If you want to build a business that thrives, you need to create content that sets you apart from others in your industry.
But how do you come up with what to write about?
I did some research recently and interviewed creative entrepreneurs. When I asked what their biggest struggle was when it comes to content creation, guess what they said.
Coming up with what to write about.
If the thought of finding fresh, relevant content ideas for your creative or coaching business sounds daunting, this guide is for you.
Table of Contents:
Types of content for coaches & small businesses
Before I get into the how-tos and the best ideas to use, let’s talk about the types of content you need to share.
As a business owner who wants to gain their audience’s trust, drive engagement, and maximize conversions, here are the three main types of content you need to share.
Educational content
Educational content refers to posts that teach you the what and how. These posts provide value to your audience.
This type of content should be a mix of the following;
- Informative posts
- Inspirational content
- Entertaining posts
Educational content sparks conversations and creates a deep sense of community among your audience.
Expertise content
Expertise content is a type of content that allows your audience to evaluate your skills and relate to you as a person.
It includes the following:
- Personal stories
- Brand and process content
- Client case studies
Personal stories revolve around your thoughts, experiences, and points of view. Your audience can feel connected to your vulnerability, personality, and journey.
Your audience gets to know more about your brand story, values, mission, target client, offers, process, and results.
Activation content
Activation content refers to promotional posts that drive conversions and sales.
They capture interest, communicate the value of your products or services, and get people to take action.
- Client testimonials
- Sales posts
- Product walkthrough
When sharing this type of content, ensure it’s clear, and provides a strong call-to-action for your audience.
How to create a content strategy for coaches
Lately, the concept of content marketing has become more complicated than ever, and this makes you wonder, “What actually goes into building a content strategy for coaches?”
Here are the eight core steps to building a winning content strategy.
1. Set goals for your content
I tell my clients to always start with the end in mind. Now, I’m telling you too.
Before you get into content planning, define your objectives. If you don’t know why you’re doing something, what’s the point of doing it anyway?
Instead of randomly creating content, having set goals allows you to connect and get conversions.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What do I aim to achieve by creating content? Brand awareness? More inquiries? Email sign-ups? Note that sometimes, your objectives change with the seasons.
- How can you use content to achieve these goals? Creating gated content? Sharing opinionated posts? Inviting expert thoughts into your posts?
- What type of content will be perfect to achieve these goals? I advise you to use all the three above.
Once you have a clear picture of your content goals, you can begin to develop a strategy that aligns with your target clients.
2. Perform niche-specific research
When creating a content strategy, it’s necessary to understand your ideal client.
- Who are they?
- What are their challenges and pain points?
- What are their desires?
- Where are they spending their time?
Conduct thorough research to create a detailed ideal client persona that represents your target buyers.
Then, perform keyword research to know the questions they are asking, and what content resonates with them.
This knowledge will help you tailor your content to their needs, making it more engaging and valuable.
3. Choose your content pillars
Next, choose what content pillars you want to focus on.
Content pillars, also known as content themes, are the overarching topics for a set of posts.
As a coach, you should have definitive pillars for your content so your posts align with your audience and offers.
These pillars will be the foundation of your content plan, whether you’re starting a business blog, launching a podcast, or sharing social media content.
Examples of content pillars for coaches:
Business coach Creating sold-out offers Nailing sales messaging Lead generation Brand positioning Closing sales calls | Health coach Meditation and Mindfulness Physical exercise Nutrition and healthy eating Weight and flexibility control Cooking and food recipes | Finance coach Personal Finance Wealth Building and investment Taxation Financial planning and efficiency Debt Management |
4. Plan your content
It’s time to start planning and creating content. And for this, you need two things…
- Content bank/ Ideas folder
- Content calendar
Firstly, create a content bank that allows you to document and compile your ideas for future use. This way, you never run out of content ideas.
Secondly, you need to create a content calendar.
A content calendar allows you to organize topics, prioritize important dates, and stay consistent with your publishing schedule.
Decide the channels you want to distribute your content on. However, ensure that they align with your ideal client’s preferences.
- Are they more active on Instagram than on other social channels?
- Do they prefer podcasts or blog posts?
- Do they read emails?
Take note of these things and let them guide your content plan.
Pro tip: Use a content management tool like Trello, Airtable, or Google Spreadsheet to keep everything organized and visible.
5. Share valuable tips
Sharing valuable content means becoming a trusted resource for your audience.
Here’s how to make it happen:
Listen to the questions your audience is asking. Check out forums, social media comments, or even your own coaching sessions for inspiration.
Then, create content that directly addresses these pain points and offers unique perspectives.
Mix up your content formats. Not everyone learns the same way, so you can share posts in a variety of formats—blog posts, infographics, or videos—to reinforce your points.
6. Build a funnel system
You need a way to channel the traffic your content generates to ensure your marketing efforts don’t go to waste.
Create a funnel system to nurture and convert your leads.
Here’s a truth bomb for you: Creating great content is awesome, but it’s not enough on its own. You need a system to guide your audience from casual readers to engaged clients. That’s where your funnel comes in.
Use lead magnets (like free guides or webinars) to capture email addresses. Then, nurture those leads with valuable emails and offers until they’re ready to work with you one-on-one.
7. Measure and adjust your strategy
People don’t talk much about the analytics part of content strategy, but it’s as important as the entire plan.
You need to know what’s working.
Consistency with your posting schedule matters when you know your content is resonating and converting. So, ask yourself these questions:
- Are more people discovering your content?
- Which ones resonate with them the most?
- Are these people your ideal clients?
- Do they click through to your site or sign up for your offer?
- Are they taking the actions you want them to?
It’s necessary to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as link clicks, engagement rate, website traffic, audience growth, and email open rate. Analyzing these metrics allows you to identify your best-performing pieces of content and find growth opportunities.
59 Best content ideas for coaches and creatives
Looking for fresh content ideas to keep your audience engaged and hyped about your business? Here’s a list of 59 content for coaches and small business owners:
Content ideas for blog posts
Here are 17 blog content ideas for coaches and creatives:
- Share your personal journey into coaching
- Debunk common myths in your coaching niche
- Create a beginner’s guide to your coaching specialty
- Discuss the biggest mistakes you see clients make
- Write about the top books that shaped your coaching philosophy
- Explain the differences between coaching, mentoring, and consulting
- Outline the key principles of your coaching methodology
- Share case studies of successful client transformations
- Explore industry trends and their impact on your clients
- Write a comprehensive guide on goal-setting techniques
- Discuss how to overcome common obstacles in personal growth
- Create a FAQ post addressing common client questions
- Share your predictions for the future of your coaching niche
- Write about the importance of self-care for achieving goals
- Explore the connection between mindset and success
- Provide tips for maintaining motivation during challenging times
- Create a roundup of industry statistics
Content ideas for social media
Here are 23 social media content ideas for coaches and creatives
- Share a quick daily tip or hack related to your expertise
- Post an inspiring quote with your personal interpretation
- Talk about your brand story—founder(s), team, and evolution over time
- Shine the success story spotlight on a client
- Create a “question of the day” to engage your audience
- Share a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your coaching process
- Post the before-and-after of your client transformations
- Create mini-infographics with key statistics in your field
- Share short video tutorials on specific techniques
- Post client testimonials or success stories
- Create polls to gather audience opinions on relevant topics
- Share “did you know” facts related to your coaching area
- Post motivational Monday messages to kick-start the week
- Create carousel posts with step-by-step guides
- Share your favorite productivity apps or tools
- Post “myth vs. fact” graphics about common misconceptions
- Create “day in the life” stories or reels
- Share book or podcast recommendations with brief reviews
- Post about upcoming events or workshops you’re hosting
- Create “fill in the blank” posts to boost engagement
- Share relevant industry news with your take on it
- Post “throwback Thursday” content about your coaching journey
- Offer a free, downloadable worksheet or template
Content ideas for newsletter
Here are 19 email content ideas for coaches and creatives
- Provide a monthly roundup of your best blog posts and social media content
- Share exclusive tips or strategies not found on your public platforms
- Offer a deep dive into a specific coaching concept or technique
- Feature one of your clients, telling their transformation story
- Share personal reflections on your own growth and learning
- Provide a curated list of resources (articles, podcasts, videos) on a specific topic
- Offer a behind-the-scenes look at your business or upcoming projects
- Create a “challenge of the month” for subscribers to participate in
- Share excerpts from your coaching sessions
- Provide a Q&A section answering subscriber questions
- Offer exclusive discounts or early access to new programs
- Share your favorite inspirational quotes and why they resonate with you
- Provide a monthly theme with related tips and exercises
- Address common client struggles
- Share your personal goal-setting process and progress updates
- Provide a “tool of the month” featuring a useful resource for personal growth
- Create a “from the archives” section highlighting older, valuable content
- Share your thoughts on recent industry events or conferences
- Offer a self-reflection exercise for subscribers
Done-for-you content for coaches
If content creation still sounds like a whole lot, there’s a quick and easy way to get it done for you so you can focus on other parts of your business.
I offer a monthly content subscription to help you improve your reach and conversions through growth-focused blog and email content.
This retainer is your solution to consistent, high-quality content that grows your audience base and fills your lead pipeline. It combines SEO, blogging, and email marketing.
Creating the best content for coaches
Building a content strategy may seem complex and overwhelming at first. However, with the steps highlighted above, you can create conversion-led content for your coaching business.
Keep in mind that you need patience and consistency to see results from your business content and sales copy.
If you’re ready to get a custom content strategy for your business, book a 90-minute consultation.
Or, if you want steady content that positions your brand as the perfect guide for your dream clients, get the monthly content sub.