the basics of physical exercise, nutrition, and how various diets affect the body.

They also need to know how to communicate complex information in a way that readers can understand.

What kind of salaries do fitness writers make? There isn’t enough information. 

But a few sources say: 

• ZipRecruiter: $16 – $44 an hour
• Indeed: $18.89 per hour

12. Media and Entertainment Content Writing

This is another specialized area of content writing that requires both creative and technical skills.

Media and entertainment writers need to be able to write engaging content about a variety of topics, such as movies, TV shows, music, books, video games, and more.

They need to have strong research and investigative skills in order to uncover unique stories and insights.

Additionally, media writers should have a good understanding of the entertainment industry, popular trends, and current events to create relevant content that will draw in readers. This arena is a form of entertainment journalism, so a good writer needs to be able to write compelling stories.

What kind of salaries do media and entertainment writers make?

• Glassdoor: $44,368 

13. Banking and Personal Finance Content Writing

For this type of content writing, you’ll need to have a good understanding of banking and personal finance topics.

You should be able to write accurately about investments, banks, money management, mortgages, insurance, loans, retirement planning, and other related topics.

Or you can focus on one of these areas and do a deep dive into it in order to create content that resonates with consumers. For example, if you’re writing about personal finances, you can talk about credit cards and managing one’s credit scores.

You should also have a good understanding of the banking and finance industry, as well as the technical skills to research and write about complex topics.

This is an area where you have to have a lot of expertise and do research. And it’s vital to be accurate, ethical, and credible in your content writing.

What kind of salaries do banking and personal finance writers make?

• Glassdoor: $66,889
• Salary.com:  $70313 

Conclusion

Content writing is a broad field that covers a variety of specializations. As you can see, each area requires different skills and knowledge to be successful. 

To land a high-paying content writing job, it’s important to know what type of content you’re interested in and develop your skills accordingly. With the right education, experience, and research, you can become a highly sought-after content writer. Good luck!

FAQs

Which is the best field for content writing?

It depends on your interests and skill set. Some of the most popular fields for content writing include health, media and entertainment, banking and personal finance, and marketing.

But you should focus on what you know best or what you are most interested in.

Once you find your niche, it will be easier to hone your writing skills and become an expert in the field.

Whatever content writing career you pick, make sure you stick to it and build your personal brand. In time, your reputation will precede you, and you’ll be able to command higher salaries.

What kind of qualifications do content writers need?

Content writing is an open field, so there are no specific qualifications required for the job. However, having a college degree in English, journalism, communications, or a related field will work in your favor.

I, personally, have a degree in marketing, and it’s been useful for establishing myself as a marketing writer.

However, it is absolutely unnecessary to have a degree to succeed as a content writer. What is more important is having solid writing and research skills, knowledge of the industry you’re specializing in, and a good portfolio.

How to develop content writing skills to become a content writer?

Content writing skills can be developed through practice. Start by reading widely and taking notes on topics that you are interested in. Then, try your hand at writing blog posts or articles on those topics.

Another great way to develop writing skills is to take online courses and read books about the craft of writing.

Also, check out these blog posts to improve your writing skills:

• Write awesome headlines
• Learn how to create a blog post outline
• Learn content writing through these books
• Check out and use these content marketing tools
• Use these beginner-friendly content writing tips!