Step 1: choose your content pillars
A content pillar is a topic you return to again and again. Two or three is the sweet spot: enough variety for you, clear enough for followers. A simple mix:
| Pillar | Purpose | Example (a food photographer) |
|---|---|---|
| Expertise | Why people follow you | Phone food photography tips |
| Proof | Why people hire you | Client shoots, before and after |
| Personality | Why people like you | Behind the scenes, the coffee, the failures |
Teach (12 ideas)
- One tip in under 60 seconds.
- Three mistakes beginners make.
- A tool you can’t work without, and why.
- How to do X in five steps.
- A myth in your field, debunked.
- A cheap way versus an expensive way.
- A glossary term explained simply.
- A checklist people will save.
- Answer the most common question you get.
- A template or swipe file.
- What you’d do if you started over.
- A resource roundup: books, accounts, tools.
Show the process (10 ideas)
- A project from start to finish, sped up.
- Your workspace or setup tour.
- A day in your working life.
- How you plan your week.
- Editing or drafting in real time.
- What went wrong today and how you fixed it.
- Before and after.
- Your packing list for a shoot, gig or event.
- How you price a job (in general terms).
- What you’re learning right now.
Tell stories (10 ideas)
- How you got started.
- Your first paid job.
- Your biggest mistake and the lesson.
- A client story (with permission).
- A moment you almost quit.
- Something you changed your mind about.
- The best advice you were given.
- A year-in-review.
- A goal you’re working on, with updates.
- Why you do what you do.
Give opinions (8 ideas)
- A trend you think is overrated.
- A hot take on news in your field.
- Advice you disagree with.
- What the industry gets wrong about beginners.
- A prediction for next year.
- A comparison: this or that?
- Rating tools, gear or methods.
- The one thing you’d change about your field.
Show proof (10 ideas)
- A result with a number.
- A testimonial, as a screenshot or video.
- A case study in three slides.
- A milestone: followers, clients, years.
- Press, podcasts or features.
- Work you’re proudest of.
- A transformation: theirs or yours.
- Behind a launch: what you made and how it went.
- Lessons from a project that didn’t work.
- What clients say when they first call.
Talk with your audience (10 ideas)
- Reply to a comment with a video.
- A poll or a question sticker.
- An “ask me anything”.
- Feature a follower’s work.
- A challenge people can join.
- Duet or stitch someone in your field.
- Thank your community for a milestone.
- Share your audience’s answers to a question.
- A live session.
- Ask what they want to see next, then make it.
A simple weekly plan
| Day | Post |
|---|---|
| Monday | Teach: one tip |
| Wednesday | Process or story |
| Friday | Proof or opinion |
| Most days | Stories, replies, community |
Batch: film or write three posts in one session, then post them through the week.
Where Bounley fits
When a post works, people go looking for more. Your Bounley site holds every account, plays your videos and music on the page, and shows which links they tap, so you know which content brings people over. Claim your name, free during the beta.
Questions
How many content pillars should a personal brand have?
Two or three. One gets repetitive for you; five confuses followers.
What if I run out of ideas?
Go back to your comments and DMs: every question is a post. Remaking an old post that did well, with a new angle, also counts.
Can I post the same thing on every app?
Yes, adapted: a TikTok can be a Reel, a carousel can be a LinkedIn post. Adjust length and captions for each.
How much of my personal life should I share?
Only what you’re comfortable with and what serves the brand. Your process and opinions build trust without giving up privacy.