Capstone: Build Your Content System

From Skills to System

In the previous lesson, we explored repurposing: one piece, many formats. Now let’s build on that foundation. You’ve learned the skills:

• Generating endless ideas
• Writing compelling headlines
• Structuring for engagement
• Maintaining your voice
• Editing efficiently
• Repurposing content

Now let’s build a system that uses them consistently.

A system removes willpower from the equation. You don’t decide “should I create content today?” You follow the system.

The Three Components

Every sustainable content system has three parts:

1. Ideation Bank

A constantly-refreshed supply of ideas ready to execute.

2. Production Workflow

A repeatable process from idea to published piece.

3. Distribution Schedule

A rhythm of publishing that you can maintain.

Let’s build each one.

Component 1: Your Ideation Bank

Setup: Create a simple idea database with these fields:

The weekly ideation session (30 min):

1. Run 2-3 ideation techniques from Lesson 2
2. Add 10-20 raw ideas to your bank
3. Rate each: Hot (execute soon), Warm (good, not urgent), Cold (maybe later)
4. Move 2-3 Hot ideas to your production queue

The bank rules:

• Never ideate when you need to write (separate sessions)
• Keep minimum 20 ideas in the bank at all times
• Review and prune monthly (delete stale Cold ideas)
• Note what triggers ideas (conversations, articles, questions)

Component 2: Your Production Workflow

A repeatable process for each content type:

Blog Post Workflow (Example)

Monday: Select + Outline (30 min)

• Pick idea from bank
• Create rough outline using AI
• Define key points and structure

Tuesday: Draft (60 min)

• Write fast, don’t edit
• Use AI for sections where you’re stuck
• Aim for complete rough draft

Wednesday: Edit Pass 1 (30 min)

• Structure edit
• Clarity edit

Thursday: Edit Pass 2 (30 min)

• Polish edit
• Proofread
• Write headline (generate 10, pick best)

Friday: Publish + Plan Repurpose

• Final review and publish
• Create repurposing checklist

Your workflow will differ. The key is having one.

Template: Production Checklist

Create for each content type:

BLOG POST PRODUCTION

PRE-WRITING
[ ] Idea selected from bank
[ ] Outline complete
[ ] Research/examples gathered
[ ] Headline brainstormed

WRITING
[ ] Rough draft complete
[ ] Voice check: sounds like me

EDITING
[ ] Structure edit pass
[ ] Clarity edit pass
[ ] Polish edit pass
[ ] Proofread
[ ] Headline finalized

PUBLISHING
[ ] SEO elements (meta, tags)
[ ] Images/formatting
[ ] Links checked
[ ] Published
[ ] Shared to social

POST-PUBLISH
[ ] Repurposing plan made
[ ] Added to content calendar
[ ] Analytics check scheduled

Quick check: Before moving on, can you recall the key concept we just covered? Try to explain it in your own words before continuing.

Component 3: Your Distribution Schedule

Pick a sustainable rhythm:

Start conservative. You can always increase. Burning out and stopping is worse than slow and steady.

Suggested starting points:

The calendar:

Map out a month at minimum:

WEEK 1:
- Mon: Outline blog post
- Tue: Draft
- Wed-Thu: Edit
- Fri: Publish blog, create thread
- Sat/Sun: Batch social posts for next week

WEEK 2:
- Mon: Newsletter goes out
- Tue-Thu: Social posts from repurposed content
- Fri: Ideation session, refill bank

Your Capstone Exercise

Build your content system right now:

Step 1: Create Your Ideation Bank

Choose a tool (Notion, Airtable, spreadsheet, whatever works).

Run one ideation technique and add 10+ ideas.

Step 2: Define Your Production Workflow

Pick your primary content type (probably blog or newsletter).

Write out your day-by-day process.

Create a checklist template.

Step 3: Set Your Schedule

Commit to a frequency you can maintain for 3 months.

Map out the next 4 weeks.

Set up reminders or calendar blocks.

Step 4: Execute Once

Before you leave this course, produce one piece of content using your new system.

Even if it’s short. Even if it’s imperfect. Complete the loop.

Course Summary

What You’ve Learned

The Content Creation Formula

IDEAS (abundance) + PROCESS (consistent) + DISTRIBUTION (scheduled) = SUSTAINABLE OUTPUT

Quick Reference: AI Prompts by Stage

Ideation:

Generate 20 content ideas about [TOPIC] for [AUDIENCE]...

Outlining:

Create 3 outline options for an article about [TOPIC]...

Drafting:

Write a draft about [TOPIC] using this voice profile...

Editing:

Review this text for clarity/structure/polish...

Repurposing:

Transform this blog post into a [FORMAT] for [PLATFORM]...

What’s Next

Your system is built. Now use it.

Week 1: Follow your workflow. Publish one piece.

Week 2-4: Repeat. Adjust what doesn’t work.

Month 2: Review analytics. Double down on what resonates.

Ongoing: Refine your system. It should get easier, not harder.

Content creation becomes sustainable when it’s a system, not a struggle.

Go create something.