Content Curation
Content curation is the process of finding, organizing, and sharing relevant content from various sources to provide value to your audience. It involves selecting the best content from around the web and presenting it in a way that's useful and engaging for your followers.
What is content curation
Discovery: Finding valuable content from multiple sourcesFiltering: Selecting the most relevant and high-quality contentOrganization: Structuring content in a logical, accessible wayContextualization: Adding your own perspective or commentaryDistribution: Sharing curated content with your audienceEngagement: Encouraging discussion and interactionBenefits of content curation
Time efficiency: Faster than creating original contentAuthority building: Positions you as a knowledgeable sourceRelationship building: Connects you with content creatorsAudience value: Provides diverse, valuable content to followersSEO benefits: Fresh content keeps your channels activeCost-effective: Minimal production costsTrend awareness: Helps you stay current with industry developmentsTypes of curated content
Industry news: Latest developments in your fieldExpert insights: Quotes and opinions from industry leadersResearch findings: Studies, reports, and data analysisHow-to guides: Tutorials and educational contentTrending topics: Popular discussions and viral contentResource lists: Collections of tools, apps, or servicesCase studies: Real-world examples and success storiesContent curation process
1. Source identification: Find reliable content sources
2. Content discovery: Use tools and feeds to find relevant content
3. Quality assessment: Evaluate content for accuracy and value
4. Relevance check: Ensure content matches your audience's interests
5. Contextualization: Add your own commentary or perspective
6. Formatting: Adapt content for your platform's requirements
7. Scheduling: Plan when to share curated content
8. Distribution: Share across your chosen channels
9. Engagement: Respond to comments and discussions
10. Analysis: Track performance and refine your approach
Best practices
Add value: Provide context, commentary, or additional insightsCredit sources: Always attribute content to original creatorsMaintain balance: Mix curated content with original contentKnow your audience: Curate content that resonates with your followersStay consistent: Regular curation builds audience expectationsEngage authentically: Share content you genuinely find valuableRespect copyright: Follow fair use guidelines and platform rulesContent curation tools
RSS readers: Feedly, Inoreader for following multiple sourcesSocial media tools: Hootsuite, Buffer for monitoring mentionsContent discovery: BuzzSumo, Pocket for finding trending contentBookmarking: Pocket, Instapaper for saving content to read laterScheduling tools: Later, Sprout Social for planning postsAnalytics tools: Google Analytics, native platform insightsNewsletters: Substack, ConvertKit for email curationPlatforms for content curation
Social media: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook for sharingBlogs: WordPress, Medium for longer-form curationNewsletters: Email platforms for regular curated updatesPinterest: Visual content curation and organizationYouTube: Video content curation and playlistsPodcasts: Audio content curation and commentaryForums: Reddit, Discord for community-based curationCommon curation mistakes
No added value: Simply sharing without commentaryPoor source selection: Using unreliable or low-quality sourcesOver-curation: Sharing too much content without focusIgnoring copyright: Not respecting intellectual property rightsInconsistent quality: Mixing high and low-quality contentNo audience consideration: Sharing content that doesn't resonateLack of attribution: Not properly crediting original sourcesMeasuring curation success
Engagement metrics: Likes, comments, shares on curated contentClick-through rates: How many people click on curated linksFollower growth: Increase in audience sizeBrand mentions: Recognition as a valuable content sourceWebsite traffic: Visits driven by curated contentEmail subscriptions: Growth in newsletter signupsSocial media reach: How far your curated content spreadsContent curation vs content creation
Curation: Faster, less resource-intensive, builds relationshipsCreation: More control, unique voice, deeper audience connectionCombined approach: Use both strategies for maximum impact80/20 rule: 80% curated content, 20% original contentQuality over quantity: Focus on high-value content regardless of sourceAudience preference: Let your audience guide the balanceLegal considerations
Fair use: Understand copyright and fair use guidelinesAttribution: Always credit original sources properlyPermission: Ask for permission when sharing copyrighted contentPlatform rules: Follow each platform's content sharing policiesDMCA compliance: Respect takedown requests and copyright noticesTerms of service: Read and understand platform terms before sharing