“I don’t know what to make next.”
“Should I make tutorials or entertainment videos?”
“I’ve been posting randomly for 6 months and nothing’s working.”
Here’s what’s actually happening:
You’re creating content like you’re throwing spaghetti at a wall.
Some sticks. Most don’t.
And you have no idea why.
The Content Planning Reality Check
Random creators think: “I’ll make whatever I feel like today.”
Strategic creators think: “What does my audience need next in their journey?”
Guess who builds sustainable channels?
The 4 Content Pillars That Actually Work
Pillar 1: Educational Content (The Foundation)
- Tutorials
- How-to guides
- Explanation videos
- Tips and tricks
Why it works: People come to YouTube to learn stuff.
Pillar 2: Entertainment Content (The Hook)
- Reactions
- Comedy sketches
- Storytelling
- Behind-the-scenes
Why it works: Keeps people coming back for personality.
Pillar 3: News/Commentary Content (The Relevance)
- Industry updates
- Opinion pieces
- Trend analysis
- Current events in your niche
Why it works: Taps into what people are already talking about.
Pillar 4: Community Content (The Connection)
- Q&A videos
- Subscriber challenges
- Community posts responses
- Collaboration videos
Why it works: Makes viewers feel part of something bigger.
The Content Mix Formula (Steal This)
60% Educational – Your bread and butter 20% Entertainment – Keeps it fun 15% News/Commentary – Stays relevant
5% Community – Builds loyalty
This isn’t random.
Educational content gets discovered through search. Entertainment content gets shared. News content rides trending topics. Community content builds superfans.
The Different Content Types That Actually Get Views
Tutorials (Evergreen Gold)
- “How to” videos
- Step-by-step guides
- Problem-solving content
Example: “How to Edit YouTube Videos for Beginners”
List Videos (Algorithm Loves These)
- Top 10 lists
- Best/worst compilations
- Ranking videos
Example: “Top 10 Video Editing Mistakes Killing Your Channel”
Reaction Content (Easy to Make)
- React to trending videos
- First-time watching classics
- Industry news reactions
Example: “Designer Reacts to Worst Logo Designs Ever”
Story/Case Study Content (High Engagement)
- Success/failure stories
- Behind-the-scenes journeys
- Day-in-the-life content
Example: “How I Grew from 0 to 100K Subscribers in 8 Months”
Comparison Content (Decision-Helper)
- Product comparisons
- Platform comparisons
- Strategy comparisons
Example: “Premiere Pro vs Final Cut Pro: Which is Better?”
Challenge Content (Viral Potential)
- 30-day challenges
- Skill challenges
- Experiment videos
Example: “I Tried YouTube Automation for 30 Days – Here’s What Happened”
The Content Calendar Framework
Monday: Educational (People start the week wanting to learn) Wednesday: Entertainment (Midweek mood boost)
Friday: News/Trending (Weekend consumption prep)
Or pick ONE day per week and nail it consistently.
Consistency beats frequency every time.
The Content Idea Generation System
Source 1: YouTube Search
- Type your main keyword
- See what auto-completes
- Those are real searches from real people
Source 2: Competitor Analysis
- Find their top 5 videos
- Note the common themes
- Create your version with unique angle
Source 3: Comments Section
- Your comments
- Competitor comments
- Look for repeated questions
Source 4: Social Media
- Reddit discussions
- Twitter trending topics
- Facebook group questions
Source 5: Your Own Experience
- Problems you’ve solved
- Mistakes you’ve made
- Things you wish you knew earlier
The Content Validation Process
Before making any video, ask:
- Is someone searching for this? (Use keyword tools)
- Has it been done successfully before? (Check competitor views)
- Can I add a unique angle? (Your twist/perspective)
- Will this help my audience? (Actual value check)
- Can I make this entertaining? (Engagement factor)
If you can’t answer “yes” to at least 3 of these, don’t make the video.
The Long-Form vs Short-Form Strategy
Long-Form (8+ minutes):
- Deep tutorials
- Storytelling content
- Detailed explanations
- Higher ad revenue potential
Short-Form (Under 60 seconds):
- Quick tips
- Trending audio/music
- Fast entertainment
- Algorithm boost potential
The winning strategy: Use Shorts to bring people to your long-form content.
Content Planning Mistakes That Kill Channels
Mistake 1: Making content only you find interesting
Fix: Make content your audience needs
Mistake 2: Copying competitors exactly
Fix: Add your unique angle/personality
Mistake 3: Chasing every trending topic
Fix: Only chase trends relevant to your niche
Mistake 4: No content pipeline
Fix: Plan 10 videos minimum
Mistake 5: Making everything from scratch
Fix: Repurpose successful formats
The Content Multiplication Strategy
One good video idea can become:
- Main tutorial video
- Behind-the-scenes Short
- Key tips carousel post
- Twitter thread
- Email newsletter content
- Podcast episode topic
Maximize every piece of content across platforms.
The Bottom Line
Content planning isn’t about limiting creativity.
It’s about channeling creativity strategically.
Random content gets random results.
Strategic content builds sustainable channels.
Plan your content like you’re planning a business.
Because that’s exactly what you’re doing.
Next up: Scripting and storytelling – because even the best ideas fail without proper execution, and most creators wing it like they’re having a casual chat.