Quality Content Begins with Quality Research. Period.

Let’s face it: none of us are experts in multiple subjects. But, when you’re writing content on behalf of other businesses, you have to be. Writing content for business is a mix of diligence, skill, talent, empathy, perceptiveness, art, organization and attention to detail. But you simply cannot, nor should you ever attempt to type one word until you’ve put in your research. Quality content simply can’t exist without research, which is why you should always budget ample time of your writing project for the research portion. Using Google Scholar or any other reputable academic database is a great place to start.

And watch out for content writers who say they can do it faster and cheaper then the next, because you get what you pay for. The time necessary to get into the minds of the audience in an industry that is completely foreign to you, and into the heart of a business you just met takes time.

Today, we’re going to look at how you can mix research and interview questions to get the most out of your writing when you’re creating content on behalf of businesses. The steps outlined here are meant to occur before the initial interview with the client and directly after it. The more legwork you, as the writer, put upfront, the more successful your interviews will be. What becomes of this is Web content that respects your client’s business and their audience, and provides value, not just words.

• You have the keywords, now what? 
• Start exploring the brand
• Begin formulating interview questions
• Create a materials wish list for the client
• FAQ: How can I conduct effective research for high-quality content?

You Have the Keywords, Now What?

So you’ve talked to the client to get a snapshot of the business and its audience, you’ve put in your keyword research and you have a general idea of topics you need to build out on the company’s website. This is the time when you start thinking about what you’re going to say – the content surrounding the keywords.

Sure, you could easily word-vomit 500 words and insert key terms here and there, but that wouldn’t be very good for the client or the end user, now would it? You could also spout off some corporate gobbledygook that just talks about the company, how great it is and the products or services it sells, but again, these are just words on a page.

The way you approach the content you write will greatly impact the end product and its quality. It’s important to not view the pages as just words filling a quota; look at your web pages as a chance to educate, inform, sell and convert.

Tip: Any time you are looking to cut corners with your content, ask yourself if you have the client’s and the end user’s best interests at heart.

Start Exploring the Brand

Start reading the client’s website and all its content. What are they currently talking about? Are there missed opportunities with what they’re not saying? What’s important to the company? Create a snapshot of the client as it stands today.

Then, look at the way they use their words – their voice. Get a feel of how they represent themselves. If you have the luxury of working with the client to explore their brand’s voice, this is a great time for you to make note of how they are talking to their audience now.

If you don’t have this luxury, you still need to understand the voice the client is using, so you can begin to match the brand in your writing. But be careful, many businesses default to uber corporate speak because they haven’t yet explored what their brand sounds like. So again, if you can actually assist the client in building a brand voice through its writing moving forward, you’d be doing them a great service.

However, some businesses have already done a branding exercise and can hand over the collateral to you so you can begin writing in their voice right away. Don’t forget to ask for that in your wish list, which we’ll discuss later in this post.

During the initial process of exploring the brand, you’ll begin to have questions about the business. Guess what? If you have questions about the brand, its products or services, other people do, too. Just start jotting down any questions that come to mind. You can organize them later.

This whole process doesn’t need to take days. Depending on the scope of the project, it might just take an hour. The things you do in this step are merely preparing you for the interview process with your client.

Tip: Many businesses have never even thought about what it means to have a brand “voice” – your questionnaire could not only serve as a great exercise for you, but also for your client.

Begin Formulating Interview Questions

The interview is “the money” aspect of the writing process, as in the sweet spot. You might not be an expert in what you’re writing, but you can bet someone on your client’s team is. And tapping into them in a way that gets them to give you exactly what you need to get started developing content is key.

Sometimes, it’s the CEO, and sometimes, he or she may not want to be involved in the writing process. It’s your job to be an evangelist for the research and interview process. You must be able to relay the value in this component to key stakeholders so you can write quality content.

To get a holistic snapshot of the business, its challenges and opportunities, interview more than one person in various areas of the business. You almost have to do this with larger businesses and content dev projects, where the priorities and messages become more diluted as they expand out from the owner or CEO.

Be prepared that every interview should be different, depending on the client, product, service, and industry. The key is in formulating your questions to get the exact information you need from the client.

It’s also a little bit like a college exam; sometimes, you want to vary the questions just slightly to elicit a different response. Create questions that get your client thinking in new ways about their business.

When you conduct enough interviews this way, you’ll find that many businesses have never even thought about some of the questions you’re asking. This is when a seemingly simple interview for content development becomes something much more for the business.

Every interview should be custom to the client, but the following are just some of the questions that I almost always ask (always customize the language to the client, its product or service):

• Why do people need your service/product?
• Why do people use your service/product?
• How does your service/product work?
• What are the common problems that your product or service addresses and how?
• What are the features, and the benefits of those features (what do the features allow people to do)?
• Why is your company the best choice for this product or service?
• What does your audience believe about your company today?
• What makes people choose your product over service over the competition?
• What makes people choose the competition over your company?
• What myths can we dispel surrounding your product or service?
• Describe your typical customer.
• What keeps your customers up at night?
• What’s important to your customer, and how does your brand/product/service become a part of that?

Once you have the answers to these questions, guess what you’ll be doing? Yep, more research. Remember, a little research should be built into the entire writing process from start to finish.

Depending on the scope of the project, see if you can talk directly to customers via a phone survey. Or put together a survey through a service like SurveyMonkey to supplement the information you received from the client. Nobody knows the challenges the brand’s audience faces better than the actual audience. They can also give an unbiased look into how they perceive the company, its products or services.

Tip: If you’re dealing with a larger brand or a small company that’s very active on social media, start seeing what people are saying in the communities and online about the brand. You’ll get additional insight into what’s important to the audience and how they use the company’s products and services.

Create a Materials Wish List for the Client

Your client has collateral that will help you get into the mind of the business and its products or services. After the initial interview, you’ll create a wish list for in-house materials that will help you understand the products, services and company you’re writing on behalf of.

It might not be apparent right away to the client what they have to offer you in terms of materials. It’s your job to start asking interviewees after each interview about what materials they have, and have a cheat sheet you can prompt them with – white papers, ebooks, in-house documentation, press releases, brochures, emails to customers, proposals, case studies, etc., etc.

Sometimes you have to be creative; for example, if you’re trying to get a feel of the culture because you’re writing content for the “About Us” section on a website, you might go to the human resources department. There, you might find they have an internal awards program no one mentioned before.

Of course, the wish list portion is much simpler when you’re dealing with small businesses. But, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need no matter what size the project or client. In the end, your client will thank you for it.

Tip: You can never have too much information from the client. Some of it you may never use, but you need to create a library for every client that essentially brings you up to speed (as best you can) with the level of knowledge of those who have worked there for years.

Being a good content writer for the Web and for businesses requires that you be a sleuth, a journalist, a researcher. And it doesn’t mean that the scope of the project has to keep getting bigger and bigger. It means you must build the research into the project from the beginning, and then deliver such great content that the client wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Ready to take your content to the next level? Talk to us. 

FAQ: How can I conduct effective research for high-quality content?

As a blogger, entrepreneur, or content marketer, it is imperative that you produce engaging and high-quality content that resonates with and retains your target audience. Research plays an integral part in making your content appealing.

1. Define Your Goals

Prior to engaging in research and creation, it’s crucial that you establish your content goals. Define its purpose, target audience, and major messages you wish to convey. Clarity will facilitate this aspect of research.

2. Keyword Research

Start by identifying relevant keywords related to your topic. Explore keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to discover trending and high-traffic keywords.

3. Competitor Analysis

Examine the content produced by your competitors. Uncover any knowledge gaps and provide new perspectives, then use this knowledge to develop content that outshines competitors.

4. Reliable Sources

Ensure the accuracy and credibility of your content by using reliable sources. Scholarly articles, reputable websites, and expert interviews can add depth and authority to your content.

5. Diverse Content Types

Consider using various content types, such as case studies, infographics, videos, and podcasts, to present your information in different formats. This appeals to a broader audience and enhances user engagement.

6. Organized Information

Create a structured outline for your content to ensure a logical flow. Each section should lead naturally to the next, making it easy for readers to follow and understand your message.

7. Quality over Quantity

Concentrate on providing quality information rather than quantity. Give your readers concrete solutions to their problems. This will position you as a trusted expert in your niche.

8. Original Insights

While researching, look for unique data, case studies, or insights that are not readily available. Original content stands out and attracts more attention.

9. Engage with Your Audience

Engage with your target audience through social media, blogs, forums, and any other sites relevant to your niche. Listen carefully to their comments, concerns, and inquiries so that your content will meet their needs.

10. Visual Appeal

Incorporate eye-catching visuals and graphics to enhance the aesthetics of your content. Visual elements add depth and interest to your content, helping convey complex information more clearly.

Searching for high-quality, relevant content requires an effective multifaceted strategy that incorporates planning, analysis, and the desire to add value for readers. By following these steps, you will produce engaging and informative material that will quickly establish you as an authority in your field.

Always bear in mind that creating high-quality content requires ongoing effort. Sharpen your research abilities, keep abreast of industry trends, and cater to the ever-evolving needs of your audience if you hope to maintain readership by remaining at the cutting edge of content production.

Step-by-Step Procedure: How to Conduct Effective Research for High-Quality Content

1. Define your content goals, audience, and key messages.
2. Perform keyword research to identify relevant keywords.
3. Analyze competitors’ content for gaps and opportunities.
4. Utilize reliable sources to ensure accuracy and credibility.
5. Experiment with various content types to engage a broader audience.
6. Create an organized content outline for a logical flow.
7. Prioritize quality information over quantity.
8. Seek original insights and unique data.
9. Connect with and understand the needs of your audience.
10. Visuals and graphics can enhance your content.

This method will assist in creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience while simultaneously establishing your expertise.

This article was updated on November 20, 2023.

Jessica Lee is the founder and chief creative for bizbuzzcontent Inc., a marketing boutique that focuses on digital content strategy and professional writing services for businesses.

See Jessica's author page for links to connect on social media.