How 1 piece of content becomes 16: The 1-3-5 Method

Creators of all kinds - with small and big followings, posting on different platforms, and publishing in different mediums - share the same challenge:

Finding time to produce enough content for our audiences.

I’ve posted on Linkedin and Twitter every day for five years, so I know the struggle. The algorithms are always hungry. And content creation can feel like a never-ending treadmill at incline 6%!

Most aspiring creators will ware themselves out before realizing the success that could have been. And that’s a shame, because it can be easier.

You know the saying - Work smarter, not harder

Well it’s the best advice for a content creator. Because we aren’t rewarded by the hours we spend, we’re rewarded by the results we produce. So we have to be smart and efficient with our efforts.

Today I’m going to walk you through my 1-3-5 method for content creation. This is one of the easiest ways to produce lots of content that delivers a consistent message, without feeling monotonous.

Let’s dive in.

Basics of the 1-3-5 Method

The 1-3-5 method is simple. You create one substantial piece of content, and then break it up into a bunch of bite-size pieces. Using this idea, you can turn a single piece of content into 15 new pieces that will add texture and variety to your posting schedule.

I use the 1-3-5 method with this newsletter acting as my pillar piece of content. But the sky’s the limit here, so think about how you might tailor the idea to your unique situation.

How It Works

1 - Create One Pillar Piece

You start by creating one comprehensive piece of content, going deep on a topic relevant to your audience. Your pillar piece of content could be -

• A long Twitter thread
• A detailed blog or newsletter
• Or an in-depth YouTube video

Be sure to choose a topic that addresses a big pain point or question your audience has.

For example, "A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your First Digital Product."

Creating this pillar piece of content will be the hardest part of the process. But it makes rest of the content production much faster and easier. And you’ll get most of the work done first.

3 -  Extract Three Core Ideas From Your Pillar Content

Next, you want to extract three main concepts or tips from your pillar piece. These should be substantial enough to stand alone as valuable content.

Continuing with our digital product launch example, these might be:

1. Validating your product idea
2. Creating a minimum viable product (MVP)
3. Building an effective launch strategy

5 - Transform Each Core Idea Into Five Micro Pieces

Now, for each of your three core ideas, you’ll create five pieces of micro-content:

• Two short, written posts: Pull impactful sentences from your content.
• One short-form video: Summarize your key point in 60 seconds or less.
• One carousel post: Break down your concept in 5-10 slides.
• One poll or question post: Make a statement, and then ask a question to engage your audience and gather information.

Remember you can tailor here. Feel free to mix and match these suggestions, based on what kind of content you like to produce the most.

The Math

Using the 1-3-5 method, you can take one big piece of content, and turn it into 16 different pieces that you can use now and even repurpose later.

I hope the math will inspire you to spend some quality time creating the best piece of pillar content you possibly can.

Why This Approach Works

This method isn't just about creating more content - it's about creating smarter content.

When you go deep on a topic, then break it down across micro-posts, you maintain consistency in your message across multiple pieces of content. You’re beating the same drum with some variety. This will naturally reinforce your brand and your message.

A bonus of the 1-3-5 method is that it respects your audience's different preferences for content consumption. Some people prefer in-depth articles and others engage best with quick visuals or short videos. The 1-3-5 method meets people where they consume best.

Remember, consistency > perfection. Use this method to provide value to your audience on a regular basis without running yourself ragged.

And when you’re ready to go deeper into efficient content production, check out The Creator MBA.

The most popular module in the course is called Advanced Content Frameworks. It includes a step-by-step walkthrough of the 10 frameworks I use to create a high volume of quality content, stitch it all together to lead readers to an intended outcome, analyze it, and repurpose it months later.

Join 4,500 internet entrepreneurs building lean, profitable, one-person businesses using content.

Well that's all for this week.

Now it’s time for you to create your one pillar piece of content!