How to Create a Marketing Checklist in 6 Steps

If you're like most marketers, you're fully onboard with the idea of content marketing. You're eager to give your website visitors and in-person prospects valuable information they'll really want -- and will really use. You've compiled a list of white paper ideas, lined up clients for case studies and scheduled a few webinars. But have you overlooked one of the simplest and most valuable content marketing pieces of all?

Checklists are one content piece that can benefit virtually every business. They help clients and prospects stay organized, make good decisions and prepare for the future. Who wouldn't want that?

In turn, checklists can lead prospects directly down the path to purchasing your product or solution. Plus, they can be created quickly and relatively easily. Add compelling graphics and formatting, and they become high-quality marketing collateral your prospects will download and use for years to come.

Ready to get started creating a checklist for your business? Just follow the steps in The Checklist Checklist below:

Identify prospect needs. Think about all the decision-making considerations relating to your business. A Realtor could produce a home-buying checklist. A bank could generate a savings strategies checklist. A children's retailer could create a baby registry checklist. Keep in mind that each business may have many different customer groups, who could each benefit from a different checklist.

Consider the buying process. Another useful type of checklist is one that guides prospects through the buying process. An electronics retailer could produce a TV buying checklist and an invoice software vendor could create a checklist for choosing the right invoicing software.

List the steps. The benefit of a checklist is in its detail. Take some time to think about every step that relates to your checklist, separating out each one individually. If there is a time element to each step or set of steps, be sure to include that as well. Wedding checklists are a good example -- most tell brides how many months out from the wedding they should complete each step

Write the checklist. Unless it is a simple shopping list, most checklists benefit from some additional detail for each step. In fact, even a shopping checklist becomes more valuable with an introductory paragraph explaining how it should be used. A freelance copywriter is a useful partner for this step of the process.

Format the checklist. Sure, you could simply post the checklist on your website. But a little extra effort on the design front can make your checklist feel more special and valuable. If you don't have graphic design resources in-house, your copywriter should be able to recommend a qualified designer.

Distribute your list. Once you have the finished checklist, it's time to get it in the hands of your prospects. Consider adding it as a downloadable PDF to your website, e-mailing it to your mailing list, sending it along with a sales letter, writing about it on your blog and even issuing a press release to announce its availability.