How to beef up your content with statistics

Think about it. Which statement would you rather share?

The second statement tells you there’s a behavioral trend that has real implications for business, communications, and a number of other fields.

But you can’t just throw a bunch of statistics into your content and expect instant gravitas. It takes thought to find and interpret facts that support your argument. Facts should add depth—not clutter—to your point.

Here’s what you need to know to use data wisely and effectively.

1. Speed up your research.

It can take a lot of time to find the right data to support your content. The good news is there are a couple of free tools that can streamline the process and make sure you’re well-supplied with fresh research:

2. Make sure your data is credible.

There’s a reason Mark Twain’s “Lies, damn lies, and statistics” adage is so well known. It’s easy to misinterpret facts, and tools like Twitter only increase the speed at which facts travel. Often, this means stats travel without their original sources or context.

How can you test whether data is well-founded? Check for these elements: