LinkedIn’s Content Vision, Stronger Connections, Dove Ad Parody

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 Releases Redesigned iPhone and Android App with Big, Bright News Stories (The Verge)
LinkedIn is becoming a content powerhouse, and they’re making sure to execute one core concept — the powerful junction between content, design, and great products.

LinkedIn released sleeker apps and matching mobile websites that help bring prominence to large photos and text. The underlying rationale? Content converts.

8 Surprising Ways to Strengthen Business Connections (OPEN Forum)
Reciprocity — giving in exchange for receiving — goes a long way. One of the most powerful ways to build strong relationships is to give more.

That means overlooking what you’ll get in return tomorrow or the next day. Prioritize the long run — with your business partners, stakeholders, clients, customers. Everyone —  there’s more to profitability than the immediate and now.

Dove’s ‘Real Beauty’ Sketch Artist Video Gets Parodied … With Men (AdAge)
You know you’ve done something right when somebody makes fun of you.

Props again to Dove for creating a truly compelling, captivating, and eye-opening ad campaign. And props to the brave souls who made fun of it.

Why Customer Reviews Trump Social-Media Marketing (Inc)
It’s an understatement to say that social media marketing gets a lot of attention. But is this strategy always right for every business? Maybe not.

There’s definite room for customer engagement on social media platform, but you know what other area of your website needs great content? Customer reviews. Make sure that you fully flesh out your strategy in this area for the most robust results possible.