Guide to Write Data-Driven Content

What do modern users look for online? They search for valuable, relevant content that is based on research and includes step-by-step explanations. So if you want to attract users to your website, you should learn how to write data-driven content. 

If you are a newbie in the field, it might be challenging for you to streamline your content creation process the right way. We invite you to read this guide and get to know what steps you should take to make your content stand out.

Let’s get started!

Get to know your readers better

To write data-driven content, you should have a clear understanding of who your readers are and what problems they are currently experiencing. Basically, you need to build a reader persona and define the key pain points.

Let’s say you offer termite treatment solutions. Who is your target audience? Who is your perfect reader? It’s a man in his forties who has a wife and three kids and owns an old house.

If you look through the popular search queries, you will understand that most of your prospective customers are sick and tired of fighting with termites. At the same time, they mostly try to get rid of insects naturally, without chemicals and exterminators. 

Screenshot source: https://app.neilpatel.com/en/ubersuggest/

If you want to add value to your readers, you should write blog posts covering two topics: “it’s possible to get rid of termites” and “natural remedies do not work, the chemicals must be used”. You should support your statements with scientific data and add real-life examples. It will make people trust you and convince them that they should follow your advice.

Choose the right topic to cover

There are tons of articles out there that cover general topics and add no value to the readers. Make sure that your next article will not become one of them. Look through the headlines of the trending blog posts, and find a topic that is worth discussing.

Imagine you work in the security niche. If you research the keyword “business security” using BuzzSumo, you will see that the most popular articles provide general information about business security camera systems and the benefits of their usage. If you write a blog post on the same topic and use a similar headline, your piece of content will get lost in the crowd.

Screenshot source: https://buzzsumo.com/

Try to choose a more specific topic and use the recent statistics or data from a newly published report. 

Let’s say today you’ve read an industry report that states that medium-sized businesses lose on average $50,000 annually because of poor security systems. You can title your article “How to save up to $50,000 a year using a business security camera system” and provide a step-by-step guide on how to choose an effective security camera system. 

Since your post will be based on trustworthy data and contain detailed guidelines, your readers will find it truly valuable. Data-driven content marketing techniques will allow you to engage your target audience and increase conversion rates.

Always do a preliminary search for information

Don’t rush to begin your research in earnest. Do a preliminary search first and try to determine whether there is enough information available on the web to write a good article. 

It may happen that you will come up with a great topic but will not find the necessary data to support your statements. You will waste your time and effort and gain no positive results. 

A preliminary search will allow you to optimize the content creation process and deliver better results in a shorter period of time.

Find authority sites in your niche

Your website doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There are many other websites in your niche, and some of them are doing better than others.

Your task is to find authority sites and follow them. You should analyze what type of content they create, what data they use, and what topics they discuss. It will allow you to understand what type of content appeals to your target audience the most and what tactics you should be using. Besides, it will inspire you to research more and write more.

Also, you can follow thought leaders on social media and monitor what they write about. It’s an easy way to stay aware of new industry trends and popular topics.

Consider getting professional writing help

There is a big difference between writing ordinary content and data-driven content. To create a share-worthy piece of data-driven content, you need to be a great researcher and creative thinker. You need to have high analytical and creative skills and be an expert in your field.

If you don’t have such skills or simply don’t have enough time to research, you should search for expert help. For instance, you can reach out to an academic writing services company and get the necessary assistance. It will allow you to get more high-quality content and optimize your strategy.

Provide links to original sources information 

One of the biggest mistakes inexperienced content creators make is using secondary sources instead of original sources of information.

Let’s consider an example. Imagine you are writing an article about Twitter and looking for recent statistics. 

You have found an article that presents the demographic statistics and contains all information you need. However, if you use it for writing your article, that will be a mistake. You need to conduct in-depth research and check links to original sources. 

https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2020/04/14/twitter-statistics

For instance, you should visit Statista and double-check the relevance of the US demographic statistics. 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/265647/share-of-us-internet-users-who-use-twitter-by-age-group/

Secondary sources discuss information originally presented elsewhere. You can’t trust these sources fully. And since you want to build trust with your target audience, you should back up your statements only with 100% accurate data.

Wrapping it up

Data-driven content works like a magic wand for modern businesses. It helps to increase engagement, improve loyalty, and drive sales.  

We highly suggest you use this guide to write high-quality content for your website. It will allow you to avoid common mistakes and boost your content marketing efforts.

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Written By Daniela McVicker

Daniela McVicker is a blogger and freelance writer. She is passionate about technology and is always excited to share the latest information available on the market. Daniela is fascinated by technology evolution and is constantly keeping an eye on corporations to check so that she can be the first to spread the news when a new product is launched.