What are the best tools and resources for copywriting research?

1 Why research matters

Research is the foundation of good copywriting. It helps you understand your target market, their needs, wants, challenges, and motivations. It also helps you find the best angle, tone, and style for your message, and how to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Research also helps you avoid common pitfalls, such as plagiarism, factual errors, or legal issues. Without research, your copy will be generic, boring, or ineffective.

2 How to do research

Researching for copywriting can be done in various ways, depending on your goals, budget, and time. Keyword research is a popular method, which involves finding the most relevant and popular words and phrases that your audience uses to search for your topic, product, or service. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Moz, or SEMrush can be used to find and analyze keywords. Competitor analysis is another method, which involves studying what your competitors are doing, how they position themselves, what they offer, and how they communicate with their audience. Tools like SimilarWeb, BuzzSumo, or SpyFu can be used to find and compare your competitors' websites, social media, ads, and content. Additionally, customer feedback is a great way to listen to what your customers or prospects are saying, asking, or complaining about your topic, product, or service. Tools like SurveyMonkey, Typeform, or Hotjar can be used to create and distribute surveys, polls, or quizzes, and collect and analyze data. Social Mention, Mention, or Brand24 can be used to monitor and track online conversations, reviews, and mentions about your brand, industry, or niche.

3 How to organize research

Once you have gathered enough research, you need to organize it in a way that makes sense and helps you write your copy. Mind maps are visual diagrams that can be used to brainstorm and structure ideas, concepts, and information. Tools like MindMeister, XMind, or Coggle can be used to create and edit mind maps, and plan copy outlines, headlines, subheadings, and key points. Spreadsheets are tables that can be used to store and sort data, such as keywords, statistics, facts, quotes, or sources. Tools like Google Sheets, Excel, or Airtable can be used to create and manage spreadsheets, and track and compare research, and find the most relevant and useful information for your copy. Folders are a simple but effective way to store and access research files, such as documents, images, videos, or audio. Tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Evernote can be used to create and sync folders, and organize research by topic, category, or project, and easily find and use them when writing copy.

4 How to use research

The final step is to use your research to write your copy. To make the most of your research, ensure it supports your main message, goal, and call to action. Connect with your audience emotionally and logically by using stories, anecdotes, examples, or testimonials to show how your topic, product, or service can solve their problems. Make your copy unique and valuable by using your own voice, style, and perspective. Leverage gaps, opportunities, or trends in your research to create original and relevant content.