Blogs Aren't Just About Good Writing

Behind the scenes of my research process when writing for a new brand!

This is what brands think when it comes to blog writing —

2000 words = 3 days

4000 words = 5 days

7000 words = 7 days

Point: Companies estimate the content turnaround based on the time required for preliminary topic research and the actual writing part.

And while I understand the importance of quick turnaround, here’s the truth:

I can not write or even research about the topic, until and unless I know the brand inside out.

That means be it a simple rough outline or the first draft, I wouldn’t start working until I have a strong grasp over:

• the brand

• their product

• specific target audience

• competitive advantage

And while such a research process takes considerable time, you want tools that speed up your workflow without impacting quality.

So, in this edition of ‘Trippy Tales’, I will discuss how Reddit has become a game-changing resource for my research — How you can use Reddit for audience and competitor research, and if Chatgpt is a comparable alternative.

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Where It All Started …

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It’s funny how, a few months ago, I was talking about spending six hours on a product demo, and now…

I’ve had two companies request first drafts within 3 days of onboarding, with minimal information about their product, target audience, or USP—let alone a product demo.

Honestly, this isn’t the first time.

But the tight deadlines made me realize that companies often don’t understand the research that goes behind a quality blog.

And I’m not talking about SERP analysis, unique angle, or being thorough with product features.

I’m referring to audience research, which gives you clarity about your target audiences’:

• Pain points

• Buying factors

• Day-to-day struggles

• Friction points

• Vocabulary

While talking directly to the audience provides the best insights, tight deadlines become a restriction.

So, even though Reddit has been around for a long time, only recently I cracked the code to use it for research effectively.

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Reddit for Audience Research

Reddit can be tricky, especially if you can’t find relevant groups or Reddit threads.

I recorded a video that walks you through one of my research sessions to show how I extract insights from Reddit threads.

It’s under 10 minutes and will give you ideas on how to get started.

In the end, I also compared Reddit research to ChatGPT to see if there was a difference and whether ChatGPT can save you time.

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My Thoughts

When you start working with a new brand, you have to go beyond product features, and what SERPs cover.

The extra hours spent knowing your audience will result in relevant and engaging content.

So, while companies often push for quick drafts, you should be thorough with brand, audience, and competitor research.

It will result in quality content that truly makes an impact.

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💭Food for Thought

What does your research process look like when writing for a brand for the first time?

Does it differ from your usual blog research?

I want to make this newsletter interactive, a place to connect with freelancer blog writers.

So, each edition will end with a question.

I would love to hear your thoughts… So, hit that reply button and I’ll be waiting on the other side :))

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