Giving Credit in Content Curation

To Create or Curate Content?

If you’ve missed our blog post on What is Content Curation and An Introduction to Content Curation, make sure to read those first for better understanding of the topic.

Giving Credit

Content curation is not stealing… Unless you do it wrong!

There’s a fine line between content curation, sharing and stealing content. Some people may not even realise that they’re stealing in the first place, claiming “I just don’t know how this online stuff works”.

However, it basically boils down to this: remember the school assignment analogy? This is an extension of that.

Think about it, there’s no way in hell your teachers would accept any assignment from you if they thought you wrote everything yourself. They’d probably make some kind of sarcastic comment like “Yeah right, Darren, you wrote that just like I single-handedly built the great wall of China.”

You need to make your sources known, so that the audience (and Google) can check if they’re reputable sources.

Also, if you wrote a great article and someone used it without giving you a mention, you would likely become annoyed. It would be unfair.

So, there are a few steps to take to ensure that all people involved in the creation and curation of the content are happy.

For even more information on content curation make sure you read our post on How to Curate Content Effectively.

Always make sure to attribute!

The author’s name and the link to their article will suffice, you can add them into your body content.

If you quote, use quotation marks. Tell us who said that (a name) and where they come from (a company, which you could hyperlink to).

To cite data, make the copy around the data mention where it comes from, and add in a link to their site (right to the data’s location, not the homepage), so that the reader can find the context of the data.

Those are the main points, but here’s a mini checklist to keep you on track:

• Compile various reputable sources;
• Don’t quote too much;
• Fill-in gaps in the information;
• Add in your own opinion and
• Give appropriate credit, where it is due.
• Always link back to the original content, so nobody can point a virtual finger at you.

Web Design

Without an effective website, your content curation strategy will struggle to gain traction and an audience. In addition, your website should support your marketing efforts and include elements such as a Blog posts and Social Media. Your website should incorporate the ability to present multimedia and be focused on conversion of your website visitors.

Digital Marketing South Africa

For all your SEO, digital marketing, content curation and Social Media marketing needs, contact us and speak to one of our experts today.

Digital Marketing South Africa recommends the professional web design Cape Town services of ITM Website Design.

If you want to learn even more about Content Curation head over to the blog post The Personality Traits of a Content Curator and read about the person behind the endeavour.