Write on Topics You Don’t Know Part 2 – Research
Research can seem like such a huge task! This is especially true when the topic being written about is a bit of an unknown. However, we’ve got some great tips here on where to go to research topics you know nothing about. This is how I tend to do it, and so far it’s worked out pretty well!
Where to Gather Information
We’ve gathered generalized information on the industry and the topic. Now it’s time to get into the weeds and really grab the information people actually want. When it comes to products, people often want real info. What does this mean? Let’s use an app as an example. Doesn’t even matter which app. People don’t just want to know about functionality and see some screenshots. They can get that information by looking it up in the App Store. And while you may want to include it in your article, it shouldn’t be the bulk of your information. Your main info should be the good, the bad, and the ugly. Does it crash all the time? Are there way more ads on the free version than anticipated? Does paying to remove ads give you any other features, or just the ad removal? Is that even worth it? Does it actually do what it says it does and does it do it effectively and efficiently?
Wow, lots of questions for the example of just an app, right? Not really. People want to know all the information that’s out there before they spend money on just about anything. So, where do we find all this pinpointed information?
USE FORUMS
Forums are especially fantastic resources when you’re looking for information on problems. People go to forums to solve the issues they’ve had with things all the time. For example, if a new motorcycle comes out and people really hate the footpegs, information on how to fix it, other products to help fix it, etc. can be found in the forums. People who post on forums also tend to include links to the things that can fix problems (links you may want to include in your article).
BACK TO THE TUBES
Yep, back to YouTube. This time, as you go through videos to help you understand the topic you’re writing on, check video descriptions. People often include links to articles they or someone else have written. Follow the trail to find an authoritative source on the subject and you’ve got great info for your own article.
UGH, I FEEL LIKE I’M WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER
Well, you basically are writing a research paper. You’ve got a topic and you need to go through all possible sources and find the right information to give your audience.
Next, check out Part 3 in this series – Compiling.
Happy Researching!
