What are the best tools and methods for conducting digital media writing research?

1 Identify your purpose and audience

Before you start your research, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your writing, and who you are writing for. Your purpose and audience will guide your choice of topic, tone, style, format, and channel. For example, if you are writing a blog post for a business website, your purpose might be to inform, persuade, or educate your audience about a product, service, or issue. Your audience might be potential customers, existing clients, or industry peers. You need to use appropriate language, evidence, and examples that match your purpose and audience.

2 Find and evaluate sources

Once you have defined your purpose and audience, you need to find and evaluate sources that support your writing. Sources can include books, articles, reports, websites, podcasts, videos, or social media posts. You can use various tools and methods to find sources, such as search engines, databases, directories, libraries, or recommendations. However, not all sources are equally reliable, relevant, or accurate. You need to evaluate sources based on criteria such as authority, currency, coverage, objectivity, and quality. You can use tools such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, or Zotero to help you find and manage academic sources.

3 Analyze and synthesize information

After you have collected and evaluated your sources, you need to analyze and synthesize the information they provide. Analysis means breaking down the information into smaller parts and examining how they relate to your topic, purpose, and audience. Synthesis means combining the information from different sources and creating new insights, arguments, or perspectives. You can use tools and methods such as mind maps, outlines, summaries, or annotations to help you analyze and synthesize information.

4 Cite and reference sources

When you use information from other sources in your writing, you need to cite and reference them properly. Citing and referencing sources means acknowledging the original authors and sources of the information, and providing the necessary details for your readers to find them. Citing and referencing sources also shows that you respect the intellectual property and academic integrity of others, and that you support your claims with evidence. You can use tools and methods such as citation styles, citation generators, or reference managers to help you cite and reference sources.

5 Adapt and optimize your writing

Finally, you need to adapt and optimize your writing for the specific digital media platform and channel you are using. Different digital media platforms and channels have different features, formats, and expectations that affect how you write and present your content. For example, if you are writing for a podcast, you need to use a conversational tone, clear structure, and catchy hooks. If you are writing for a video, you need to use visuals, captions, and keywords. If you are writing for a social media post, you need to use hashtags, emojis, and calls to action. You can use tools and methods such as analytics, feedback, or testing to help you adapt and optimize your writing.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?