If you are writing many articles on content-driven websites like blogs or online magazines you probably know all about a phenomenon called “writer’s block.” Even the most creative person or a professional copywriter will have moments where they don’t know exactly what to write and draw a blank. Where and how to find inspiration?
One solution might be to use curated information for your next article. Just like a museum’s curator is studying, vetting, collecting and displaying only the best of the best, your writing can include a selection of great information that’s already out there. You merely pick out the best elements and provide your readers with a piece of pre-researched, top-of-the-crop content.
Apart from the fact that this allows you to write a good article that your readers will benefit from, content curation has some other benefits. It can provide you with inspiration for another 100% unique article of your own. By including curated information of others you can present yourself as an authority in that particular subject matter. You can even reach a greater audience by connecting with the people that you curate information from – building up your network.
I must stress that curation is not about stealing content; properly curated content is only a paragraph or two, and includes a proper attribution of the source.
In online terms that indeed also means a link back to the original article that you sourced your quotes from. But you can blend these curated quotes into an article of your own, with your own unique perspective, to create a piece of information that your readers will truly appreciate. Try it some time!
For more information: contact your web developer, or website optimizer Nardo Kuitert at www.ferguswebsites.com or 519-787-7612.
Nardo has written this column on behalf of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce since 2006.
