EP. 037 | How to Build a Content Ecosystem for Your Business in 2025
Podcast Summary
Are you tired of feeling invisible online? In this episode, I'm breaking down my signature framework for creating a content ecosystem that works for your small business. No more content chaos, no more burnout – just practical strategies you can start using today. The key takeaway: Focus on creating content that matters to your audience and moves your business forward, instead of trying to be everywhere at once.
Episode Highlights
I break down my proven 5-step framework for building a sustainable content ecosystem for your small business. Learn how to stop throwing content at the wall and start creating with purpose. Perfect for small business owners who want to show up consistently online without the burnout. From choosing your power platforms to creating content that truly connects, you'll walk away with actionable strategies you can implement today. No fluff, no complicated frameworks – just real talk about what works in 2025. The 5-Step Framework:
Pick Your Power Platforms: the 3-Part Power Platform Playbook, why you don't need to be everywhere, and how to choose the right platforms for your business
Content Pillar Perfection: what content pillars really are (and aren't), the five areas to pull content pillars from, and how to make your content pillars work for you
The 3 R's of Repurposing: understanding content repurposing, making your content work harder, and strategies for extending content life
The Time-Saving System: building your content workflow, choosing the right tech stack, and mastering content batching
Content That Connects: avoiding the professionalism trap, creating authentic connections, rules for genuine content
resources + Tools mentioned
🔗 Want to dive deeper into this framework? Sign up for The Content System: https://www.amberfiglow.com/thecontentsystem
The 5-Step Content Marketing Framework for Your Small Business in 2025
If you're reading this, chances are you're feeling overwhelmed by content creation for your business. Trust me, I get it. With new platforms popping up daily and "experts" telling you to be everywhere at once, it's exhausting just thinking about it.
But here's the thing… 2025 doesn't have to be another year of content chaos. Today, I'm breaking down my signature content system framework that's helped countless small business owners go from feeling invisible to absolutely irresistible online, in just five practical steps.
No complicated frameworks, no unrealistic promises about making millions from one post a week, and definitely no fluff. Just real, actionable strategies that actually work - whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your existing content game.
Step One: Pick Your Power Platforms
You don't need to be everywhere to be effective. But you also don't want to put all your eggs in one basket. This is where my "3-Part Power Platform Playbook" comes in:
The Power Platform Formula:
1+ Short-Form Platform: Quick hits that build visibility (like Instagram or TikTok)
1+ Long-Form Platform: Deep dives that build authority (like YouTube or podcasting)
Email Marketing: The platform you actually own
Here's why this formula works: Short-form content helps you stay visible and top-of-mind, long-form content establishes your expertise, and email marketing gives you direct access to your audience - no algorithms required.
When choosing your platforms, consider two key factors:
What you enjoy creating and are good at
Where your ideal audience spends their time
Find the intersection of these two points, and you've found your power platforms.
Step Two: Content Pillar Perfection
Content pillars aren't just buzzwords - they're the foundation of your content strategy. But here's what most people get wrong: content pillars aren't education, motivation, or inspiration. Those are content goals, not content pillards.
Instead, pull your content pillars from these five areas:
Your Knowledge: What you know deeply
Your Experience: How you got to where you are
Your Ideal Audience Needs: What they're looking for
Your Personal Connections: What makes you unique
Your Brand Values: What you stand for
Pro tip: Aim for five content pillars. Fewer than that can limit your content ideas, while more can become overwhelming.
Step Three: The 3 R's of Repurposing
Content repurposing, sometimes called content recycling, is re-using existing content and presenting it in a new format to expand its reach and lifespan. As you create new content, you can plan for a variety of different ways to share a new piece with content repurposing. Repurposing can save you time, help you reach new audiences, help you reinforce messages, helps you cater to different consumption styles, and expands the life of your content
Reposting Content: posting the same thing again and again
Share the same content multiple times across a single platform to reach different segments of your audience.
Use your existing content across different platforms without changes to maximize its visibility.
Keep the content exactly as is, making it the easiest form of content recycling.
Reusing Content: using a concept again, edits required
Make minor tweaks to existing content, like updating statistics or refreshing examples, to keep it current.
Adjust your content format slightly for different platforms, like turning a carousel into a PDF for LinkedIn.
Apply small edits to give your content a fresh impact while maintaining its core message.
Repurposing Content: create new content but with a foundation
Transform your content into entirely new formats, like turning a video into a blog post or podcast episode.
Create multiple smaller pieces from one larger source, like pulling quotes and clips from a long-form video.
Extend your content's life and reach by presenting it in different ways that suit various learning styles.
For example, I turn my YouTube videos into podcast episodes, blog posts, social media clips, and email newsletters. One piece of content, multiple touch points with my audience.
Step Four: The Time-Saving System
Creating consistent content requires a system, and this is where many business owners get stuck. They try to create content on the fly, leading to stress, inconsistency, and eventually burnout.
A well-designed content system acts like your business's autopilot, helping you produce quality content reliably without reinventing the wheel each time. Here are the three key components that will transform your content creation from chaotic to controlled:
Your Content Workflow: Map out every step from idea to publishing. Include all tasks, team members involved, and time needed. Start simple and refine as you grow.
Your Tech Stack: Keep it minimal but effective. You don't need every fancy tool - just the right ones that work together seamlessly. For example, I use: Notion for workflow management, Canva for graphics and video editing, and Metricool for scheduling
Content Batching: Group similar tasks together to stay in your creative flow. This might look like: planning you content on Monday, recording on Tuesday, editing and creating graphics on Wednesday, and writing captions and scheduling on Thursday
Step Five: Content That Connects
The final piece of the puzzle is creating content that truly resonates with your audience. Here are my four rules for authentic content:
Create content in your natural voice
Tell stories relevant to your audience
Share real experiences within your boundaries
Ditch the rules that don't serve you
Avoid the "professionalism trap" - you don't need to sound corporate to be taken seriously. Your audience wants to connect with a real person who understands their challenges and can help solve them.
Building Your Content Ecosystem to Market Your Business
Remember, the goal isn't to create more content - it's to create content that matters to your audience and moves your business forward. Start with one step at a time:
Choose your initial power platforms
Define your five content pillars
Pick one piece of content to repurpose
Create a basic content workflow
Show up authentically
No more throwing content at the wall and hoping something sticks. No more burning yourself out trying to be everywhere at once. Just strategic, intentional content that works for you and your business.