The Art of Content Curation

Table of Contents

• The Value Proposition of Content Curation
• Guidelines for Effective Content Curation
• Effective SEO Copywriting: Increasing Blog Visibility

In the realm of digital marketing, content curation is akin to becoming an art museum curator, selectively bringing together content from across the web. The curated content often showcases a collection of valuable resources clustered around a specific idea, such as a “best of” list or a tool to learn new skills.

The Value Proposition of Content Curation

Why should you employ content curation within your content marketing strategy? There are multiple reasons.

Efficient Filtering

The best museums worldwide use curators who filter out the less impressive pieces, focusing only on the most exceptional exhibits. Similarly, curating content involves diligently reading innumerable articles and applying a filter that only permits the best to pass through.

Showcasing Superb Content

Content curation allows your audience to discover “hidden gems” they may have otherwise missed. For instance, when I sent out a newsletter containing my favorite comprehensive content pieces - old and new - the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Speedy Curation

Although it does require time, curating content is generally faster than creating entirely new content. Some organizations have even automated this process for their users, with Google Discover being a notable example.

Thought Leadership

The ability to filter through the noise and identify the best content on a topic solidifies your image as an expert in your field.

Guidelines for Effective Content Curation

Locate Worthy Content

The first step in content curation is finding valuable content to spotlight in your posts, much like sports highlights. Tools like BuzzSumo’s Content Explorer help by functioning as a search engine designed for curators. You can also subscribe to industry newsletters or keep a swipe file of popular subjects discussed on social media. Keep in mind that Google’s algorithm curates some of the best online content for you.

Share Curated Content on Social Platforms

Sharing curated content on social media platforms has multiple benefits. It provides content for your social network, aids in establishing relationships with peers in your industry, and can result in traffic directed towards you by those who appreciate your curation efforts.

Curate Resources in Blog Posts

Curating content into blog posts generally yields more long-term value. For instance, I once curated the best SEO content into a post titled “How to Learn SEO (In Record Time)”. This post not only brought an immediate spike in traffic but continues to yield monthly visitors.

Incorporate Original Content

Adding original commentary or advice to your curated posts enhances their value. I realized this when I wrote unique descriptions for every resource listed in my ‘Learn SEO’ post and invested in custom design to make it stand out.

Reach Out to People You’ve Included

One significant advantage of content curation is that email outreach becomes inherent. When you publish a post featuring someone’s work, they are almost always interested. If done tactfully, most people will be receptive and may even share your content on their platforms.

Content curation is an art form that requires diligence, creativity, and an analytical eye for quality. Incorporating it into your marketing initiatives can be beneficial on multiple fronts - from saving time and providing value to your audience to positioning you as a thought leader in your domain. It’s time to embrace the curator within you.

Effective SEO Copywriting: Increasing Blog Visibility

In the world of digital marketing, effective SEO copywriting is crucial for increasing the visibility of your blog. By optimizing your content for search engines, you can attract more organic traffic and reach a wider audience. Here are some tips to help you improve your SEO copywriting skills:

Keyword Research

Before you start writing, conduct thorough keyword research to identify the terms and phrases that your target audience is searching for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to find relevant keywords with high search volume and low competition. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your blog posts to improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.

Optimize Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Title tags and meta descriptions are essential elements of on-page SEO. Craft compelling and keyword-rich titles that accurately describe the content of your blog post. Keep the title tag under 60 characters to ensure it displays properly in search engine results. Similarly, write concise and persuasive meta descriptions that entice users to click on your link.

Create Engaging and Informative Content

While optimizing your content for search engines is important, it should never come at the expense of quality. Focus on creating engaging and informative content that provides value to your readers. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up the text and make it easier to read. Incorporate relevant images, videos, or infographics to enhance the visual appeal of your blog posts.

Internal and External Linking

Internal linking is an effective SEO strategy that helps search engines understand the structure of your website and improves user navigation. Include relevant internal links within your blog posts to direct readers to other related content on your site. Additionally, incorporate external links to reputable sources that support your claims or provide additional information. This not only adds credibility to your content but also improves its SEO value.

Optimize Images

Images play a crucial role in enhancing the visual appeal of your blog posts. However, they can also impact your website’s loading speed if not optimized properly. Compress your images without compromising their quality to ensure faster page load times. Additionally, use descriptive file names and alt tags that include relevant keywords to improve the visibility of your images in search engine results.

Mobile-Friendly Design

With the increasing use of mobile devices, it is essential to ensure that your blog is mobile-friendly. Optimize your website’s design and layout for smaller screens, ensuring that it is responsive and easy to navigate on mobile devices. This not only improves the user experience but also helps your blog rank higher in mobile search results.

Monitor and Analyze Performance

Regularly monitor and analyze the performance of your blog posts to identify areas for improvement. Use tools like Google Analytics to track metrics such as organic traffic, bounce rate, and average time on page. This data will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your SEO copywriting efforts and help you make informed decisions to optimize your content further.

In conclusion, effective SEO copywriting is essential for increasing the visibility of your blog and attracting organic traffic. By conducting keyword research, optimizing title tags and meta descriptions, creating engaging content, incorporating internal and external links, optimizing images, ensuring mobile-friendliness, and monitoring performance, you can improve your SEO copywriting skills and achieve better results. Remember, quality content that provides value to your readers should always be at the core of your SEO strategy.