Pinterest Valued at $2.5 Billion, Rules of Mobile Email, Pay for YouTube?

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:

Pinterest Valued at $2.5 Billion

The Wall Street Journal reports that Pinterest, which just raised $200 million in its latest round of funding, is now worth $2.5 billion.

In one year, the site has increased its number of users from 9 million to 48 million.

While the site is free right now, the WSJ reports, “it’s also been studying an advertising system and building relationships with businesses. Last year the firm made business accounts available, which enable users to do things like see which of their products are gaining the most attention on the scrapbooking site.”

The Rules of Mobile Email

ClickZ’s Simms Jenkins writes about the rules for mobile email marketing.

He says that smartphone users are more likely to read emails than make phone calls, and that email is the most used application on tablets. “70 percent of consumers delete a mobile email when it doesn’t look good and 18 percent unsubscribe.”

One survey found, “Mobile purchasing decisions are most influenced by emails from companies (71%) only surpassed by the influence of Friends (87%).”

Why Does Nobody Pay for YouTube Content?

The Daily Dot, via Mashable, reports on the fact that nobody wants to pay for YouTube channels.

Unlike a channel such as HBO, which has the best content, YouTube doesn’t meet that standard. The author writes, “To be fair, some of the better content from Machinema and Full Screen is beginning to resemble network television, but let’s all keep in mind the important fact that network TV is free.”

CNBC Buying “Nightly Business Report”

According to the New York Times, CNBC is going to purchase “Nightly Business Report,” which shows in 96 percent of homes across America.

This will be the third time since 2010 that it’s changed ownership. When it starts airing on the 24-hour business cable channel, it will keep the same format.

Fanhattan Now on the Web

According to Gigaom, Fanhattan, a video recommendation engine, is expanding from the iPad to the web.

The site lets users input a movie or TV show name, and then the app shows them where they can watch it, whether it’s on Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon, or another provider. There are only 16 channels on the iOS, compared to 29 on the new web version.

Growing a Freelance Writing Business

According to YoungPrepPro, writers need to grow their businesses by getting more clients. They can read up on freelancing sites like Freelance Switch or Daily Blog Tips on how to go about doing this.

Writers have to learn negotiation skills and raise their rates without losing clients.

“It’s always easier to get repeat business from existing clients than to get new clients. Unlike new clients who have no idea of how you do business, your existing clients are already sure of your quality.”

Freelancing vs. Traditional Employment

MyVenturePad covers freelancing and whether or not it’s more secure than traditional employment.

In a survey, writers said that “because they have multiple clients and/or revenue streams, they feel they are much less likely to lose all of their income like they would if they lost a job. In other words, independence allows them to spread employment risk across multiple employers.”

They are also more secure because they feel like they can control where their career is headed instead of relying on a boss to make decisions for them.