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A “niche” is not a prison.
👋 Welcome back to Content to Commas, the weekly playbook for creatorpreneurs, founders, and marketers who want content that does its job.
This week, I was at LinkedIn HQ for an event and a creator said … "help, I think I've outgrown my niche” and I knew exactly what they meant.
After spending 10+ years managing social and working with creators, I know how common this is.
What they’re really saying is their content still feels stuck in an old version of them.
This issue is about pivoting your content without blowing up content plan, losing your momentum or community, or feeling like you’re starting from 0.
📌 In this issue:
The Pivot in Public Playbook (what to say, what to post, what to keep)
How to tell if you're outgrowing a niche or just bored with your format
100 AI Prompts to Improve your workday
Let’s get to work.
— Brandon Smithwrick
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🌱 Niches are seasons
You are going to outgrow versions of yourself … that's life.
The internet just acts like you can’t.
It typically goes like…
you build a lane
you get traction
you become "the ____ person"
and then your life moves.
You move cities. You start a relationship. You get married. You become a parent. You get deep into a hobby. Your business changes. Your taste changes. Your priorities change. But your content is still showing the old you.
A pivot isn't scary because you're changing topics. It's scary because you think you're starting from zero.
Let's clear up that misconception.
You're not starting from scratch. You already have experience. You know how to create an engaging hook, keep people interested, and build trust.
The mistake is thinking "new niche means new identity."
Don’t make these mistakes:
You stop posting for weeks or months. Then you come back with a hard left turn and act surprised when it flops.
You "random-post" the new thing. One day it's fashion. The next day it's vintage cars. No connecting the dots. No context.
Both create the same outcome, your audience feels like they missed the finale of their favorite show and now we’re all lost.
📙 The Pivot-in-Public Playbook
Yes, I do believe you can change topics without losing trust.
Pivoting is like trying to teach a cat to fetch it's not exactly a walk in the park.
Whether you're jumping ship to a new career, diving into a different niche, or pulling a Beyoncé and deciding to conquer country music, it's a wild ride. But fear not!
Here are 3 tactics to help you pivot like a pro … or at least not trip over your own feet.
1. Find your “throughline”
You don't lead with "I'm changing niches." You lead with what stayed true the whole time.
The throughline is the reason people followed you in the first place.
Your taste. Your POV. Your standards. Your curiosity. Your obsession with systems. Your eye for design. Your way of explaining things.
When you name the throughline, your pivot stops feeling like a plot twist. It becomes a new chapter of the same story.
If you skip this, your audience has to do the work of understanding you. They won't 🤷♂
2. Say it out loud (simple, human, no dramatic monologue)
You don't need a 30 slide explanation, you just need one clean post that tells the truth.
The goal is not to convince everyone. It's to orient the people who are actually paying attention.
When you announce the shift, you remove confusion. Confusion kills attention.
My friend Jessica (@travelingwithjessica) recently announced her pivot after a life change and people leaned in more because she did it right.
Here’s how to do it:
Post the pivot in plain language.
Pin it for 7 days.
Mention what people can expect to see more of.
3. Blend the new you
Don't go 0 to 100 overnight.
Run a blend for 30 days. Keep some of the old lane, introduce the new lane, and watch what gets pulled forward.
This keeps your engagement stable and gives the algorithm consistency.
More importantly, it gives your audience time to re-learn you.
Week 1: 80% old lane, 20% new lane
Week 2: 70% old lane, 30% new lane
Week 3: 60% old lane, 40% new lane
Week 4: 50% old lane, 50% new lane
4. Rebuild your content flow, not your identity
This is the part people miss. They chase a new topic, but they don't rebuild the content roles that keep their business running.
You need content that earns attention, content that explains your world, and content that asks for the next step.
Same structure, new niche.
Awareness content: "this is my world now" posts (no CTA)
Narrative content: "here's how I got here" posts (connect the dots)
Conversion content: "here's what to do next" posts (one clear invite)
📹 Steal this video script
I want to make it so easy for you so here’s your video script to master your next pivot.
"You've known me for [old lane]. Lately my life has been more [new context]."
"I still care about [throughline], but you're going to start seeing more [new focus] here."
"If you're here for [throughline], you're in the right place."
That's it.
No rebrand manifesto. No apology tour.
📌 ICYMI
Each week, I share tips on branding, monetization, growth , and useful tools that you might have missed. You can catch up in just a few minutes.
Posts You May Have Missed…
These posts did numbers for a reason. Worth a reread.
The 24-Hour Sales Engine: The playbook that turns one idea into leads, calls, and paid work. Comment ENGINE on the post and I’ll send you the full breakdown → Get the playbook
Giveaway! Win a DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: If you’ve been meaning to upgrade your content setup, this is your moment → Enter the giveaway
How to ways to use all 6 Instagram formats: A simple “what to post for what result” map (so you stop guessing) → Get the breakdown
How to use Instagram to get more brand deals: Two specific moves you can copy this week → Steal the 2 tactics
5 career cheat codes I wish I learned sooner: The stuff that saves years when you apply it early → Read the cheat codes
Tools I Love…
The stack I keep coming back to in my own business.
📧 Beehiiv: Newsletters, websites, podcast hosting, and link-in-bio in one place. Use this link for 20% off your first 3 months → Launch on Beehiiv
💸 Sequence: One of the best additions I made last year. Automates how money moves across accounts. Get $75 to get started → Explore Sequence
🔍 Stanley: My LinkedIn AI coach. Weekly insights on what’s working and why. 3-day free trial with this link → Test Stanley
🏦 Mercury: My business banking setup. Clean, simple, no mess. Deposit $10K in 90 days and get $250 → Open an account
🎓 Teachable: Build and sell digital products without duct-taping tools together. Start free → Start creating
🧠 Granola: The best AI meeting notetaker I’ve used. No bots joining calls. No interruptions. Just clean notes → Try Granola
📊 QuickBooks: I upgraded once my business started acting like a real business. Keeps finances clean and tax-ready. Save up to 75% with this link → Set up QuickBooks
💬 ManyChat: Turn comments into automatic DMs that convert → Build the flow
📋 Typeform: Beautiful forms that convert and stay on brand → Start for free
My Content Kit:
The gear I actually use to capture clean, usable content without overthinking it.
🎙️ Shure MV7+: The mic I use for every call and recording. Clean audio matters more than video, especially early.
📜 Teleprompter: Nobody memorizes scripts. Reading keeps you concise and confident.
📱 Compact tripod: Compact, travel-friendly, and lets you shoot anywhere without friction.
🔋 Anker battery pack: My most powerful charger. Even fully charges my MacBook on the go.
🦾 Magic Arm: The easiest way to get dynamic angles and avoid static shots.
🎤 DJI Mic 2: Reliable, clear audio when you’re traveling or filming on the move.
🎥 DJI Osmo Pocket 3: A creator secret weapon for vlogs, BTS, and stabilized video.
🎒 Bellroy Side Bag: My go-to content bag. Fits all of this and keeps everything organized when I’m moving.
🧲 Suction mount: Instant dynamic angles on cars, windows, or desks without a tripod.
Free Resources For You
📷 Content Kit: The exact equipment to build dynamic content → Explore more
🧰 Ultimate Creatorpreneur Toolkit: 70+ tools I used to build a six-figure business, with exclusive discounts → Grab the toolkit
🪝 250 Proven LinkedIn Hooks: Copy, tweak, grow your brand faster → Get the hooks
🤝 How to Land a Brand Deal: Zero-fluff guide to inbound and outreach that works → Learn the playbook
📈 Wins Wins Wins: If this newsletter has helped you make money, save time, or get unstuck, I want the receipt → Share your win (30 seconds)
Thanks for reading!
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