Content marketing - creating vs curating.

Content marketing has become such a big trend in business promotion. Successful businesses have become publishing houses. As a business owner, how do you take advantage of effective content marketing without having to do it all yourself?

The answer is simple. Don’t do it all yourself!
 
When you take your own photos, publish your own articles and create your own videos (with or without professional assistance), this is called content creation. You are the creator.
 
When you share, comment on and distribute other brand’s content, this is called content curation. Think about it like the curator at an art museum. Their role is to coordinate the exhibition, not paint the canvas. Likewise, when curating content, it is your role to source relevant content and when appropriate share with your audience.
 
Benefits of mixing content creation and curation include:
 
1. Brand association
By sharing something from another brand, you get some brand rub off. You are associating yourself with them. So make sure you choose wisely!
 
2. Enhances credibility
By sharing content from others, you can show that you are more knowledgeable and credible in your field. Industry leaders are not afraid to acknowledge others in their field.
 
3. Variety
By mixing things up from different authors and publishers, you can ensure you are keeping a variety in tone of voice. What resonates with one person might not resonate with the next person. Variety can help you appeal to a wider audience.
 
4. Cost savings
You can save time by sharing already published content, rather than having to create new content yourself.
 
Having a good mix of original content and shared content can be a great way for a business to build a strong on-line presence and demonstrate their credibility. When referencing someone else’s work online, or sharing their articles, images or videos, be sure to credit them properly. Don’t pass their work off as your own. Just because you found it via google, doesn’t mean someone doesn’t own it. Intellectual property laws still apply. Not only do you want to be lawful, you want to remain credible – this should remain your key objective.
 
Investing some time in researching suitable content to curate can be fun, interesting and rewarding. You might even learn something new. Let me know how you go.