As a new copywriter, should I choose a popular niche, or a more specialized one where it would be quicker to rank the website advertising my services?
I definitely would not choose a copywriting niche based on how easy or difficult it would be to rank for those search terms. I think SEO is somewhat overrated as a method for attracting and closing clients.If I were you, I would look at the major niches in copywriting... the ones that pay relatively well and have constant demand for copy. Then pick one that fits your knowledge and interests.Maybe you decide to write for the alternative health niche... or the financial niche... or possibly the relationship niche. But whatever niche you pick, it should be at least somewhat popular or have a relatively deep pool of clients to solicit.Remember: The best clients are ALREADY looking for copywriters. They have hired copywriters in the past, they understand the value of a good copywriter, they know how to work with copywriters. In other words, you don't have to educate them about what you do or why it's valuable.If you pick a small or obscure niche, you will find yourself in the unpleasant situation of having to educate clients about what you do and why it's worth paying for.This lengthens the buying cycle and pairs you up with low-quality clients you should probably not be working with. There is a high probability the client will never use your work and you won't ever get to the second project.For many years, I didn't pick a niche. I don't know if this hurt me or helped me, but it did give me the opportunity to write for lots of different products and services. Every day was interesting.A few years ago, I decided to niche myself as a financial copywriter. This seems to have helped -- both in terms of attracting clients and reducing the amount of time I must spend researching before beginning a project. I wish I had picked a niche sooner than I did.
Are blogs more likely to be successful (or popular) when they focus on one specialised topic only or cover a wider range of topics?
Very good question. When I started Blogging(in 2009 jithumpa blog ) about wide variety of topics(IT,culture,entertainment) many of friends warned me to opt an niche domain and work on it for better recognition from Google. Despite their alerts I continued writing about what interests me and its true that in first few years I really struggled to get notice but now Google list my every posts .I post about technology and entertainment with out any issues parallel and developed a brand name and I am free to write what ever I want. Even my ad sense also working fine and I earning not so bad amount. So I believe its all about confidence and building a personal brand name. Keep on writing what every you want .Examples of website with similar type:LifeHacker.