Freelance Writing Tips: The Research Process

I've recently received several posts about my research methods, requesting tips on how to research multiple articles quickly and effectively.

I'm thinking that now might be a good time to cover a few of my research shortcuts – the methods that I use to find quality sources quickly, as well as how I store them for future reference. 

First, I write for multiple clients, but I try to keep my focus narrowed to a few niches: parenting, health, mental health,gardening and alternative medicine.

I occasionally take projects outside of these areas, but I focus on these broad topics. I'm slowly building a reference library, so I have print references for many of the articles that I write handy, which helps a great deal. If you choose this route, remember that your purchases may be tax deductible.

Tips for Online Searches

First, I use Evernote to store my research and sort it by category. This means that I don't have to do my research more than once – if I write an article on Radon safety this week, and an article on the symptoms of Radon exposure next week, I can use the same reference materials for both articles. This saves me a good bit of time. 

Next, I find reputable sources by adding specifiers to my search string. So I'll search like this: 

radon site:.edu  or radon site:.org   or radon site: .gov

This will pull up high quality information from government publications and websites. Your results will be even more focused if you turn off Google's new Instant feature. 

Google Scholar and Google Books are also great sources for reputable sources for your articles. You may be able to find previews of a print book, journal article, or abstract, saving you a trip to the library. 

Your local library is another excellent resource. Many libraries offer free access to online research databases, allowing you to search medical journals, periodicals, and more. If you have a week or more to work on your article, you may also find the interlibrary loan feature helpful. 

When I sit down to write, I research and draft my articles first. So, I spend about an hour researching, drafting, and laying out SEO keywords for 5-10 articles. Then I break the writing up into 25 minute chunks. This allows me to see right away if I'm short on research for a particular article, if I need to work harder to fit in a difficult keyword, or if I'll need to find another reference or resource.

What are your tips for freelance writing research? 

Tags: freelance writing, tips for freelance writing research, working from home