A Guide to Curation in Community: Do Things, Tell People

A Guide to Curation in Community: Do Things, Tell People

Curating content in a community is not just about creating a resource for your members to access. It is an exercise that creates immense value for both you and your members. While your members benefit from having access to trusted and vetted information, as a community builder, the true value lies in the act of curation itself.

When you curate content, you are forced to process what your members are sharing. This process allows you to better understand the community you serve. It opens up new ideas and insights that you can pass on to your community. In a way, community curation is for you first, and your members second.

Before saving anything, ask yourself whether it is worth saving. Determine if something is truly valuable. This is important because if everything is considered special, then nothing truly stands out. By carefully selecting and curating content, you are able to create a repository that is truly valuable and impactful.

However, the power of curation lies not just in creating a repository, but in connecting the dots. As a community builder, your role is to help your people, which includes your members as well as potentially every employee in your company. By curating content, you are able to connect the needs and interests of your community with valuable resources and information.

Now, let's shift our focus to another important aspect of community building - doing things and telling people about it. Making something cool and interesting is key. You need to spend time on it and go crazy with your ideas. Even if it's the least useful thing you've ever made, if you can talk about it, make it.

Once you've created something interesting, find events where the people you want to work with are. Attend these events and engage in conversations about your creation. Relax and confidently talk about what you've made. Chances are, it will be interesting to them too. Even if it's not, because you've made it, you sound like you know what you're talking about.

By doing something interesting and sharing it with others, you have the opportunity to make connections, gather contacts, and potentially attract business opportunities. People are naturally drawn to individuals who have created something cool and unique. By making a name for yourself as "the person who did that cool thing," you position yourself as an expert or authority in your field.

Furthermore, when others want to do something related to your creation, they will come to you first. This provides you with a valuable advantage and opens doors to new opportunities.

In conclusion, as a community builder, curating content and creating something interesting go hand in hand. By curating content, you gain a deeper understanding of your community and can provide valuable resources to your members. By creating something cool and telling people about it, you establish yourself as an authority and attract opportunities.

Here are three actionable pieces of advice to take with you:

1. Embrace the power of curation: Take the time to carefully select and curate content that truly adds value to your community. Focus on connecting the dots and creating a repository that is both trusted and impactful.

2. Create something interesting: Don't be afraid to think outside the box and create something unique. Spend time on your creation and be proud of it. When you talk about it, others will be intrigued and interested.

3. Share your creation with others: Attend events and engage in conversations about what you've made. Be confident in your abilities and knowledge. By sharing your creation with others, you open doors to new connections and opportunities.

By combining the power of curation and the act of creating something interesting, you can truly elevate your community-building efforts and make a lasting impact.