How I Turned Forgotten Ideas into Consistent Posts (My 3-Step Content System)

Like any other creator, I am no stranger to getting ideas at random times. But remembering them or actually publishing? That’s a different story. 

If you’re trying to be consistent and grow your personal brand, you know what it’s like to get an idea while you’re scrolling on LinkedIn or in the middle of a conversation. You think to yourself, “I should write a post on this.” 

But life gets busy, work gets complicated, and the content takes the back seat (as always). I know how discouraging inconsistency can feel. I’ve been there too. 

In this article, I’ll share the simple 3-step system that helped me break the cycle, stay consistent, and double my reach in under 2 months. 

Whether you’re just starting or have been creating on and off, here’s how you can do the same.

Step 1: Create because you care (not because you have to) 

Do you ever rediscover an old idea and think, “These are actually good — why didn’t I ever post them?” 

I recently had a moment like that while scrolling through my notes app, when I stumbled on some post ideas. As I wondered why I hadn’t turned any of them into content, I noticed that the last edited date was in 2022. 

I know time flies, but realizing that I’d been collecting ideas for years without acting on them stopped me in my tracks. It made me wonder how many more ideas I’d let slip away if I didn’t do something about it. 

In that moment, I decided I wouldn’t let another year pass while my ideas remained drafts. And this time, I wasn’t just creating out of obligation — but with genuine care to share my thoughts with the world. 

This mindset shift became the core of my consistency system.

Step 2: Document every idea the moment it strikes — or it’s gone   

One of the best things I did for my consistency was building a habit of writing down every single idea the moment it came to me. 

The human mind thrives on systems and routines. Irrespective of what you’re doing, pause, and note the idea down like your life depends on it. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re doing it in a notebook, your Notes app, or even recording a voice memo. For now, your goal is to just build the habit of capturing every idea. You can expand on it, organize better, and create the post later.

I love using the Buffer Ideas tab for this because I can move an idea directly into my drafts and schedule across multiple platforms with a single click. 

Step 3: Stick to the basics: create, edit, post, repeat  

As creatives, the advice we get online can sometimes be too much. It’s never simple, and we’re often pushed to think about starting a newsletter, coming up with a lead magnet, launching our own digital products, batch-creating 90 days of content, and much more — all at once! 

Recently, I was talking to my partner about all these big future goals I had for my content journey. (Note: I had barely even begun posting consistently, and was already overwhelmed.) 

He calmly responded with, “This seems like a lot to focus on. What are you willing to do today to get closer to that goal?” 

This one question stopped me in my tracks and made me realize that if I want to achieve big things, I need to start small. 

If I plan to be consistent, my process needs to be simple and repeatable — for a long time. And that, for me, is to write/create, edit, and post. That’s all. Everything else can come in later. 

Reminder: Your system needs to feel sustainable for you and not overwhelming. A simple, clear system (like this one) can do wonders for your content journey and put you many steps ahead when done over and over again. 

Show up regularly — the growth compounds fast 

Consistency is the cheat code for building your personal brand online. You don’t need to show up perfectly — it matters that you keep showing up. Each new post is another chance for your voice, ideas, and expertise to be seen, and over time, that visibility turns into trust, authority, and opportunities. 

In less than two months of being “somewhat” consistent on LinkedIn and Instagram, I hit milestones and opportunities that I never thought were possible (especially, this early in the journey). 

On Instagram, a couple of reels I published went viral — one with over 700k views and another with over 90k views. These two posts alone have brought in 350+ new followers and 4 collaboration requests. 

For context, I had been stuck at around 850 followers since 2017, and none of my reels had ever crossed 5k views. But within a few weeks of my content taking off, my follower count had grown to over 1,200, and the numbers keep going up by the day. 

On LinkedIn, my impressions crossed 4,600, with a 264% increase in engagement, leading to 25 new followers and 2 inbound leads for my freelance work. 

None of this would have happened if I had constantly doubted every single idea and let my drafts collect dust in the archives. 

Don’t know what to post? Use these 3 sources to spark ideas

Before we go further, let’s address the elephant in the room. So far, we’ve discussed turning drafts into posts and building a simple, sustainable system for consistency. 

But what if you’re stuck on the initial and crucial question: “What do I even post?” 

If this sounds familiar, I have some wonderful news (and resources) for you! 

We live in an era where everything is at our fingertips. From 10-minute grocery deliveries to scheduling an at-home massage in an hour, we can get almost anything instantly … if we know where to look. 

This applies to content as well. There are multiple goldmine-like resources online to help you get ideas that are relevant to your niche and brand. Here are three that have helped me the most: 

1. Buffer Templates:  On days when I don’t know what to post, Buffer’s templates are a lifesaver. Having content templates with prompts, hooks, and a usable post structure not only saves time but also helps you get out of the slump. With almost a hundred templates categorized into case studies, how-tos, opinion pieces, and much more, these templates can also be an excellent springboard for brainstorming and sparking similar ideas.

1. Peer-curated lists: An underrated way to find ideas online is to follow other creators — especially marketers and social media experts — who share niche-specific content ideas. I’ve found some great ones through Instagram and Pinterest searches. The only limitation is that these ideas can be generic at times, so you’ll need to adapt and customize them for your niche.

1. AI-powered brainstorm sessions: With Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, breaking out of a creative block has never been easier. Use them as your in-house content partner to bounce ideas and find gaps in your niche. When combined with your expertise, these tools can help generate dozens of ideas and even build a personal content bank tailored to your goals.

Remember, not knowing what to post isn’t the dead end we believe it to be. With the right resources in your toolkit, getting ideas can become the easiest part of your content system. 

The best part about being a creator in 2025 is that you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s through online communities or smaller support systems, surrounding yourself with fellow creators makes the journey easier and helps you stay consistent. 

In fact, I started this two-month consistency spree while participating in Buffer’s Creator Camp — a 30-day program designed to help creators build a habit of consistency through guidance, a Discord community, and daily post prompts. 

Even though I wasn’t active every day, being part of a supportive group felt validating. Seeing other creators in the same boat, pushing themselves to be consistent every single day, and celebrating their wins, gave me the final push I needed to stop overthinking and start creating. 

Another way to avoid feeling isolated is to team up with a friend who shares your passion for creating. You can be each other’s accountability partners — share drafts, get feedback, and cheer each other on! 

When you do this, content creation and consistency stop feeling like a chore. Instead, they become a fun challenge you actually look forward to. 

Your drafts deserve better 

Creating content and building your personal brand doesn’t have to be all-consuming and exhausting. It can be fun and doable. 

1. Create because you care. Not because you feel obligated. 
2. Capture every idea the moment you think of it. 
3. Start with a simple, sustainable system that works best for you. 

When you do this, consistency becomes easier, and success becomes inevitable. 

From this short stint in posting, I realized that content creation is mostly about consistency and mindset. It’s important that we do not become our own worst critics and second-guess every idea. 

Your drafts deserve better. You deserve better. 

Trust in your ability to create and express. Focus only on the next two steps at any given time — the 10th, 50th, and 100th steps will take care of themselves. 

Just keep posting. You got this.