Can You Monetize Curated Content?
Can You Monetize Curated Content?
Yes, Here’s How
So you’re the person who always finds the good stuff.
The best links. The underrated tools. The threads worth reading.
Your group chats rely on you. Your followers save your posts.
And now you’re wondering:
“Is there a way to earn from this?”
Short answer: yes.
Longer answer: yes, if you do it with intention.
Let’s walk through it.
First, What Is Curated Content?
It’s anything you’ve found, organized, and shared because you think it’s valuable.
Links to great articles
Screenshots of insight
Tools you’ve discovered
Quotes, stats, stories
Social posts from people you respect
You didn’t make it, but you surfaced it. You gave it context.
And if people keep coming to you for it? That’s leverage.
Can You Really Monetize That?
Absolutely. Because in a world of too much information, filters are valuable.
Curation is content, and if done well, it builds:
Trust (“you always share the good stuff”)
Attention (people come back for more)
Momentum (you become a known voice, even without making everything from scratch)
That’s the foundation of monetization.
Now let’s look at how.
1. Curated Newsletters with Paid Tiers
Start a free newsletter curating the best of your niche, then add a paid tier for:
Premium picks
Early access
Deeper summaries
Behind-the-scenes commentary
Tools to use: Substack, ConvertKit, Beehiiv
You don’t need thousands of subscribers.
You just need a few hundred people who want the good stuff filtered by you.
2. Affiliate or Partner Links
If you’re curating tools, books, platforms, or paid products, you can earn from affiliate links.
Example:
“I’ve tested a bunch of AI tools this month. These 3 actually saved me time.”
[Link to the tools with your affiliate code]
As long as you’re honest, clear, and linking to things you truly back, it’s a win-win.
Just don’t spam. Think trusted recommendations, not sneaky sales.
3. Curated Resource Libraries or Notion Hubs
Build a living library of tools, articles, or templates, and charge for access.
A Notion dashboard of your favorite free tools
A collection of resources for a specific industry
A directory of job boards, niche communities, or low-noise newsletters
You’re saving people time, which is always worth something.
4. Sponsored Placement (Once You’ve Built Trust)
If your curated content gains traction (especially on LinkedIn, newsletters, or Instagram), you can offer sponsored placement to relevant brands.
“This week’s featured tool is…”
“Brought to you by…”
“I only share what I use, this brand made the cut.”
You must stay picky, clear, and honest, but done well, this doesn’t hurt trust. It rewards it.
5. Use Curation to Sell Your Own Stuff
Even if you’re not monetizing the content itself, you can use your curated content to build audience trust, then offer:
A paid workshop
A digital product
A service
A community
A coaching or consulting offer
Curation brings them in. Your offer gives them a next step.
Bottom Line
If you’re curating content well, with taste, with care, with context, you’re not “just sharing links.”
You’re doing editorial work. Trust-building work. Brand work.
And yes, you can monetize that.
Ethically. Strategically. Sustainably.
Start with value. Build trust.
Then give people a way to go deeper, and they will.
