What Is Content Creation?
Essentially, the term “Content Creation” means producing original information that can be shared across digital channels such as websites, blogs, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, etc. When you create original content, you are in effect your own author and publisher.
Who Are Content Curators?
“Content Curators” amass, package and share information that is already in the public domain. Content curators also tend to focus their expertise on a particular topic and therefore can become a “go to” source for information relating to that area.
For example:
Guy Kawasaki = digital technology
Beth Kanter = online marketing for nonprofits
Dan Schwabel = personal branding
Brian Solis = new media/digital communications
Gary Vanyrchuck = social media & wine
Mike Volpe = inbound marketing
Great Content Curators provide a tremendous service by accumulating massive amounts of information relating to a particular topic – something that the rest of us simply don’t have the time to do. For example, rather than struggling to keep abreast of everything happening in the field of digital communications, you might simply subscribe to Brian Solis’ blog. Or, if you want to learn about the latest online marketing trends in the nonprofit arena, your best bet is to follow Beth Kanter’s blog or Twitter feed.
Solar Knights Construction: a great case
Recently I worked with Passive House builder Solar Knights Construction (SKC) to develop an online communications plan. Since the online conversation about Passive House is so new, we saw a unique opportunity to be among the very first to Create Content around Passive House construction. As a result, today SKC is a leader in the ongoing dialog around Passive House construction and regularly invited to deliver addresses on the topic to interested groups nationwide. On an ongoing basis, SKC also manages several online communication channels including Twitter, blogs and their website keeping the conversation alive and their name in the headlines.
Inbound Marketing Redux
So going back to one of my earlier blogs on Inbound Marketing, being a great Content Creator or Content Curator can help drive traffic to your website or blog, social media channels, etc. The more useful and informative content you create or curate, the more traffic you can potentially generate, the greater your clout (klout) or influence, the longer lasting your impression on audiences.
Words of Advice
Keep your content focused and narrow your subject matter
Publish thoughtfully (create value!) and frequently
Be a good listener to your audience and learn what interests them (measure)
Keep feeding the beast!