2. Business objectives. Make sure to determine what you are trying to accomplish with the content, think about the results you want and how to achieve that, and, of course, how much you want to spend to get there.

6. Spaces. What is your distribution strategy? Your website is a key spot for distribution and should be part of the equation. But there are many other ways to share your content including media exposure, email, newsletters, events, and more.

8. Schedule. The best content marketing programs are planned ahead. This ensures a constant flow of information as well as the ability to time content to specific milestones.

By the way, if you aren’t a member of MarketingProfs yet, I recommend you join. It’s a great resource.

Here are 5 attributes to consider when writing your content, thanks to this blog post by Heidi Cohen. If you are having trouble imagining how to incorporate these attributes, think of your favorite novel or your favorite movie and how they used these elements to move you. It’s the same thing with your content–it doesn’t have to be dry just because you are writing about a business topic.

1. Emotion. Think about phrases and descriptions that will connect with the audience you are trying to reach. Paint a picture with the words you use. What kinds of action or language draws you into a story?
2. Identification with the protagonist of the story. This character doesn’t need to be epic, just relatable. Once the audience cares about the protagonist, they will follow him or her almost anywhere.
3. Memorable. Follow the basic timeline of a story, and make sure to have a beginning, middle, and end. That helps your audience remember what they read. Feel free to jump around in time or in thought to add creativity or surprise, as long as you remember to tell the whole story.
4. Easily adaptable. Think about fairy tales and how easily you can change one to tell the story you want to tell. They aren’t necessarily simple stories, but they are easy to remember and easy for readers to enhance with their own elements.
5. Easily sharable with others. If your content follows these steps, your audience will want to share your stories with others. It’s easy for them when the basics are simple enough to repeat and the content is easily downloadable and shareable.

B2B marketers can learn from the success of this creative strategy, as it includes just the ingredients needed to launch a successful content marketing campaign.

1. It wasn’t an overnight success. It was a three year effort culminating in the ads, videos, and social media presence we see today.
2. It involved trial and error. The agency took risks, evaluated what worked, and didn’t give up when something didn’t work.
3. It involved a lot of planning, a significant budget, and trust in the process.

If you’re interested in manufacturing careers or know someone who is, check it out.