Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor3 Sep

From Burnout to 10k Followers: How Erin Schleiden Built The Academic Writing Coach

You've always assumed that niching down will scare clients away, but you're getting it wrong.

I know it's counterintuitive, but Erin Schleiden, PhD, is the perfect example of why narrowing your niche is the way to grow your audience and expand your client list.

After grad school, Erin picked one tiny slice of the dissertation--the literature review--and became the go-to editor for it. That's what got her from a business idea to more clients than she could take on.

In this episode, Erin, founder of The Academic Writing Coach, walks us through her journey, from burning out while teaching six classes in grad school, to freelancing on Upwork, to building a successful business--including 11,500 followers on Instagram.

She also explains why having an ultra-specific niche worked in her favor when she was scared it would backfire, and how a year of posting on Pinterest every single day contributed to her success.

Whether you've spent decades in academia or you're just finishing your PhD, it IS possible to use the skills you've developed to build the life you've always wanted.

In addition to editing, Erin offers a Lit Review Writing Bootcamp and a 14-Day Methodology Momentum Challenge. Get more info and join her email list at the links below.

Resources Mentioned:

The Academic Writing Coach: https://theacademicwritingcoach.com

Erin on Instagram: @theacademicwritingcoach

Want to end burnout and become an academic editor or coach? Go to AcadiaEditing.com/map

Timestamps

00:00 - Meet Erin Schleiden, the Academic Writing Coach

02:58 - Burnout from teaching six courses at once

04:48 - Freelancing on Upwork back in 2012

07:33 - Building a basic website beyond Upwork

09:50 - Niching into literature review editing

11:40 - Why niching down brings in more clients

13:57 - Pinterest SEO and posting daily for a year

16:14 - Officially launching The Academic Writing Coach

18:05 - Growing Instagram from 300 to 10,000 followers

21:17 - Using a VA for voice-of-customer research

24:02 - Inside her 1:1 coaching and editing packages

26:46 - Running the 30-day dissertation writing challenge

31:48 - Her teaching background as a business asset

34:06 - Where to find and work with Erin

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