Nowadays, audiences expect near-limitless content. Using curated content can help you keep your audience engaged. Plus, you can build a reputation for your website as the one-stop source for news and developments in your niche. All of that is possible if you know how to leverage the right content curation resources for marketers.
By “resources”, we mean sites you can aggregate content from and tools to help you achieve that. Content aggregators can help you import new items into your site, curate, and publish them. Ideally, all of this happens automatically.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the 20 best content curation and discovery resources for marketers. We’ll also go over the features and use cases to help you choose the right option for your needs. Let’s get to it!
What is Content Curation?
Curating content on the web means finding sources, identifying the content they publish that you want to share, and presenting it to your audience.
Content curation comes in many shapes. Typically, this means sharing excerpts of articles, videos, podcasts, and other types of content from other sites and linking back to the original source:
The goal of content curation is to give your audience more of what they want. If you have a blog where you post tech news, you can share reviews, breaking social media posts, video tutorials, and more, all on your site and from third-party sources. This can help transform your website into a hub for a specific topic or niche and drive visitors to spend more time on the site.
Content curation also offers the advantage of saving you time. A lot of content curation resources for marketers can automatically aggregate entries from other sites and all you have to do is configure them to make it happen.
Criteria for Selecting Content Curation Tools
There are a lot of fantastic content curation tools you can use to turn your website into a must-visit resource or even just to aggregate news for your consumption. In any case, the tools and resources you select should meet most if not all of the following criteria:
- High-quality content. You should only curate content from well-regarded and respected sources. Sharing information that’s not accurate can lead to losing the trust of your audience.
- User-friendly interface. Whichever tool you choose should offer an interface that’s intuitive and easy to navigate. This will save you some headaches over the long term.
- Integration capabilities. Some tools, like WP RSS Aggregator, integrate with third-party services to offer additional features, such as automatic content spinning.
- Customization options. Content curation tools should offer options for customizing the content you import and how it looks when you publish it.
- Analytics and reporting. If you tool you use includes analytics, access to that data can help you figure out if your curation strategy is working or needs fine-tuning.
Before we move on, it’s worth noting that many content curation tools rely on Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds to work. RSS feeds provide sites and sources with a great way to share their content and support its syndication.
If you have a different use case, take a look at our recommendations for each tool and their features. See which ones align with your goals and then take them for a test run.
The 20 Best Content Curation and Discovery Resources for Marketers
For each tool in this list, we’re including an overview of its key features and use cases. If you’re not sure which option to try, check out the use cases and see which option aligns best with the type of sources and content you want to curate.
1. WP RSS Aggregator (WordPress RSS Plugin)
WP RSS Aggregator is a WordPress plugin that enables you to set up custom feeds and aggregate content from RSS feeds. The plugin offers a lot of customization options to make each feed unique and help transform your site into a popular content hub for any niche.
Features:
- Add an unlimited number of feeds from multiple sources (including combined feeds)
- Import content automatically and use filters to curate it
- Customize the style of each feed
- Convert RSS feed items into WordPress posts (or custom post types) using Feed to Post
Use Case: If you have a WordPress website, WP RSS Aggregator offers one of the best ways to transform your site into a hub for curated content. It’s also a great option if you have a blog and you want to publish content more often to keep readers engaged.
2. Feedly (RSS Aggregator)
Feedly is a standalone, web-based RSS aggregator. You can use Feedly to keep up with news from across the web and curate content from your favorite sources.
Features:
- Create customizable feeds and organize them into collections
- Integrate with third-party software like Evernote and Slack
- Get AI-driven content recommendations
Use Case: Feedly is a great option for personal content curation and consumption. However, you can also use it as a tool to help you monitor industry news and trends. Feedly’s AI assistant can help you identify high-quality sources for the kind of content you’re looking for and help you curate it.
3. Pocket
Pocket is a popular tool you can use for curating content as you come across it online. You can use the Pocket extension or app to save articles with a click and then go through all of them when you have the time.
Features:
- Save articles and other types of web content to read later with a click
- Access your saved content through the web or mobile apps (even if you’re offline)
- Tag content to categorize it
- Get content recommendations based on past saves
Use Case: If you’ve ever come across an article and said, “I’d love to read this, but I don’t have time now”, bookmarked it, and forgot about it, Pocket is for you. Nothing is automated, so with Pocket, you’re in charge of all content curation.
4. BuzzSumo (Content Research Tool)
BuzzSumo enables you to identify trending topics and analyze high-performing content. You can BuzzSumo for discovery, research, monitoring trends, and even outreach.
Features:
- Analyze social media engagement and discover the most shared content
- Perform in-depth content analysis by domain or topic
- Identify key influencers within your niche
- Get alerts for trending topics or mentions of specific keywords
Use Case: BuzzSumo is perfect for marketers seeking to create data-driven content strategies. You can use it to identify trends, understand your audience’s interests, and even find influencers to help amplify your campaigns.
5. Curata (Content Curation Software)
Curata is a content curation platform designed for businesses to streamline the process of finding and sharing relevant content. The platform offers AI-powered recommendations to help you save time in finding the right content for your audience.
Features:
- Advanced analytics to track content performance
- Workflow management for team collaboration
- Multi-channel publishing capabilities, including blogs, social media, and newsletters
- AI-based recommendations to surface the most relevant content
Use Case: If you’re part of a marketing team managing large-scale content operations, Curata can help you simplify your workflow. Its multi-channel publishing and analytics tools make it easy to curate and distribute content effectively.
6. Flipboard (Personalized Magazine Tool)
Flipboard enables you to turn curated content into personalized, magazine-style collections. It’s perfect for marketers who want to share content in a way that’s engaging and eye-catching.
Features:
- Create custom feeds with content from your preferred sources
- Collaborate with others to curate shared magazines
- Integrate with social media for easy sharing
- Enjoy a sleek, magazine-style design that enhances user experience
Use Case: Flipboard is ideal for marketers who prioritize design and user experience. You can use it to curate content for your audience while maintaining a polished, professional look.
7. Quuu (Curated Content for Social Media)
Quuu is a content curation tool specifically built for social media marketers. It provides hand-curated content suggestions for a wide range of categories to keep your social media followers engaged with new posts all the time.
Features:
- Access handpicked content suggestions tailored to your niche
- Choose from categories like marketing, technology, and lifestyle
- Schedule and share curated posts using Buffer integration
Use Case: Quuu is perfect for busy social media marketers who need a consistent stream of shareable content. Using Quuu, you can maintain an active presence on social media without spending hours searching for material.
8. Scoop.it (Content Curation Platform)
Scoop.it is a versatile platform that enables users to create topic-focused pages for sharing curated content. It’s designed to help you build authority and share insights with your audience.
Features:
- Create and share topic-centric content hubs
- Collaborate with team members on curation efforts
- Track performance with detailed analytics
- Enhance visibility with built-in SEO tools
Use Case: Scoop.it is a great tool if you’re looking to establish yourself as an expert in a specific niche. It’s also a valuable tool for teams that want to collaborate on curation projects.
9. ContentStudio (Content Curation and Management)
ContentStudio is an all-in-one tool for discovering, scheduling, and analyzing content. Its AI-driven recommendations make it easy to find relevant material, while its analytics help you refine your content strategies.
Features:
- Discover trending content using AI-powered suggestions
- Schedule posts across multiple platforms from one dashboard
- Analyze content performance to optimize your campaigns
- Collaborate with teams for seamless content management
Use Case: ContentStudio is ideal for marketing agencies that need a comprehensive tool to manage their content marketing efforts. It’s a one-stop shop for curating, publishing, and analyzing content.
10. Google Alerts (Content Monitoring Tool)
Google Alerts is a free service you can use to get notifications when the search engine finds new content that matches your search query. It’s fantastic for monitoring brand mentions and news across industries and you can start using it in seconds.
Features:
- Set up real-time alerts for any keyword
- Customize alert frequency and content sources
- Integrate with Google services for seamless notifications
Use Case: Google Alerts is ideal for marketers who want to monitor their brand presence online or keep an eye on competitors and industry news without actively searching for updates.
11. SocialBee (Social Media Management Tool)
SocialBee is a social media management platform designed to help you schedule, organize, and curate content for social media. You can use the platform to create content, repurpose it, and get suggestions tailored to your audience.
Features:
- Organize content into categories for targeted posting
- Recycle evergreen content automatically to maximize reach
- Get content suggestions tailored to your niche
Use Case: SocialBee is perfect for marketers who want to streamline their social media efforts while maintaining a consistent posting schedule across multiple platforms.
12. Reddit (Community-Driven Content Discovery)
Reddit is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. If you curate your feed, it’s also one of the best places to discover the latest news, discussions, and killer content in your field.
Features:
- Upvote and comment to engage with community-driven discussions
- Explore niche subreddits to discover new trends
- Participate in real-time conversations to gain deeper insights
Use Case: Reddit is invaluable for marketers who want to tap into the pulse of specific communities, gather audience insights, and uncover emerging trends in their industry. Plus, it’s fun to use.
13. Ahrefs (SEO and Content Research Tool)
Ahrefs is a powerful tool that combines SEO and content research to help you identify high-performing topics and optimize their strategies. If you need to do SEO research of any kind for content discovery, this is a tool to consider.
Features:
- Perform keyword research to identify high-traffic keywords
- Analyze competitors’ content strategies
- Ffind popular topics based on traffic and shares
Use Case: Ahrefs is ideal for marketers looking to build data-driven content strategies. It’s best suited to growing businesses, as it’s somewhat expensive for personal projects.
14. Canva (Design Tool with Content Curation Features)
Canva is a user-friendly graphic design platform that allows marketers to create stunning visuals for social media, blogs, and more. If you’re intimidated by web design tools, Canva offers a user interface that’s remarkably easy to use, so it’s worth checking out.
Features:
- Access a library of customizable templates for all content types
- Use drag-and-drop tools to design professional-quality visuals
- Get curated content ideas to complement your designs
Use Case: Canva is perfect for marketers who want to create fun or professional-looking designs to complement their curated content, without having to work with a professional web designer.
15. Medium (Publishing and Discovery Platform)
Medium is a platform for publishing and discovering articles on a wide range of topics. Publishing content through the platform can be a great way to find visibility. It’s also home to curated content you can’t find elsewhere on the web.
Features:
- Publish articles and gain visibility among Medium’s large audience
- Use tags to categorize and optimize your content for discoverability
- Engage with readers through comments and highlights
Use Case: Medium is ideal for marketers who want to establish thought leadership, connect with new audiences, and contribute to industry discussions.
16. Content Marketing Institute (CMI) Resources
The Content Marketing Institute (CMI) provides a hub of valuable resources for marketers looking to refine their content strategies. It offers a ton of insights through articles, reports, and training programs for marketers.
Features:
- Access expert-written articles on content marketing strategies
- Gain insights from industry reports and research
- Enroll in training courses to build content marketing skills
Use Case: CMI is perfect for marketers who want to stay at the forefront of content marketing trends and improve their strategic approach.
17. AllTop (News Aggregator)
AllTop aggregates top news stories from various industries into a single feed. There’s no frills or complex design at play here, just unfiltered news from across the world.
Features:
- Browse categorized news feeds for easy navigation
- Access a wide variety of sources in one place
- Stay informed with real-time updates on trending topics
Use Case: AllTop is a great tool for marketers who want to keep up with news across industries and don’t want to jump from news site to news site to do it.
18. Mix (Content Discovery Tool)
Mix is the successor to StumbleUpon. A popular web service that allowed to “stumble” on cool websites and articles curated by other people in a random fashion.
Mix works very similarly to StumbleUpon. Users curate content and you can cycle through it randomly, hoping to stumble on a gem. This new platform also offers mobile apps to make content discovery easier.
Features:
- Discover content across diverse topics through a simple interface
- Personalize recommendations to match your interests
Use Case: Mix is a great option to help marketers find inspiration by exposing you to content you might not otherwise run into. Like StumbleUpon, it’s also a great platform if you’re bored and want to see what the internet can offer.
19. Refind (Content Discovery Platform)
Refind helps you discover and save articles that align with your interests, all through a newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter and, over time, Refind will finetune the content it shows you depending on your preferences.
Features:
- Daily picks of articles tailored to your reading habits
- Integration with tools like Pocket and Instapaper
- Community-curated links to explore trending topics
Use Case: Great for marketers aiming to stay updated on industry trends and deepen their knowledge through curated, relevant content.
20. UpContent (Content Discovery and Curation Tool)
UpContent is a discovery tool that gives you insights into what content your audience might like and on which channels. It can connect to favorite content marketing tools and schedule publication for you, so all you have to do is engage with user responses.
Features:
- Topic-based content discovery with advanced filters
- Collaboration tools for team-based curation
- Integration with social media management platforms
- Automated workflows for content approval and sharing
Use Case: Suitable for marketing teams looking to streamline their content curation process and maintain a consistent content calendar.
Conclusion
Content curation and discovery resources are essential for building an effective marketing strategy. These tools can help you keep your finger on the pulse of what’s going on in your niche and find other content that your audience will love.
Informed marketers can do their jobs much more effectively. Take a few minutes to see which tools fit your workflow based on their use cases and go ahead and test them by yourself.
What tools do you rely on for discovering and curating the best content in your field? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below!
