Finding the most valuable social media content on the internet may to some seem like finding a needle in a haystack. However, there are some really good sources that help you sort out the good, bad, and the ugly. Keeping up with what's going on in your industry will help you make better business decisions, keep you on top of your game and help you provide an outline for your content marketing plan. Having these resources tailored to your industry and bookmarked in your browser will save you lots of time.
To make it even easier for you to get a head start in gathering resources here's a list of 8 great resources for finding content for your social media and blog subscriber audiences.
1. Google Alerts. Use google alerts to stay updated on the least news results based on your queries. It is a simple tool that you can use to stay up to date on any topic in any industry. It's a great resource to help you stay current in what's going on in your particular industry, or even a developing news story, a celebrity, or a particular event.
Have your own business? Track it AND yourself. Track anything that relates to your company that is unique enough to be tracked. Also track your competitors. Just as you'll want to keep track of your own company mentions, it's a good idea to keep track of your competitors too.
Set up your alerts here: Google Alerts
2. Google Reader. Google Reader is a great place to store and keep up with all of your favorite websites and is as easy as checking your Facebook account. You can even download the Google Reader app to your smartphone and it will sync across all your devices so your lists are always up to date. All you'll see is a clean list of headlines from all of your favorite websites.
Find out more about Google Reader
3. Trending Topics on Twitter. Use this column that appears on the left side of your twitter page to discover and search current trends and stories. They are determined by an algorithm that is tailored you based on who you follow and your geographic location.
Trending Topics on Twitter FAQ
4. Topsy. Topsy is a real time search engine that pulls links from sites like Twitter and Mashable to help you gauge trending topics and news stories. You can narrow your search several ways; though Tweets, photos, videos, language preference, or through the top 20k, 1k, or top 100 links. It's the perfect quick reference for the top circulating links.
See what Topsy is all about.
5. Formspring. This site allows you to express your point of view through engaging conversations with friends and followers. It is a network in which the community members ask each other different questions on a variety of topics. It may be a great way to find some interesting, real world topics to blog about!
Visit Formspring.
6. Pinterest. This isn't so much about using Pinterest to help you source your content, but rather as a suggestion on how to use it to PROMOTE your content. One of the best ways to promote your blog is to pin images from it onto your boards. Your aim should be to create content rich boards that people use to search for particular topics. Make you pin blog content from not only your own blog but from other credible blogs too. This adds to the "richness" and click-ability of your boards. Organize your boards by blog topic and pin accordingly.
Pinterest - Also don't forget to convert your preexisting account to a business account! Read our post on how to create your Pinterest business account and why you should convert.
7. Trendspottr. Trendspottr works very much like a search engine. Just enter any search term, topic, hashtag, or even a twitter handle in the search bar to begin a search on your entered term. Use these insights to stay ahead of the curve and compare results from news sources.
Visit Trendspottr for all the latest news.
8. Alltop. Alltop is a FANTASTIC resource. They import stories from the top news and blogging sites from a myriad of topics. Seriously, there is a section for almost ANY interest. The folks behind Alltop suggest you think of it as the "online magazine rack" of the web. You can create your own MyAlltop account to keep a listing of your favorite blogs and sites. This is a website that is basically subscribed to thousands of sources to provide "aggregation without aggravation" and it truly is just that.
Search Alltop.
With the help of these resources finding fresh content for your audience will be much simpler and less time consuming. You won't spend as much time aimlessly "Googling" topics for discussion. You'll stay ahead of your competition, make better decisions and become a resource for your audience so that they can keep informed of the latest industry trends.