Great article on the difference between content curation vs. content scraping on this Vertical Response blog entry.
Content Curation is something most of us do everyday when we share things like, retweet something interesting on Twitter, Pin a neat picture, include a helpful quote in a blog post, etc. Content curation, creating useful content and getting it seen and shared, is the engine of successful content marketing.
The key difference of content curation vs. content scraping … The sharing economy works because we’re each sharing our audiences, and providing the value of our endorsements. If you pick up someone’s work and put it on your blog, or mention a fact without crediting the source, you’re not building shared credibility. You’re just abusing someone else’s effort.”
It’s a useful distinction, and one to keep in mind as you cruise the ‘Net looking for inspiration for your own web site and social media creations. I’d be a bit stricter, though, than this author, and add that “using a paragraph or two of someone’s work, attributing it, is understandable and part of “sharing our audiences.” Reproducing an entire article, so that your reader has no reason to go see the originator’s site or Facebook or blog, isn’t content scraping, it’s content rape.
Recently, a consignment shop owner was stunned to see her original work reproduced, word-for-word, on another resale shop’s web site. She felt attacked, even felt like her virtue was stolen. That was more than “content scraping”… that was pure plagiarism. Of course, the shop who used the wording didn’t understand that just because it was easy to copy-&-paste, it was wrong to do so. Happily, the shopkeeper was willing to remove the other shop’s work, and use it, instead, only as inspiration for her own wording and web page design.
Inspiration is wonderful.
Crediting someone else for the inspiration your work has received from him/her is even more wonderful. (For example, I used Vertical Response’s headline here on my blog, because it was way better than the subject line I would have written.) Copying someone else’s work for your sole benefit is not.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Hi Kate I just did a blog on my web site and did a copy and paste. I then added the source I received it from. I Hope this is what your asking us to do. Thanks for all your great info Sandy
http://dkids.ca/fill-a/
HI Sandra, well of course you don’t want to direct your CONSUMERS to our INDUSTRY INSIDERS blog 😉 which is where you found out about that “national shopping day” (AND BEST WISHES WITH IT!)… but of cost, you COULD promote your planned promotion with the How To Consign blog, which is specifically targeted to consumers, and which is brought to ALL resale shops by the select few who are our Sponsors at HTC!
Hi Kate, recently I came across a video of what to look for when bringing in your items for consigning. I am looking at creating my own with the help of the staff. WE would change it up and make it our own as we are a kids store and make it a fun thing to do. Let me know if this is different. I do not want to infringe on anyone.
Sandra, using others’ creations as inspiration, as an example that you can look to for creating your own unique piece of art, or video, or handbag, is exactly how creativity works! So be sure to gather as many good examples as you can to spark your own production.
Oh, and great minds are thinking alike once more… an upcoming post is a GREAT video for my non-profit thrift shopkeepers, on “How To Donate”… you’ll love it, I guarantee, AND be inspired by it. It’s from one of MY favorite, inspirational NFPs!
This comes from the fact that we don’t know how to write anymore. And the ‘Net is so easy to use and misuse, that we don’t consider what the end result will be for the original author. I agree, give credit were credit is due. Great article Kate.
Thanks Ruth, I’m always happy to find information that will help resale shopkeepers not only succeed, but feel GOOD about their businesses!