Creating engaging content every single day can feel like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops. Juggling original ideas, staying ahead of trends, and maintaining a consistent fresh output can also be exhausting. Anything to get your brand noticed among the sea of your industry’s competition, right?
But don’t worry! The hack to thriving in the content jungle lies in knowing where to find the hidden gems. That's where content curation comes in. It strategically can enhance efficiency, establish industry credibility, and foster audience interaction. We'll share our tried-and-true methods and sources for finding content inspiration and turning it into relevant, shareable content! Go share this blog post with your marketing team! ;)
Your Audience's Personal Algorithm
Content curation is the strategic process of discovering, selecting, and sharing valuable external content aligned with your target audience's interests and your brand’s values and products/services. Unlike content creation, which involves producing original material, curation focuses on amplifying existing high-quality content. (© Hootsuite 2024)
You can curate content that positions your brand as an industry authority by understanding your audience's needs and preferences. This time-efficient approach builds trust and engagement while complementing your original content strategy. Successful content curation is about adding value to your audience's experience and building relationships!
Adding Your Unique Touch
While content curation tools streamline content discovery, successful curation demands more than simple aggregation. To differentiate yourself, add unique value by offering insights, sparking discussions, and providing context. Instead of merely sharing/reposting content, become a thought leader by interpreting information, adding substance, and engaging your audience.
To make your brand stand out more with your content, you need two key skills (© Buffer 2024):
Spotting trends and patterns: With new information popping up constantly, it's essential to identify emerging trends and connect the dots. This ability to see the bigger picture allows you to create content that is ahead of the curve.
Discovering hidden gems: While many people use curation tools to share popular content, true curators have a knack for finding under-the-radar gems. By sharing unique and authentic content, you can position yourself as a thought leader in your niche.
The Art of Curation and Creation
Add Your Unique Perspective: Transform curated content into valuable insights by offering your thoughts, opinions, and experiences.
Prioritize Original Content: Balance curated content with original pieces to establish your authority and avoid algorithm penalties.
Diversify Your Sources: Build a robust content library by sourcing information from various platforms and channels.
Give Credit Where Credit is Due: Maintain ethical practices by properly attributing content to its original creators.
Engage Actively: Foster community growth by interacting with your audience through comments, shares, and likes.
While curating content is a fantastic way to share valuable information, you definitely still need to create your own original content too. Think of it like a delicious meal – you need a mix of different flavors to satisfy your guests.
Our Go-To Content Curation Sources
Now, let’s get to the juicy stuff. Here are the places we turn to when our creative wells run dry.
1. Social Media Goldmines
Social media platforms are rich repositories of trends, audience insights, and content inspiration. Your personalized feed, shaped by your online behavior, serves as a valuable tool for content curators. Just put in the time to be chronically online and observe your feed then you can identify emerging trends, discover potential collaborators, and gain a deeper understanding of your audience.
Influencer Insights
Influencers are trendsetters. Following the right ones can give you a sneak peek into what's hot and what's not with your audience. Plus, engaging with their content can help you build relationships and even collaborate on exciting projects.
Platform-Specific Trends
Social media platforms offer a wealth of data and tools to help you stay ahead of the curve. Trend reports, forecasting tools, and analytics provide valuable insights into audience behavior and preferences. Platforms like Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram offer unique resources to help you identify emerging trends and plan your content strategy accordingly: Pinterest trends forecast report (2024); TikTok report (2024); Instagram trends forecast report (2024). Note that they release updated reports yearly!
Take advantage of these resources to stay ahead and create content that your audience will love.
Our favorites: TikTok trend report ; Hootsuite ; HubSpot
2. News and Industry Publications
Stay ahead of the curve by leveraging news outlets and industry reports. News sources, from broad-reaching publications to niche-focused outlets, offer valuable insights into industry trends, challenges, and opportunities.
Identify Relevant Sources: Utilize search engines to discover industry-specific news outlets and reports. Platforms like Google Scholar, SproutSocial, Hubspot, and Statista can be invaluable resources.
Analyze and Interpret: Go beyond surface-level information by critically evaluating reports and extracting key insights.
Combine Data Sources: Merge news articles, industry reports, and social media trends for a comprehensive understanding of your target audience.
PRO TIP: Search for the name of your niche and keywords like "trends report" or “industry news”. For example: “beauty trends report 2024”.
Leveraging news and industry reports empowers you to create content that is informed, relevant, and impactful.
Our favorites: Social Media Today ; Bloomberg Businessweek ; Business Insider
3. Email Newsletters
Newsletters offer a convenient and curated stream of industry insights delivered directly to your inbox. From established publications to niche experts, there's a newsletter for every interest or niche.
To tap into this valuable resource, start by identifying newsletters aligned with your industry or specific interests. PRO TIP: You can dedicate a separate email account to manage your subscriptions effectively and avoid inbox clutter. Remember to categorize and label your emails!
Basically, newsletters offer a direct line to industry trends, valuable insights, and influential figures.
Our favorites: Entrepreneur; tl;dr marketing ; Neil Patel newsletter ; Everyone Hates Marketers
4. Harnessing Hashtags and Keywords
Hashtags and keywords are essential tools for navigating the vast landscape of social media. By strategically utilizing these search functions, you can discover trending topics, identify influential creators, and uncover hidden gems within your niche. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest have robust search capabilities that allow you to explore content based on specific keywords and hashtags. Remember, the key is to find content that aligns with your audience's interests and provides value.
Our favorites: Instagram Insights (impressions from hashtags) ; Hootsuite AI Hashtag Generator ; Gemini AI ; TikTok Creative Center
5. Competitor Analysis and Industry Insights (Blogs, Articles, Podcasts)
Gain a competitive edge by analyzing industry leaders and tapping into expert knowledge. Monitor competitors to identify successful strategies and avoid common pitfalls.
Every industry boasts a collection of experts and influencers who share valuable insights. Their knowledge, experience, and fresh perspectives can inspire your content strategy! Podcasts, blogs, and articles provide valuable platforms to access their insights.
Remember to credit original creators and build relationships within the industry!
Our favorites: Note To Us (Marketing & Entrepreneurship Podcast) ; Medium (Blogs, Articles) ; Business Insider
Mastering content curation can significantly enhance your brand's visibility and impact through consistently delivering valuable and engaging content. The key is to add your unique perspective (and additional information if there is) and engage with your community to maximize the benefits of content curation.
Want to learn more about how our agency can help you create a winning content curation AND content creation strategy? Contact us today for a free consultation!
Let's work together to turn your content into a powerful tool for business growth and skyrocketing sales!
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Content curation is a great way to keep your audience engaged! I find that exploring diverse platforms like blogs, forums, and trending hashtags on social media sparks inspiration. To polish curated content, tools like https://www.movavi.com/ are fantastic for creating sleek, professional visuals. It's easy to use and helps transform ideas into eye-catching videos for social media or presentations.