Have you ever noticed that news sites frequently use content that is heavily reliant on figures and statistics? Maybe you’ve noticed that most if not all entertainment sites regularly post top-ten lists? There’s a very simple reason for this: data and numbers are psychologically satisfying and extremely revealing. As a result, content that utilizes them generates more clicks and better rates of engagement.
Use Google Analytics
People are interested in how other people use the internet and, if you have a website that’s tied into Google Analytics, you can access a wealth of data that can be used to produce countless pieces of content.
Does your site’s traffic fluctuate at certain times of the year? Are your products particularly popular in one city? Maybe your customers prefer Bing to Google? These are just three things that you can find out with this invaluable tool.
Ultimately, the key to using this resource to create great pieces of data-centric content is creativity. A truly enormous amount of data can be gleaned from Analytics and the more regularly you use it, the more intriguing pieces of data you’ll find.
Send out surveys
If you don’t have any interesting data to hand, create some. Think about a fun question that you can ask people that relate to your product or services and post a survey on social media or, if you have the required permissions, email it to your existing customers.
If you’re an online retailer of foodstuffs, you could ask people what they prefer to eat on Sundays. If you sell shoes, ask people what their favourite brand is. Just make sure you keep it fun in order to get the most responses possible.
Make comparisons
Don’t think that you’re confined to just using your own data. Comparing and contrasting your own data with that which has been produced by others is a great way of producing unique and engaging content. So, after you’ve compiled your own stats, get online, look for similar pieces that have been written by others, add their findings were relevant and make sure you credit the original author.
Compiling statistics from several sources (in order to provide a more comprehensive summary of an issue, for example) is another great way of creating great content. Just ensure that you credit each source appropriately.
Use infographics
I’m very much a lover of numbers and the revelations that they provide but the same can’t be said for everyone. Indeed, there are some who might say that articles that are data-centric can be a little dull. Others are simply not looking to read lengthy articles and would, instead, prefer something that is easy to consume. This is why you should consider using infographics.
If you’re not already familiar with them, infographics are visual representations of data. In other words, they’re a way of communicating your findings in an easily consumable and visually enticing format. With a compelling piece of data and a well-designed infographic, there’s no reason your content can’t go viral!
Bio:
For the last ten years, Jay Williams has worked for Fields Data Recovery, the data recovery specialists with offices throughout the UK including London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff.
