In today’s digital age, creating quality content has become increasingly important for insurance agencies looking to establish their online presence and engage with potential customers. However, consistently producing original content can be challenging and time-consuming, leading to the dreaded “content monster” that never seems to be satisfied.
Fortunately, there are ways to feed the content monster without sacrificing all of your time and resources. One strategy is to piggyback on curation and aggregation services, which can help supplement your content creation efforts by providing relevant and high-quality content from other sources.
By using curation and aggregation services, insurance agency owners can tap into a wealth of content without having to create everything from scratch. Curation involves hand-picking and sharing content from other sources, while aggregation involves gathering and organizing content from multiple sources in one place.
While there are potential pitfalls to using curated and aggregated content, such as copyright infringement or over-reliance on other sources, when done properly, these strategies can be an effective way to enhance your agency’s online presence and engage with your audience.
In this blog, we will explore how insurance agency owners can use curation and aggregation services to supplement their content creation efforts. We will discuss the benefits and best practices for using these services, as well as potential pitfalls to avoid. By the end of this blog, you will have a better understanding of how to feed the content monster and keep your audience engaged without sacrificing all of your time and resources.
What is piggybacking on curation and aggregation services?
Piggybacking on curation and aggregation services involves using existing content from other sources to supplement your agency’s content creation efforts. Curation involves manually selecting and sharing content from other sources, while aggregation involves gathering and organizing content from multiple sources in one place.
By using curated or aggregated content, insurance agency owners can benefit from the work that others have already done to create quality content. This can save time and resources, while also providing a wider variety of content that may be relevant to your audience.
Curation and aggregation can take many forms, depending on the needs of your agency and the interests of your audience. For example, you may choose to curate and share articles, infographics, or videos related to the insurance industry or topics that your audience is interested in. Alternatively, you may choose to aggregate content from multiple sources on a particular topic, such as a news feed or blogroll.
One of the benefits of using curation and aggregation services is that it can help your agency establish itself as a thought leader or resource hub in your industry. By sharing relevant and high-quality content from other sources, you can position your agency as a valuable source of information and expertise for your audience.
It is important to note, however, that curation and aggregation should not be used as a substitute for original content creation. While using existing content can be a valuable supplement to your content strategy, it is important to also create original content that reflects your agency’s unique perspective and expertise.
In the next section, we will discuss how to effectively piggyback on curation and aggregation services to supplement your agency’s content creation efforts.
How to piggyback on curation and aggregation services
When it comes to piggybacking on curation and aggregation services, it is important to choose the right sources and strategies that align with your agency’s goals and the interests of your audience. Here are some tips for effectively using these services:
- Identify popular curation and aggregation services: There are a variety of curation and aggregation services available, some of which may be more relevant to the insurance industry than others. Some popular options include Feedly, Pocket, and Flipboard. Research and experiment with different services to find the ones that work best for your agency.
- Select content that is relevant and high-quality: When selecting content to share or aggregate, it is important to choose articles, infographics, and other content that is relevant to your agency’s niche and your audience’s interests. Make sure to also choose content that is well-written and of high quality.
- Give credit to original sources: It is important to give credit to the original sources of curated or aggregated content. This not only ensures that you are not infringing on copyright laws, but it also helps to establish your agency as a trustworthy source of information.
- Add value to curated content: To make your curated content stand out and provide additional value to your audience, consider adding commentary or context to the content you share. This can include providing your agency’s perspective on the topic or offering additional resources for further reading.
- Share on multiple platforms: Once you have curated or aggregated content, make sure to share it on multiple platforms, such as social media, email newsletters, or your agency’s blog. This helps to reach a wider audience and increases the chances that your content will be seen and shared.
By following these tips, you can effectively piggyback on curation and aggregation services to supplement your agency’s content creation efforts. However, it is important to also prioritize original content creation and use curated and aggregated content as a supplement, rather than a substitute.
Best practices for using curated content
Curated content can be a valuable addition to your insurance agency’s content strategy, but it’s important to follow best practices to ensure that it’s effective and serves the needs of your audience. Here are some best practices for using curated content:
- Focus on quality over quantity: It’s better to share a few high-quality pieces of content than to inundate your audience with a large amount of lower quality content. Be selective about the content you share and make sure that it aligns with your agency’s niche and your audience’s interests.
- Keep your audience in mind: When selecting curated content, think about what would be most valuable and interesting to your audience. Take into consideration the types of questions they ask, the challenges they face, and the topics they are most interested in.
- Add value through commentary: One way to make curated content more valuable to your audience is to provide commentary or context around it. This can include your agency’s perspective on the topic, additional insights or data, or related resources for further reading.
- Attribute and give credit: It’s important to attribute and give credit to the original source of the content you are curating. This not only ensures that you are following ethical guidelines, but it also helps to establish your agency as a trustworthy and reliable source of information.
- Use a variety of sources: Don’t rely on just one or two sources for curated content. Use a variety of sources to provide a more diverse range of content and perspectives.
- Stay up-to-date: Curated content should be timely and relevant. Keep an eye on industry news and trends and make sure that your curated content reflects the latest information.
- Use curated content as a supplement: Curated content should be used as a supplement to your agency’s original content, not a replacement for it. Use it to supplement your agency’s expertise and provide additional value to your audience.
By following these best practices, you can effectively use curated content to supplement your insurance agency’s content strategy and provide value to your audience.
Avoiding pitfalls when using curated content
While curated content can be a valuable addition to your insurance agency’s content strategy, there are some pitfalls that you should be aware of in order to avoid any negative consequences. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:
- Infringing on copyright laws: When curating content, it’s important to make sure that you’re not infringing on any copyright laws. Always give credit to the original source and provide a link back to the original content.
- Over-reliance on curated content: While curated content can be a helpful supplement to your agency’s original content, it should not be relied on too heavily. Over-reliance on curated content can make it difficult to establish your agency’s unique voice and perspective.
- Sharing low-quality content: When curating content, it’s important to choose high-quality sources and content. Sharing low-quality or irrelevant content can damage your agency’s reputation and turn off your audience.
- Failing to add value: Curated content should be used to supplement your agency’s expertise and provide additional value to your audience. Failing to add any additional value or commentary to the content you curate can make it seem like you’re just copying and pasting without any thought or effort.
- Ignoring feedback: Pay attention to feedback from your audience on the curated content you share. If they consistently find it uninteresting or irrelevant, it may be time to reevaluate your curation strategy.
By avoiding these pitfalls and using curated content effectively, you can add value to your insurance agency’s content strategy and provide additional insights and resources to your audience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, piggybacking on curation and aggregation services can be a valuable addition to your insurance agency’s content strategy. By following best practices and avoiding pitfalls, you can effectively use curated content to supplement your agency’s original content, provide additional value to your audience, and establish your agency as a trusted source of information.
Remember to focus on quality over quantity, keep your audience in mind, add value through commentary, attribute and give credit to the original source, use a variety of sources, stay up-to-date, and use curated content as a supplement to your agency’s original content.
At the same time, be sure to avoid infringing on copyright laws, over-reliance on curated content, sharing low-quality content, failing to add value, and ignoring feedback from your audience.
By implementing these strategies and practices, you can effectively feed the content monster and keep your insurance agency’s content strategy fresh, informative, and engaging for your audience.