LinkedIn’s Media Powerhouse, Content Wins, Lessons from Journalists

The Strategist picks the day’s most interesting stories for the content aficionados who love the backstory and reading between the lines. Here are the gems you need to kickstart your Friday.

LinkedIn Acquires Newsreader Startup Pulse for $90 Million (All Things D)
It’s no secret that LinkedIn is positioning its platform as a content powerhouse.

If you weren’t convinced of its commitment to the cause, here’s the proof you need — a $90 million acquisition. What does this unification bring to the media world? The possibilities are literally limitless, so stay tuned.

How Top Brands Win at Content (Digiday)
Top brands rock because they’re publishers too. But content marketing takes morethan great writing.

According to Giselle Abramovich, top brands excel with content in several key ways — they find the right content hook, tap into passion points, operate like a newsroom, and tell real stories. How does your brand fit in?

Content Marketing: It’s Not About Shock, but Good Storytelling (AdAge)
What centuries of journalism have proven is that the storytelling possibilities are endless — there are so many lenses and perspectives through which you can approach compelling topics.

So think like a journalist and reach people on a human-to-human level.

3 Profit-Killing Beliefs About Selling (Inc)
It’s time to take a step back to truly investigate your sales strategy. Selling means more than winning new business, prioritizing numbers, and heavy pitching.

At any given time, your customers are buried in information. Make their lives easier by being their consultant.