Why it matters
You need help finding signal in noise.
Problem
It's hard to sift through content and make good decisions without developing information overload.
Solution
Curation-as-a-Service saves you time, money, and energy.
Players
Curators:
Directories:
Newsletters:
Predictions
Opportunities
Risks
- Uniformity: As curation becomes more popular, the value of differentiation (even for its own sake) goes up.
- Bias: By definition, curation is biased. Beware of blindspots. Reference multiple curators if you rely on curation.
Key lessons
- Time is your most valuable asset. Unlike money, it's nonrenewable.
- The more creators we have, the more curators we need. The value of curation increases with options.
Hot takes
- Automated curation will not replace human curators. Despite Skyscanner's powerful algorithms, Jack's Flight Club has 1.5M+ members and ~$800K in revenue.
- Curation is most effective when done by personal brands. See Oprah's Favorite Things.
Haters
"Curation is biased."
This is a feature, not a bug. Curators exercise judgment in what to include and exclude. Those who follow curators should take this into account. Consult multiple sources to reduce blindspots.
"Everyone has free access to quality information."
The value of curation lies in accuracy, ease of access, and trust. Most information can be found for free, but time is our most valuable resource.
"I'm not an expert."
That's even better. Curation helps you document and accelerate your learning process. You can help newcomers without having the curse of knowledge.
Links
Related reports
- Digital Products: Curated resources are packaged and sold as digital products.
- No-Code: No-Code tools help you build directories fast.
- Personal Brands: Curated content is backed by personal brands.