GatherContent - Detailed Review

Content Tools

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    GatherContent - Product Overview



    Introduction to GatherContent

    GatherContent, now integrated into Bynder as Content Workflow, is a content operations platform that simplifies and streamlines the content creation process for organizations. Here’s a breakdown of its primary function, target audience, and key features:



    Primary Function

    GatherContent is designed to help organizations manage, create, and distribute high-quality text-based content efficiently. It acts as a centralized hub where content teams can collaborate on creating structured content, combining text and digital assets, and ensuring that the content is approved and distributed across various channels.



    Target Audience

    The platform is primarily used by marketing and content teams within medium to large-sized organizations. The target audience includes companies with 50-200 employees and revenues exceeding $1,000 million. Key industries that use GatherContent include Marketing and Advertising, Information Technology and Services, and Higher Education.



    Key Features

    • Centralized Content Hub: GatherContent provides a single platform where teams can manage, edit, review, and approve content, reducing the chaos and ambiguity often associated with content creation.
    • Real-time Collaboration: The platform enables real-time collaboration among team members, promoting accountability and efficiency without compromising quality.
    • Customizable Content Templates: Users can create content templates and reusable components to scale up the production of text content, ensuring it aligns with brand guidelines.
    • Custom Workflows: GatherContent allows teams to set up custom workflows to maintain confidence in the quality of content as they scale up production.
    • AI Capabilities: The platform includes AI Assist to generate, edit, translate, and polish drafts, accelerating content creation while maintaining control and quality.
    • Omnichannel Distribution: GatherContent facilitates the distribution of approved content across various channels, ensuring a consistent customer experience.

    By integrating these features, GatherContent by Bynder (now Content Workflow) helps marketers streamline their content workflows, improve collaboration, and deliver high-quality content efficiently.

    GatherContent - User Interface and Experience



    User Interface Overview

    The user interface of GatherContent, now known as Content Workflow by Bynder, is designed to be user-friendly and efficient for managing content operations.

    Interface Layout

    The interface resembles a file browsing application, with a sidebar on the left displaying folders and subfolders, and a list of items on the right. This structure helps in organizing content into different sections, such as a blog or job listings, making it easy to locate and manage various types of content.

    Content Management

    Users can create and manage content items using predefined templates. Each template can have custom fields set up via the “Structure” tab, allowing for specific data types like text, numbers, dates, and media. These fields are configurable to match the type of content being managed, though GatherContent does not offer advanced custom field types like a color picker.

    Workflow and Collaboration

    The platform supports a basic workflow structure that includes multiple steps for content creation and approval. Users can set different statuses for content items, leave notes, and mention team members. This workflow helps in coordinating efforts among large content teams. However, users must manually update the status of each item as it progresses through the workflow.

    Editing and Preview

    The editing view is clean and organized, with tabs and fields that are easy to navigate. Users can preview content before publishing to see how it will look on the live site, ensuring accuracy and quality.

    Multilingual Support

    GatherContent supports multiple languages, both for the CMS interface and for creating and managing content. This makes it accessible for non-English speakers and useful for global websites catering to different regions.

    Customization and Integrations

    The user interface is customizable to match your brand or specific needs. GatherContent also integrates with other tools and CMS platforms like WordPress, Kentico, and Craft, enhancing its functionality and usability.

    Ease of Use

    While GatherContent is generally easy to use, especially for those familiar with file browsing interfaces, it may lack some advanced features that other platforms offer. For example, it does not have automatic due dates or a rating system for workflow statuses, which might require more manual effort from users.

    Overall User Experience

    The overall user experience is streamlined for content teams, particularly those managing large volumes of content. The platform’s focus on content operations, collaboration, and workflow management makes it suitable for professional and organized content creation processes. However, the absence of a free plan or a developer plan might limit its appeal for smaller businesses or those looking to test the platform extensively before committing.

    Conclusion

    In summary, GatherContent’s user interface is intuitive, organized, and geared towards efficient content management and collaboration, making it a solid choice for large content teams despite some limitations in customization and pricing.

    GatherContent - Key Features and Functionality



    GatherContent Overview

    GatherContent, now rebranded as Content Workflow by Bynder, is a comprehensive content management tool that offers a range of features to streamline and enhance the content creation process. Here are the main features and how they work, including the integration of AI:



    Content Collaboration

    GatherContent facilitates real-time collaboration among team members. This feature allows multiple users to work on the same content simultaneously, promoting accountability and efficiency without compromising quality. Team members can share links to pages and projects, and the system tracks changes and suggestions, ensuring everyone is on the same page.



    Content Workflow

    The platform enables users to create and manage structured content workflows. This involves setting up customizable content templates and workflows to handle the entire content creation process, from creation to review and approval. This structured approach helps avoid juggling documents, chasing feedback, or copying and pasting content into publishing tools.



    Content Templates

    Users can create and use customizable content templates for various types of content, such as blogs and web pages. These templates help maintain consistency and ensure that all content adheres to brand guidelines. The templates can be applied as defaults to projects, making it easier to start new content initiatives.



    AI Capabilities

    Content Workflow integrates AI Assist, which accelerates content creation by generating, editing, translating, and polishing drafts. This AI tool helps recognize AI-generated content, manage user access, and maintain control over the content creation process. The AI capabilities also include tools for paraphrasing, rewriting, simplifying, and improving text in real-time.



    Content Approval and Versioning

    The platform includes an approval workflow that ensures all content is reviewed and approved before publication. This feature helps maintain on-brand content and avoids regulatory risks or off-brand content. Content versioning keeps track of changes, allowing users to revert to previous versions if necessary.



    Content Scheduling and Calendar

    GatherContent offers a content calendar to manage tasks and deadlines. This tool helps in planning and scheduling content, ensuring that all team members are aware of upcoming deadlines and tasks. It aids in the go-to-market strategy by keeping the content publishing process organized.



    Content Analytics and Reporting

    The platform provides analytics and reporting features to measure content performance. Users can review user, content, and workflow activity, and download CSV and PDF reports for easy distribution. This helps in making metric-driven decisions and tracking asset performance on external websites.



    Content Permissions and Notifications

    GatherContent allows for the assignment of different user roles with access control, ensuring that only authorized users can edit or approve content. The system also sends notifications to team members and stakeholders when changes are made or feedback is required, keeping everyone informed and engaged.



    Content Integrations and API

    The platform supports various integrations and has an API that allows users to connect with other systems and tools. This enables the repurposing of content across different platforms, such as websites, web apps, and mobile apps.



    Freelancer Management

    For teams that work with freelancers, GatherContent offers features to manage freelancer assignments, track progress, and handle payments. This includes reports on freelancer performance and payment status.



    Conclusion

    In summary, GatherContent, now Content Workflow by Bynder, is a powerful tool that leverages AI and structured workflows to enhance content creation, collaboration, and management. Its features ensure that content is created efficiently, accurately, and in line with brand guidelines, while also providing valuable insights through analytics and reporting.

    GatherContent - Performance and Accuracy



    Performance

    GatherContent is praised for its ability to streamline the content creation process. Here are some of its strengths:

    Content Planning and Collaboration

    The platform offers strong features for content planning, collaborative editing, and workflow management. This helps in improving content quality, increasing productivity, and ensuring brand consistency.

    User-Friendly Interface

    It has a user-friendly interface with customizable workflows, which is beneficial for managing content efficiently.

    Integrations

    GatherContent integrates with popular marketing and productivity tools, such as Slack and WordPress, although it lacks social media scheduling tools.

    Limitations

    There are some limitations to consider:

    Limited Social Media Integrations
    The platform does not offer social media scheduling tools, which can make content publishing on social media platforms cumbersome and manual.

    Pricing and Functionality
    The entry-level plan is limited in functionalities and may not be good value for money for small or medium teams, especially those that incorporate social media in their content strategy.

    Content Migration Issues
    There have been issues reported with migrating content from GatherContent to other CMS systems, which can lead to duplication of effort and wasted time.

    Accuracy

    While GatherContent is effective in managing content workflows, there are a few areas where accuracy and reliability can be improved:

    Content Consistency and Tracking

    The platform helps in maintaining content consistency through structured workflows and versioning. However, there have been challenges in tracking the overall project history and ensuring that content remains in sync across different systems.

    Error in Migration

    The lack of a connector between GatherContent and other CMS systems can lead to errors and inconsistencies when content is migrated. This can result in content being “out-of-sync” and require manual adjustments.

    Areas for Improvement

    To enhance the performance and accuracy of GatherContent, several improvements could be considered:

    Improved Interface for Content Migration

    Developing a better interface for moving items around and migrating content to other CMS systems would significantly streamline the process and reduce errors.

    Enhanced Integrations

    Adding social media scheduling tools and improving integrations with other systems could make the platform more comprehensive and efficient.

    Training and Support

    Providing more training and support for users, especially in managing content workflows and migrating content, could help mitigate the learning curve and reduce errors. In summary, while GatherContent is a valuable tool for content operations, it has specific limitations, particularly in social media integrations and content migration. Addressing these areas can improve its overall performance and accuracy.

    GatherContent - Pricing and Plans



    Pricing Tiers

    GatherContent has three main pricing plans:

    Start Plan

    • Price: $99.00 per month (or $1,188 billed yearly)
    • Features: This plan is the entry-level option and includes basic features such as centralized content creation, clear content requirements, accountable content workflow, and frictionless collaboration. It is suitable for small to medium-sized teams looking to manage their content operations efficiently.


    Scale Plan

    • Price: $299.00 per month (or $3,588 billed yearly)
    • Features: This plan builds upon the Start plan and adds more advanced features to support larger teams and more complex content operations. It includes all the features from the Start plan plus additional tools for managing multiple projects and stakeholders.


    Transform Plan

    • Price: $799.00 per month (or $9,588 billed yearly)
    • Features: This is the most comprehensive plan, designed for large enterprises with extensive content needs. It includes all features from the Scale plan, along with additional advanced tools for content workflow management, real-time collaboration, and customizable content templates.


    Free Options

    GatherContent does not offer a free plan. However, they do provide a free trial, allowing potential users to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.

    Additional Features

    Across all plans, GatherContent (now Content Workflow by Bynder) offers features such as real-time content collaboration, customizable content templates, and a structured content creation lifecycle. The platform also includes AI capabilities to generate, edit, translate, and polish content drafts, ensuring content clarity and flexibility.

    GatherContent - Integration and Compatibility



    Integration and Compatibility of Content Workflow by Bynder



    Integration with Bynder DAM and DAT

    Content Workflow by Bynder is fully integrated with Bynder’s Digital Asset Management (DAM) and Digital Asset Transformation (DAT) systems. This integration allows for seamless management of both text and digital assets within a single platform, enhancing the efficiency and organization of content production.

    Standalone Option

    For users who do not require the full suite of Bynder’s tools, Content Workflow by Bynder is also available as a standalone product. This flexibility makes it accessible to a broader range of users, regardless of their current tech stack.

    Compatibility Across Platforms

    Content Workflow by Bynder supports various platforms, including web, Android, and iPhone/iPad. This cross-platform compatibility ensures that users can access and manage their content from different devices, promoting flexibility and convenience.

    API Availability

    Content Workflow by Bynder provides an API, which allows for custom integrations with other tools and systems. This feature is particularly useful for organizations that need to integrate the content workflow with their existing software ecosystem.

    Real-Time Collaboration

    The platform supports real-time collaboration, enabling team members to work together efficiently across different locations and devices. This real-time capability ensures that all stakeholders are on the same page, facilitating smoother content production and approval processes.

    Existing Integrations and Support

    For existing GatherContent customers, there are no changes to the product’s existing pricing, integrations, or customer support processes. This continuity ensures a smooth transition and maintains the functionality that users are accustomed to.

    Conclusion

    In summary, Content Workflow by Bynder offers strong integration capabilities with Bynder’s DAM and DAT systems, operates as a standalone product if needed, and is compatible across various devices. The availability of an API and real-time collaboration features further enhance its usability and flexibility.

    GatherContent - Customer Support and Resources



    Customer Support

    Existing GatherContent customers can rest assured that there are no changes to the customer support process. The support remains consistent, providing the same level of service that users are accustomed to. This includes ongoing assistance with any issues or questions they might have, ensuring continuity and minimal disruption.



    Additional Resources



    Documentation and Guides

    Users have access to detailed documentation and guides that help in setting up and using the platform. For example, resources like creating templates, editing workflows, and managing projects are well-documented, making it easier for users to get started and optimize their content workflows.



    Tutorials and Videos

    There are tutorials and video series available that provide step-by-step instructions on various features of the platform. These resources cover topics such as creating reusable content blocks, using the Components feature, and other advanced functionalities.



    Community Support

    Being part of the Bynder community, users can benefit from a larger ecosystem of users and experts. This community support can be invaluable for sharing best practices, troubleshooting, and staying updated on new features and integrations.



    Integrations and Compatibility

    Content Workflow by Bynder integrates with other Bynder tools, such as their Digital Asset Management (DAM) and Data Templating (DAT) systems. This integration ensures that users can manage both text and digital assets seamlessly, enhancing their overall content operations.



    AI Assist

    Bynder has introduced AI Assist to Content Workflow, enabling users to leverage generative AI for content creation, review, and management. This feature is particularly useful for automating certain tasks and improving the efficiency of the content production process.

    By leveraging these support options and resources, users of Content Workflow by Bynder can optimize their content operations, ensure consistency, and maintain high-quality content output.

    GatherContent - Pros and Cons



    Advantages of GatherContent

    GatherContent offers several significant advantages that make it a valuable tool for content operations and workflow management:

    Centralized Content Management

    GatherContent allows you to keep all your content in one centralized location, eliminating the need to track, copy, move, or transfer content between different drives or folders. This ensures that all your content is readily available for designers and developers.

    Structured Content Editor

    The platform provides pre-defined structured formats that serve as guidelines, ensuring that contributors submit content that adheres to your guidelines. This helps maintain consistency in your content.

    Flexible Workflow and Collaboration

    GatherContent introduces features like Flexible Workflow and Shareable Links, which enable customized steps for drafts, reviews, approvals, and more. These features allow for non-linear workflows and assign specific tasks to team members, enhancing accountability and ownership. Shareable Links also facilitate easy content gathering from external writers and contributors without requiring them to create an account.

    Components Feature

    The Components feature allows businesses to create a library of reusable content components, such as image galleries or testimonials. This feature enables content modeling with added flexibility, ensures a single source of truth for content designers, and allows teams to work faster without compromising standards.

    API Access and Simple Export

    GatherContent provides API access for publishing content across various channels through integrations. Additionally, it offers a simple export feature that allows you to export content into your CMS with just a few clicks, saving time and effort.

    Integration with Digital Asset Management (DAM)

    Following its acquisition by Bynder, GatherContent now integrates with Bynder’s DAM capabilities, offering a full lifecycle of content creation from text to structured content ready for distribution. This integration allows marketers to access and use existing digital assets within the same environment.

    Disadvantages of GatherContent

    While GatherContent offers many benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider:

    Initial Learning Curve and Time Consumption

    Despite its intended purpose to streamline content operations, some users have found that GatherContent can be time-consuming, particularly when re-ordering items or using the renderer to pull content from the API. This can make the system slower than expected.

    Content Fragmentation

    The content in GatherContent can be highly chunked, making it difficult for stakeholders to review the content in its entirety. This often leads to stakeholders relying on screenshots and print-outs rather than viewing the content directly within GatherContent.

    Labour and Workflow Issues

    In some cases, the division of labour within GatherContent can be inefficient. The need to manage ordering and nesting of content items separately from the writing process can be fiddly and time-consuming. By considering these advantages and disadvantages, you can make a more informed decision about whether GatherContent is the right tool for your content operations needs.

    GatherContent - Comparison with Competitors



    GatherContent (Content Workflow by Bynder)

    • Key Features:
      • Real-time content collaboration and a transparent content production process.
      • Customizable content templates and workflows to manage the entire content creation process.
      • AI capabilities such as AI Assist for generating, editing, translating, and polishing drafts.
      • Document generation and management, minimizing human error and accelerating processing speed.
      • Digital asset management and a built-in content calendar.
    • Pros:
      • Streamlines content creation and approval processes.
      • Enhances accountability and efficiency without compromising quality.
      • Integrates well with other systems, ensuring smooth data flow.
    • Cons:
      • Originally had a steep learning curve due to numerous customization options, though this has been mitigated somewhat since the integration with Bynder.


    Alternatives



    Narrato

    • Key Features:
      • An all-in-one solution for content planning, creation, collaboration, and workflow management.
      • SEO content planning and optimization features.
      • Consolidated and simplified team and client interactions.
    • Pros:
      • Cost-effective and affordable, especially for agencies and small businesses.
      • Lesser content and process errors due to its organized workflow.
    • Cons:
      • Limited integrations, though custom integrations can be built using its API.


    Notion

    • Key Features:
      • An all-in-one workspace for collaboration and productivity.
      • Can be used for meeting notes, product roadmaps, project workflows, and more.
      • Highly customizable and flexible.
    • Pros:
      • Offers a wide range of tools for different aspects of project management.
      • Suitable for both small and large teams.
    • Cons:
      • May require some setup to tailor it to specific content workflow needs.


    Planable

    • Key Features:
      • Specialized for content strategy, collaboration, and approval.
      • Real-time collaboration and content calendar management.
      • Customizable workflows and content templates.
    • Pros:
      • User-friendly interface and easy to set up.
      • Strong focus on content strategy and approval processes.
    • Cons:
      • May not offer as broad a range of features as some other platforms.


    Bynder’s Content Workflow vs. Other Content Tools



    Content Workflow by Bynder

    • Unique Feature: The integration of AI Assist for generating and polishing content drafts sets it apart. It also maintains a strong focus on real-time collaboration and centralized content production.


    Comparison with Other Tools

    • Notion and Planable: While Notion and Planable offer robust collaboration and project management features, they lack the specific AI-driven content generation and polishing capabilities that Content Workflow by Bynder provides. Notion is more versatile but may require more setup, whereas Planable is more specialized in content strategy and approval.
    • Narrato: Narrato is a more cost-effective option with a strong focus on SEO and content optimization. However, it does not have the same level of AI-driven content generation as Content Workflow by Bynder.

    In summary, Content Workflow by Bynder stands out for its AI-driven content generation and real-time collaboration features, making it a strong choice for teams needing advanced content creation and management tools. However, alternatives like Narrato, Notion, and Planable offer different strengths that might better suit specific team needs and budgets.

    GatherContent - Frequently Asked Questions

    Here are some frequently asked questions about GatherContent, along with detailed responses to each:

    What is GatherContent and what does it do?

    GatherContent is a content management platform that helps users gather, organize, and manage their content in a structured and collaborative way. It is particularly useful for large content teams, allowing them to store, collaborate on, and publish content efficiently. The platform offers features such as content templates, workflow management, versioning, and scheduling, making it a comprehensive tool for content operations.

    What are the pricing plans for GatherContent?

    GatherContent offers several pricing plans:
    • Start: $99 per month, which includes basic features.
    • Scale: $299 per month, which adds more features and higher limits on items and projects.
    • Transform: $799 per month, which includes all features plus additional support and higher limits.
    There is no free plan, but a 14-day free trial is available.

    Does GatherContent offer a free trial?

    Yes, GatherContent provides a 14-day free trial. This allows users to test the platform’s features before committing to a paid plan.

    What languages does GatherContent support?

    GatherContent currently supports English as the primary language for its interface. However, it does support multilanguage content creation and management, which is useful for global websites.

    What kind of support does GatherContent offer?

    GatherContent offers various support options, including a knowledge base, email/help desk support, chat support, and phone support. This ensures that users can get help whenever they need it.

    Does GatherContent have an API?

    Yes, GatherContent has an API available for use. It includes REST, GraphQL, and specific APIs for managing content, images, and other functionalities. This allows developers to integrate GatherContent with other systems and services.

    What are the key features of GatherContent?

    Some of the key features include:
    • Content Collaboration: Allows multiple users to work on content together.
    • Content Workflow: Sets up approval processes for content creation.
    • Content Templates: Provides structured templates for content creation.
    • Content Scheduling: Enables scheduling of content publication.
    • Content Versioning: Keeps track of different versions of content.
    • Content Import/Export: Supports importing and exporting content from various formats.
    • Custom User Roles: Allows creating custom roles with specific permissions.
    • Webhooks: Sends real-time notifications to other systems or services.


    Can I customize the user interface of GatherContent?

    Yes, GatherContent allows customization of the CMS user interface to match your brand or specific needs. You can configure the UI to fit your organization’s requirements.

    How does GatherContent handle content security and compliance?

    GatherContent complies with several security and compliance standards, including two-factor authentication, GDPR compliance, SOC2 compliance, and ISO27001. It also tracks user activity and offers built-in backups and restore features.

    Can I integrate GatherContent with other CMS platforms?

    Yes, GatherContent can be integrated with other CMS platforms such as WordPress, Kentico, and Craft. It also supports integration through webhooks and APIs, allowing seamless connectivity with various systems.

    Does GatherContent support multiple environments for content testing?

    Yes, GatherContent supports multiple environments (e.g., development, staging, production) which allows testing changes in a safe environment before going live.

    GatherContent - Conclusion and Recommendation



    Final Assessment of GatherContent

    GatherContent is a comprehensive content management tool that stands out in the Content Tools category, particularly for its extensive features and user-friendly interface.



    Key Features and Benefits

    GatherContent offers a wide range of features that make it an invaluable tool for content teams. These include:

    • Content Collaboration: Allows multiple users to work together on content projects.
    • Content Workflow: Enables the creation of structured workflows with unlimited stages, ensuring content moves smoothly through different phases.
    • Content Templates: Provides pre-designed templates to streamline content creation.
    • Content Scheduling: Allows for the planning and scheduling of content in advance.
    • Content Approval: Facilitates a clear approval process to ensure quality and consistency.
    • Content Versioning: Automatically records changes, making it easy to track and manage different versions of content.
    • Content Analytics: Offers insights into content performance, helping teams make data-driven decisions.
    • Content Permissions and Notifications: Ensures the right people have access to the content and receive necessary updates.


    Who Would Benefit Most

    GatherContent is particularly beneficial for:

    • Large Content Teams: With features like unlimited users, structured workflows, and content collaboration, it is ideal for teams that need to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
    • Marketing and Content Departments: The tool’s ability to handle content scheduling, approval, and versioning makes it a great fit for marketing and content teams looking to streamline their processes.
    • Organizations with Multiple Projects: Companies managing numerous active projects will appreciate the ability to handle up to 50 active projects in the higher-tier plans.


    Pricing and Plans

    GatherContent offers several pricing plans to cater to different needs and budgets:

    • Starter Plan: $83/month, suitable for smaller teams with 500 items and 10 projects.
    • Plus Plan: $166/month, offering 1000 items and 25 active projects, along with premium integrations.
    • Pro Plan: $249/month, providing 2000 items and 50 active projects, with unlimited workflow stages.
    • Enterprise Plan: $333/month, featuring 3000 items and 75 active projects, with dedicated onboarding.


    Overall Recommendation

    GatherContent is highly recommended for any organization seeking to improve their content management processes. Its comprehensive set of features, flexible pricing plans, and user-friendly interface make it an excellent choice for content teams of all sizes. The tool’s ability to enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and provide detailed analytics ensures that content is created, managed, and delivered efficiently.

    If you are looking for a tool that can help you organize your content, ensure smooth collaboration, and provide valuable insights into your content’s performance, GatherContent is an excellent option to consider. Its free trial allows you to test the features before committing to a plan, making it a risk-free exploration of whether this tool is the right fit for your needs.

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