Before we get into the fun stuff, you need to know where your content is going to live.
This is your main platform — where you publish your most substantial content.
It could be:
YouTube
A podcast
Your blog
You might also be active on other platforms like Instagram or TikTok, but your core platform should be one where your long-form, high-value content lives. For me, that’s YouTube.
Step 2: Identify Your Core Content Formats
Now that you’ve picked your platform, decide on the types of content you’ll create.
Think of these as shapes in your building block set: tutorials, listicles, interviews, vlogs, storytime, etc.
Pick 2–4 formats that you enjoy and your audience resonates with. For example:
Keep it simple. No need to overcomplicate things here. All you need are 2-4 strong formats.
Step 3: Choose Your Main Topics (aka “Content Buckets”)
Now let’s talk about what your content is actually about.
These are your content buckets — the major themes your content covers. I like to visualize these as colors. For example:
If you have a fitness brand, your topics might be:
Nutrition
Weightlifting
Supplement reviews
In my business, my three content buckets are:
Startups (starting an online business)
Sales (strategies to make more money)
Visibility (like YouTube and content marketing)
Pick 3–5 main topics that align with your brand, audience, and what you want to be known for.
Step 4: Brainstorm 5–10 Subtopics for Each Main Topic
Here’s where we start breaking things down into ideas for individual pieces of content.
For each main topic, brainstorm 5–10 subtopics. These are more specific ideas within the bigger bucket.
