Did you just receive an assignment on a topic that you know nothing about or feel less than 100% confident about creating high-quality content?

Every writer encounters unfamiliar and challenging topics, but with the right mindset and research skills, anyone can write on a topic with little or no experience. (Really, you can!)

Not only does tackling a tough topic help you become a stronger writer, but you’re also expanding your opportunities for more work!

Ready to learn more about how to write on a topic that’s not in your “niche”? These tips can help.

How to Write on a Topic with No Experience

Here’s a brief overview of your steps:

• Start with an SEO perspective

• Look at competitors

• Use Google search tools

• Act like a reader (and research)

• Explore the client site

• Ask for help!

What’s SEO? A Brief Primer on SEO Content…

The goal and purpose of SEO content is for the article to rank in the Top 10 spots on Google for the target keyword provided.

“SEO” can be intimidating for all writers, but it’s actually quite easy to understand if you break it down. Let’s take a quick look at the basics of SEO.

First of all, SEO Content is not:

• Journalism

• Creative writing

• Academic writing

• Only for subject matter experts

To create great SEO content, you need to:

• Be detailed oriented—our instructions are specific and must be followed as written

• Research topics quickly via search engines

• Have a strong command of written English

At WordAgents, we don’t expect our writers to be experts on any subject, but rather generalists who can write about anything.

The vast majority of our writers have ZERO experience on any of the topics in which they’re assigned. They succeed because they follow directions closely and have mastered the art of internet research.

Competitors Hold the Key

Google already tells us the info that needs to be included in the article. Just search Google for the target keyword you were assigned. The top 10 ranking pages for that target keyword are there because Google wants them to be there.

That means they have the exact information that needs to be in an article for that target keyword. Simply include the similar info (written in your own words and updated for current info) in your article.

Competitors are also great for uncovering data sources and pointing to high-authority resource links:

To be able to use stats, data, etc on topics in which you have no experience, simply look at what stats are used in competing articles. Use this information to 1) find where this data came from, and 2) use the updated, current data/stats in your article.

Need to find high-authority resources to link to in your article? The competing articles have likely already linked to great sources in their version. Check out where those competing articles are linked to in order to guide your search for sources.

Client instructions often include other examples and competing articles outside of what is found in the top 10 spots on Google for the target keyword. Use these extra resources in the exact same way that you would use a competing article that you found on Google.

You do not need to be a subject matter expert on the topic to gain context (SEO or otherwise) for the article in which you are assigned. Reading the top 3 articles for the target keyword, and briefly skimming all of the top 10 articles for the target keyword will give you all the context you need.

Google Search Operators Makes Research Easy

In addition to competing articles, you may want to research specific details about a sub-topic that you’d like to include in your article.

You can, and should, use Google Search Operators to filter Google’s results down to only what you need. Check out the Internet Research page for more information.

This article includes all of the Google Search Operators relevant to us: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-search-operators-commands/215331/#close

Key operators that you may use frequently include:

• Allintext—Great for using in conjunction with the target keyword to find more competing articles. Can also use with sub-topics to find detail info.

• Allintitle—Great for using in conjunction with the target keyword to find more competing articles. Can also use with sub-topics to find detail info.

• Allinurl—Great for using in conjunction with the target keyword to find more competing articles. Can also use with sub-topics to find detail info.

• Searches in Quotes—using quotes around a search phrase will return results that are an exact match for the phrase within the quotes. This ensures you receive results hyper-related to your search phrase.

• Site:—Allows you to search for specific information within a specific website

Internet Research

Approach the topic like the reader.

What do you want to know about the topic? What are some of the questions you have? Chances are, if you have questions others have had them, too. That content already exists online.

While SEO is an essential part of the equation, your content also needs to be relatable to a general audience, and that’s why a “reader” perspective is so helpful.

Maybe you’ve researched all the basics of your topic, but want to dig a little deeper so you can cover the topic better. An excellent way to expand on your topic is to check out the “People Also Ask” section on Google or “Searches related to “x” (topic)”

Not only can these sections help you gain a better understanding about a topic, but they are particularly useful tools when clients request an in-depth FAQs section.

Explore Client Site

Sometimes the client will include the site where the content will appear. While client sites aren’t always up-to-date or available to us, they can help with writing content. If the client includes “competitor” examples, it’s always important to check those out (especially when tackling a tough topic) but always remember that your content should be unique.

Writer Question Tag

Have you tried out all these tips and still feel stuck? Before you pass on an assignment, never hesitate to reach out with a question. If the client instructions aren’t clear or you need a little help expanding on the topic, our team is available to give you some pointers. (Find more info on tags in the Using Tags and Statuses document.)