Curated vs Created Content Creation: Balancing Your Social Media Strategy

Social media is changing CONSTANTLY, and businesses are always grappling with the decision between curating content and creating original material.

Understanding the strengths and limitations of both strategies is crucial for a balanced and effective social media presence.

Let's explore the pros and cons of both, and cover how a well-planned social media content strategy can be the key to success.

Content Curation: Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Time Efficiency: Curating content is generally less time-consuming than creating new content from scratch. It involves sourcing and sharing existing high-quality content that is relevant to your audience.

2. Diverse Perspectives: It allows you to share a variety of viewpoints and information from different sources, enriching your feed with diverse insights.

3. Builds Relationships: Sharing content from other creators can build rapport and foster potential collaborations and networking opportunities.

Cons:

1. Limited Control: You have less control over the narrative since the content is not originally yours.

2. Risk of Redundancy: There's a risk of sharing content that your audience may have already seen, making your feed less engaging.

3. Dependence on Others’ Content: Over-reliance on curated content can make your brand voice less prominent and unique.

Content Creation: Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Brand Authenticity: Original content allows you to showcase your brand’s unique voice and personality, enhancing authenticity.

2. Tailored to Audience: You can create content that is specifically tailored to the interests and needs of your target audience.

3. Greater Engagement: Original, creative content often garners more engagement in terms of likes, comments, and shares.

Cons:

1. Resource Intensive: Creating high-quality content requires more time, effort, and potentially higher costs.

2. Consistency Challenges: Maintaining a steady flow of original content can be challenging, especially for smaller teams.

3. Creative Demands: Constantly generating new ideas and formats can be demanding and lead to creative burnout.

The Need for a Balanced Strategy:

Balancing curated and created content is key to a dynamic and effective social media strategy. While curated content can add value and save time, original content establishes your brand’s authority and voice.

A well-thought-out social media content plan can help you strike the right balance, ensuring consistency, relevance, and engagement in your online presence. It allows for a structured approach, where you can plan when to curate and when to create, based on your resources, goals, and audience insights.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to social media content. The choice between curation and creation should be informed by your brand’s goals, resources, and the preferences of your target audience.

Integrating both strategies with a well-defined social media content plan can enhance your brand's online presence, keeping your audience engaged and interested.

Are you currently only creating content and curating content, or have you found a mix between the two?