It seems that there is a strong trend for Content Marketing now, much like InBound Marketing a couple of years ago.
Yet time and time again, there are hints, tips, guides, steps, methods, formulae and approaches to Marketing … yet virtually nothing about Creating Content!

The key to Content Creation is knowing your audience.
What do they think they are looking for, what are they really looking for, what format would they prefer it in, what style etc.
If it comes down to it – don’t do one piece!
It may pay off to produce a solid article, a quick hit piece and a video/pod cast. Satisfy the different format needs that suit different preferences and time constraints.
(You also get more things to share, more likely to get diversified links etc.)

So – the big question isn’t how you are going to market it.
No no no!
The “first” big question is “what is it they need me to create for them”.
Then you tackle the other questions of how to promote it, how to make it help with your rankings, how to write it so it helps with conversions/increasing your bottom line etc.

Start with the End User – the rest gets a lot easier.

After reading your post, Its easy to think of the expression “been there, done that”. I mean, all of these things that you have given are the founding basics for content marketing. Not that I am being an “all-knowing” type of person, but what I intend to say is that all aspiring and veteran content marketers should not forget these given fundamentals. Nowadays, content marketers are already satisfied with a so-so content since they are more hype about social media postings. They tend to forget to create a much sensible, appealing and informative content worthy to be read. I salute you Mark and thanks for reminding everyone about how to properly engage customers/readers through the use of content marketing.