How to Leverage Your Curiosity: Master the Art of Curation

David Schwertfeger -

What do turntables and tweets have in common?

More than you might think.

Years ago, when I was DJing in dark basements and abandoned warehouses in Berlin, I learned a few things. Not only how to mix tracks but also about the subtle art of curation.

You see…

Playing a great DJ set goes beyond skillful mixing and seamless transitions. It's about navigating a narrative that resonates with the crowd's energy and the venue's atmosphere. Each track is carefully selected to build upon the last, guiding the audience through an emotional journey that turns a good night into an unforgettable experience.

And that's exactly what effective curation is about.

Just as reading the crowd influences your playlist, knowing your audience shapes the content you curate.

The goal isn't to chase viral hits.

It's to make every piece count for the people who tune in.

Master the Art of Curation

Online, trust is low and skepticism is high.

So, attracting your tribe can feel like an uphill battle, especially in the beginning. Every follower you gain is hard-won. And every post you make is judged for its authenticity and credibility. The reality is, people have no reason to trust a stranger on the internet.

But this dynamic shifts when you prove you're a source of credible information. And one of the easiest ways to build this credibility is to borrow someone else's.

When you curate relevant ideas from authorities in your niche, your readers will see you as an authority.

But not only that:

  1. You get to turn learning into content. When you collect and curate what you learn from your virtual mentors, you create unique content while you explore your interests.
  2. You build a feedback loop. Seeing how your audience reacts to curated content helps you understand what resonates with them. This can guide your future content choices.
  3. You drive growth. High-quality curated content makes people want to share. This expands your reach and impact.

When you curate content that reflects your obsessions, values, and personality, you attract an audience that loves what you love.

3 Essential Ways to Curate

You can curate content in many different ways. But here are three methods proven to work well:

Method #1: Aggregate

Curate essential content about a specific topic. This method is ideal for providing a comprehensive resource on niche topics.

Here's an example from Dickie.

Keep in mind, he posted this when he had less than 100 followers. A few months later, on February 5, 2021, Tim Ferriss featured this thread in his 5-Bullet Friday newsletter.

One of my most popular threads, which easily got me 100 followers overnight, is another example of aggregation.

Method #2: Synthesize

Combine information from different sources to spot trends or make clear conclusions you can't see from just one source.

Kieran pulls from different sources, extracts the best ideas, and enriches them with his personal perspective.

I've analyzed posts from 28 different writers in 28 days to find out common themes and unique ways that made them go viral.

Method #3: Distill

Simplify complex information into easy-to-understand formats. Perfect for making expert-level insights accessible to a broader audience.

Another one of Dickie's early threads distills insights from the most popular podcast at the time to his audience of writers. This thread got 100x his average engagement.

I've distilled my obsession with Andrew Huberman podcast into everything I've learned about the neuroscience of learning.

Now it's your turn.

A few actionable tips for your curation post:

  1. Find your sources. List influential creators and popular figures you look up to. Think about the skills you're learning or topics you're passionate about. This defines the scope of content you can curate and ensure it aligns with your interests and those of your audience.
  2. Define the problem or promise. What are the specific challenges your audience faces or aspirations they have? Make sure each curated piece clearly connects to these needs or at least scratches your own itch. Relevance is crucial.
  3. Unpack the process or unique mechanism. How does what you're sharing work? What makes this approach effective? Include quick tips to help your audience apply these insights. Give everyone a practical takeaway they can use immediately.

One point is worth repeating: Make sure what you curate is relevant to your audience or the audience you want to attract.