Systems That Set You Free (and create great content!)

One of the greatest myths in personal branding is that more hustle equals more success. In my early days, I fell into this trap, thinking that working harder and longer would magically elevate my brand.

Then, as I realised what I had aspired to was completely at odds with the reality of my life (mother of five reality check set in!), so I decided to accept something that I knew "in my head" but hadn't believed in it so much that it modified my actions - creating simple systems that suited my lifestyle.

I experimented with so many systems - and gleaned a ton of insights around what really works. This has come through personal experience over many years, and witnessing hundreds of clients and peers attempt to do this (with and without teams, world-class professional marketers and non-marketing professionals)

It's not about how much you do; it's about the systems you have in place.

And MOST importantly, the quality of the material you're producing.

So, in considering what systems you need, the two go hand in hand.

When it comes to content three systems are important to have in place, no matter how simple.

A content CREATION system.

A content REPURPOSING system.

A content DISTRIBUTION system.

For this to be effective it doesn't just mean pumping out more "stuff" courtesy of chatGPT. While it may seem lofty to produce "800 pieces of in an hour" - the reality is that producing that volume in that time period with automation isn't going to have a nett positive impact on your brand.

It's not to say that tools in an of themselves are bad - on the contrary - I use a ton of them, and my time is more leveraged than it's ever been - but it can't be at the expense of authenticity.

Plust there's such a learning curve for all the tools that we can often overcomplicate things and forget to put the emphasis on the areas where you get the most return on your energy into content creation - connection (with the right people), and personal satisfaction (yep, it's really a thing)..

Let me a few shifts I experienced that helped me find the most leveraged systems that are sustainable, fuel my passion, and enable me to focus on what truly matters.?

Crafting Your Sustainable Content Machine?

Imagine trying to fill a leaky bucket with water—it’s futile and exhausting. That's what marketing feels like when you don’t have a system in place. Your efforts, no matter how intense, just seep away. So how do we patch those leaks?

Start small. I tell my clients, "Begin with an MVP—Minimal Viable Product—for each of your systems." This could be something as straightforward as dedicating just an hour each week to content creation and distribution.

You might think this isn’t enough time, but consistency beats intensity every time.

Think of it as planting seeds. An hour of wisely spent effort each week, compounded over months, will yield a lush garden of high-quality content. The key is sustainability. If you're pouring all your energy into marketing tasks, you’ll hit burnout before you know it.?

Your content creation system should allow you to express your true self effortlessly. Don't fall into the perfectionism trap of coming up with the perfect piece of content.

Trust me, it (hardly) ever happens. Create first, refine later. The goal is to share your raw, authentic voice—the golden threads of your personal brand.

Editing and formatting can always come after the core message is laid down.?

Repurpose to Reach Wider?

Next, let’s talk about content repurposing. This is your leverage point. Your content doesn’t have to be one-hit wonders. Imagine your brilliant idea for a blog post can also be a series of social media snippets, a podcast episode, and a newsletter highlight.

Personally I mostly steer clear of the "copy and paste on the same day" repurposing strategy. Sometimes I do, when something is timely, or it's about an event, and so I share it in multiple places to reach multiple people.

There are tons of tools or processes you can follow that can help you turn a single piece of content into multiple formats. This not only extends the lifespan of your content but also ensures it reaches diverse audience segments.

Alternatively, for more evergreen content (like this) a simple way to vary things is to have a process to follow for using it at a different time on another platform. ?

Amplify with Intention?

Lastly, let’s move to amplification. This is where most people falter—not because they lack great content, but because they underestimate the power of strategic distribution and so ignore the "shareability" factor in their content.

Posting subpar content on social media and waiting for a miracle isn't a strategy. Way better is an approach that aligns your message with your business strategy, without compromising on your uniqueness and self-expression.

This ensures your message is seen, heard, and felt by the right people through various channels.

And then it makes sense to amplify this content because it's already "working" (aka building connection with right-fit people).

It makes sense to get it in front of as many eyeballs as you can, while maintaining minimum effort. This includes emails, collaborations, events, and more.?

Think of it as casting a wider net. The broader the reach, the more connections you make, and the higher the impact of your message. Build relationships with key influencers who resonate with your brand. You'll find that as the quality of your content improves (because you commit to incrementally improve it with time) that people start to share your content, amplifying your voice and extending your reach exponentially.??

Achieving visibility, alongside having your high-quality content appreciated and shared, is the dream. But remember, while strategic, your marketing should never feel like a chore. Personal branding is your playground—it should energise you, not drain you.?

Set Yourself Free?

The beauty of systems is that they free you. And carry you.

To me, operating on minimal mental energy many days out of the week due to my family situation, this is a lifeline.

Good quality, sustainable systems free you from the constant mental gymnastics of wondering what to do next and from the never-ending grind of creating content from scratch. Instead, you have a roadmap that allows you to pour your heart into your brand while maintaining your zest for life.?And that's important to me

So, my challenge to you is simple: Build systems that serve you, not enslave you.

Allow these systems to streamline your efforts so that you can enjoy the adventure and freedom they bring. Trust me, when you get this right, your brand blossoms, and your life becomes a joyful journey of endless possibilities.?

I talk about all of these systems in more detail in my book Marketing Me: Take Charge of Your Personal Brand and Make Your Mark on the World which you can get as Paperback or Kindle on Amazon or on my website.

Remember, your marketing is only as strong as the systems behind it. Craft them wisely. Let them set you free.?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nina Christian is a Marketing Futurist & Global Marketing Mentor who helps people do their marketing in a more human way.

She is a?Certified Practicing Marketer?(CPM), Life Member and Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute & AMI State Chair (Vic) and for 20 years was director of Braveda (Winner, Best Marketing Agency, Australian Marketing Excellence Awards).

Several years ago Nina saw the world of marketing shifting – this time as people became their own brands.? With this, she created a new business as a thought leader, combining her expertise in brand building with personal positioning, resulting in a breakthrough praxis known as?Marketing Me?. She has a knack for?simplifying the complex?which comes from being a hands-on mum to five children, and uses this to?turn time-sucking activities into easy-to-follow systems?and processes that make a lot of sense and get outcomes fast.

There are different ways to work with Nina based on your situation and organisation size - with all of them you'll see rapid transformation and tangible outcomes fast. Book a chat with Nina here.