Content Research
Whether you’re writing solutions pages or planning an ebook, content research is foundational to your efforts. Developing content without the necessary research is like following a recipe without any ingredients to hand.
At the heart of effective content research is a commitment to method. Finding the insights and material on which to build your work requires some digging. It calls for strong sourcing skills and a willingness to follow your nose.
Why Content
Research?
Strong research is what differentiates your content from other material on that topic. It helps bring a new angle to the matter at hand.
Plus, it helps expand the boundaries of what is known. Even the most knowledgeable individuals in a field don’t know everything. Your research helps bring new and old information together in interesting ways.
Whether you’re unearthing a new data point or summarizing a newly published report, the act of content research helps challenge established assumptions, keeping you and your readers engaged.
How To Conduct
Content Research
Undertaking content research requires strong sourcing skills. You need to know how to look, keeping an eye out for the new insight or angle that brings color to your thesis. You also need to know where to look. Not all sources are equally valuable.
Follow trusted sources on social media, through video, or via email newsletters. Check out official data sources, such as government agencies, and learn how to look for patterns that either confirm or challenge your thesis. .
Verification
The best research is journalistic in nature. You always want to track down the original source, if possible, to verify your claim. Otherwise, seek to corroborate the information from at least several reliable sources. Don’t pass off claims as statements of fact until you’re persuaded of their veracity.
The best crafted plans, once underway, need real-time adjusting. Think of it as a positive feedback loop. The more data produced, the more insights generated, the greater the opportunity to figure out what’s working, what’s not, and to modify accordingly.
What CMC Offers
At CMC Editorial, we work with you and your team to get the content strategy in place that’s right for you.
Research: We gather the essential information to establish your strategy.
Develop: We assemble the key insights to shape an effective plan.
Plan: We determine how your content gets produced.
Refine: We adjust the strategy based on real-time feedback.
A well-conceived, well-constructed content strategy will not only give your organization an edge. It will give you the courage to articulate what you stand for in the marketplace.
CEO | Richard Pattinson
