Content creation
Study posts that did well in your niche
You will have a ten-post sample, a list of shared patterns and a short checklist to use before you publish.
Before you start
- A topic or niche you post about
- Access to the platform you post on
- A notes app
Why study before you write
Guessing what works costs weeks. Looking at what already worked takes an hour. You are not copying posts. You are noticing what readers respond to.
Step 1: Collect ten posts
- Search your topic and pick ten posts that clearly did better than their account’s usual posts.
- Save the link, the first line and the main format of each.
- Include at least three different accounts.
Use your own judgement about what did well. Public numbers are only a rough clue.
Step 2: Find the patterns
Below are the first lines and formats of ten posts that did well. Look for what they have in common: opening style, length, format, promise to the reader and call to action. List the five strongest patterns. For each, say how many of the ten show it. Do not invent details that are not in my notes. [paste your ten entries]
Only count a pattern if you can see it yourself in at least four of the ten.
Step 3: Make a checklist
Turn the patterns that fit you into five yes-or-no questions, for example “Does my first line promise a clear benefit?” Run a draft through them before posting.
Write your own posts. Borrow the pattern, not the wording, the images or the idea’s exact structure.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Copying wording or artwork instead of patterns
- Studying one account only
- Treating one lucky post as proof
- Never testing the checklist on your own posts
Final checklist
- I collected ten posts from three or more accounts
- I found patterns I could see myself
- I wrote a five-question checklist
- I used it on one draft