Content aggregation is a big part of modern publishing. Content aggregation is the process of collecting information from other websites based on specific keywords and topics. You may not realize it, but many websites that you visit aggregate content from other websites. For example, Guy Kawaski’s AllTop.com is a great example of a website that leverages content aggregation to build loyal audiences with relevant articles.
In a world where content remains king and even the most advanced technology uses content to pull context clues, it’s important for you to consider where content stands on your website. Websites that include content aggregation as a part of its core program have the ability to leverage several different benefits. Furthermore, not just bloggers use content aggregation; many brands include it in their content strategy, too.
Content Aggregation Tools
Content aggregation tools are an important part of running a successfully aggregated site. For example, a news API from a company like Webhose can streamline the aggregation process for you. There are many news aggregator tools to choose from, so it’s important for you to do your research and choose an aggregator that specializes in your niche.
For example, some tools focus on curating technology sources, while others might focus on travel. Some technology offers both curation and aggregation features to help you present the best content for your readers depending on their interest. It’s important for you to check out a variety of different options to learn which tool will work best for your website.
Benefits of Content Aggregation
Some of the top benefits of content aggregation include the ability to increase exposure and boost SEO. Google ranks your site based on its content and its ability to provide consistent and valuable content to its readers. Boosting your relevancy helps improve your traffic and overall ranking.
It’s also important that searching for and collecting data and content is a labor intensive process, but aggregation tools help alleviate some of the time-consuming tasks associated with content creation. Lastly, getting started is simple and cost-effective. Instead of paying for content writers and managing an editorial time, you simply pay an upfront cost for your aggregator technology or tool.
Content Curation vs. Aggregation
Although similar, it’s important to note the key differences between content curation and aggregation. Content curation is the process of manually selecting content to fit your needs. Through curation, you’re able to retain high-level control of very specific types of content and can tweak it to your benefit.
Aggregation uses automation to pull relevant content based on the specifications you’ve set. Although you’ll likely have less content through the curation method, it will be more finely-tuned to your needs, which might be ideal if you run a brand, but not tactical if you run a blog. What you decide depends on your specific needs and your plans to scale growth.
Aggregating Your Content to Other Sites
Content aggregation works both ways. In addition to pulling content from other resources, you can also make your content available to be pulled. You can submit your content to aggregation feeds so that other websites can use your content on their site too, and credit you as the original source. This can help you reach new, parallel audiences and grow your readership. This is referred to as content syndication.
Aggregated Content & Duplication
One of the most important questions you might have about content aggregation is what it means for duplicate content. Duplicate content is a big red flag for Google, so it’s important to utilize best practices. There are several ways to avoid duplicate content issues when you’re pulling content from other sites. After all, Google understands that there are several reasons that duplicate content might exist, including aggregated content.
One of the most common methods is to use the rel=canonical setting on the back end. You can also take your efforts a step further by crediting the original source on the article, too. If you aren’t tech savvy, you can reach out the support and customer service team of your aggregator tool to help you avoid any issues. Another good practice is to supplement aggregated content with original content when possible.
