Article Writing Research?

[Donna Dueck]

Can some of the writers please share your tips and techniques on how you research topics when writing articles?

Thanks
Donna

[Money Maker]

Probably the best way to research
is to check what ranks well in
search engines first.

Thank check what keywords
have more interest and
write around them.
You can use i.e.
Google Keyword Tool

[Corena]

Do you want advice on researching what is popular? What makes a sale able article?

Then you might want to check out Yahoo Answers for what people are asking and then go to Amazon and see what people are buying.. same with York New Times Best Sellers list.

You can check Googles adsense keyword suggestion tools and find out the highest paying keywords and write about them.

If you want advice on how to research then . .gov and .edu sites are your best bet. Wikipedia is not the best resource because it may not be correct.

I hope this helps

~Corena

[Chaiwriter]

To actually write the article you can do your research on the Internet or go to a bookstore.

Simply Google your keyword + articles and that will bring-up a bunch of articles. Then read through about four or five articles and write your own article.

Or for more popular topics you can actually get a "Dummies" or "Idiot's" book at the bookstore and sit down for an hour and get a lot of great information for many articles.

Hopefully that helps...

Chai

[smartsites]

Amazon is a great place to find niches and even content. Also usasearch.gov is a good place.

[shawnyates]

Cross referencing previously created articles + wikipedia I find is helpful too. Google is your friend in this instance and align the keywords using the Google Adwords tool.

[summer07]

Hi Donna! There's a goldmine of info in what's often referred to as the "hidden web". Lots of .edu info databases, and non-commercial content. (shhhhh! don't tell anyone!)

It's really helpful if you want to get past all of the commercial content we IMers are piling onto Google, Yahoo and MSN.

Here's an article link that describes it, and has even more links:
Uncovering the Hidden Web, Part I: Finding What the Search Engines Don't. ERIC Digest.

Hope this helps!

Audre

[maestero2010]

doing research means for articles means you need more and more knowledge and in this time period you cannot get more knowledge other than from articles itself..........so read the relevant articles from diff websites and you will slowly know that you have gained something that is new and interesting.

[JohnMcCabe]

[Disclaimer: these comments are NOT aimed at the posters quoted specifically. I don't know enough about how they operate to make that kind of connection.]

The problem with all of the suggestions below is that you have to assume that the articles you're using are even close to accurate. Given the quality of the articles submitted to one of my sites, that could be a dangerous assumption - especially if you're going to muck around in the health niches.

Too many article marketers are trying to establish themselves as experts in fields where the only thing they know for sure is that Clickbank has an ebook with a high commission for sale. So they put out mounds of drivel and outright misinformation, both through ignorance and greed.

Folks, it's okay to quote recognized experts when making points in an article. It doesn't take away from your credibility; it lets you 'borrow' some of the expert's.

Check out those .edu and .gov sites, and scan the original research. Look how many times even brilliant academics acknowledge the work that came before theirs.

If you're going to take the easy way, please stay away from subject where getting bad information could cost someone a lot more than money...

I'll climb down off my soapbox now. Here's another tip for finding truly useful information for an article campaign. Look to professional associations and trade groups - they do tons of research and make it available on their web sites. Spend the time to dig out the good stuff and write an article that contributes something, and your efforts to establish yourself as an expert will be much more effective than skimming a few articles by bum marketers and regurgitating their own recycled verbal vomit.

Originally Posted by Chaiwriter

To actually write the article you can do your research on the Internet or go to a bookstore.

Simply Google your keyword + articles and that will bring-up a bunch of articles. Then read through about four or five articles and write your own article.

Or for more popular topics you can actually get a "Dummies" or "Idiot's" book at the bookstore and sit down for an hour and get a lot of great information for many articles.

Hopefully that helps...

Chai

Originally Posted by shawnyates

Cross referencing previously created articles + wikipedia I find is helpful too. Google is your friend in this instance and align the keywords using the Google Adwords tool.

Originally Posted by maestero2010

doing research means for articles means you need more and more knowledge and in this time period you cannot get more knowledge other than from articles itself..........so read the relevant articles from diff websites and you will slowly know that you have gained something that is new and interesting.

[Mary Gallivan]

Hi

If you already have a niche in mind then go through some of the article directories (I usually go to EzineArticles first) and see what some of the top authors in that category are writing about.

Also check out Amazon for best sellers in your niche. Some books you can get a look in at the contents page.

Read magazines or go your your local library for books on your niche.

Mingle in forums, yahoo answers and Google search any related websites.

These are just tips and techniques for research.

Mary

[Donna Dueck]

Thanks for the tips everyone

[Michelle Strait]

I use Google Book Search and the local library. I also search .gov sites for info.

[sylviad]

The recommendations already made can be both good and bad, depending on the sources you find. Facts in articles aren't necessarily true and neither is content on web sites, even those that "claim" to be experts yet are not affiliated with any recognized organizations in their niche.

If you just want general information, you can get some good tips from articles on the directories and various sites. If you are familiar with your topic, you might be able to distinguish the rubbish from the facts.

From those tips, you can either add your own knowledge or seek experts on qualified sites.

If you want truly accurate articles, look for specific organizations in your niche. For instance, if you are writing on a health topic (ie: strokes), go to the Heart & Stroke site for qualified information. Go to the online libraries where you can run searches for your particular topic. Talk to stop-smoking program operators through the Red Cross or health dept.

When researching topics that do not have a specific organization affiliated with them, you will have little choice but to rely on the so-called "experts" who have studied the subject themselves. People offering advice about aromatherapy, for instance, will know what works from any studies they have done, ie: referencing official research and testing. If you can figure out who does that testing, that would be the place to get accurate details. This applies to any topic.

Sometimes, it's just not possible to know who to believe. Dog training is one. Everyone has their own ideas about effective methods, but other trainers will reject them for their own.

In the end, it's a judgment call on your part deciding which sources to trust.

Sylvia

[kenj]

Because of all the rubbish that I found myself writing when I started out with article marketing I now restrict myself to my own areas of expertise.

My first 100 ezine articles are complete drivel.

Now that I write about what I know the articles just flow off the keyboard.

Once I have the idea for an article I can write it in 7 - 10 minutes.

One of my websites about playing guitar has comments and subscribers arguing with me about my playing but as I am older and a better musician than them I am an authority in this area.

So instead of trying to appear like an expert why don't you be an expert. You must know something better than anyone else.

[Samuel Lee]

Amazon is a brilliant source for present reading materials that relate to your article, you can sprinkle in references to these to make a better ranking article. I would say the best way to research is to check what specific articles rank well in search engines first ie. Google it. Do a really good solid check on what keywords have more interest and accomodate your article by writing around them. Google Keyword Tool is really an excellent resource for this! Hope this helps!