Content Pillars: How to Decide What to Post in Your Niche

Put your hand up if you’re eager to:

✨ Get super organized as a creator
✨ Stay consistent with your posting schedule
✨ Grow a loyal, like-minded audience
✨ Stop stressing over what to post next
✨ Become a top creator in your niche

I bet you’re over there waving your arms around, shouting, “YES!” right? 🙌

Well, here’s some fantastic news: achieving all of these goals is totally within your reach. We’ve seen countless students of our courses nail these exact objectives, and guess what? You can too!

So, what’s the secret sauce that can help you get on track for success? It all starts with one foundational exercise…

📣 Defining Your Content Pillars! 📣

(Wait, what the heck are “Content Pillars”? Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with the term. It’s an easy concept to miss, but once you get it, you can apply it at any stage of your journey. Let me break it down for you!) 👇

What Are Content Pillars?

Think of your content pillars as the three to five core themes your audience can always expect from you. These pillars will form the backbone of your channel, guiding the type of content you create (and the formats you use).

For example, if you’re a creator in the fitness niche, your content pillars could be:

• Simple at-home workouts
• Nutrition on a budget
• Workout gear reviews

Once you’ve figured out your content pillars (or categories, as some people like to call them), the next step is to identify the specific value you can offer under each one. An easy way to do this is by brainstorming content hooks—those intriguing ideas that spark your creativity and get your audience excited. Here’s what that might look like:

Pillar 1: Simple at-home workouts

Value Ideas:

• Tricep Workouts (Hook Example: “3 killer tricep workouts you can do using just a kitchen chair!”)
• Stretching (Hook Example: “The 2-minute stretch every runner should do the MOMENT they wake up.”)
• Recovery (Hook Example: “I made a HUGE mistake with my lifting routine, but once I fixed it, I started lifting 30lbs more!”)
• Bodyweight Leg Workouts (Hook Example: “Lunge competition with my partner—loser does laundry for a MONTH!”)

My advice? Brainstorm as many hooks as you can for each pillar, then create the ones that excite you the most.

How Do You Determine Your Specific Content Pillars?

Choosing your pillars isn’t something to rush through in 10 seconds. Put some real thought into this process because your pillars will shape the content you create moving forward (no pressure, lol!). Here are a few things to consider:

1. Your Goals & Audience Needs

Your content pillars should align with your goals as a creator. Ask yourself:

• What am I trying to achieve on social media?
• What unique value can I bring to my audience’s day?
• Am I aiming to educate, entertain, or a mix of both?

From your answers, you can jot down a list of potential content pillars, then narrow it down to the ones that make the most sense.

2. Research Your Niche’s Keywords

If you’re feeling stuck, another great strategy is to research what people are actively searching for in your niche. This helps you understand your audience’s pain points and the topics they’re interested in. Hop over to Instagram or TikTok, search for some of your niche keywords under ‘Tags,’ and take note of the ones that stand out. You can use these as inspiration for your content pillars.

Once you’ve got a list going, pick the ones that resonate with you and add them to your potential content pillars.

 

Why Are Content Pillars So Important?

1. Keeps You Focused (& Your Audience Happy): Instead of burning yourself out by trying to post about everything, you can concentrate on creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. This focus helps you establish yourself as an expert in your niche and a go-to source for valuable insights.

2. Helps You Plan Ahead: Nobody enjoys the stress of scrambling for a post idea at the last minute. With your content pillars in place, you can use them as a guide to plan your content weeks in advance. Brainstorm a bunch of ideas under each pillar, then slot them into a weekly or monthly calendar.

I’ve put together a quick example of what your weekly content pillar planner could look like ⤵️

Hopefully, this gets your creative juices flowing and helps you feel more in control of your content planning!

Can’t wait to see what you create!

Catch up with you soon! 👋