Find Better Sources for SEO
Okay, so we’ve all had it with “fake news” at this point, right? Most of us hated citing sources in English papers, but now it’s necessary for credibility. More people are starting to dive deeper into the information presented. As a result, it requires companies who present information in digital formats to do better research and give their readers legitimate sources. The benefit is that articles can offer more substance, which can improve SEO by linking to this information, and further improve the ranking of valid sourced content in return.
What Counts as a Good Source?
In terms of good sources for SEO linking, visual representations of studies and reports are great tools. Ideally, these can take the form of either infographics, or a link to a study that’s in an easily digestible format. If these aren’t available, consider using a quick design tool (such as Canva) to create an infographic and provide a link to the original source material for reader reference. Creating this type of content also has further potential SEO benefits, as people searching for similar information, will be more likely to link to your page.
Where to Find Good Sources
Depending on the information you’re trying to share, scholarly databases are usually good places to start. Some popular resources include InfoTrac, LexisNexis, and EBSCO. Further, newspapers and industry magazines are also reliable as primary sources. And of course, simple searches are always an option, but they can require more digging to verify accuracy.
Investigating Studies and Claims
Generally, it’s good to evaluate the quality of sources and studies based on their claims. For example, a claim is made and there’s a study cited. When reviewing a study, make sure to consider the sample size of the information, and where the study was conducted. Often times, university studies have been conducted anonymously, informally, or even through polls conducted on social media!
Details, Details
Do small sample sizes and related discouraging details mean that the sources are invalid or otherwise unusable? Not necessarily. But noting these details and providing a disclaimer, rather than citing as concrete facts, show reinforce the objectivity of information presented. It also communicates to the reader that due diligence has been done to provide the most factual information possible.
