Research is a necessary step in most any type of writing endeavor. If you are a copywriter, author of articles or books, editors, editors and the list goes on. The number of websites available is mind-boggling. Websites on the Internet are increasing daily and so is the number of search engine results.

It turns out that research is the most important and time-consuming part of any writing project you undertake. You need to collect information on the Internet, but finding information that is credible and trustworthy can be a very daunting task.

As you explore all the web results provided by search engines, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. If you search for a single word “Pets”, for example, there are 657,000,000 results. Narrow down the results by expanding the search word to Pet Food, which narrows it down to 567,000,000 results. If you are as specific as possible in your search words, you will receive fewer results, which will limit the number of websites available to you. For example, what type of pet food are you looking for: dog, cat, bird/canned, dry, organic, homemade. This will focus your research directly on your target.

Make your results believable
You can also narrow down your research further by searching for those websites that are most likely to provide you with credible and reliable information. The length of the websites will differentiate the type of information that is provided. Below is a list of URL extensions and tips to help you determine possible credible websites for your extension.

URL Extension – Websites that are most likely to contain credible and trustworthy information.

• .gov-government sites. The information on these sites is evaluated before being published and is therefore considered credible.
• .edu-educational sites. The information is generally written by the faculty and staff at the facility and would be considered credible. Some educational facilities also allow students to post articles and should be investigated further.
• .mil-military. The information on these sites is evaluated before being published and is therefore considered credible.
• Sites of .org organizations. About half of these sites are credible and the other half are questionable. Additional research will be required on your part to decide.
• .net network sites. This extension can also be half credible and half questionable. It will require additional research on your part to verify.
• .com-commercial sites: Most of these sites contain reliable information. Keep in mind if it is a business selling products or services. Your information may be biased so that you purchase their products or services.

• Is the article or information attributed to an author? The author will usually mention their qualifications in their field of knowledge, either in the article or on the website. Also, you can verify the author’s name with an association he belongs to or other credible articles he has written.
• Does the article or information have a list of resources? This information can verify that the author researched their project and will also allow you to check if their source is credible.
• Item Date-Article/information that has a more current date will likely be more credible than outdated information.
• See the About page-Is there an email address, phone number or mailing address where I can request more information?

You can also check commercial business (.com) sites with the Better Business Bureau online. The BBB posts user complaints for your review. Other options available are to check if the website has a security certificate; an extended validation (EM) certificate; if a company is publicly traded, listings can be found at Dun & Bradstreet.

While your time constraints may not allow you to use all of these options, they are available if you need them. The more credible information you can collect will not only keep your readers interested, but will entice them to learn more.

Just remember, the quality of your writing depends on your knowledge of the subject. By choosing to enlist the help of a research specialist, you will save time and free up time for more writing projects.