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This post is part of a special 5-day event for members—the Done in Days: Content System Sprint! By the end of this week, you’ll have a working content system—a complete content command center to house your workflow and turn your method into momentum. 🪄 Find each day here.
Welcome back! How did you feel after completing Day 1?
Getting clear on your content direction is such a powerful first step. Today we're building on that foundation to develop something I'm really excited about—your content pillars.
Think of content pillars as the main themes defining your body of work. They're like the load-bearing walls of your content house—they give structure and support to everything you create while leaving plenty of room to decorate however you want! 🖼️
By the end of today, you'll have 3-5 clear pillars that will make content creation so much easier. No more staring at a blank screen wondering "what should I write about?" Your pillars will be there to guide you.
Quick reminder on how this works:
Over these five days, I’ll show up like this in your inbox with short, impactful tasks to help you build a content system that works with your natural creative flow, captures your best ideas and helps you create consistently without the overwhelm.
You can DIY your own content system as we go in whatever project management tool you prefer, or you can skip right on ahead and grab my done-for-you template. It’s normally $57 but available for $37 during this week’s content sprint! (Want to see inside? Get the full tour here.)
Not a member of The Content Brief? What are you waiting for? Join us and go from frazzled content creator to confident conversation leader, starting with this Done in Days: Content System Sprint!
Let's get really clear on what we're talking about here.
Content pillars are the core themes your audience needs to hear repeatedly to understand your unique perspective. They're like invisible scaffolding connecting your big-picture objectives to your everyday content creation.
Studies show people need to encounter a message 4-6 times before taking action. Your pillars provide those consistent threads that will appear throughout your content, helping transform your scattered ideas into a cohesive body of work.
I know some people worry having defined pillars will make their content boring or repetitive. But it's actually the opposite! Let me show you...
Content Pillars ARE:
✅ Core themes you'll explore repeatedly (in fresh ways!)
✅ Guidelines for organizing your content ideas (goodbye, chaos!)
✅ Tools for maintaining consistency (hello, recognition!)
✅ Starting points for content brainstorming (bye-bye, blank page syndrome!)
✅ Ways to reinforce your unique perspective (stand out from the crowd!)
✅ Building blocks for audience trust (they'll know what to expect from you!)
Content Pillars ARE NOT:
❌ Rigid templates or formulas (your creativity still gets to shine!)
❌ The only topics you can discuss (you can still explore tangents!)
❌ Taglines or slogans (they're themes, not marketing copy!)
❌ Overly specific or complex rules (they should feel natural!)
❌ Limitations on your creativity (they're support structures, not cages!)
Remember that conversation statement you created in The Conscious Connection Method? Let's revisit it—it also lives right at the top of your Content Hub for easy reference:
This is the perfect starting point for developing your pillars because it captures what makes your approach different.
Here's a quick example:
While others in my niche focus on maximizing content output and growth metrics, I help creatives build intentional systems for leading meaningful conversations because lasting impact comes from genuine connection and dialogue, not from adding to the digital noise.
See how that statement naturally suggests some pillar themes?
Let's Discover Your Natural Pillars
The best content pillars aren't invented—they're discovered. They're already part of your expertise and natural interests. Let's uncover them!
Start with What Lights You Up
First, let's identify where your expertise naturally emerges. Reference your notes from The Conscious Connection Method or grab a notebook and jot down your thoughts on these questions:
Which topics do you find yourself exploring for hours without getting bored?
What conversations energize you rather than drain you?
Where do you naturally collect resources and examples?
What subjects do you instinctively connect to other topics?
Take a few minutes to write down whatever comes to mind. Don't overthink it!
With that list in hand, next let's look at where you create the most value for others:
What problems do people consistently bring to you?
Which of your solutions have gotten the best results?
What knowledge do others find surprisingly helpful?
Where do you see things others might miss?
What's Your Special Sauce?
Now comes the fun part—defining what makes your take on these topics unique. For each potential pillar theme you're considering, ask yourself:
How do you approach this differently than others in your field?
What unconventional views do you hold about this topic?
Which "best practices" in your niche do you secretly question?
What forgotten aspects of this topic deserve more attention?
And don't forget to consider what makes your perspective particularly valuable:
What hard-won insights have you gained through experience?
Which life experiences have shaped your unique approach?
What results have you helped others achieve with your methods?
Where have you proven conventional wisdom wrong?
I know your perspective is unique (of course it is, because you are unique!)—these insights will help your content stand out in a crowded space!
Building Your Pillar Framework
Now let's take all those wonderful insights and organize them into a clear pillar framework. Aim for 3-5 core pillars that:
Feel energizing to create content around (if you're bored, your audience will be too!).
Have enough depth for ongoing exploration (you need years of content potential here).
Connect to your business goals (these should support your offers).
Serve your audience's actual needs (not just what you think they need).
Play to your natural strengths (why make this harder than it needs to be?).
Let me walk you through an example of how this works:
Starting observation: "I'm fascinated by sustainable creativity."
Deeper exploration:
Personal perspective: Systems support rather than stifle creativity.
Subtopics:
Creative rhythm and flow states
Idea capture methods
Content development processes
Sustainable production habits
Audience needs: Freedom within structure
Business alignment: Supports content system adoption
See how we're taking a broad interest and refining it into something specific and valuable? Your turn now!
Testing Your Pillars
Before we finalize your pillars, let's run them through a final quality check. For each potential pillar, ask:
Sustainability: Can you create ongoing content here without running out of ideas?
Authority: Do you have genuine expertise or insight in this area?
Differentiation: Is your perspective unique or valuable in some way?
Audience: Does this solve real problems for your people?
Energy: Do you feel excited to explore this deeply?
Your pillars should also:
Work together to tell a cohesive story (your overall conversation)
Support each other without too much overlap
Allow for cross-pollination of ideas
Feel natural to create within
If a pillar doesn't pass these tests, it might need some refinement or could be better as a subtopic within another pillar.
It might help to see a real example of how pillars can be structured. Here's a look at mine:
Update Your Content Hub
Time to make those content pillars visible in your content hub. If you’re using my template, here’s what to update today:
What's Coming Tomorrow
Amazing work today! You've developed the core pillars to guide all your future content creation. These aren't just random topics—they're the expression of your unique perspective and expertise.
Remember: Pillars are containers for ongoing exploration, not rigid boxes. They should give you the freedom to create while maintaining focus and building authority. Think of them as helpful guides, not restrictive rules.
Tomorrow in Day 3, we'll take these pillars and develop your content mix or rhythm—the specific types of content you'll create and how often you'll share them. We'll make sure your mix is both engaging for your audience and sustainable for you.
Until then, keep reflecting on your pillars. Notice how many content ideas are already popping into your mind. That's the magic of having clear pillars—they make content creation so much easier!
See you tomorrow!
P.S. Have a question? Drop it in the comments below and I’ll help you out!
