Before you tap “new post,” decide what you need that post to do.
👋 Welcome back to Content to Commas, your weekly playbook for growing your brand, leveling up your content, and yes … adding a few more commas to your bank account.
Last week’s issue was one of my favorites, so let’s keep that energy going.
This week, we’ll treat every post you publish as a strategic play in your business funnel.
If you stop expecting every format to do the same job, and you’ll start seeing exponentially better results.
In this issue:
The Instagram Format Playbook
Taplio’s $1 Promo Code (code is fixed!)
How to Think Like a Business Owner Before You Scale Like One
Free Resources for Creatorpreneur’s
Let’s get to work!
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🤳 Your Instagram Format Playbook
Some Reels, a few carousels, the occasional story but probably no real strategy.
I’ve been guilty of that too.
Here is how to pick the right format for your goal, read the algorithm’s feedback, and set up a flexible cadence that actually works.
1️⃣ Align Format to Your Goal
Before you hit “new post,” ask yourself what you want it to do: reach new people, keep current followers hooked, or reward your biggest fans?
Here’s how each format delivers:
Reels: Short-form videos for discovery. Grab clips from your camera roll, add captions or text overlays, and leverage trends wisely.
Carousels: Swipeable deep-dives. Photo dumps or step-by-step guides work. Use the first slide to hook, the last slide to CTA.
Single Image Posts: Bold statements or simple questions that spark comments. These are conversation starters, not just pretty pictures.
Stories: Daily touchpoints. Polls, AMAs, behind-the-scenes. They keep you top of mind and the algorithm rewards consistent story activity.
Lives: Real-time Q&As, hot takes, or guest chats. Great for feedback and deeper connection, as long as your audience actually shows up.
Channels: Broadcast your unfiltered thoughts to your VIPs
Pro tip: If you skip single images for a year, you’ll survive. But skip stories? You’ll slip off the algorithm’s radar.
2️⃣ Listen to the Algorithm
Every underperforming post is feedback, don’t miss that message fam!
Was your hook weak?
Did you pick the wrong format?
Did your caption or timing miss the mark?
If Carousels are crushing it but Reels are ehhh, pivot fast:
Swap your angle (data, emotion, humor)
Tweak your cover + first slide hook
Repost as a Carousel or Story snippet
Don’t double-down, adjust what’s not working.
3️⃣ Build a Balanced Cadence
Consistency is always the goal but variety is key for fighting content fatigue.
Aim for a weekly mix that covers all three stages of your funnel:
Reach new audiences with two Reels and one Carousel each week.
Engage your current fans by adding one extra Carousel, two Single Image posts, and five Stories over seven days.
Nurture your superfans through another medium of your choice (newsletter, slack, IRL events)
How to implement:
Batch creation: Film multiple Reels in one session.
Repurpose wisely: Turn your most-watched Reel into a carousel breakdown or Story series.
Schedule upfront: Use a tool (Try Later, it’s free) to queue posts so you stay on cadence, even on busy days.
To make this foolproof, grab my free Ultimate Creatorpreneur Toolkit (a dashboard with 50+ tools I love and personally use in my business).
🧲 Steal This Playbook
Map your goal → pick your format → learn from the data → repeat with variety.
Pick your goal. Then choose the format that matches: Reels for reach, Carousels for reach + engagement, Stories to stay top-of-mind.
Treat underperforming posts as feedback. Tweak your hook, switch formats, or repost in a new channel.
Work in cycles: batch-create, repurpose your best content, and schedule it with a tool so you hit every part of the funnel without a last-minute scramble.
Reply and let me know which format challenge you want to conquer next … let’s solve it together.
📹 How to Think Like a Business Owner Before You Scale Like One
On Thursday, August 14 at 3:00 PM PT, I’m joining a powerhouse panel hosted by Lettuce Financial alongside Kahlil Dumas, Tiff Knighten, and Jayde Powell to dig into the mindset and systems you need before you chase big growth.
We’ll cover:
Shifting from solopreneur hustle to CEO strategy
Pinpointing the processes that unlock sustainable scale
Avoiding common pitfalls that stall even six-figure creator
Whether you’ve hit your first $1K month or you’re dreaming of doubling down, this session will give you a clear roadmap for stepping into the business-owner headspace before you overwhelm yourself.
📚 Free Resources for Creatorpreneur
I I’ve dropped a few free tools designed to help creators like you grow faster and earn smarter without the guesswork.
From planning your goals, to landing brand deals, to writing scroll-stopping hooks there’s something in here for wherever you’re at.
“How to Land Your Brand Deal” Free Guide
Brandon Smithwrick
Thanks for reading!
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