{"id":97741,"date":"2025-02-19T16:38:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T16:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/business\/marketing\/how-to-secure-incredible-subject-matter-experts-smes-for-your-articles\/"},"modified":"2025-02-19T16:38:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T16:38:24","slug":"how-to-secure-incredible-subject-matter-experts-smes-for-your-articles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=97741","title":{"rendered":"How to Secure Incredible Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) For Your Articles"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Last Updated on

Securing relevant and notable subject matter experts (SMEs) for your content is easier than you might think. <\/p>\n

From authors to industry leaders, adding insight from SMEs in your niche lends your articles extra credibility. <\/p>\n

And, even though we\u2019re sick and tired of hearing about A.I.<\/em>, adding credibility to your writing is crucial when you\u2019re up against OpenAI. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve sourced hundreds of SMEs and have learned a trick or two along the way, and today, I\u2019m sharing my exact process so you know how to snag valuable insight to give your articles a bit of oomph<\/em>. <\/p>\n

*Note: this article is centered around gathering SME for quotes and insight for a piece you\u2019re writing rather than in-depth interviews or case studies.<\/p>\n

How to gather SME for your content<\/h2>\n

Step 1. Identify where an SME will bolster your piece<\/h3>\n

As a writer, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll be hired to write about a topic that isn\u2019t <\/em>within your realm of expertise. That\u2019s not to say you can\u2019t write on the topic, but you\u2019re likely not the right person to share personal expertise throughout the piece. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example.<\/p>\n

I had to write a piece for Wordtune on summarizing research papers. In one section, I wanted to tell the reader how long a summary should be (500 words? 1,000 words? I honestly didn\u2019t know the answer because it had been a while since I had to summarize a research paper<\/em>).<\/p>\n

I had two choices: I could either research something and put together a guestimate <\/em>based on other sources, or I could try to find someone with experience to give the reader a concrete answer. <\/p>\n

Luckily, I knew someone who fit the bill. Take a read:<\/p>\n

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Image via Wordtune<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thanks to Charlene, I had a precise answer backed with expertise.<\/p>\n

As you outline your article, note which areas having SMEs will add credibility to your claims. Here are two things to look for:<\/p>\n

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  1. Areas where Google doesn\u2019t give a cut-and-dry answer<\/li>\n
  2. Areas where someone\u2019s personal story can drive home your points<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Step 2. Identify relevant SMEs<\/h3>\n

    Finding the right <\/em>SMEs is key if you want your work to be authoritative and creditable. <\/p>\n

    For example, if you\u2019re writing a piece about copywriting, you\u2019ll want insight from a successful copywriter. Not a copywriting student. Not a content writer. Be critical of who you source, otherwise, you might end up with insight that dilutes your main thesis. <\/p>\n

    Once you know which areas of your article will benefit from SME, you can start sourcing people to help.<\/p>\n

    There are two different ways to gather SME for your content:<\/p>\n

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    1. Source it yourself (i.e., find and reach out to relevant experts<\/em>)<\/li>\n
    2. Collect it through third-party platforms (i.e., put out an SME request and sift through responses<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Each method has its place, and I recommend using both to find the perfect source for your work.<\/p>\n

      #1. Source SME yourself<\/h4>\n

      First, we\u2019ll go over how to source subject matter experts yourself.<\/p>\n

      Start by listing people who might be able to help you. Here are some ideas:<\/p>\n