Facebook, the most power platform for branded content, is about to get a whole lot more powerful. At its F8 developers forum this week, Facebook rolled out plenty of whiz-bang. Still, its most significant announcement among all the tech wonders was the launch of an embeddable video player -- a true game-changer. Facebook made $12.47 billion in ad revenues last year. With this native video platform, it's likely to make many billions more.

Sometimes the smartest brands use content marketing in a remarkably dangerous and stupid way. Case in point: Coca Cola's recent sneaky gambit, employing nutritionist bloggers to sell the iconic soft drink as a heart-smart snack.

When, in December, 2013, The New York Times announced plans for advertising platform Paid Post, it prompted concerns among editorial greybeards at the Grey Lady that advertorial barbarians were going to use all sorts of visual and technological whizzbang to undermine "all the news that's fit to print."

Quick: What is the largest-circulation print monthly in these United States? If your answer is Costco Connection, you're correct. Domestically, the pub has 8.6 million subscribers -- and millions more when Canada, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Korea, and recently added editions for Australia and Japan are part of the mix, according to Ginnie Roeglin, who has been its publisher for the last 16 years.