Collecting and sharing content–curating content like the owner of an art gallery–that supports your brand is simple if you follow one guideline: T.H.I.N.K. before you share.
By: Eden Hensley; Photos by Brooke Dennis for Alt Summi
Curation is nothing new. And it’s definitely not scary. Every museum has an art curator. They’re responsible for your experience, from finding the artists to showcase to setting the context for selected artists and the chosen pieces.
Online we’re all curators. We’re ingesting ideas and images and deciding which we want to share. Want to ensure the content you’re sharing—curating—supports your personal brand? Here is an easy to remember guideline:
T.H.I.N.K. before you share.
Sharing other people’s content that’s on brand for you involves five characteristics: accuracy, helpfulness, inspiration, necessity, and kindness.
T. Is what you’re sharing true? If you’re retweeting, sharing, or pinning an article, have you clicked through the link to ensure the content matches the caption or the image? No one likes link bait. Also, have you checked sources?
H. Is what you’re sharing helpful? If you’re sharing research, best practices, or cool apps, have you double checked that it’s current and still applicable? Google’s search engine algorithms regularly change which means best practices from 2014 may no longer be relevant. Free or low cost apps regularly change their features and their offerings, for example Iconosquare no longer offers free Instagram analytics.
I. Is what you’re sharing inspiring? If you’re posting a DIY, will your community believe you would complete the project? Likewise, if you’re recommending specific actions, can they associate your success with it? If the content isn’t up to your standard, poor lighting, grammar mistakes, and so on, consider not sharing.
N. Is what you’re sharing necessary? Are you trying to amplify the original message so that people take action? Is there a risk if they don’t take action as with product recalls?
K. Is what you’re sharing kind? Would you want you’re sharing to be posted about you? If posting an article about common mistakes influencers are making, avoid calling out specific people.
How you determine what you’ll share on your site and social media?
Join Us for #AltChat for a Chance to Win an iPad Mini
Want to discover great sources to share from? Or tools for streamlining your curation? Join Flipboard—another of our amazing Alt Winter 2016 sponsors–and the Alt Community for #AltChat on Twitter December 9th at 9AM PT/12PM ET/5PM GMT for answers to these questions and more!
For a chance to win an iPad Mini, do the following:
- Participate in the live Twitter chat between 9AM PST and 10AM PST on December 9th.
- Use both the #AltChat and #AltLovesFlipboard hashtags.
Winner will be announced on Twitter December 10th.
