This is an article “Curating Research Materials for Content” by Marc Primo Warren
Many are still grasping at straws when it comes to curating research materials for online content. Collating useful references and links that will keep your online followers interested and give you a better online presence requires an organized and meticulous process that produces positive results instead of fluff and clutter.
Most brands or individuals who are trying to boost online traffic even hire professional content curators who can manage their social media, blog, and web posts more efficiently, and in a manner that stays consistent with brand guidelines and marketing strategies.
However, learning the basics of content curation can be easy if you know who your audiences are and how you can engage them. Here are some helpful tips that can get you started.
Add your voice
The main essence of content curation is adding both your voice and value to your gathered content sourced from various reliable sources, whether primary or secondary. Primary sources are those that are collated from face-to-face interviews or first-hand accounts, while secondary sources are collected from scholarly books or articles that you’ve come across from conventional multimedia sources.
Making sure that your voice, tone, and style is consistent with your created content ensures your audience that you have carefully curated the materials that are available to you and that you’re ready to share what you know. Simply rewording online articles (like how most would hack it), often comes off as sloppy and incoherent. Carefully review your research materials and draft your articles from a first-person POV as part of your strategy so you get yourself in-the-know and ready to share.
Work to be an authority
One important benefit that proper content curation and management can give you is credibility. Remember, thought leaders are made by the value of their knowledge and how they share it with their audiences.
Learn about your audience’s interests, pain points, and how you can efficiently communicate your thoughts to them by deliberately conveying how you’d like to present your brand online. Draft a brand statement and creative screens that will serve as guides to how you’ll draft content that could capture their attention, keep them talking, and keep you at the top of their minds. This way, you can set yourself apart from the competition and earn your right to being a worthy online presence.
Be on top of what’s relevant
Though it would be easier to simply search the web for content from other creators that’s relevant to your brand and simply post a backlink to your site, coming up with your own original content shows your audiences that you are very much in the game and knows what’s important for your business. Think of it as how each post that successfully engages your audience is equal to another medal that tells them you know what you are talking about.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t post more content from other creators. Balancing what you post online gives off the impression that you are well aware of what’s happening around the business rather than merely pushing your brand over the competition. Plus, you can also expand your network by being inclusive instead of simply taking an “all me” approach.
Content curation simply means being updated on topics that you can share with your followers to begin conversations. Knowing who your audience is, how you can help them, and sharing links with other reliable sources should be the root of all your efforts. Adding your personal touch and style adds your stamp of approval and takes you up a notch as an online entity that’s worth following.
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