Write a high-quality article without panicking.
You’re getting paid to write a blog! Whether it’s for work or your side hustle, you’re making money and that’s great. There’s just one problem: you know absolutely nothing about the topic. You’ve never heard of it or you’ve only seen it in passing. The words seem like a foreign language and it’s not even remotely related to an industry you’re familiar with.
Panic starts to creep in. Should you tell them you don’t know? Do you give the money back? How bad are you going to look?
Stop worrying.
It is completely possible to write a blog when you know nothing about the topic. In fact, writers do this every day. Sure, it’s nice to know what you’re writing about or be at least a little familiar with it, but that is never a guarantee. This is especially true if you are doing freelance blog writing on Fiverr, Upwork, or a similar platform. You can expect orders from a range of businesses that cover an equally broad range of topics.
If you’re going to write a blog or article on a topic you know nothing about, here are five tips to get you through the process in one piece. (And make sure you get paid!)
1. Be Clear on the Expectations
Review the requirements of your client carefully. Make sure you know the word count expectations as well as the important terms and keywords that should be included in the article. Also, ask for the goal or purpose of the blog if it is not explicitly clear in the client’s requirements.
When you know exactly what you are supposed to be writing about, it is much easier to focus your attention. You won’t get swept down a rabbit hole that has nothing to do with the topic at hand. And fulfilling your client’s expectations and the goal of the article is one way to earn repeat business.
2. Do Your Research
Whether you’re writing a blog on a topic you’re familiar with or something completely unknown, you should always do your research. Even if you are an expert on the topic, research is a crucial step in the writing process.
Once you have clear expectations for the blog, start by researching terms, industries, or concepts with which you are not familiar. Chances are, a bunch of blogs on the topic are already available. Skim as many as you can, diving deeper into the content that applies directly to your blog.
Here are some ideas for researching your topic:
- Thoroughly review your client’s website. Get an understanding of their products, services, and company as well as any articles they have already published.
- Google it! Start with a basic search to get a foundation of knowledge. I always Google the exact blog title for my project, just to see what is already out there.
- Read forums for the industry to get a sense of the lingo professionals in that arena use.
- Look at discussion boards or comments on other websites and blogs. This can provide an inside look into what people are asking and the answers they are receiving.
- Check social media to learn which topics are trending in the industry or what people are saying about the product or service.
3. Ask Questions
The worst thing you can do is attempt to write an article without clarifying confusing or difficult points. You will not produce a quality piece, and you will likely go through several rounds of revisions with your client. It is best to ask questions as soon as possible in the writing process and keep asking if anything comes up along the way.
Ask the client to clarify their expectations, provide a detailed overview of their products or services, connect you with other members of their organization for more information, and provide resources they use for their own knowledge. Don’t ask fifty questions every day, but a few relevant questions throughout the process are not likely to annoy your client. In fact, they will probably appreciate your reaching out instead of making your own (incorrect) assumptions.
Find people who are familiar with the topic. Is there someone else who has written a blog on the subject or given an interview? Reach out to them! This step largely depends on your timeline, but it can provide valuable information from a third-party to improve the quality of your writing.
4. Find the Facts
I love to fill my blogs up with facts and figures, especially if I am unfamiliar with the topic. It gives me a jumping-off point and provides relevant information to the audience in one convenient place. Pull stats, reports, studies, case studies, etc. from a range of credible sources (that you properly cite) to beef up your blog. You can then interpret the information through the lens of your client and their audience.
You should never make claims you cannot support or share information you do not believe to be true. However, adding legitimate statistics and facts into your article is always a great strategy. Give the facts and then let the reader know what that information means to them in your own words.
5. Talk to People You Know
You would be surprised how many of your friends and family members have hidden talents and are secretly walking encyclopedias. Bring up your latest article in conversation and see what they have to say. They may shrug and have no idea what you’re talking about, or they could know a lot about the topic and become a great resource.
If you’re really stuck, post a question on Facebook or Twitter and see if any of your acquaintances can help you out. Chances are, you’ll find someone who can point you in the right direction or offer a unique insight to your blog.
Just Start Writing
It’s easy to delay actually writing an article if you feel overwhelmed or underprepared by the topic. But, it is important to start putting words on paper (or the screen) as soon as you can. Even if you are just listing out ideas, stats, or other random pieces of information, you can start to see everything in one place. Before you know it, you’ll be making connections within your research and gaining a deeper understanding of the topic.
One of my favorite things about freelance writing is the ability to become an expert on any topic for a short period of time. I can tell you a weird amount of stuff about guinea pigs, international trademark laws, artificial intelligence, and drying in between your toes. Trust me, I knew very little on all of those topics before I wrote blogs about them. If I can become an expert on something so off-the-wall and niche, you can too.
Check out my freelance writing portfolio for a look at some of the more interesting (and strange) blog topics I have covered so far.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever written? Does an upcoming project have you stumped? Share your writing woes in the comments, and see if we can help each other out!