Are you looking for a way to garner some attention within your industry, perhaps to make a name for yourself or your business?

Writing a report on a hot topic is an effective way to do this.

Scour the internet and the news to find out what’s a hot topic in your industry right now. Use Google trends to find out what type of information people are looking for.

Now that you have your topic, get creative and write a fact based report that’s both informative and easy to follow.

A well written report requires lots of research on current information.

Before beginning your research, answer this question: What’s your focus?

Think! What questions are people asking about your hot topic of choice?

Keep in mind that the questions others may ask may not be the questions you would ask. The purpose of the report is to provide beneficial information to your readers.

Turn the answers to these questions into chapters or headings. Now that you’ve established focus, it’s time to conduct research.

When researching, always use information from credible sources and do lots of fact checking. One iota of misinformation in a report will tarnish your reputation and hurt your credibility, especially as an expert in your industry.

How can you make your report stand out from others? Contact professionals and well known experts in your industry to ask for an interview.

Turn the interview, or parts of, into a video or audio clip and include it in your report. Be upfront about the person you are interviewing and secure their permission first. Use the added feature of the video or audio clip to promote your report.

Now it’s time to decide whether or not you’ll be giving your report away for free or sell it. Free reports make great incentives for opt-in lists and website memberships. Remember, creativity sells.

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