Startups that Boomed (Content Style), Self-Love Overload, Craigslist Stunners

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.

How Content Marketing Rocketed These Startups Forward (Onboardly)
Unbounce, Mint.com, and Freshbooks are three companies that share core commonalities – amazing products, great teams, and loved UX.

Here’s what happens when you leverage content to amplify already-great brands (hint: total awesomeness).

You Might Be Too In Love With Yourself (Inc)
To market effectively and efficiently, you need to learn to think like your customers.

Don’t be fooled, however – the process of detaching yourself from your business is tougher than it looks. You need to position yourself as a consumer and truly personalize the experience you’re selling.

The Most Stunning Craigslist Ad (Ad Week)
What could possibly be stunning about a used car with 128,000 miles that’s been puked in twice?

Believe it or not, this ad. This – totally hilarious – collage will be the best way to start your weekend. You’ll want to crack open a beer for this one.

Customer Engagement: Can You Have too Much of a Good Thing? (OPEN Forum)
What’s better than a customer who engages with your brand through one channel? Customers who engage with your brand through multiple channels, according to the Direct Marketing Association.

Communication is key – always seek feedback, make sure you have enough customer service reps, and remember to use snail mail every once in a while.