What is Scoop.it?

In order to be efficient with your content curation and sharing, you need a great content curation tool that’s simple, efficient and saves you time. That tool just might be Scoop.it.

 What is Scoop.it?

Part content curation tool, part social network, Scoop.it allows you to create boards of curated content based on topics you choose, share your thoughts on that content, and connect with others who have similar interests.

Here’s how Scoop.it defines themselves:

“Scoop.it fills the need that a growing number of people and businesses have to publish content in an efficient and impacting way. By combining a big data semantic technology that helps them quickly find relevant content with an easy-to-use social publishing platform, we help them show their expertise, develop their online visibility, enrich their blogs or web sites, save time managing their social media channels and build their communities of interests.”

 How is it used?

You start by selecting topics, which will become the “boards” of curated content Scoop.it allows you to create. You create a name for your topic and add some related keywords (these will allow Scoop.it to curate content for you).

You can add content to your boards in any of three different ways:

• Via suggestions provided by Scoop.it
• By “re-scooping” content from others
• Directly “scooping” a link by entering its URL or using the Scoop.it bookmarklet

You can connect your other social networks to easily share your scoops. Connecting your social networks also helps build your community—you’ll be able to see people you’re connected to on other social networks on Scoop.it, then check out their topics to see if they’re scooping content you’d like to follow. You can also use the search feature to find additional topics and users. As with all social networks, building a community and engaging in conversation is an integral part of using Scoop.it effectively.

Additional features (everything from scoop scheduling to team curation to newsletter publishing) are available through paid upgrades.

 Who uses it?

Scoop.it isn’t industry or topic specific, and it has a wide-ranging user base.

Whatever your interest, there’s a place for it here.

 Why is it a good fit for marketers?

It’s a user-friendly content curation tool with a social component, creating a one-stop environment for learning, sharing and connecting. It’s also a great place to share your own content—as long as you do so sparingly.

 Our experience

There are many things about Scoop.it that I love. Its Pinterest-like boards provide the headline, image and the first few lines of copy, allowing for a quick scan of content. Scoop.it’s suggested content is always spot on, and regardless of how you choose to scoop items, it’s easy (and the integration with other social networks is great).

The downside is that comments left on another user’s scoop get buried in the “Reactions” link, which you have to click on to see. When opened, you’ll see that “Reactions” includes a list of every individual rescoop or share on other social networks, each listed individually. This makes it hard to create or follow a conversation regarding a scoop.

 The overall verdict

As a curation tool, it’s very solid, but its social component could use an upgrade. Since it’s the combination of content curation and social engagement that makes Scoop.it really stand out from other content curation tools, it needs some enhancing before it becomes a go-to resource. However, as a content curation tool it’s really great, so we recommend checking it out.

Love it? Hate it? We’re always interested in other perspectives, so tell us how you feel about Scoop.it!

Keeping up with all the latest social networks and marketing tools is difficult, and it can be hard to decipher the passing fads and wastes of time from the truly helpful and here to stay. That’s why Cursive Content Marketing is bringing you a series of posts called “What the Heck Is…?”. So you can spend just a few minutes and learn all about the latest and greatest social networks and marketing tools, then decide if they’re right for you.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2X3EHfhc6A]

References:

• cursivecontent
• scoop.it
• socialbrite