Social media curation is a snap with Storify. Learn nine principles for better storytelling by using this easy-to-use platform to cut through the noise of online conversations by showing online audiences the best content posted on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram and other social sharing platforms. Best practices are drawn from the Detroit Free Press, Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC Community) and others.

1. 9 rules for curating
social media with Storify

3. This works well for print stories, but not
for search engine optimization.

4. Instead, use the Mullet Method:
Business in front, party in the back.

5. Keywords go first: Enticing wordplay (or
maybe just details) should go second.
Use www.wordpot.com or Google
Trends to find out what Google
searchers use most often to find topics
of interest.
Their search terms are your SEO
keywords.

6. What keywords should we use at the start of
the headline?
Try them in Google Trends to confirm they’re
the best.
Then, add details to inform the reader.
Or, use wordplay to get the reader’s attention
http://www.google.com/trends/explore

8. • Good ledes put the news first. Does this lede
start with the most important information?
• If not, what should go first?
• Does this story call for a lede that begins with
“when” or “where” or “what” or “who” or
“why” or “how”?

10. A light tone
of voice is
appropriate
on a topic
like this:

11. But a light
tone of
voice
should be
avoided on
a topic like
this:

13. A good photo is newsworthy. It has technical
excellence. And it is composed well.

15. Linking back to your website
builds traffic and readership.

17. • List format: 10 Things
the Tigers Must Do to
Improve in the
Offseason to Win It All,
Five Things You Need to
Know About Detroit,
Eight Spring Break
Destinations, etc.
• Chronological: When
the order of events is
important.
• Thematic: Organize like
material with like
material; good for
events where several
actions took place that
each need to be
described.

21. Context is
background
information
the readers
need to know
to feel caught
up on the
conversation.
Go get it for
them.

23. Storify is about curating social media
conversations. Act like a moderator.
Steer the conversation; don’t dominate it.

24. FOLLOW THE 80/20 RULE
80% of a Storify should be content from
social media sharing/commenting.
20% of a Storify should be the reporter’s
words in the lede, transitions, context
and the ending.

25. Questions?

26. Now, it’s your turn!
1. Go to storify.com.
2. Sign in with your Twitter or Facebook login.
3. Create a Storify that updates the Packard Plant
sale story, based on content from the last 72 hours.
4. See the in-class assignment handout for details
on how many postings and images you need.
I’ll check in with you, but if you need help,
please ask. I’m here to help!