BI Revolution

Creation Is Hard
I love that line from this great Scoop by Massimo Facchinetti. This post is a great companion to my ScentTrail Social Mentions Study (just posted to Curation Revolution http://sco.lt/6UD0W9).

I shocked my friend @1918's SEO Meetup recently by suggesting the best ratio of content curation to creation is 90% curation to 10% creation. There was an audible gasp in the room.

I explained that curation has greater reach. For every minute of creation you get 3x as much out of using that same minute to curate. I create a lot of content, but, as my companion post proves, even I don't generate as much content as the daily mentions @ScentTrail receives.

Content gets shared. Here's the rub and the BIG reason my ratio is set to 90% curation - your are statically more likely to get shares with curated content. Since shares are a content marketing CSF (Critical Success Factor) and what we are playing for curation wins.

Why? I used to work for direct marketing catalogers (when I was a Director of Ecommerce). They taught me to always double down on winners and let losers go. Curation allows you to select content THAT IS ALREADY WINNING.

When I write something I'm betting it will be shared. When I see a great post by Brian Yanish (@MarketingHits), Robin Good (@RobinGood) or Michele Smorgon (@Maxoz) I know their extensive networks of supporters means high shares are likely. With a tool like Scoop.it I can also see the shares.

The irony is I hardly EVER look at existing shares to decide what content to share. I think in terms of WHO first. I have a group of about 50 friends I trust and I have a group of about 5 topics that are near and dear to me. When a friend shares something cool in one of my 5 interest areas I share it.

I agree with this post. Even if you can't CREATE you can CURATE. Even if you CAN create you SHOULD CURATE :). M