[<a href="http://storify.com/FreelancingFool/specializing" target="_blank">View the story "Build a Big Freelance Career on Small Topic" on Storify</a>]<br /> <h1>Build a Big Freelance Career on Small Topic</h1> <h2>What you missed at the Freelance Writers Meetup – 6/19/2012</h2> <p>Storified by Contently Freelance &middot; Wed, Jun 20 2012 11:40:10</p> <div>Mary Jo Foley, a blogger for ZDNet&nbsp;and author of&nbsp;<em>Microsoft 2.0,</em>&nbsp;is as skilled and able a reporter as I know and could pick up any topic or beat in a matter of days, but her decision to focus on Microsoft for more than a decade&nbsp;made her one of the world’s foremost experts on one of the most important organizations of the 21st century.She share her experiences and the recipe for a successful freelance career last night at the&nbsp;&nbsp;the Freelance Writers Meetup.</div> <div>RT @ericaswallow: At the #FWMeetup where @MaryJoFoley, the foremost @Microsoft blogger, is speaking on beat specialization. [pic]: http://4sq.com/NOLwzNKanikaChadda</div> <div>@maryjofoley is emphatically NOT an internet predator. @contently #fwmeetup http://pic.twitter.com/nITWD7jXsam slaughter</div> <div>Context: A tipster sending information to Mary Jo via AOL Instant Messenger&nbsp;turned out to be a 13-year-old w/ a bed time.</div> <div>“When choosing a niche beat, ask: &quot;Can I make a living from this and will I want to do it for 10-15 years?&quot; – @MaryJoFoley #FWMeetup”YORK SURF</div> <div>I’m behind branding but still skeptical about hyper-specializing in this poor market. Plenty of editors hv warned me against it. #fwmeetupMollie Bloudoff-Inde</div> <div>RT @shanesnow: Great quote: freelance writers, &quot;Your reputation is only as good as your last unique&quot; story -Mary Jo Foley at #fwmeetupReb Carlson</div> <div>Approve of today’s #fwmeetup with @maryjofoley. Now to really figure out what my beat is. So much out there to write about.Steph Leke</div> <div>had a great time at the first #fwmeetup with @maryjofoley &quot;learn to adapt or die, then drink craft beer&quot;Reb Carlson</div>
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