When you’re in a brainstorm for content marketing ideas and the creative juices are flowing, it’s easy to get carried away. Before you know it, you’re pitching ideas about cats in tuxedos and wondering if there’s any room in your video budget for a Michael Bay-style explosion. And while that all sounds great in the room, those ideas may not get you the results you really want.

The best marketing ideas serve both the people you’re trying to reach and your content strategy. If your great idea doesn’t do both, it might not be so great after all.

How to Know If You Have a Good Content Marketing Idea

The secret to creating consistent, quality content is to vet your content marketing ideas to make sure they’re aligned to your larger goals. Next time a light bulb goes off, ask yourself these 5 questions to find out if you should move forward or go back to square one.

1) Will it interest your audience?

Just because you think something is interesting doesn’t mean your audience will. Ultimately, you’re trying to connect with people through content, demonstrate that you understand who they are, and show that you’re there to enhance their lives. Whether you’re educating, entertaining, or inspiring them, identify exactly how your idea will speak to their wants and needs.

  • Focus on value.
  • Teach them something.
  • Be human. People want to interact with people, not faceless corporations.

2) Can it be distributed effectively to reach them?

In an ideal world, people would magically stumble upon your content and become an instant fan. In reality, you need to do the legwork to make sure they see it. That means identifying the channels that will help you reach them—and tailoring content for those channels.

  • Know your channels up front. Distribution can influence the way you craft your content, so it’s important to know where this content will live before you’ve brought the concept to life.
  • Choose the right format for the channel. Different channels are better suited to different types of content (e.g., Instagram for photos or LinkedIn for longer thinkpieces). Consider which presentation might work best for your particular content idea.
  • Know how you’re going to measure success. You won’t know how good your idea really was if you can’t measure its impact.

3) Does it align with your engagement goals?

A good idea connects with your audience, but a great content marketing idea inspires them to take action. The long-term goal is to turn people into lifelong customers, but they need to take the first step. If the story you’re telling doesn’t offer a clear next step, it’s probably not worth telling.

  • Deliver the right messaging. The right marketing ideas support your brand’s benefits or key messaging.
  • Say the right thing at the right time. Map your buyer journey to make sure your content moves them to the next stage seamlessly.
  • Engage people at different touchpoints. Find out how a divisible content strategy helps you reuse assets across channels to maximize your content’s reach.

Note: A one-off piece of content won’t be as effective as a strategic campaign.

4) How is this an original idea?

It’s easy to imitate what you’re used to seeing, but the most effective content provides something unique or different to your audience. That’s not to say you have to be a visionary; there are plenty of ways to put an original spin on an old subject or come up with interesting new ideas.

  • Dig into your data. Proprietary data is a great way to translate your unique insights into interesting content. Whether you’re sharing surprising findings or debunking myths, there are all sorts of stories hiding in your spreadsheets.
  • Try something new. Experiment with a new format or design style to mix it up.
  • Survey your customers. Talking directly to your customers about their challenges can inspire new content ideas. You might identify a content gap to fill, or even turn those survey results into an interesting industry report (which might even get you coverage in an industry publication).

5) Does it fit your brand?

Just because another cool brand is doing something doesn’t mean it will translate for your brand. Similarly, just because something is trending in the news doesn’t mean you need to hop on it. Good content marketing ideas are a natural extension of your brand.

  • Consider your expertise. What subjects do you have the authority and credibility to speak on? What unique insights can you share? How can you add to the conversation?
  • Consider your resources. Is this idea something you can execute and execute well? If you can’t, it will only hurt your credibility. It’s always better to create something smaller (of quality) than half-ass something big.

Remember: Good brand content reflects the brand in voice, personality, and visual identity. To make sure your brand is consistently applied, craft strong brand guidelines (or even a content checklist) to make sure content is cohesive and consistent.

content marketing ideas infographicDon’t Get Complacent

Above all, the key to good content marketing is experimentation and iteration. The more you try, the more you learn, and the better your results will be. Just stay focused, and keep educating yourself on best practices. In the meantime, here are a few final tips to help you get the best results from your work.

  • Strengthen your strategy.
  • Get inspired.
  • Work smarter.