The Reality Blog: Define Your Own “Research System” For Greater Profits
Dear Web Writer,
Research can be your golden ticket or the bane of your existence as a web writer.
It all depends on how you look at it.
In her essay today, Heather Robson brings up some excellent points on how to do quality research while avoiding pitfalls.
NOTE: See The Complete Reality Blog Here
The Two Biggest Pitfalls To Research
In my book, research is risky if you don’t know how to find that happy medium.
By that, I mean knowing when you’ve done enough but stopping before you’ve done too much. You’ve got to land somewhere in the middle to make the best use of your time and really put together solid copy.
Here’s why:
When you do too little research, the risks are great. For one, you’re bound to be short on fresh ideas. Worse yet, you could overlook some major development in the industry you’re writing about. This could make your client see you as ill-informed, not to mention result in weak, watered down copy.
When you do too much research, you make your entire project ten times more difficult. Though ideas may be plentiful, it quickly becomes hard to know which ones you should include and which ones to skip. You might end up fattening your copy with too many ideas, which makes it boring to your reader. Plus, it’s very easy to lose hours and hours to research, which lowers your overall productivity and compensation.
Two Research “Gems” I Recommend
After making both of the mistakes I mentioned above, I’ve developed two solutions. Heather also talks about them, though with a slight twist. Which makes a good point: Take these tips as guidelines and adapt them for your own needs.
1.) Put a time limit on your research. When I’m writing for the alternative health market, I get completely engrossed in the newest studies and supplement revelations. Too many times, I’ve spent all my allotted writing time on research, making for a poorly thrown-together promotion. Because of that, I’ve learned to set a timer for 2-3 hours of research, depending on the size and scope of the project I’m doing. This ensures I get enough fodder for my copy, but I still quit while I’m ahead.
2.) Organize your research notes after you’re done researching. Heather mentions using 3×5 cards to record research notes, because afterwards she’s able to move her ideas around in different combinations to come up with the most cohesive argument possible. I do something similar. I cut and paste a lot of my research notes into a single document. Then, I print out my notes and cut up the paper, thus separating the major ideas into skinny strips. From there, I’m able to take my strips of paper and move them around till I have a strong argument to work from.
I highly recommend taking the time to define your own “research system” early on in your career. It’ll make it that much easier to be efficient and profitable later on.
Speaking Of Being Profitable: New Wealthy Web Writer Challenge Announced!
This is huge, and exciting, and packed with momentum — so take note! Here at the Wealthy Web Writer, we’ve enjoyed such a tremendous response to our Reality Blog Challenges that we’re going to ramp them up!
I’ll now be unveiling monthly Wealthy Web Writer Challenges that will involve our entire member community. Let’s just say it’s pretty clear these Challenges have made a difference in jumpstarting the careers of our members, so we want to make sure EVERY member has the opportunity to get on board (and not just you faithful Reality Blog readers, though I’ll be secretly rooting for you each month!).
Better yet, we’re going to revisit last month’s Reality Blog Challenge, which was to get your website up and running. That Challenge definitely struck a nerve in the Wealthy Web Writer community, since so many of us have found self-promotional websites to be our greatest hurdle (me included). Yet, it’s also our greatest tool for client generation.
SO, stay posted for the official guidelines for this newest Challenge. I’ll have them up within the next day or two. What I can tell you now, though, is that the prize for the winner will be worth roughly $500! As my farmer uncle likes to say, “Them’s some big potatoes!”
Holy Cow, It Gets Even Better
Besides winning $500 and having a wealth-generating website working 24/7 for you, there’s another reason you should do this Challenge: AWAI is getting ready to launch the most comprehensive, walks-you-through-from-start-to-finish web-building webinar EVER!
It starts September 27th, and takes place over four, info-packed evenings. I know some of our best and brightest web experts will be shelling out priceless tips on how to quickly launch your website — and believe me when I say NO TECHIE SKILLS are required!
If I were you, I’d opt in to the Challenge and take part in the webinar series. Not only does that virtually guarantee you’ll have a functioning, profit-attracting website by the month’s end, it also makes you eligible for all the prizes — the $500 prize on this end, and the oh-my-goodness-I’ve-never-heard-of-such-mind-blowing-prizes from the webinar.
Seriously. The prizes are that good. I’m not sure Rebecca has officially unveiled them so I can’t spill all the details yet, but I’m just going to say WOW, and WOW again.
Remember, details on the Challenge are coming soon. Stay posted, or contact me if you’re impatient for details. And, in the meantime, sign up for the web-building webinar.
Best,
Mindy
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NOTE: See The Complete Reality Blog Here
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