In the previous Creativity & Data lessons, we’ve sifted through the ins and outs of keyword research tools and the equally essential (and free!) Google Trends.
Now we’re heading off the beaten path and sharing techniques to find hidden topics and tidbits within your niche industry that can position you and your content a step ahead of your competition.
Putting in the time behind the scenes to do your keyword AND niche industry research is an incredible opportunity to pull ahead and differentiate your content as both compelling and fact-driven.
Using research in your posts:
- helps underscore your subject-matter authority
- creates unique angles on your topic
- gives validity to your content
- establishes you as a trusted expert over your competition
Where do you find this data to turn into relatable, useful tidbits for your audience? Let us show you!
Step 1: Watch the Niche Industry Research video
Breakdown of topics:
[1:01] Benefits of including industry research in your content planning process
[2:10] Find interesting studies from industry and government organizations
[4:59] Access research reports that don’t show up in search results: Google Scholar screenshare
[5:37] Information on research databases
[6:04] Backtrack to find more useful resources
[8:05] Discover industry leaders by seeing who is linking to certain content: Moz Link Explorer screenshare
[11:07] Connect with experts in your niche
[12:36] Utilizing offline resources for unique information
[13:47] Research tips and best practices
[15:26] Do your own research
[17:15] Run tests and experiments on your site
[19:02] Get into your reader’s psychology
[19:56] Perform research on your own audience
[21:45] Develop your own audience surveys
[22:57] Incorporate your findings into rich, compelling content
Step 2: Download and complete the Niche Industry Research workbook
Catch up on the series:
Part 1: Intro to Data — learn about the creative process and how data can be a compass for creating stellar content
Part 2: Google Trends — compare keyword phrases and discover longevity, seasonality, and user intent
Part 3: Keyword Research — recommendations for keyword tools, inspiration, methods, and a game-changing system for optimizing old content to rank higher in search
Check out part 5: Social Media Inspiration for tips on riding social media trends and turning that rich source of data from billions of users into content for your site!
