In our last blog post, we explained that modern aggregation companies are all built on the same three pillars. These pillars are worth a closer look, as they form the ‘hidden’ essence of these companies’ core businesses. Today, let’s discuss the first pillar: modular content creation and ingestion. What does it entail, why is it useful, and what conditions should it meet?
The ‘what’ and the ‘why’ of an ever-growing content collection
In the content aggregation business, you can’t do without a large amount of content. That is why companies tend to work on expanding their collections all the time. Some (such as publishers) create their own content and/or pull content off the internet. Others facilitate content creation by users.
Regardless of their approach, they make sure content is modular so as to facilitate the content ingestion process. Users need to find what they’re looking for in an efficient way. Why? Ultimately, modern aggregation companies want to drive lots of traffic to their platforms. And if teachers and students know they can quickly find high-quality materials on a platform, that’s where they’ll go.
This pillar represents a process that helps companies grow their content collections in an accurate, structured way. On top of that, it allows them to adapt to market demand fast, which is indispensable in this day and age.
The approach: any format, many labels
Modern content aggregation companies need to structure their vast, ever-growing content collections in an efficient way. Automation is key in this regard, especially when it comes to formatting and storing content.
Content is created in a myriad of formats — from PowerPoint presentations to videos. All these files need to be read and stored in a consistent way. To facilitate content ingestion, a platform should recognise and upload any piece of content in its own format.
When storing content, another form of automation is just as crucial: labelling. Labels help create modular content, so users can easily find what they’re looking for later on.
What about the whole picture?
Briefly put, the first pillar means companies unearth or create content, format it, and store it in a structured way (using labels).
Want to know more about the other two pillars as well as the concept of labelling? Keep an eye on our next blog posts.
Can you think of any organisation that excels at modular content creation and ingestion? And where does your business currently stand?
