--- title: "Joe Pulizzi: Seven Questions to Ground Your Content Strategy" id: "31251" type: "post" slug: "joe-pulizzi-seven-questions-to-ground-your-content-strategy" published_at: "2015-12-01T12:00:03+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T15:07:48+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/12/01/joe-pulizzi-seven-questions-to-ground-your-content-strategy/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/12/01/joe-pulizzi-seven-questions-to-ground-your-content-strategy.md" excerpt: "According to Content Marketing Institute Founder Joe Pulizzi, developing a solid content marketing plan starts with at least seven initial questions." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "audience engagement" - "Business" - "content strategy" - "Marketing" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Joe Pulizzi: Seven Questions to Ground Your Content Strategy 1 What is the business goal? 2 What is the hypothesis behind the program? 3 Who exactly is the audience? 4 What’s the differentiated story, and how will you tell it? 5 What assets do you have to work with before you start creating new content (e.g., member experts, white papers, conference sessions)? 6 What platform makes the most sense to launch the initiative? 7 What’s the execution plan, and who’s in charge of it? Most of all, Pulizzi reminds marketers to build in patience. “It takes time to build a loyal audience,” he says, and setting this expectation is key. “Brands that don’t have the patience [can] engage in pilot programs, where short-term successes can be measured and built upon like increased search engine rankings, social shares, and subscriber growth.” Content Marketing Institute Founder Joe Pulizzi. (Sabrina Kidwai, APR, CAE/ASAE) [Kristin Clarke, CAE](https://associationsnow.com/author/kristin-clarke-cae/) Kristin Clarke, CAE, is president of Clarke Association Content and is the books columnist for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/kristin-clarke-cae/) Tags: [#audience engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/audience-engagement/) [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#content strategy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/content-strategy/) [#Marketing](https://associationsnow.com/tag/marketing/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoThe Adaptive Leader: Integrating Values and Strategy to Thrive Under New LeadershipDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/the-adaptive-leader-integrating-values-and-strategy-to-thrive-under-new-leadership/) - [PodcastThe Next Chapter What’s Ahead for Future-Ready AssociationsSeptember 25, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/25/the-next-chapter-whats-ahead-for-future-ready-associations/) - [VideoAssociation Leadership and Strategy Alignment with Tim HopkinsFebruary 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/02/12/association-leadership-and-strategy-alignment-with-tim-hopkins/) - [VideoRecap from the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 19, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/19/recap-from-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2015%2F12%2F01%2Fjoe-pulizzi-seven-questions-to-ground-your-content-strategy%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !