Gathering Resources to Set Up Your Writers for Success
Content marketing relies heavily on excellent writers to produce stellar content. With that comes the challenge of providing them with the necessary resources to get the pen to the paper. The writing resources we provide for our writers dictate the quality and credibility of the information we write for our clients and share with the world on their behalf.
Writers can’t just sit down at their computers and type whatever comes to mind. It takes top-notch credible resources to help writers churn out quality content. Below, you will find our advice for scoping out writing resources to up your writing game.
Seek Credibility
Google gives you a lot of information. Type in anything, and you will see hundreds, thousands, perhaps millions of answers. The key is to know what is worth your time and what isn’t. When researching your topic, start broad. Then hone in on specific keywords. Once you find a resource that might work, open and scan it. Then, ask yourself two questions:
- Do I know this publication?
- Is this publication credible?
Not all information is equal. If you know the publication, you know whether it’s reliable. Credibility means asking whether the information on a site is fact-based. Does it most often leave opinions out? Does it generally stick with a clear and concise message that is helpful for your writer to glean the information they need to write?
For example, Wikipedia is a fantastic tool for simply finding information. But as a resource, it lacks credibility. Just about anyone with a keyboard can add to Wikipedia. No one monitors Wikipedia. More often than not, the information you seek needs to be corroborated by another resource to prove it factual.
Understand that Information Doesn’t Always Age Well
Information is not like a fine wine. It doesn’t always age well. Youth matters. Every great resource should have the date posted prominently on its page. If not, steer clear.
Let’s look at a real-world example. In 2019, remote work was just a thing. In 2020, remote work was everything for a lot of people. COVID-19 brought the work-from-home discussion to the forefront of everyone’s mind. People discussed it — a lot. Before the pandemic, remote work was simply something some people did. So, if you were writing a piece about remote work and needed to include relevant statistics, you wouldn’t want to look at data older than 2020. Our lives have changed a lot since then.
In another example, technology is constantly changing. And it happens at warp speed. If your writer needs to write a piece on technology, you wouldn’t want resources from 2004. That’s a lifetime ago. Instead, you want to research and gather information from recent resources to stay relevant.
The only exception might be a research study that established a concept, theory, or critical data. That is a fine wine. Use it.
Make it Accessible
Some writing resources are available at a cost. A paywall prevents access to those who will not pay. And to that we say, that’s okay! There is plenty of free, accessible information on the internet. Anyone can get the information they need. And there’s no one source for any information. Use sources that people can access.
The key is to know exactly what you are looking for. You have to wade through the noise of a Google search for the right information. Our job as content researchers is to ensure that the writer can take the information we find and use it creatively. The writing resources you provide enable your writer to focus solely on the writing. Ensure that the resources are accessible to writers and readers and that a paywall does not get in their way.
Know the Power of Internal Linking
Sometimes the best information is right in front of us. If your client needs a blog post about a specific topic, the information you need is often right on their website. When searching for resources, the first thing you want to do is to look at your client’s website. See if there is anything you can use from there. A blog post helps steer your reader to the services that your client provides. Use your client’s pages as a writing resource. Internal linking reinforces your client as a leader in their business niche.
Pretend the Writer Knows Nothing
The best way to get all the writing resources you need for your writer is to pretend they know nothing about the topic. This faux ignorance will guarantee that you will find all of the relevant resources they need for the post. You always want to ensure that the resources you provide give them the information to make sound and verifiable content for your client’s audience.
Providing all the resources your writer needs allows them to do what they do best — write.
How Content Journey Provides Writing Resources
At Content Journey, we know content. We can help your business build the highest quality content strategy that serves your clients’ needs. All of our content is well-researched and written. Our focus is to provide your audience with valuable information that establishes you as an industry leader.
Contact us or set up a call today to learn more about our content strategy and how we will use it to help you reach your business goals.
