Are weekly roundups a relic of the past, or are they poised for a renaissance in marketing? The answer, as we see it, is a definite renaissance, but with a twist. We’ll show you how to use the groundbreaking new features in Curated 3.0 to future-proof your roundup strategy and connect with your audience like never before.
Key Takeaways
- Curated 3.0’s AI-powered content discovery filters out 80% of irrelevant articles, saving you hours each week.
- Interactive Roundup Templates in Curated 3.0 increase click-through rates by 35% compared to traditional email roundups.
- Implementing Personalized Content Streams in Curated 3.0 results in a 20% increase in subscriber engagement within the first month.
Step 1: Accessing Curated 3.0 and Setting Up Your Account
First things first, let’s get you logged into Curated. If you’re a new user, head to the Curated website and click the “Start Free Trial” button. Existing users can simply log in with their credentials.
Creating a New Roundup
- Once you’re logged in, you’ll be greeted by the redesigned dashboard. On the left-hand navigation, click “Roundups” and then the prominent “+ New Roundup” button in the top right corner.
- You’ll be prompted to name your roundup. Let’s call ours “Atlanta Marketing Insights.” You can also add a brief description to help you stay organized.
- Next, select your desired template. We recommend the “Interactive Newsletter” template for maximum engagement. Click “Create Roundup.”
Pro Tip: Don’t overthink the name and description. You can always edit them later in the “Roundup Settings” section.
Common Mistake: Neglecting to choose a template. The Interactive Newsletter template offers significantly better engagement than the basic email template. I made this mistake with a client last year, and the difference in open rates was night and day.
Expected Outcome: A new roundup titled “Atlanta Marketing Insights” is created, ready for content curation and customization.
Step 2: Leveraging AI-Powered Content Discovery
This is where Curated 3.0 truly shines. Gone are the days of endless Google searches. Curated’s AI assistant does the heavy lifting for you. The AI is trained on a massive dataset of marketing articles, blog posts, and industry reports. A recent IAB report highlighted the importance of AI in content curation, and Curated is at the forefront.
Configuring Your Content Streams
- In your “Atlanta Marketing Insights” roundup, navigate to the “Content Streams” tab. This is where you’ll define the topics and keywords that Curated should focus on.
- Click “+ New Stream.” You’ll see a variety of pre-defined categories, such as “Social Media Marketing,” “SEO,” “Content Marketing,” and “Email Marketing.” You can select multiple categories or create your own custom stream by entering specific keywords. For our Atlanta-focused roundup, let’s add the keywords “Atlanta marketing,” “Georgia business,” and “Fulton County advertising.”
- Set the “Content Freshness” slider. This determines how recent the articles should be. We recommend setting it to “Past Week” for a true weekly roundup.
- Adjust the “Relevance Score” threshold. This filters out low-quality or irrelevant articles. Start with a setting of “Medium” and adjust as needed.
Pro Tip: Experiment with different keywords and relevance scores to fine-tune your content streams. The more specific you are, the better the results will be.
Common Mistake: Using overly broad keywords. This will flood your content stream with irrelevant articles, defeating the purpose of AI-powered curation. I see so many marketers making this mistake. It’s better to start narrow and expand gradually.
Expected Outcome: A curated stream of relevant marketing articles, tailored to your specific keywords and preferences.
Step 3: Customizing Your Interactive Roundup Template
The Interactive Newsletter template is designed to grab your audience’s attention and drive engagement. Here’s how to make it your own.
Branding and Design
- In the “Design” tab, you’ll find a range of customization options. Upload your company logo, choose your brand colors, and select your preferred fonts.
- Customize the header and footer. Add a compelling headline that reflects the theme of your roundup. Include a clear call to action, such as “Subscribe to our newsletter” or “Follow us on LinkedIn.”
- Rearrange the content blocks to suit your needs. Drag and drop articles into the desired order. Add dividers, images, and videos to break up the text and make the newsletter more visually appealing.
Pro Tip: Keep your branding consistent across all your marketing materials. This helps to build brand recognition and trust.
Common Mistake: Overloading the template with too much information. Keep it concise and focused. Nobody wants to scroll through a mile-long email.
Expected Outcome: A visually appealing and branded interactive newsletter template that reflects your company’s identity.
Step 4: Scheduling and Sending Your Roundup
Once you’re happy with your content and design, it’s time to schedule your roundup for delivery.
Configuring Your Send Settings
- Navigate to the “Send” tab. Here, you’ll configure your email settings.
- Select your email provider. Curated integrates seamlessly with most major email marketing platforms, including Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and ActiveCampaign.
- Choose your sending frequency. We recommend sending your roundup weekly, on the same day and time each week. Tuesday mornings at 10 AM EST tend to perform well, according to HubSpot research.
- Write a compelling subject line. This is the first thing your subscribers will see, so make it count. Try something like “Atlanta Marketing Insights: [Date]” or “Your Weekly Dose of Marketing News.”
- Preview your roundup to ensure everything looks perfect. Send a test email to yourself and a colleague to catch any errors.
- Schedule your roundup for delivery. Sit back and relax while Curated handles the rest.
Pro Tip: A/B test different subject lines to see what resonates best with your audience. Curated’s built-in A/B testing tool makes this easy.
Common Mistake: Forgetting to preview your roundup before sending it. This can lead to embarrassing errors and a poor user experience. We ran into this exact issue at my previous firm – a broken link cost us a potential client.
Expected Outcome: Your weekly roundup is successfully scheduled and sent to your subscribers.
Step 5: Analyzing Your Results and Optimizing Your Strategy
The journey doesn’t end when you hit “send.” It’s crucial to track your results and optimize your strategy based on what’s working and what’s not.
Tracking Key Metrics
- In the “Analytics” tab, you’ll find a wealth of data on your roundup’s performance.
- Pay attention to key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and subscriber growth.
- Analyze which articles are generating the most engagement. This will help you to refine your content streams and provide your audience with more of what they want.
- Identify any areas for improvement. Are your open rates declining? Try experimenting with different subject lines. Are your click-through rates low? Consider redesigning your template or adding more compelling calls to action.
Pro Tip: Set up goals in Curated to track your progress over time. This will help you to stay motivated and focused on achieving your objectives.
Common Mistake: Ignoring your analytics data. This is like driving blind. You need to know where you’re going and how you’re getting there.
Expected Outcome: A clear understanding of your roundup’s performance and actionable insights for optimization. A Nielsen study shows that marketers who regularly analyze their data see a 20% increase in ROI.
Consider this case study: A local real estate firm, Ansley Real Estate, serving the Buckhead and Midtown neighborhoods, implemented Curated 3.0. They focused on hyperlocal content, including articles about new developments, restaurant openings, and community events. Within three months, they saw a 40% increase in website traffic from their weekly roundup and generated five qualified leads directly from the newsletter. The key? Laser focus on relevant content and a compelling call to action: “See Our Latest Listings.”
Weekly roundups are far from dead. They’re evolving. And with tools like Curated 3.0, they’re more powerful than ever. The future of roundups is personalized, interactive, and AI-driven. Are you ready to embrace it?
For more on this, see our article about marketing roundups and their effectiveness. It might surprise you!
How often should I send my weekly roundup?
Weekly is generally the sweet spot. It’s frequent enough to stay top-of-mind but not so frequent that you overwhelm your subscribers.
What types of content should I include in my roundup?
Focus on content that is relevant to your target audience and aligns with your brand. Industry news, blog posts, case studies, and videos are all great options.
How can I increase my open rates?
Write compelling subject lines, segment your audience, and send your roundup at the optimal time.
How can I track the success of my roundup?
Use Curated’s built-in analytics to track key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and subscriber growth.
Is Curated 3.0 compliant with the Georgia Data Privacy Act (O.C.G.A. Section 10-1-930 et seq.)?
Yes, Curated 3.0 provides tools to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations, including GDPR and the Georgia Data Privacy Act. You can manage subscriber consent and data deletion requests directly within the platform.
The biggest takeaway? Don’t sleep on weekly roundups. They’re not just a summary of the week; they’re a direct line to your audience’s interests. By embracing AI-powered curation and interactive formats, you can transform your roundup from a chore into a conversion engine. Start small, test everything, and watch your engagement soar.
And if you’re looking to fuel growth in 2026 with startup marketing, roundups are a key piece of the puzzle.
