"Curators Are the New Creators — Mirror: The Power of Curation in the Digital Age"

"Curators Are the New Creators — Mirror: The Power of Curation in the Digital Age"

In today's digital age, where information is abundant and attention is scarce, the role of curators has become more important than ever. Curation, in a sense, is its own form of intertextuality, shaping the meaning of a text by another text. And curators are finding success by building a targeted online presence and providing curated content to their audience.

What's interesting is that curated content can be monetized effectively. Consumers are willing to pay someone who has good taste and can help them navigate through the overwhelming amount of information available. It's a way to add a revenue stream to your business. As Jim Barksdale once said, "There are only two ways to make money in business: One is to bundle, the other is to unbundle."

We are currently living in what many consider the golden age of new media. The real scarcity isn't content anymore, it's attention. With so much information available, it's impossible to absorb everything. Therefore, the best we can do is pick and choose what matters most to us or find the people who can curate for us.

Curators have become the new creators, and as consumers, we're willing to pay someone with good taste to help us sort through the mass of information at our fingertips. The best brands and influencers are those who excel at curation as a service. They continuously evolve their curation strategy, finding initial traction, shifting the emphasis from the individual to the greater media brand, and scaling while adding value.

This concept of curation as a service is not limited to content alone. In fact, Foursquare, a location-based check-in app, used gamification to drive user behavior and reward check-ins. Gamification, the practice of using game design elements in non-game settings, was a core driver behind Foursquare's initial success. Points, badges, and mayorships gave users a sense of progress, accomplishment, and competition.

However, as social networks caught up with location-based check-ins, Foursquare's popularity tapered off. This highlights an important aspect of gamification: rewards should be for behaviors that have real value for users and the platform. Gamification mechanics can drive user behavior, but the behavior itself must contain intrinsic value beyond the game mechanics.

Expertise within Foursquare is a function of a user's performance within the app. This sets it apart from platforms like LinkedIn, where expertise is external to the service. Foursquare encourages users to review more places and submit more tips, making the platform more valuable. This shows that gamification can be powerful in driving user behavior, but the behavior must have meaning within the organization or community it exists in.

When implementing gamification, it's crucial to choose desired behaviors carefully. They should align with corporate goals and provide real value to the organization and the employee. Rewards without recognition of someone as an expert won't work in the long run. Recognition matters because it serves as proof of someone's work and expertise.

In conclusion, curation and gamification have become powerful tools in the digital age. Curators can monetize their expertise by providing curated content to their audience. Gamification can drive user behavior, but only when the behaviors have intrinsic value beyond the game mechanics. For businesses and individuals looking to leverage these strategies, it's essential to find initial traction, shift the emphasis towards a greater brand, scale while adding value, choose desired behaviors carefully, and recognize the expertise of those involved. By doing so, they can thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of digital media and engagement.