My Favorite Tool for Article Research.
I see a lot of posts about how to format an article, but none on how to research a great article. We all know that giving great content is key to building a relationship with your prospects, but it takes more than a google search to deliver great value.
Just regurgitating what is in another article is not going to encourage people to click through to your site. On top of that any enthusiastic hobbyist is going to know a lot more their niche than you. They'll see through your BS pretty quick, unless you can deliver some expert level insight.
I'm lazy. I don't want to become an expert in a subject just to write about it in an article. I'd much rather just ask an expert and distill their knowledge into a series of articles. Contrary to what you might think it is really easy to get a real expert to open up about their field. Most became an expert because they are passionate about it and people love to talk about what they know. Their friends and family are often tried of hearing about the subject and don't really care to listen. Give them an interested, intelligent audience and they'll spill everything they know.
Just call them, explain you are a writer doing an article on their subject, and ask if they have a few minutes to answer some questions.
Don't know how to find an expert? Here are my three favorite ways.
1- Children's and Young Adult's Non-Fiction Section at the Library.
I'm not joking. Most niches will have children's books written on them. Children's books are made to be simple to understand, and far more likely to be fact checked than the article you found on Google. For a good, basic understanding of a subject it's hard to beat a book written for elementary school students. If the book is written or edited by an expert, as most of them are, check to see if they wrote any more in depth works for an adult. Once you understand enough to ask intelligent questions call the author..
2- HARO
This is useful for so much more than getting your clients some press attention. If you aren't familiar, it is a giant listing of people who want reporters to contact them so they can get their name in print. It is a phenomenal resource for article writers. Use it.
3- Obscure Blogs
If you make 3 posts a week and Albino Pigeon Races, you know enough to fill up a couple of articles, and clearly you want to talk about it.
These work just as well for finding an expert to record an interview with.
Anyone else have a good trick for finding experts or tool you like for researching articles?
Just regurgitating what is in another article is not going to encourage people to click through to your site. On top of that any enthusiastic hobbyist is going to know a lot more their niche than you. They'll see through your BS pretty quick, unless you can deliver some expert level insight.
I'm lazy. I don't want to become an expert in a subject just to write about it in an article. I'd much rather just ask an expert and distill their knowledge into a series of articles. Contrary to what you might think it is really easy to get a real expert to open up about their field. Most became an expert because they are passionate about it and people love to talk about what they know. Their friends and family are often tried of hearing about the subject and don't really care to listen. Give them an interested, intelligent audience and they'll spill everything they know.
Just call them, explain you are a writer doing an article on their subject, and ask if they have a few minutes to answer some questions.
Don't know how to find an expert? Here are my three favorite ways.
1- Children's and Young Adult's Non-Fiction Section at the Library.
I'm not joking. Most niches will have children's books written on them. Children's books are made to be simple to understand, and far more likely to be fact checked than the article you found on Google. For a good, basic understanding of a subject it's hard to beat a book written for elementary school students. If the book is written or edited by an expert, as most of them are, check to see if they wrote any more in depth works for an adult. Once you understand enough to ask intelligent questions call the author..
2- HARO
This is useful for so much more than getting your clients some press attention. If you aren't familiar, it is a giant listing of people who want reporters to contact them so they can get their name in print. It is a phenomenal resource for article writers. Use it.
3- Obscure Blogs
If you make 3 posts a week and Albino Pigeon Races, you know enough to fill up a couple of articles, and clearly you want to talk about it.
These work just as well for finding an expert to record an interview with.
Anyone else have a good trick for finding experts or tool you like for researching articles?
Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)