What is Flipboard and How to Use It To Build Content

In an age where information cascades relentlessly, threatening to drown us in its sheer volume, the discerning mind seeks not just data, but distillation. We crave clarity, context, and curated brilliance. Enter Flipboard – not merely an app, but a digital sanctuary designed to transform the chaotic deluge into a personalized, elegantly presented stream of insights. More than just a news aggregator, Flipboard is a powerful, often underestimated, platform for content discovery, curation, and even a unique form of content creation.

What Exactly Is Flipboard? A Personal Digital Magazine

At its core, Flipboard is a personalized digital magazine. Imagine a beautifully designed coffee table book, but one that constantly updates with the precise articles, images, and videos that matter most to you, drawn from an astonishingly diverse range of sources. The magic lies in its intuitive, visual interface and the characteristic "flipping" motion that gives the platform its name. Instead of endless scrolling, you flick pages as you would a physical magazine, creating a delightful and engaging reading experience.

But Flipboard is far more sophisticated than a simple RSS reader or news feed. It intelligently learns your interests, allowing you to follow specific topics (from "Artificial Intelligence" to "Vegan Cooking" to "Lunar Exploration"), publications (The New York Times, WIRED, National Geographic), and even individual users or curated "magazines." It masterfully blends algorithm-driven personalization with human curation, creating a bespoke information ecosystem tailored to your unique intellectual appetite.

This personalization isn't just about consumption; it's the foundation for how Flipboard empowers you to become a content builder. Whether you're a professional content creator, a marketer, a passionate hobbyist, or simply someone looking to solidify their personal brand, Flipboard offers a fertile ground for cultivating your thought leadership and distributing your voice.

The Power of Curation: Why It Matters in the Digital Age

Before diving into the "how," it's crucial to understand why content curation is a form of content building in itself. In a world saturated with information, true value often lies not just in creating new content, but in skillfully sifting through the existing noise, identifying the gems, and presenting them with added context and commentary.

Curators become trusted filters, guides who help others navigate complexity. By consistently sharing high-quality, relevant content on a specific topic, you establish yourself as an authority, a go-to source for insights. This builds trust, enhances your credibility, and fosters a loyal audience – all hallmarks of effective content building.

How to Use Flipboard to Build Content

Flipboard offers several distinct, yet interconnected, avenues for content building:

1. As a Content Discovery & Inspiration Engine:

Before you can build, you need a blueprint. Flipboard excels as a powerful research and inspiration tool:

• Spotting Trends and Gaps: By following broad industry topics and key influencers, you can quickly identify emerging trends, hot-button issues, and conversations gaining traction. This helps you tailor your own content to be timely and relevant. Conversely, you might notice areas where quality content is lacking, presenting an opportunity for you to fill that void.
• Fueling Ideation: Staring at a blank page? Flip through your curated feeds. A compelling article, an intriguing infographic, or a thoughtful opinion piece can spark a dozen new ideas for blog posts, social media updates, videos, or podcasts. It's a constant stream of creative prompts.
• Competitor Analysis (Indirect): Observe what your industry peers and competitors are "flipping" into their magazines. This can offer insights into their strategic focus, the types of content they value, and the narratives they're trying to amplify.
• Deep Dives with Smart Magazines: Flipboard's "Smart Magazines" combine articles, videos, and social updates around very specific, often niche, topics. Creating or subscribing to these can provide an unparalleled resource for in-depth research, ensuring your content is well-informed and authoritative.

2. As a Curated Content Channel: Your Personal Magazine(s):

This is where the magic of "magazine creation" comes in. You become the editor-in-chief of your own digital publication.

• Create Niche-Specific Magazines: Think beyond broad categories. Instead of just "Marketing News," create "AI in Marketing," "Sustainable Marketing Strategies," or "Future of Digital Advertising." The more specific your niche, the more targeted your audience will be, and the stronger your authority.
• The Act of "Flipping" (Curating): When you find an article, video, or image elsewhere online (or within Flipboard) that aligns with your magazine's theme, you "flip" it into your magazine. This is more than just sharing; it's an endorsement.
• Add Your Value (Crucial!): This is the differentiator. When you flip content, always add a comment. Why is this article important? What's your take on it? How does it relate to other content in your magazine? This transforms you from a simple aggregator into a thought leader, providing context and commentary that others value. This added value is a form of content creation.
• Showcasing Evergreen Content: Create magazines dedicated to evergreen topics in your industry. For instance, a "Foundational Principles of X" magazine can house timeless articles, FAQs, and resources that remain relevant for years, establishing your long-term authority.
• Project-Specific Magazines: Working on a large report, a new product launch, or an event? Create a private Flipboard magazine to collect all your research, inspiration, and relevant news in one organized place for easy access and collaboration.

3. As a Distribution Amplifier for Your Own Content:

While curation is powerful, Flipboard also provides an excellent channel for getting your original content in front of a new audience.

• Flip Your Own Blog Posts, Videos, Podcasts: Whenever you publish something new on your own platforms, make it a habit to flip it into your relevant Flipboard magazines. This puts your content directly into the hands of an audience already interested in that topic.
• Connect Your Social Accounts: Integrate your Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social feeds directly into Flipboard. This allows relevant social posts to be discovered and flipped by others.
• Optimize for Visuals: Flipboard is inherently visual. Ensure your blog posts have compelling featured images, your videos have engaging thumbnails, and your articles are visually appealing. This increases the likelihood of your content being noticed and flipped by others.
• Encourage Others to Flip You: Don't be afraid to subtly encourage your existing audience to "follow" your Flipboard magazines and "flip" your content into their own.

4. As a Community Engagement Tool:

Content building isn't a solitary pursuit. Flipboard fosters community:

• Follow and Engage with Other Curators: Discover other thought leaders in your space and engage with their magazines. Comment on their flips, share their magazines, and even collaborate on shared magazines (e.g., for a joint project or event).
• Respond to Comments: If people comment on content you've flipped (especially your own), engage in the conversation. This builds a loyal following and strengthens your presence.
• Participate in Shared Magazines: Many industry groups or communities create collaborative magazines. Contributing to these can expand your reach and establish your expertise within a broader network.

Best Practices for Maximizing Your Flipboard Impact:

• Be Niche-Specific: The more focused your magazines, the more valuable they will be to a targeted audience.
• Add Value with Commentary: Don't just flip; explain why it matters. This is your unique voice.
• Be Consistent: Regular flipping keeps your magazines fresh and ensures you maintain visibility. Aim for daily or at least several times a week.
• Promote Your Magazines: Share links to your Flipboard magazines on your website, social media profiles, and email signatures. Let people know where to find your curated insights.
• Engage with Others: Flip others' content, comment, and collaborate. Reciprocity is key to growing your influence.
• High-Quality Visuals: As a visual platform, appealing images and videos are paramount to attracting attention.
• Attribute Sources: Always ensure the original source of the content is clear. Flipboard does this automatically, but it's a good principle.

Conclusion: Flipboard as an Unsung Hero of Content Strategy

In a world clamoring for attention, Flipboard offers a refreshing antidote. It's not about shouting the loudest; it's about curating the most thoughtfully and presenting it most elegantly. For content creators and marketers, it's an unsung hero – a powerful platform for discovering fresh ideas, establishing authority through intelligent curation, amplifying your original content, and engaging with a highly interested audience.

By transforming the overwhelming into the organized, the chaotic into the coherent, Flipboard empowers you not just to consume information, but to actively shape it, add your unique perspective, and thus, genuinely build content that resonates. So, take the leap, start flipping, and watch your influence unfold, one digital page at a time.