Start an Information Curation Site

In an era of information overload, curation has become valuable. Content curation sites don't create original content—they find, organize, and present the best resources on specific topics. Think aggregators, directories, "best of" lists, tool collections, and resource libraries that save people time discovering quality content.

For digital nomads, curation sites are pure laptop work with excellent passive income potential. Once built, they require modest maintenance—updating links, adding new resources, responding to submissions. The core value is your editorial judgment about what deserves inclusion, which you develop once and leverage indefinitely.

What Makes a Good Curation Site

Successful curation sites share common traits:

Specific focus: "The best resources for learning web development" is too broad. "Free courses for learning React" is better. "Free React courses for designers transitioning to development" is even better.

Genuine value: Your curation saves people hours of searching. If they could easily find the same information via Google, your site doesn't add much.

Editorial standards: Not just collecting everything—selecting the best and explaining why it's valuable.

Good organization: Information architecture matters. People should find what they need quickly.

Maintained: Links work, outdated resources are removed, new valuable additions appear regularly.

Types of Curation Sites

Different formats work for different niches:

Type	Description	Example
Tool directory	Organized list of software/apps	"Best tools for remote teams"
Resource library	Curated learning materials	"Free design resources"
Reading list	Curated articles and books	"Essential reading for product managers"
Comparison site	Side-by-side tool comparisons	"Email marketing platforms compared"
Aggregator	Curated news/content updates	"Weekly indie hacker highlights"

Building Your Curation Site

You don't need complex technology. Start simple:

Notion or Airtable: Build your database, make it public. Fast to launch, easy to update.

WordPress + directory plugin: More customization, better SEO potential. Themes like ListingPro work well.

Webflow or Carrd: Beautiful designs without code. Good for smaller, curated collections.

Custom build: Only if you have development skills and specific needs. Overkill for most curation sites.

The technology matters less than the curation quality. Start with the simplest tool that works.

The Curation Process

Building a valuable resource takes focused work:

Phase 1: Research (2-4 weeks)

• Define your niche precisely
• Identify what resources exist
• Understand what your target audience actually needs
• Study existing directories in adjacent spaces

Phase 2: Collection (2-4 weeks)

• Gather 50-100+ initial resources
• Evaluate each against your standards
• Write brief descriptions explaining value
• Organize into logical categories

Phase 3: Structure (1-2 weeks)

• Design information architecture
• Create filtering/tagging system
• Write category descriptions
• Build navigation

Phase 4: Launch and promote

• Share in relevant communities
• Reach out to resource creators (they often share)
• Submit to other directories
• Begin SEO work

Monetization Timeline

Phase	Traffic	Income	Timeline
Launch	100-500/month	$0	Months 1-3
Growth	500-2,000/month	$0-100	Months 3-9
Traction	2,000-10,000/month	$100-500	Months 9-18
Established	10,000+/month	$500-2,000+	Year 2+

Income sources:

Affiliate links: Link to paid tools with affiliate programs. Commission when people sign up.

Sponsored listings: Companies pay for featured placement. Works once you have traffic.

Display ads: Google AdSense or Mediavine (at higher traffic). Passive but requires significant visitors.

Premium tier: Exclusive resources, early access, or deeper content for paying subscribers.

Newsletter sponsorships: Build an email list, sell sponsorships. Often more valuable than site revenue.

Maintenance Reality

Curation sites aren't "set and forget":

Weekly (30-60 minutes):

• Check for broken links
• Review and add user submissions
• Add 1-2 new resources

Monthly (2-3 hours):

• Remove outdated resources
• Update descriptions as tools change
• Review analytics for popular/underperforming content

Quarterly (4-6 hours):

• Comprehensive link audit
• Category structure review
• SEO optimization
• New resource research

This is manageable while traveling—schedule maintenance sessions weekly.

SEO Strategy for Curation Sites

Curation sites can rank well for resource-related queries:

Target queries:

• "Best [category] tools"
• "Free [topic] resources"
• "[Topic] alternatives"
• "[Industry] templates"

On-page SEO:

• Unique descriptions for each resource
• Category pages optimized for main keywords
• Internal linking between related resources
• Regular updates signal freshness

Link building:

• Resource creators often link back when featured
• Other bloggers cite comprehensive resource lists
• Guest posting in your niche with links to relevant directories

Store your link building outreach and content calendar in Google Drive to stay organized.

Is This Right for You?

Consider a curation site if you:

• Have deep knowledge of a specific niche
• Enjoy organizing and systematizing information
• Are patient with 12-18 month timeline to revenue
• Find research and discovery energizing
• Want a relatively low-maintenance long-term asset

Consider alternatives if you:

• Need income quickly
• Don't have expertise in a specific area
• Prefer creating original content
• Don't enjoy research and organization

A curation site pairs well with a newsletter or blog in the same niche. Many successful curation sites started as supplements to other content.

Getting started: Choose a niche where people actively search for resources. Build an initial collection that provides genuine value—at least 50-100 high-quality entries. Focus on organization and user experience. Promote through communities where your target audience gathers. Add new resources consistently. Build an email newsletter to keep your audience engaged and coming back.