The Ultimate Guide to Social Media Content Curation with Examples

What is social media content curation?

Content curation involves finding, sharing and presenting valuable articles, videos, and infographics relevant to your audience. Instead of solely creating new content, you gather existing information and inject your unique perspective. This helps you engage followers and build a relationship based on trust.

Why is social media content curation important for your strategy?

Being consistent on social media is crucial for maintaining visibility. If you fail to post regularly, followers may forget about you and your brand. By curating content, you can ensure a steady stream of relevant posts without the pressure of constant original creation. This approach saves you time while reinforcing your expertise.

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What are the benefits of curated content for your business?

Curating content offers several advantages:

1. Easier content inspiration and creation

How can curating content simplify your posting schedule? Producing unique content for multiple social media platforms weekly can be daunting. By using curated content, you can fill in the gaps in your content calendar effectively. This method cuts your content creation time, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

For example, if you're in the fitness industry, instead of creating a workout post every week, consider sharing articles about the latest fitness trends or nutritional advice. This keeps your audience engaged while lessening your workload.

2. Building your reputation as a thought leader

How does curating content boost your authority? Sharing high-quality, relevant content establishes your credibility in the industry. By only showcasing insights from trusted sources, you demonstrate to followers that you are informed about the latest trends. For instance, if you share a renowned nutritionist's blog, your audience will see you as a source of valuable information. Moreover, adding your insights or opinions enhances the content further.

3. Expanding your network

What role does content curation play in networking? Sharing others' content can be an effective way to connect with industry influencers. When you promote someone's work, they may notice you and engage back. This could lead to collaborative opportunities and support from prominent figures within your field.

4. Incorporating outside perspectives

Why should you include diverse voices in your content? Your audience may become disinterested if you only promote your business. By curating a variety of content, you offer a balanced mix while keeping your audience engaged. For example, if you're running a travel agency, sharing articles about travel tips, destination highlights, or traveller stories helps maintain your followers’ interest.

How do you curate content effectively?

What steps should you take to curate content successfully? Let's break down the curation process into manageable steps.

1. Finding relevant content

How do you identify suitable topics? Start by considering your audience's needs and your expertise. Look for that sweet spot between what you know well and what your audience seeks.

Tools such as Answer The Public help uncover popular questions around your industry. Additionally, platforms like Quora display what people want to know. You can also check Google's 'People also ask' section for inspiration.

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2. Identifying the most relevant content

What criteria do you use to select the best content? Evaluate the information you've gathered, removing any untrustworthy or unclear sources.

Ask yourself:

• Do I trust this source?
• Will my audience find this information helpful?
• Does this content support my brand image?
• Can I offer a unique perspective on this content?

If your answer is a confident “yes”, you’ve chosen valuable material.

3. Adding value

How can you enhance curated content? Simply sharing links isn’t enough. Your followers want your perspective.

You have three options:

Option 1: Automated caption

What’s the quickest way to share content? Using tools like Willow to generate automated captions. While fast, this method often lacks engagement. For example, a generic post from Forbes may not catch attention as effectively as a personalised one.

Option 2: Write your own caption

Why is original writing better? Crafting your own captions makes them feel authentic. Your audience appreciates personalised content over automated ones. Think about a key takeaway from the article, a relatable quote, or your interpretation. This personal touch can foster greater engagement.

Option 3: Make the post your own

How can you create something unique? Use the gathered information to produce your own articles, infographics, or slideshows. Platforms like Canva offer templates to help turn your ideas into visually appealing content. Although creating original posts is more time-consuming, the potential for engagement makes it worthwhile.

Three tools to start curating content today

Which tools can simplify your curation process? Implementing tools can accelerate and partially automate your workflow.

Willow

Why should you consider Willow? This tool brings relevant content to you. By following influential figures and topics, Willow curates articles from trusted sources, even suggesting content based on your previous shares. Save valuable articles for future posts and schedule them directly.

Pocket

How does Pocket help? Use this tool to save articles, videos, or blog posts you encounter. It allows you to create a library of curated content that you can access whenever you need ideas.

Google Alerts

What benefits do Google Alerts provide? Set up alerts for keywords relevant to your industry. This service notifies you of new content, ensuring you remain up to date. It's an efficient way to have current information at your fingertips.

Best practices for curating content on social media

What guidelines should you follow? Keep these tips in mind:

• Be selective in your sources and the content you share.
• Always credit the original author.
• Add value and context to the content.
• Create content with audience interests in mind.
• Engage your audience with captivating headlines and visuals.
• Experiment with different formats such as infographics or carousels.
• Maintain a good mix of original and curated content.

Good luck and happy curating!