How to Publish Original Research That Builds AI Authority

Original research gives others a reason to reference you. When you publish real data that no one else has, such as a survey of your customers, an analysis of your own anonymised orders or a careful price comparison, journalists, bloggers and AI assistants have something new to cite. The study must be honest, clearly explained and easy to quote to build lasting authority.

Why Original Data Works

Most online content repeats what already exists. Assistants have plenty of generic advice to draw from. A fact that only you can provide, with a clear method behind it, stands out. When other sites cite your study, that adds independent mentions of your business.

Study Ideas a Small Business Can Run

• Customer survey: a wedding photographer asks recent couples how far in advance they booked vendors.
• Internal data: a bike shop reviews its own repair records to see the most common winter faults.
• Price tracking: a renovation firm records average material costs it paid each quarter.
• Public data analysis: an accountant summarises official business registration figures for her region.
• Hands-on testing: a coffee roaster compares brewing methods with a clear, repeatable setup.

Run It Honestly

1. Decide on one clear question before collecting data.
2. Write down your method: who, how many, when, how.
3. Anonymise and protect personal data, and follow privacy rules such as GDPR where they apply.
4. Report results as they are, including surprises and limits.
5. Do not overstate. A survey of 120 of your own customers describes your customers, not a whole country.

Publish in a Quotable Format

Key findings first

Open with three to five short findings, each a complete sentence with the number and context: “Of 120 couples we surveyed in 2025, most booked their photographer more than nine months ahead.”

Method section

Explain sample size, dates and how data was collected. This is what makes others trust and cite it.

Charts with text

Charts help readers, but always state the key numbers in text too.

Date and author

Add the publication date and the name of the person responsible.

Share It

• Send the key findings to journalists and newsletters in your sector.
• Offer the data to partners or associations who might reference it.
• Summarise it on your business profiles where updates are possible.
• Repeat the study yearly so it becomes a reference.

See press release distribution for AI for outreach tips, and how to get unique content cited by AI for formatting ideas.

What to Avoid

Do not invent numbers, cherry-pick results or present tiny samples as national trends. Inflated studies are often challenged, and an assistant may repeat the criticism along with your data. A modest, honest study builds more trust than a dramatic one.

Keep the Raw Data Ready

When a journalist or partner asks follow-up questions, being able to share a simple summary table or explain a specific figure makes your study far more likely to be cited. Store the cleaned data, your questions and your notes in one place, so next year’s edition can be compared with this one.

How Keboost Helps

Keboost tracks the questions buyers ask AI in your market, which helps you spot topics where original data would fill a gap. It also helps you create and distribute focused content around your findings. Run a free AI visibility check to find the questions your research could answer.