Pitchfork Opts Out of the Pageview Rat Trace (Digiday)
User experience and revenue are two equal forces that are sometimes at odds.

Is it your profits that tell you whether you’re cultivating a great multimedia experience? Here’s one brand that’s putting its foot down in favor of its readers.

How We Grew Crazy Egg to 100,000 Users with a $10,000 Marketing Budget (Neil Patel)
When you’re just starting up, you need to make the most out of a shoestring budget. The key to growing your business on a small budget?

Press, SEO, business partnerships, and conference presentations. The key to growth is distribution through content, people, and technology. Here is Crazy Egg’s amazing story.

3 Ways to Come Up with Popular Blog Topics (TOFU Marketing)
Blogging is your most powerful customer acquisition tool. If you’re not writing as often as you can, you may be missing out on a powerful networking opportunity.

There’s a powerful force, however, that holds even the smartest business leaders back — writer’s block. Here’s TOFU Marketing’s guide to brainstorming better blog topics.

What You Need to Know About Marketing Automation (Search Engine Watch)
In the audience engagement world, email marketing is a powerful tool — but are you leveraging this resource as much as you can?

Marketing automation is key for reaching your segmenting demographic groups, targeting the right users, and sending emails at just the right time. Be data-driven and as efficient as you possibly can. Automation is key.

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

How a CEO Can Wreck a Brand in One Interview (Forbes)
You’ve probably already noticed, but Abercombie & Fitch has been at the center of a major media fail.

An offensive Salon Magazine interview from 2006 has resurfaced in the form of a full-blown-frenzy. The statement in question? Something about A&F being a selective club for ‘cool’ and ‘skinny’ kids. Sometimes, it’s valuable for brands to speak their minds. Sometimes, it’s best to keep quiet. Here’s one of those situations with words that should have never been thought or said.

8 Tech Execs Whose Trash-Talking Blew Up in Their Faces (Business Insider)
Hate your rivals? If so, you’re better off keeping your anger to yourself.

Business is a sport, and if you’re rowdy? Well, people will judge you. No excuses. Here are the reasons you need to always hold your head high.

What to Do if You Hate Your Brand (Entrepreneur)
It’s more common than you think. Even with loyal customers, an awesome team, and profits, something just doesn’t feel right.

Just listen to your gut and do what you need to do to make the changes you need. This article will walk you through the process of a seamless transition. No reason for bumpy roads.

Nearly Half of Second-Gen Hispanics Feel Like Ads Don’t Target Them (AdWeek)
This article’s headline just screams ‘opportunity.’

Here’s a powerful demographic segment that’s feeling disconnected to brand messaging. Here’s why your brand should step up to build that valuable rapport.

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

Dislike: How Not to Treat Your Customers on Facebook (Inc)
Social media positions customer service as the heart and soul of your organization. Don’t muck it up.

The Internet is literally all-knowing, and if you’re slacking off, the community at large will know, and guess what? You’ll lose business. Here are key mistakes from one company’s blunders.

Let’s Talk about that 500 Startups Video (TechCrunch)
CEOs, marketers, and money-makers: listen up. If you mean business, you need to unwind. Be human, be hilarious, and don’t be afraid to put yourself ‘out there.’

The public at large will love you for it, as this 500 Startups video showcases.  Remember that behind great brand strategies are exceptionally awesome people.

Twitter Buys Another Analytical Startup (The Verge)
Online, conversations happen fast. That’s why Luckysort developed a product called TopicWatch, a text-mining application that pinpoints patterns in volumes of text data.

Twitter thinks that this technology is exactly what they need to help advertisers target users in real-time. Here’s one way that data overload is actually an information gold mine.

“Remember to Buy Milk”: Sends Texts Triggered by Location with LocoText (Tech Cocktail)
The digital and physical worlds are blurring. The culprit? Mobile.

Connections are infite and data is boundless. Here’s a geo-communications app that is mashing together two beautiful art forms: SMS and GPS for a new way to send messages.

Image courtesy of sofiabudapest/flickr

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

Compared to This, Your Mission Statement Sucks (Inc)
Worried that your mission statement is missing the mark? You’re probably right in thinking you’re veering off-course.

Mission statements are hand-crafted with the best of intentions, but most of the time, they fall flat. Here’s some inspiration from one that totally rocks.

What Is Authentic Leadership (Forbes)
Content marketing helps position your brand as a thought leader. A core component to your strategy? Authenticity.

So what exactly is authentic leadership? It’s about being true to your team, vulnerabilities, ideals, and actions. Authentic leadership is what gives your brand boundless influence. Don’t abuse it. Here’s how to get it right.

Is Native Advertising Just Another Term for ‘Good Advertising?’ (Mashable)

Mashable’s Todd Wasserman may be on to something here.

Historically, advertising and user experience have been perpetually at odds. Digital media is truly switching things up to help marketers realize that brands and audiences can harmoniously co-exist. And truly respect one another.

7 Company Blogs that Build Community (Crazy Egg)
For your reading pleasure, Grasshopper Group’s Emma Siemasko rounds up some of the best company blogs online.

She points out that a good blog is more than just an SEO tool or ‘nice to have’ for users. It’s a community-builder, resource for users, and invaluable platform for sparking partnerships. If you’re not seeing results from your blog, you need to put more muscle behind it. Here are 7 brands  that are getting it right.

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

Why the Onion Is Awesome for Publishing Details of Its Twitter Hack (AllThingsD)
By now, you’ve probably heard that the Onion’s Twitter account was hijacked by a Syrian hacker group last week. What did they do about it? Leverage the attack as a public service opportunity.

In a detailed post, the website’s tech team released a thorough report on how the attack happened. In a world where most companies keep their vulnerabilities quiet, the Onion owned it in a way that helps the public at large. That’s awesome.

News Flash: Twitter doesn’t Have to Hire Journalists to Be a Powerful Media Competitor (PaidContent)
There’s no question that Twitter is a powerful media entity. The key value proposition? Communication and distribution — not journalism.

So what happens when Twitter posts a req for ‘head of news?’ Twitter says it’s not a media operation but has become a powerful counterpart in journalism. The argument of this article is that Twitter is a media partner but also a competitor.

What Happens Next in Media? 9 Predictions (AdAge)
Key highlights: Larry Page will rethink privacy settings, conspiracy theorists will launch countless websites and forums to try to fixate on Obama’s HuffPo use, and the next generation of Groupon will make its debut for “frictionless” shopping.

 Email and Social Media: Why Marketers Need Both (Social Media Examiner)
If you’re not coupling your social media and email marketing efforts, you may be missing out on customer acquisition.

It all comes down to retention. The key claim is that it’s easier to convert users via email than social. You need to move your most active social users to email. Here’s how.

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

BuzzFeed Starts Program to Train Agencies in the BuzzFeed Way (AdAge)
If you’ve developed a great methodology, why not sell it as a standalone product? BuzzFeed has launched a one-of-a-kind program to train agencies to become master storytellers.

Native ads will be a key part of this strategy. Participants will receive three to six months of training from BuzzFeed’s editorial team. After the program, ‘accredited’ agencies will have direct access to post to the BuzzFeed site.

The 12 Most Extreme Craigslist Ads We’ve Ever Seen (Business Insider)
The best advertising takes the ordinary and makes it amazing.

Take a lesson from this ad for a beaten-up, 12-year-old bicycle copy so awesome that that it caught Mashable’s attention.

Stand Out in a Crowded Industry (Inc)
There’s one thing about marketing that you can’t escape – there’s a lot of stuff out there.

From products to content and services, there’s a lot of competition for virtually every brand. You need to truly stand out. Here’s one leader’s strategy.

YouTube Launches Its Paid Subscription Channels with Select Partners (PaidContent)
YouTube’s paid channel platform is now live. Partners can now charge as little as $0.99 per month for access to video content.

There’s a 14-day trial with discounts for annual plans. Are YouTube and distribution the new face of video and television?

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

YouTube’s 10 Most-Watched Ads in April (AdWeek)
The votes are in – here are YouTube’s 10 mega-hits from April.

Of course, Dove’s ‘Real Beauty Sketches’ is on the list. Then there’s Evian’s latest babies commercial. Both have soared to become YouTube’s most watched ads of 2013. Their secret? Powerful stories and human experiences.

LinkedIn Continues Its Evolution as a Media Entity with the Launch of Magazine-Style News Channels (PaidContent)
If you’re questioning the business value of content marketing, just take a look at LinkedIn.

When users click on the platform’s ‘News’ heading, they’ll land on a page with news channel subscriptions. Educate yourself, and follow what you care about most — all from one platform.

Coca-Cola Vows to Reduce Advertising to Kids (AdAge)
The public is blaming the soda giant’s sugar-filled drinks for the rise in obesity in the world. The brand’s reaction?

Fight the evil it’s been accused of causing. Coca-Cola has vowed to stop advertising to kids under the age of 12 — a big move for a giant brand.

Want to Make Better Decisions? Procrastinate (Inc)
A little reflection can go a long way. Decisiveness is a virtue, but so is self-reflection.

Sometimes, it pays to watch and wait. Collect data, ask lots of questions, and push your ultimate decision to the very last moment.

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

‘Framed’ Is a New Twist on Interactive Storytelling (The Verge)
Looking for more compelling ways to tell your story? Try this interactive game — it’s fun and a potential learning tool.

Set scenes using panels that you’d normally associate with a comic book. Rearrange everything to build out your story. It’s a marketer-must for growing your creative brain.

The Power of Stories (Women 2.0)
When it comes to brand-building, content leads the charge. That principle holds true for big companies and small organizations alike.

You may have already noticed that the most compelling CEOs have beautiful stories that are emotional, inspiring, and moving. Stories are invaluable to your company’s mission, vision, and growth – here’s why.

How Can Companies Adapt to Evolving Social Media Expectations? (Pandodaily)
Despite their comparative low cost, social media investments are challenging to make.

Why? Because the landscape is changing rapidly, and companies are constantly faced with new opportunities. The key to making an investment is to look beyond the technology. Focus on the goal first and process next.

Your Klout Score Could Get You Into American Airlines’ First Class Lounge (AdAge)
Word-of-mouth marketing is powerful. That’s why it pays to be a social influencer — brands want to get you talking about their products, services, and features.

From a marketing standpoint, American Airlines is relying on consumers o spread the word. The perks you’ll get? Free WiFi and beer.

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

The Truth About Reddit (AdAge)
Is Reddit a part of your content strategy? Here’s why you can’t ignore this platform.

Reddit’s foundational to mainstream media, highly engaging, and extremely human.

This Ad Has a Secret Anti-Abuse Message that Only Kids Can See (Gizmodo)
Spanish organization Aid to Children and Adolescents at Risk Foundation (ANAR) has created a safe and secret way for abused children to seek out help.

An adult looking at the ad sees an image of a sad child, but anyone shorter than four feet, five inches tall sees a bruised face with a helpline number. The ad’s goal is to empower kids, especially if they’re with their abusers.

Want a Job at Gawker Media? You Can Get a Head Start by Being a Regular Commenter (PaidContent)
Want to find awesome team members? Look for job applicants who are passionate about your company’s content.

It’s one of the most powerful ways to add value to your company’s community. But don’t forget about the lurkers – they’re awesome too.

About.com’s New CEO on How to Stay Relevant (Techcrunch)
About.com has 84 million unique visitors each month, but the website is rarely in the media’s public eye.

It’s about time that the company underwent some change – and with direction from the company’s CEO Neil Vogel, they will. The company’s key objectives? User experience, mobile, and social.

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently

Best Way to Get Inside Your Customers’ Heads (Inc)
Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia explains that storyboards are an invaluable tool for understanding and connecting with customers.

Bring text to life to execute ideas and fuel innovation. Here’s how.

Guidelines for Cultivating Customer Altruism (HBR)
Altruism is one of the most beautifully human qualities. Sometimes, it takes a natural disaster or human event to bring it out. If only, however, this natural impulse was an everyday fact of life.

Here’s another powerful social force that rules the world – business. Imagine what would happen if you combined business with altruism – happiness, health, strong family relationships, and more.

The Data Made Me Do It (MIT Technology Review)
Correlation is not causation. If you study statistics, that’s one of the first lessons you’ll learn. You can’t leverage numbers to predict the future, but you can learn what’s likely to happen with some degree of accuracy.

That’s a core value proposition for up-and-coming platforms like Google Now and others. The worlds of business and data are colliding harmoniously into the everyday decisions we’re making. How do you feel about it?

What WalMart Likes in Mobile (Digiday)
Even the biggest retailer in the world experiences strong barriers in mobile marketing.

It’s easy to get excited with a brand new technology, but what’s the best strategy for using it? Here’s what WalMart loves: mobile content, responsive design, wearable tech, and location services.

The Content Strategist is a daily magazine for forward-thinking publishers and content marketers, sponsored and created by Contently