Content Marketing

Fake “Arrested Development” Episodes, Puff Pastry Content, Fox Sports

The Strategist picks the day’s most relevant and interesting stories about the world of content from around the web. Here’s what you should be reading today:

Fake “Arrested Development” Episodes Now on Netflix

Netflix is (sort of) putting out fake episodes of shows developed in the storyline of “Arrested Development,” reports I Watch Stuff.

There’s “Boyfights,” which features the Bluth boys getting into fights, “Caged Wisdom” with George Bluth Sr., and “Families with Low Self Esteem” by Tobias Funke.

But, don’t be fooled: “As these are not actual shows, clicking for video merely takes you to a relevant clip from Arrested Development, but Netflix did go through the trouble of making cover art and full write-ups for them all, presumably so that bloggers would for the nth time remind everyone how the cult comedy is getting new episodes this spring.”

Puff Pastry, Live from Vidicom

ClickZ’s Lisa Lacy writes that last week, Pepperidge Farm put on a live program showcasing Top Chef judge Gail Simmons and Serious Eats founder Ed Levine to promote its Puff Pastry.

The show, which was streamed live from Vidicom, featured recipes and holiday-themed questions from fans. It also aired on Ustream and the Facebook page for Serious Eats. During the show, 1,800 people were watching.

Fox’s Foray into a Sports Network

The Wall Street Journal reports that Fox, in an effort to compete with ESPN, is rebranding its Speed network next year.

The new project, called Fox Sports 1, means that “Fox will be in a position to capture a bigger share of TV viewers and advertisers’ seemingly insatiable appetite for sports, not to mention the subscription fees shared by pay-TV operators. Even next to ESPN, insiders say, there’s still room for Fox to carve out its own chunk of the market.”

The network will launch later in 2013.

Separating Fact from Advertising

When Best Buy’s Tecca blog posted a piece that contradicted its in-store sales pitch, it was taken off the site, according to Digiday. But the action was not right, argues Linda Descano, managing director at Citi and CEO of its Women & Co. personal finance resource for women.

“As content marketers, we need to think less like advertisers and more like publishers, which means that the content we develop shouldn’t just be used to pitch products — it should engage readers, spark conversation and make our brand present in consumers’ lives in a way that’s relevant and rewarding to them,” she says.

Developing a Solid Content Marketing Strategy

CopyBlogger’s Pamela Wilson gives suggestions on how to form an agile content marketing strategy. It involves researching who the brand is looking to reach, what challenges there are, what the audience’s desires are, and how the brand is meeting the challenges and fulfilling the desires.

She says, “Look for ways to ally yourself with people who have already developed an audience similar to the one you aspire to serve. Don’t be afraid to send an email sharing your latest post, asking if your connection’s audience might be interested in seeing it.”

Tweets Can Now be Archived

According to Mashable, Twitter is allowing users to download their Twitter archives and view tweets by month, or “search your archive to find tweets with certain words, phrases, hashtags or @usernames,” says the company.

In settings, users can check off an option to request their own Twitter archives. Instructions to download them will be sent via email.

CEO of Martha Stewart Living Resigns

The New York Times reports on more bad news for Martha Stewart: The CEO of her company has resigned.

Lisa Gersh, who joined the company in 2011, announced that she had to lay off 12 percent of the almost 600-person company last month. Earlier in the year, Martha Stewart Living cut $12.5 million in broadcasting expenses.

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