Do I Need an Organizing Specialty?
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Professional organizing services are needed by clients in many areas, including residential, home-based businesses, and corporate offices. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with serving clients in all of these areas, provided that you have the necessary skills to do so. In fact, in certain regions, you may find it necessary to offer a broad range of services in order to maintain a steady income.
On the other hand, new organizing products and techniques are being introduced all the time, and it can be quite challenging to stay on top of important developments throughout the organizing industry. For this reason, it can be beneficial to focus on one area. Not only does it require less time and effort, but it allows you to become an expert on your chosen subject.
Many organizers choose to specialize in home organizing services, but even within that realm, countless specializations are possible. Garages, children and families, and seniors are only three examples. Office organizers can specialize in medical offices, legal offices, non-profit associations, or any other niche. Specializing in an industry where you have previous work experience can really give you an edge. Becoming known as “the organizer who…” can do wonders for your business!
The other advantage of being a specialist is that you can charge a higher hourly rate for your services. If this makes you uncomfortable, it shouldn’t! Consider that with your expertise, you can probably complete the organizing job more quickly and efficiently than an organizer with no experience with that type of project. Does it make sense that you should earn less? No way!
To choose your organizing specialty, ask yourself these questions:
What type of project do I enjoy the most?
What type of clients do I like working with?
What am I really good at?
Of course, you’ll also need to consider the marketplace in your area, and whether there is a demand for the services you’ve selected, but I’m a firm believer in Marsha Sinetar’s philosophy, Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow.
If you need help exploring your options, Maria Gracia’s Ultimate Guide for Professional Organizers is a great resource that covers this and many other great ideas for starting and growing your business.
Do you have a specialty? Tell us about it in the Comments!
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All good points, Janet. In my experience, professional organizers tend to start working in the general fields that best match their prior backgrounds. Corporate singletons tend to gravitate towards business organizing, serial entrepreneurs towards home-based business organizing and busy moms (no matter what their professional background) often feel most suited helping busy, overwhelmed parents. Indeed, it’s hard to know at what a new professional organizer might excel, so one tends to stick with what one knows best.
However, as you imply, niching allows for the opportunity to hone one’s skills in a particular area, to be seen as a sub-specialist and expert whose rates can be commensurate with those specialized skills.
One of the great advantages to becoming a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Professional Organizers in Canada and the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization is the opportunity to network and chat with other professional organizers with experience in specialties we not only may not have considered, but may not have known existed. This is one of the reasons why interacting with our colleagues, both formally in industry organizations and informally on social networking sites and sharing comments on blogs like yours, is to get to know one another and share perspectives.
So, congrats on the new blog, and thanks for giving us all a great outlet at which we can rub elbows.
Julie, in addition to learning about other specialties, another plus to association membership is that you may get an opportunity to work alongside someone who works in that area and find out if it is something you’d enjoy.
I read Julie’s comment from 2009 congratulating you on the “new blog.” Fast-forward all these years, and look how you’ve grown and morphed your business.
When I first started organizing in 1993, most organizers were generalists. Perhaps that’s because the industry was still relatively new. But over these three decades, more specialties have developed, and more organizers choose to specialize. As you said, even within the broad business and residential organizing categories, there are many specialties. More associations, conferences, and diverse education are also available for organizers, which is a great thing.
While I began as a generalist, focusing primarily on residential organizing, I seemed to draw in a specific type of client. They had an ongoing history of disorganization and really struggled with that aspect of their lives, which negatively affected their daily lives. I specialize in working with chronically disorganized clients. I’ve received extensive education and training through ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization) and am an active volunteer with ICD, too.
In the past several years, I have added virtual organizing to my credentials. Now, I’m able to help those challenged by disorganization but no longer have geographic constraints.
Starting as a generalist is an excellent way to figure out what you most enjoy and what type of clients you attract, as you discovered. I know many people, organizers and other professionals, who started out doing all the things, narrowed it down to a specific type of client or service, and eventually specialized even further. It’s wonderful to work for yourself where you can make these decisions and not have to do whatever your manager dictates!
I have worked in a variety of fields in organizing. As well as honing in on areas that I really enjoy – especially decluttering – I’ve also been able to identify aspects that aren’t my forte, such as photo organizing.
My ideal client is someone with whom I can work over a period of time, typically weekly, to chip away at clutter and develop systems that work really well. I’ve also been spending more time working with people who want to downsize, as well as small business owners with ADHD. Sort of an odd mix, but this is what is working for me now.
I love to show up and alleviate stress, I guess that is my major goal.
That sounds like a very satisfying mix! I know from experience that working with clients over a long term is beneficial for you and for them, because it gives you the opportunity to get to know them better and make the best recommendations.
Great post, Janet. You described exactly what I had to do when I injured myself organizing with clients. Looking back on my business administration / international business degree and managerial positions, I figured that helping small businesses was the way for me. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to learn about many different industries and help them improve their productivity.
What a great way to combine all your valuable experience! And you continue to help people get organized through your great organizing blog.
When I started working, I just wanted people to find simplicity in their space.
I love working with clients with big projects. My background is space planning and we offer an entire range of move management services. I just love organizing and can tackle any project, I do enjoy organizing clothes closets the most.
Big projects are definitely more satisfying (and profitable)! I bet your space planning background is a huge benefit!
Great article, Janet. While reading, I thought of many other specialties I had seen: photo organization, paperwork, teacher productivity, and so many possibilities. If you are naturally drawn to a certain type of organizing, it makes sense to hone your skills and become an expert in that area. Thank you!
To name but a few! There seem to be new specializations all the time, and if you’re innovative, you can always create your own!