Content Creation

Definition: Content creation is the act of creating unique content.

This is a de facto definition reflecting content actually being published on the web in mid-2010.

The definition hinges on the word unique. For a working definition of the word unique with respect to web content, it’s implicitly accepted that content passing Google’s duplicate content filter may be classified as unique.

How Google determines duplicate content seems to be a trade secret. One way they could be doing it is by using a document similarity index.

The key point: “Unique” does not imply novelty or originality in any way. A large fraction of the unique content published in, say, the Problogger niche, the personal finance and personal development niches is not original, and has very little novelty.

Content Curation

Content curation makes no claim to uniqueness with respect to individual pieces of content, but well-curated digital content can provide novelty, with originality coming from presentation and perspective.

Here’s two examples of curated content taken from blogging: lists of plugins, and tutorials for acquiring a technical skill.

Lists of plugins come in two basic types:

1. The plugins vary in capability and are used for different purposes. Example: your first 10 plugins for WordPress installation.
2. The plugins have similar capability and are used for the same purpose. Example: 3 different plugins for backing your WordPress installation.

Another type of list which curates content is one collecting different methods for accomplishing the same task. For example, there’s at least 3 different ways to install WordPress, probably many more.