In a web increasingly dominated by algorithm-driven walled gardens, it’s always a delight to wander into a website full of art, stories, and ideas someone has collected with care. The two WordPress sites we feature today are great destinations to lose yourself in — but they can also teach us how, no matter what kind of site we manage, there are things to keep in mind when focusing on content that others have created.
The Public Domain Review
Why should you visit?
As a site that bills itself “an ever-growing cabinet of curiosities for the digital age,” The Public Domain Review offers visitors a deep archive of essays, collections, and other media that focus on historical artifacts and less-known (but no less fascinating) stories from centuries past. From old maps to Victorian book embroidery, the site invites us to take a plunge into topics we might know nothing about, and to develop new interests and obsessions (18th-century Japanese monsters, anyone?) along the way.
What can you learn?
If you’re a blogger who sometimes struggles to find inspiration for a new post, or a business owner with little time to generate enough original content, sharing a gem from another site can seem like an easy solution. The Public Domain Review exhorts us to take great care and post only that which we’re allowed to share.
In this particular case, the way to go about it is clear-cut: the editors of the site only share things that are in the public domain, meaning that they’re no longer protected by copyright. The Public Domain Review generously lists numerous sources for such material. When it comes to your own site, looking for non-copyrighted content is a great way to start, but you don’t have to stop there. The web is full of creators who’ve released their words, images, and other media under a Creative Commons license, and as long as you attribute it properly, you’re good to go.
If you’re concerned about others misappropriating your own original content, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk.
What do you do if you stumble on a post, an infographic, or a video you really want to show your readers, but that isn’t licensed for sharing? First, resist the temptation: taking advantage of others’ labor is never a good look. Second, not all hope is lost: if you can trace the creation to its author, reach out to them and ask if you can use it. Be specific: tell them about your site, who your audience is, and whether you stand to make money by sharing the work. You’ll be surprised by how generous internet strangers can be when you approach them with respect. The worst that could happen is that they might say no.
Messy Nessy Chic
Why should you visit?
“Quirky” is an adjective that’s lost much of its currency in the ocean of Instagrammable, Pinterest-ready food, furniture, and fashion we swim in daily. But the two-person, Paris-based team behind Messy Nessy Chic — editor Nessy and webmaster Alex — are doing a fine job scouring the web and sharing oddball finds, from a collection of beautiful bird cages to an old, empty, and highly photogenic hospital.
In the midst of all these riches, Nessy also publishes a weekly roundup post of 13 internet finds, sharing the love — and the views — with other bloggers, publications, and creators.
What can you learn?
Are you interested in adding curated finds to your site, but not sure how or where to start? We have ideas.
When clicking around on Messy Nessy Chic, you quickly realize that curating material from around the web is demanding in its own right, but the real work is infusing what you find with your own voice — with your own personality.
If you plan on mixing your own original posts with other people’s creations, don’t just slap together a link and a quick credit. Tell your readers why you chose that photo, that design, that song, or that list of tips for better SEO for your gardening business. Show them that you’re not just an expert Googler, but also possess a specific taste and a particular perspective, and that you ground your choices in personal knowledge and experience. That’s where the real value lies, and where you have an opportunity to transform casual (and even accidental) visitors into a community.
How do you go about sharing other people’s work on your site? Do you aim to strike a balance between curation and original content, or do you have a strong preference for one or the other? Tell us in the comments.
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Thanks for valuable recommendations.
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Nice 😀
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I usually use other’s photos from different places for my featured photo, and put a link to where I found them at the end of the post. But I never explain it – I always preferred to let people come up with their own ideas, because the photos act as an extension of a poem I wrote. But like you said, explaining the photo might do wonders. Thanks for an informative post!
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It’s really good to see people discussing the issue of bloggers using other people’s content, whether their ideas or images. It’s great to share and support each other, but sadly I often see some of my favourite bloggers’ work posted elsewhere with no credit. This industry needs to find a way to ensure credit is given where it is due – acknowledging the issue is a good first step!
https://graduateinlondon.wordpress.com
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Very Interesting points, Thanks.
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99.9999% of my photos I use in my travel blog are my own taken either with my iPad or DSLR. If I’m looking for narrative to go along with my photo I use Wikipedia which I know is amateur but still is good. Ben we continue to miss Community Pool.
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Nice one. Thanks.
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Thanks for this information.
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Thanks for your info! I just started out blogging and am also still experimenting with sharing other content. You are advising to mention why we choose to share the content. Would you agree that it also depend on the type of article that you are writing? For instance, when I want to explain an experiment from a research article I would mention the research institute and explain the content, which by itself is the reason that I’m sharing their article, which is self-explanatory I think. I’m not explaining that I like the research group for instance.
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Yes, tailoring this general approach to a specific context makes perfect sense.
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Thanks!
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Nice blog post I enjoyed reading
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Thank you for this post. I just started a blog earlier today and I’m excited for new ideas and the long road ahead in blogging!
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I like these. Thanks!
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Cool stuff👍
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Thank you for posting this. I found this really informative, especially since I just created my new WordPress from scratch. Is there a certain algorithm to posting? Is there a time when sharing becomes “too much?”
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So wait I have started reporting ideas but I always site the source
For example I’ll paint a treat and mention that I learned the technique from the source. That’s OK right.
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Yup, that sounds like a fair approach.
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I long for curators in the jumble of information we encounter day to day. Thank you.
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Thank you for the information.
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Nice information☺
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Very interesting topic. I will be checking into the Public Domain Review site you mentioned.
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Thank you for sharing! Very informative and inspiring! I’m trying to create as much original content as possible (photos and text). It is hard, but it is a good challenge!
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The article satiated my quest of all the important things. A big thanks!
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Good work !
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Wow, thanks for this great article!
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I usually google for free photos and pick up the ones without watermarks. Is that ok?
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Not always — the absence of a watermark doesn’t alone guarantee that a photo is licensed for reuse. It’s best to explore the website where you found a photo for more information about their policies/copyright and whether or not they allow others to use their work (and if so, under what conditions).
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That sounds a bit complicated. Will keep your tips in mind for my next article. The thing is people don’t click on a link unless the pictures are interesting no matter how good the content. Anyways, thank you for your suggestions.
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Interesting and I read all of it but don’t understand some of the language and so have been left feeling nervous. I sometimes find great quotes on others’ blogs and of course always make sure I say who it was and where it came from, as I would with a book, but no more than that. I am obviously still a beginner with all this lingo. Things to think about anyway, thanks.
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It gets fairly straightforward after a while — ultimately, if it’s clear you’re quoting someone in a fair way, and that you’re not using major chunks of their work or claiming it as your own, you’re fine as far as quotes go. An even nicer touch: adding a link to your post, which then allows your visitors to explore the site where you found the quote, and lets you spread the love back to someone who’s work you found inspiring.
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