When you are about to start writing on a topic you are unfamiliar with, you need to research ahead of time. Even if you know about the topic at hand, research can add power to your content by providing your article or blog with more detail.
Researching is a skill in itself. Here are the research skills that will make your writing even better.
- Figure Out Your Objective
What is the main point you want to get across in your writing? Focus on this throughout your entire blog or article and when researching. You can go on little rants but never lose sight of your main idea. For instance, you might be focused on writing about what makes dog walking a great career. Maybe you have a dog yourself and integrate tidbits about your pet by highlighting what makes him a great walking companion. You are still focused on what makes dog walking great.
Within your objective, it is always good to keep track of the following:
- Who your target audience is
- What you want your target audience to learn
- What you want your readers to do as a result of reading this article or blog
2. Research Keywords
Every writer needs to research a list of keywords ahead of time before writing. If you are unfamiliar with this process, have an SEO specialist provide you with a list. This way, you can integrate these specific words into your article or blog. Google recognizes certain terms so when your writing is SEO friendly it becomes more visible to searchers because it will appear higher up in the list of results.
Make sure to not stuff your written piece with too many keywords. Keyword stuffing is seen as negative by Google, noting your content as low-quality and a cheat to get higher rankings. Keyword stuffing can actually cause your rankings to lower and you might even incur penalties. When using too many keywords, you can also come off sounding robotic instead of human and no one wants this. You want to relate to your target audience and keep them engaged, not deter them from reading your piece.
3. Take Notes
Note-taking is not just for school days but is an essential research skill. Reading books, other blogs, and research papers will help you gain an understanding of your topic. Taking proper notes will help you remember the important points to include in your writing. When note-taking, make sure to keep the information accurate. Change words and phrases around so you don’t plagiarize someone else’s work but if you must use a direct quote, always give credit to your source. Add your own opinion to the research you have found to make your writing unique.
4. Dig Deeper
Go further than the surface. If you find out an interesting fact about your topic, research further and discover more in-depth details that lie beyond your initial findings. Say you are researching what makes dog walking great and come across a point that dog walking is an even more popular career in cities near the water. Research what cities are the most popular for dog walking and give examples of why this career is so rewarding in waterfront cities.
Backing up your information makes your blog or article more reliable while adding in extra details makes it more interesting.
Are you ready to write some great stuff? Remember these key research skills and your article will be sure to stand out.
