Podcasts about sales navigator

How do you sell software to an industry where Google Maps and Sales Navigator don't even work?Freddy Galindo built Sprint Suite, a SaaS platform for mining contractors, after watching his family's mining services business get buried in spreadsheets and manila folders. Today he breaks down how to scale a SaaS business in a vertical that doesn't operate like tech at all — including why his team drives around taking photos of companies just to find them.What you'll learn:→ Why Freddy's team prospects by driving around taking photos of companies (no websites, no digital footprint)→ The discovery process that works when your buyer has never used SaaS before→ Why flying SDRs to mine sites changed their entire sales motion→ How AI made development a commodity — and where Freddy is reinvesting instead→ Why "stop managing the process, start managing the business" is the real value proposition→ The hard lesson about saying yes to every opportunity in the early days→ Why being coachable is the one trait Freddy looks for above all else→ What expanding into the Canadian market taught him about adapting a sales motionIf you sell into an industry that doesn't operate like tech — this conversation will change how you think about your go-to-market.

In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Dr. Marc Lucas Weber über ein Thema, das viele virtuelle Assistent:innen beschäftigt: LinkedIn als Kundengewinnungskanal.Marc unterstützt Selbstständige, Dienstleister:innen und Unternehmen dabei, LinkedIn strategisch für Sichtbarkeit, Netzwerkaufbau und Leadgenerierung einzusetzen. Dabei wird schnell klar: Sichtbar zu sein ist nur der erste Schritt. Die eigentliche Frage lautet:

A lot of creators don't realize how much wasting money on podcast tools adds up until they finally stop and look at every subscription tied to their show. The morning show cast and crew talk about how easy it is to collect editing apps, AI platforms, analytics tools, and software you barely touch anymore while convincing yourself you still need all of it. There's a second layer too. Profit, not revenue. A $15 app feels different when it's $180 a year. A $5 tool times twelve months times five tools is money that wasn't actually generating anything back. Then comes the renewal email from something you forgot you had, and suddenly you're staring at the charge wondering when you last opened it. That's the moment it stops feeling like a collection and starts feeling like a real decision.Episode Highlights:[04:28] Software Stack Profit Leaks[05:49] How Many Subscriptions Is Too Many?[10:10] Overspending Categories[14:48] Forgotten Subscription Traps[18:36] The LinkedIn Premium Debate[22:35] Marketing Beyond Social Media[24:51] Sales Navigator as a CRM[26:37] Centralize and Audit Your Tools[27:41] Essential vs. Nice-to-Have Software[34:24] Spreadsheets, Not Apps[39:02] Monthly Money Review[46:07] Final TakeawaysLinks & Resources:Your Software Stack is Quietly Killing Your Profit Margins:https://www.contentcreatorsaccountant.com/blog/software-stack-killing-profit/Feature Your Podcast on the Podcasting Morning Show:https://PodcastingMorningShow.com/spotlightThe Podcasting Morning Show:⁠⁠www.podcastingmorningshow.com⁠⁠Ways to Watch or Listen:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/Meet the PMS Cast and Crew:⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people⁠⁠Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠⁠⁠Book A Free Call With Marc:https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycallApplication To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval⁠⁠Join us every other Monday at 8 AM ET for the Obsession Worthy Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/⁠⁠Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 8 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/clubhouse⁠⁠EPC3 Speaker Application:⁠⁠ ⁠https://empoweredpodcasting.com/speakersPowered by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠ContentCreatorsAccountant.com⁠⁠Send in your mailbag questions:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b

En este episodio te voy a demostrar cómo he generado varias reuniones con potenciales clientes hace unos días.Sin trampa ni cartón.Vas a conocer un sencillo experimento que he realizado utilizando memes muy conocidos.Hablaremos de:✅ Por qué es tan fáci destacar en Linkedin✅ Qué hacer (y qué no hacer) para que tus publicaciones generen reuniones✅ Cómo lo hago yo y cómo puedes hacer esto tú desde mañana.Por cierto:Por cierto, he abierto plazas para mi mentoría de Linkedin.Si quieres que trabajemos juntos 1 a 1 durante dos meses para mejorar tu estrategia en esta red social, podemos hablaro.Puedes reservar una reunión conmigo y te cuento todos los detalles.Agenda una reunión conmigoY aquí puedes conocer los servicios de mi patrocinador de esta temporada, Raiola NetworksEl mejor hosting en español

Why you should listenDonald runs one of the top B2B sales podcasts in the world, heard in over 155 countries, and breaks down the exact LinkedIn-first sequence he uses to turn cold prospects into booked calls without paid ads or cold spam.Learn the three-step system Donald uses to move a prospect from stranger to conversation: engage on their content, send a personalised connection request tied to something specific about them, then bridge to a short email that speaks to real pain, not surface pain.Get Donald's follow-up sequence that replaces the lazy "bumping this up" email with relevance-based touches your prospect actually wants to reply to, plus the exact tools (Hunter.io, Sales Navigator, Apollo) he uses to find verified business emails.Tired of sending LinkedIn messages into a black hole and wondering why your outbound never converts? In this episode, I talk with Donald C. Kelly, founder of The Sales Evangelists and one of the most recognised B2B sales voices in the world. Most tech business owners default to pitching before earning attention, and it is the reason their pipeline stays empty. Donald walks through the exact sequence he uses to break through the noise, earn engagement, and turn it into a real conversation, without faking friendship or copying the spray-and-pray playbook every SDR is running. If you sell on LinkedIn and the results are not matching the effort, this one shows you where the gap is.About Donald KellyDonald C. Kelly is the founder of The Sales Evangelist and host of one of the longest-running B2B sales podcasts in the world, with nearly 2,000 episodes heard across 155+ countries. A LinkedIn Top Voice in Sales and three-time Salesforce Top Influencer, he helps SMB and mid-market sales teams build LinkedIn-led outbound systems that turn cold prospects into booked calls. He is the author of Sell It Like a Mango and based in West Palm Beach, Florida.Resources and Linksthesalesevangelist.comDonald's LinkedIn profileDonald's free prospecting toolHunter.io Apollo.io SNOV.ioZoomInfoGemini Nano BananaBase44Previous episode: 678 - 81% of Partners Will Grow Below the Industry RateCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

En este episodio te detallo los errores que impiden a la gente conseguir clientes y posicionarse en Linkedin.Te avanzo el experimento de seis meses que he realizado y que lo demuestra.Y te doy ideas para cambiar todo eso.Hablaremos de:✅ Qué está pasando en Linkedin (de verdad)✅ Qué hacer (y qué no hacer) para posicionarte y conseguir clientes✅ Cómo lo hago yo y cómo puedes aplicar mis ideas a tu estrategia.Por cierto:Por cierto, he abierto plazas para mi mentoría de Linkedin.Si quieres que trabajemos juntos 1 a 1 durante dos meses para mejorar tu estrategia en esta red social, podemos hablaro.Puedes reservar una reunión conmigo y te cuento todos los detalles.Agenda una reunión conmigoY aquí puedes conocer los servicios de mi patrocinador de esta temporada, Raiola NetworksEl mejor hosting en español

Episode SummaryIn this episode of Million Dollar Flip Flops, Rodric sits down with Colin Herdman — lifelong entrepreneur, co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, and founder of Rainmaker, a company helping business owners grow their network, leads, and sales using LinkedIn.Colin shares how he went from launching his first business a week after college to building multiple companies across digital marketing, software development, and LinkedIn growth strategy. Along the way, he's learned that real business growth still comes down to the same fundamentals: understanding your audience, teaching what you know, and building genuine relationships.Rodric and Colin also dig into AI, the future of marketing, community building, and why LinkedIn live streams may be one of the most underrated tools available for founders, coaches, and sales leaders today.This is a conversation about growth, yes — but even more, it's about authenticity, education, thought leadership, and how to stand out online without becoming just more noise.In this episode, you'll hear:Colin's journey from college graduate to lifelong entrepreneurThe story behind Monkey Island VenturesWhat his three companies are focused on todayWhy AI is changing marketing — and what it cannot replaceWhy community may become even more valuable in an AI-heavy worldColin's philosophy for using LinkedIn the right wayThe difference between creating noise and creating trustWhy educational content beats salesy content on LinkedInHow Colin uses LinkedIn live streams to generate leads and referralsA step-by-step breakdown of his LinkedIn live stream strategyWhy repetition and thought leadership matter more than constant content churnHighlights & Timestamps[00:00] Colin's core LinkedIn philosophy Colin explains the big idea behind his approach to LinkedIn: authenticity, education, experimentation, and understanding what your audience can learn from you.[01:00] Meet Colin Herdman Colin introduces himself as a lifelong entrepreneur who launched his first business one week after college.[01:00] From criminal justice degree to entrepreneurship He shares how he never used his degree and instead learned business through experience and the school of hard knocks.[02:00] The businesses Colin is building today Colin breaks down the three companies under Monkey Island Ventures: Aurion, Cloudburst, and Rainmaker.[03:00] What's changing fastest in marketing right now Rodric asks Colin about the biggest shifts in marketing, and Colin points straight to AI, automation, and the need for authenticity.[04:00] Why community matters more than ever Rodric and Colin talk about how AI may make entrepreneurship even lonelier — and why real community will become even more valuable.[05:00] What's next for Colin Colin shares why he is focused on growing the current businesses while staying open to future opportunities.[05:00] What Rainmaker actually does Colin explains how Rainmaker helps founders, coaches, and sales leaders use LinkedIn to grow relationships, leads, and sales.[06:00] Colin's philosophy for LinkedIn growth He outlines the three layers of his strategy: authenticity, educational mindset, and understanding what your audience wants to learn from you.[08:00] How he identifies the right audience Colin explains how he uses Sales Navigator and ICP-based targeting to define who to connect with.[09:00] Why first connections matter He shares why his team reaches out to around 100 people a week and why growing a first-degree network is foundational.[10:00] The three campaign types he uses Colin walks through the main campaign formats he uses: drip messaging, LinkedIn polls, and live streams.[11:00] Why LinkedIn live streams are the biggest opportunity He explains why live streams are powerful, why LinkedIn is leaning into them, and why they cut through AI-driven sameness.[12:00] How Colin structures live streams Colin shares how he chooses a specific audience and a repeatable 101-level topic that can be taught over and over again.[14:00] Why repetition works better than constant reinvention He explains why repeating great content to the right audience is smarter than always creating something new.[14:00] How LinkedIn event invites do the heavy lifting Colin shares how LinkedIn's event system helps drive awareness, reminders, and attendance without feeling spammy.[16:00] The real power of the follow-up After each live stream, Colin follows up with attendees in a thoughtful way that opens the door for natural next-step conversations.[18:00] How live streams build long-term trust Colin explains how repeated educational live streams create awareness, thought leadership, and referral momentum over time.[20:00] Where to find Colin He shares where people can connect with him, download his live stream resource, and learn more.[21:00] Colin's question for the next guest Colin asks the next guest what book most helped them implement growth and strategy in their business.[21:00] The question Colin was asked Colin reflects on the importance of turning inward and trying to stay true to who he is.Notable Quotes“Nobody wants to be sold on LinkedIn.” – Colin Herdman“What is it that they can learn from me? What can I teach?” – Colin Herdman“The real opportunity is on LinkedIn when you know what your audience can learn from you.” – Colin Herdman“It's all about authenticity. It's all about education. It's all about you.” – Colin Herdman“You don't have to keep creating new content all the time.” – Colin Herdman“What happens over time is you become top of mind for whatever topics you continually present on.” – Colin Herdman“It's all about sending the elevator back down.” – Rodric LenhartConnect with Colin

Most reps treat every account in their territory the same. Same sequence, same effort, same time. That's why most reps run out of time before they run out of accounts.Brian LaManna, 7x President's Club winner and founder of Closed Won, built a three-tier system that protects his time and focuses his energy where it actually moves the needle.In this show, Brian walked through how he tiers his book, operationalizes research workflows using Google Alerts and Sales Navigator, and shows up to every Tier 1 account with a strong POV before the first touchpoint.If you're spending time on accounts that will never move, this is the session that fixes that.You'll Learn:A three-tier account model to help you research each account when signals appearHow to set up Google Alerts and Sales Navigator so account intelligence comes to youThe research framework Brian uses for Tier 1 accounts to build a POV before any outreachThe Speakers:Will Aitken, and Brian LaMannaIf you want to catch The Daily Sales Show live, join hereFollow Sell Better to get the latest actionable tactics from sales pros at the top of their gameExplore our YouTube ChannelThank you to our sponsors: Gong and Quotivity

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Everyone's automating their LinkedIn outreach. Everyone's using AI to personalize at scale. And almost everyone is getting ignored. Zivko Dodovski, CEO of DoneMaker, has built a thriving B2B lead generation firm by doing the exact opposite; zero automations, zero AI messages, and a manual outreach process that consistently books 8-10 qualified calls per month for his clients.Zivko started in radio broadcasting before pivoting into B2B sales, where he discovered that genuine human connection on LinkedIn outperformed every tool, shortcut, and automation he tested. He now runs DoneMaker, a LinkedIn organic outreach firm that has helped clients like J Baker Media land 5 clients in 2 months and Jones & Lamb LLC generate $14K in a single month — all without spending a dollar on ads.He explains:◼️ Why "over-personalization" is the new spam — and how savvy buyers spot it in seconds◼️ The exact connection message framework Zivko uses to start real conversations without pitch-slapping◼️ Why LinkedIn's API suppresses automation tools and what that means for your outreach results◼️ How to use Sales Navigator to build targeting so precise it turns outreach into a near 50/50 yes-or-no conversation◼️ The profile optimization mistake most small businesses make — and why the "billboard approach" backfires◼️ Why commenting on viral posts can generate more impressions than posting on your own feed◼️ The dot-space LinkedIn trick that instantly reveals who's using automation to reach you◼️ When LinkedIn simply won't work for your business — and what to do insteadTimestamps:02:00 – From radio broadcasting to B2B sales and founding DoneMaker05:00 – Is radio advertising still relevant in 2026?08:00 – How Zivko personally uses LinkedIn to grow his business09:20 – The hot take: no AI, no automations — everything manual and why12:00 – "Over-personalization" — the new red flag buyers can smell a mile away15:00 – The exact connection message framework that starts real conversations18:00 – Why Sales Navigator is the most underutilized LinkedIn tool21:30 – From connection request to booked call — the full outreach sequence 24:00 – Profile optimization: what to do (and what to ditch) depending on your company size26:00 – Where posting fits into the outreach strategy29:00 – The commenting strategy that beats posting your own content32:00 – Cadence, blog strategy, and the top/middle/bottom of funnel approach36:00 – LinkedIn articles and newsletters — worth it or not?38:00 – LinkedIn ads vs. Meta ads — why you should never test creative on LinkedIn40:00 – The dot-space automation detection trick and when LinkedIn won't work for youConnect with Zivko:Website: donemaker.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zivkododovskiConnect with Jason: Website: https://jayhunt.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/

No novo episódio do Juridcast, Leandro Ramos recebe Luigi Oliveira Ribeiro, sócio do Geraldo Nery Lopes Advogados e professor na PUC Minas, para uma conversa que desafia as perspectivas tradicionais sobre geração de negócios no mercado jurídico.Com mais de uma década de experiência como executivo jurídico em grandes empresas, Luigi compartilha insights valiosos sobre como utilizar ferramentas concretas para identificar oportunidades e conquistar clientes. O episódio aborda a aplicação de jurimetria, Sales Navigator e inteligência artificial de maneira estratégica, permitindo o mapeamento de empresas, a antecipação de demandas e a construção de diagnósticos estruturados antes mesmo da primeira reunião.Mais do que técnicas de prospecção, a conversa revela uma mudança de mentalidade: sair do modelo reativo e construir abordagens baseadas em dados, contexto e inteligência de mercado.Onde encontrar host e convidado: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leandrohramos/https://www.linkedin.com/in/luigi-oliveira-ribeiro-4955992b/Conheça a Javali: https://agenciajavali.com.br/ 

LinkedIn makes outbound easier than most reps think, but most sellers scroll, like, and hope something happens.James Buckley and Darren McKee broke down a repeatable LinkedIn prospecting system that turns simple actions into real conversations. You will learn how to pick the right prospects, know what to look for before you message, and avoid lazy outreach that gets ignored.Darren walked through his step by step flow, from using your network and Sales Navigator filters to finding the right buyers, to getting warm intros through second degree connections, to sending a direct message that earns a meeting. You will also learn how to use comments, follows, and content as engagement that supports your outbound, not vanity activity.You will leave with a clear plan you can run weekly, plus Darren's 5x3x1 prospecting strategy and the math behind how consistency can turn into a serious pipeline.You'll Learn:Step by step LinkedIn prospecting flow to go from targeting to conversations to meetings.The 5x3x1 prospecting strategy, including how to stay consistent.How to use comments, DMs, and video or audio messages to build trust and move past “send me info”.The Speakers:James Buckley and Darren McKeeIf you want to catch The Daily Sales Show live, join hereFollow Sell Better to get the latest actionable tactics from sales pros at the top of their gameExplore our YouTube ChannelThank you to our sponsors: Mixmax and Gong

¿Estamos protegiendo realmente a nuestros hijos o solo retrasando lo inevitable? En este episodio, hablamos sobre la nueva ley que busca prohibir las redes sociales a menores de 16 años. Pero la charla no se queda ahí: entramos en el mundo corporativo para revelarte cómo LinkedIn se ha convertido en el nuevo campo de batalla de la IA y por qué tu marca personal corre peligro si sigues publicando contenido genérico.Hablamos de bots, de la "trampa" de Sales Navigator y de cómo recuperar la autenticidad en un mundo lleno de filtros... pero al final, surge una pregunta que lo cambia todo.

In this episode of the Inquisitor Podcast, host Marcus Cauchi  talks with LinkedIn expert Graeme Riley, a platform user since 2004 and business development consultant since 2012, to cut through the noise and get practical about what actually works on LinkedIn. Graeme shares why most people are using LinkedIn wrong, how the platform's algorithm has evolved, and what separates the salespeople who consistently hit their targets from those who burn out in 18 months. Topics covered include: building a LinkedIn strategy tied to revenue goals, curating your ideal client network, optimising your profile for today's audience, the right content mix for dwell time and reshares, the difference between free, premium and Sales Navigator accounts, and why most companies are wasting their investment in the platform. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or leading a sales team, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you actionable steps to stop being a well-kept secret. Find Graeme Riley on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamkeithriley/  

AI isn't here to replace salespeople, it's here to make them sharper, faster, and more effective.In this show, Veronica Rivero from LinkedIn showed how to unlock the full potential of Sales Navigator's newest AI features: Account IQ, Message Assist, and the brand-new Sales Assistant.You'll see how these tools can help you identify opportunities faster, tailor your outreach to what buyers actually care about, and remove time-consuming admin work from your day.Whether you're prospecting for new logos or growing existing accounts, you'll learn how to use AI to keep your pipeline full and your deals moving forward.You'll Learn:How to use AI inside Sales Navigator to uncover insights that guide smarter outreachWays to personalize your messaging with Message Assist for better response ratesProven workflows to boost productivity and accelerate deal cyclesThe Speakers:James Buckley and Veronica RiveroIf you want to catch The Daily Sales Show live, join hereFollow Sell Better to get the latest actionable tactics from sales pros at the top of their gameExplore our YouTube ChannelThank you to our sponsors: Gong and Aligned

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Episode SummaryIf LinkedIn still feels like “that place bankers go to hire people,” this episode will change how you see it.Rodric sits down with Al Kushner, author of The AI LinkedIn Advantage, to break down how to use AI + LinkedIn together to save time, show up strategically, and position yourself as a thought leader — without living on the platform 24/7.Al has been on LinkedIn for over 20 years. He's watched it shift from stiff online résumé storage to a powerful professional social network where content, video, and personal branding actually matter.They talk about how to optimize your profile, use AI to generate content ideas, newsletters, and video scripts, and how business owners, entrepreneurs, and job seekers can all use LinkedIn more intentionally to open doors and opportunities.

In this conversation, Chris Gittings shares insights on leveraging LinkedIn for relationship building and networking. He emphasizes the importance of adding value in professional interactions and discusses innovative approaches to hosting networking events. The discussion also covers the use of LinkedIn's Sales Navigator for effective outreach and the potential for future collaborations in various industries. Ultimate Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Overview of the Episode 00:01:24 - Background on Chris Gittings and Cogent Connections 00:02:05 - Effective Use of LinkedIn for Relationship Building 00:03:54 - The Importance of Adding Value in Sales 00:07:05 - Chris's Unique Approach to Hosting Events 00:11:16 - Exploring New Industries for Future Events 00:13:23 - Practical Takeaway: Using LinkedIn Sales Navigator 00:19:24 - Closing Remarks and How to Connect with Chris Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-gittings/  Learn More About Accountable Equity:  Visit Us: http://www.accountableequity.com/   Access eBook: https://accountableequity.com/case-study/#register  Turn your unique talent into capital and achieve the life you were destined to live. Join our community!We believe that Capital is more than just Cash. In fact, Human Capital always comes first before the accumulation of Financial Capital. We explore the best, most efficient, high-integrity ways of raising capital (Human & Financial). We want our listeners to use their personal human capital to empower the growth of their financial capital. Together we are stronger. LinkedinFacebookInstagramApple PodcastSpotify

You can't just throw up AI slop and call it content. AI may be flooding your inbox, but does it still have a place in authentic sales outreach? Mandy McEwen, digital marketing expert and founder of Mod Girl Marketing, joins Mark Hunter to help sales professionals navigate the evolving landscape of LinkedIn and social media in the age of artificial intelligence. Mandy unpacks the biggest shifts happening in buyer behavior, offering fresh insights into how sales teams can leverage AI without losing the human touch. Listen in to discover why personalization alone isn't enough and how genuine relevance can help you stand out. Mark and Mandy probe the growing importance of building a visible, trustworthy personal brand on LinkedIn. They explore common pitfalls in sales prospecting, from lazy automation to the dangers of spammy messaging that threatens your reputation. Tune in for tips on optimizing your LinkedIn presence, using buyer intent signals, and why slowing down could be the smartest move for your team this year.  

Note: This is Episode 442, published January 6, 2026.You published a book, it hit #1, and the reviews were phenomenal. In the digital marketing world, that's usually where you take a victory lap. But then the AI revolution happened. Over the last year, the fundamental ways we build relationships and create content on LinkedIn have shifted so dramatically that I knew a simple "tweak" wouldn't cut it.I've spent the last several months obsessively updating Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth to reflect the 2026 landscape. This isn't just a minor update—it's a 70% expansion featuring five entirely new chapters. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the exact strategies I added to help you stay visible, professional, and profitable.Tune in to discover:The AI "Ask Neal" Framework: My exact process for creating AI content that actually resonates with humans.The CRM Solution: Why your LinkedIn inbox is a "black hole" and how to fix it with a personal CRM system.Paid vs. Free: A definitive breakdown of when you should pay for Premium and when you should save your money.Evergreen ROI: Real-world case studies of professionals who turned simple profile optimizations into five-figure income shifts.Key Highlights:[03:25] The Decision Tree: How to choose between LinkedIn Free, Premium, and Sales Navigator.[04:40] Content Formats: Why some "tried and true" posts are now being deprioritized by the algorithm.[05:55] Beyond Robotic AI: Using headshot generators and LLMs to enhance—not replace—your personal brand.[07:20] The DM Epiphany: Why your next big opportunity is likely already buried in your inbox.[13:10] Expert Endorsements: Why industry leaders like Joe Pulizzi and Jon Ferrara consider this a "Masterclass."Links:Order the New Expanded Edition: [https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon]Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Ziv Raviv's Micro Niche Podcasts model combines coaching with a full marketing agency (logo design, copywriting, web dev), delivering tangible results and justifying higher fees.Micro-Niche Strategy: Focus on a highly specific niche (3k–20k people) for rapid market entry. The small size enables high-touch outreach, turning a low reply rate (e.g., 2%) into enough collaborators for a full year of content.Podcast as a "Free Party": A podcast is the core tool for building trust and authority. Interviewing niche experts leverages their networks for audience growth and provides a platform for "listening harder" to discover real client needs.The 3-Test Validation Framework: Before committing, validate a niche with three tests: Findability (can you easily find people?), Braggability (will interviewees share the episode?), and Sellability (can you monetize the audience?).Summary of PodcastThe "Super Coaching" ModelZiv Raviv's "Fully Booked Coach" model defines "fully booked" as a sustainable 15–18 retainer clients, a number that avoids burnout.This model evolved from a standard coaching practice to "super coaching," which includes a full marketing agency stack.Rationale: Clients often need execution support, not just advice. This model delivers tangible results (e.g., a new logo) between sessions, justifying higher fees and increasing client retention.Micro-Niche StrategyCore Principle: Serving everyone means serving no one. A micro-niche enables focused, high-impact outreach and rapid market entry.Size Sweet Spot: 3,000 (minimum) to 20,000 (ideal maximum).Rationale: This size provides enough people for outreach but is small enough for high-touch, personalized communication.Findability Test: A niche must be easy to find.High Findability (4.5/5): Dentists, plumbers (use Google Maps, Sales Navigator).Low Findability (1/5): Introverted business owners (no public identifier).Significance: High findability is critical for rapid results (within 100 days).Podcast as a "Free Party"A podcast is the core tool for establishing authority and building trust in a new micro-niche.Strategy: Interview well-known niche experts.Benefit: Leverages their networks for initial audience growth.Benefit: Provides a platform for "listening harder" to uncover the niche's true problems and pivot the service offering accordingly.Monetization: The goal is to sell coaching/services, not ad sponsorships.Rationale: Micro-niches have small audiences (e.g., 100–1,000 downloads/episode), which is insufficient for ad revenue but highly effective for converting a few listeners into high-value clients.Niche Validation FrameworkUse this three-test framework to validate a niche before committing.1. Findability: Can you easily find and contact people in the niche?Example: Women studio photographers (easy via directories).2. Braggability: Will interviewees be proud to be featured and share the episode?Example: Model railway enthusiasts (high).Example: "Ugly Skin Disease Podcast" (low).3. Sellability: Can

What does it really take to generate high-quality B2B leads on LinkedIn without falling into the trap of cold, salesy outreach or getting lost in the endless world of organic posting? In this episode of Predictable B2B Success, Vinay Koshy sits down with serial entrepreneur Colin Hirdman, founder of Rainmaker, to unpack the step-by-step process he's developed over years of experimentation, perseverance, and plenty of failures turned lessons. Colin Hirdman reveals why most people are thinking about LinkedIn all wrong and how ditching traditional tactics in favor of authentic, education-driven engagement can transform your sales pipeline. Learn how he leverages automation with care, sidesteps burnout, and uses live streams and polls to build meaningful connections, all without breaking LinkedIn's rules or coming off as just another spammy vendor. You'll find actionable strategies for defining your ideal audience, engaging them in ways that actually spark conversation, and creating content that compels, even if you're just starting. Whether you're a solopreneur or leading a sales team, this episode offers a fresh, highly practical perspective on LinkedIn lead generation you won't want to miss. Some topics we explore in this episode include: Why focus on LinkedIn for lead generation – Colin Hirdman explains his reasons for choosing LinkedIn as the main channel for building networks and leads.Authentic, educational outreach philosophy – The importance of focusing on education and authenticity over selling.Audience building techniques – Tips for building ideal prospect lists using tools like Sales Navigator, event lists, and industry connections.LinkedIn automation strategies – How to automate manual processes while staying within LinkedIn's limits and policies.Messaging and connection tactics – Effective practices for initial outreach and follow-up without being salesy.Using LinkedIn features for engagement – Leveraging live streams, events, and polls to increase touchpoints and value.Emphasis on relationship building – Why nurturing and educating connections drives better results than direct selling.Entrepreneurial resilience and lessons learned – Colin Hirdman shares experiences about perseverance and navigating setbacks.Five Fs business philosophy – How core values like freedom, finance, family, friendship, and fun guide business decisions.Tracking and improving success – Metrics, testing, and tweaking strategies to improve LinkedIn campaign performance.And much, much more...

Listen now: Spotify, Apple and YouTubeIf you've been hearing phrases like “taste is the only thing that will matter for PMs in the AI era” but aren't sure what that actually means—or more importantly, how to build it—this episode is for you.In this conversation, Marc and Ben sit down with Sachin Rekhi, founder, former LinkedIn product leader, and creator of LinkedIn Sales Navigator, to unpack the real mechanics of taste: where it comes from, how to sharpen it, and why it's already the defining skill of AI-native product teams.Sachin shares the frameworks he teaches inside companies and in his Reforge course—from Rick Rubin's “sensitivity & canon” model, to daily design-critique habits, to the patterns he saw across design-driven, metrics-driven, strategy-driven, and sales-driven org cultures.He also tells the untold story of how Sales Navigator went from a tiny skunkworks project to one of LinkedIn's biggest product lines—why social capital mattered, how he managed leadership skepticism, and how he used prototypes, real customer quotes, and narrative-building to secure executive conviction.Whether you're trying to level up your product intuition, navigate organizational taste cultures, or use AI without slipping into “AI slop,” you'll walk away with practical models you can apply immediately to your product work, leadership communication, and team workflows.All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox

We are moving into the most dangerous time of year for sales professionals . . . the holidays.  From now until the first week of January, you're going to face a perfect storm of distractions, excuses, and temptations that can absolutely destroy your year end number and your first quarter production next year. Sadly, most salespeople don't even see it coming. It's not until the end of December that they realize they're in trouble, but by then, it's too late.  The Trouble With the Holidays The trouble typically starts Thanksgiving week in the United States and continues as we move into the first week of December. That's when distractions start flooding in. You've got company parties, family obligations, shopping to do. All of which knock you off of your routine causing your daily prospecting and follow up activities to drop. And let's be honest, you've been grinding hard for the entire year and you're ready to let your guard down and coast a bit before the end of the year.  By the second and third week of December many of the opportunities in your pipeline that you were counting on closing start to ghost you or tell you that their pushing decisions off to next year. And by now you're so mentally checked out that you're barely doing any prospecting at all.  Once we move into the Christmas and New Years weeks your office is a ghost town, the phones are silent, your pipeline is stalled, you've missed your forecast and you convince yourself there's no point in even trying.  And just like that, you've lost an entire month of selling. My book The LinkedIn Edge gives you the master blueprint for turning LinkedIn into an optimized, revenue-generating sales engine—whether you're deploying Sales Navigator or not. Learn to work LinkedIn like a professional with step-by-step, immediately actionable tactics that supercharge your presence on the world's largest networking platform. Get it today wherever books are sold. Holiday Sales Math But here's the brutal truth: You didn't just lose a month. You lost three months. Because all of those prospects that pushed off decisions until the new year are not coming back; and that empty pipeline you're staring at, as you move into January, is going to haunt you through March and potentially, through the entire year.  Your average sales cycle is probably 60-90 days. That means deals you put into the pipeline over the next two to three weeks are crucial for a good January. Likewise, the ones you add in December are the key to delivering a solid February and March.  But if you allow the Holidays to take you off of your game, you might not recover until April or May. Your entire first quarter is shot.  This is the killer and how so many promising sales careers end prematurely. I've witnessed far too many salespeople get fired in March for pipeline problems that started in November when they let their discipline slip during the holidays. Do Not Allow Active Deals Stall and Die The deals currently in your pipeline are more vulnerable right now than at any other time of year. Your prospects have the perfect excuse to push decisions.  When deals sit idle for a month, bad things happen. Stakeholders change. Budgets get reallocated. Priorities shift. Your champion gets distracted by seventeen other initiatives. Your competitors slip in while you're eating fruitcake and drinking eggnog. I've watched salespeople lose six-figure deals that they thought were "locked up" in November, simply because they took their foot off the gas during the holidays.  I've said this before and I'll say it again. Pipeline opportunities that push into the new year are not coming back. Do not count on them. Do not allow yourself to be delusional about them. If you don't get forecasted opportunities closed by the end of the year, consider them dead! For this reason, you must be vigilant with follow up, assertive with your communication and do whatever it takes to get those deals closed.  The Holiday Discipline Advantage When it comes to prospecting, the activity that keeps your pipeline healthy, the real reason you struggle during the holidays is because you give yourself permission to slack off. You tell yourself little lies to justify taking it easy. "Nobody's making decisions right now anyway." "Everyone's on vacation." "I'll ramp back up in January." Yes, some prospects are on vacation. But not all of them. Yes, some decisions get pushed. But not all of them. Yes, it's harder to get people on the phone. But not impossible. The salespeople who crush it during the holidays understand something that everyone else forgets: Outselling the holidays is all about disciplined. It is discipline that transforms holiday impulsiveness into intention and a higher income.  This is where mental toughness pays off and shows up in your bank account.During the holidays, more than ever, you need a concrete plan and the discipline to execute it. 5 Keys to Outselling the Holidays Here's what you need to do right now, and I mean this week: Step One: Conduct a Pipeline Audit Go through every deal in your pipeline. Assess the risk of each one stalling during the holidays. Then decide what needs to be done before year end to get them closed.  For your most important opportunities, create a specific action plan. Don't assume anything will "just keep moving forward" on its own. These deals will not close themselves. Nothing moves forward without your effort. Step Two: Block Your Calendar Pull up your calendar for the rest of this year. Block time for daily prospecting, deal advancement and follow-ups. Yes, I know you have holiday parties and family obligations. Put those in too. The key is planning everything in advance so you don't drop the ball. You may have to get creative. Maybe you prospect for an hour before the rest of your family wakes up or make follow-up calls during your lunch break. Maybe you work a few hours on the weekend. The point is, if it's not on your calendar, it won't happen. And if your calendar is blank for the next month, your pipeline will be blank in January. Step Three: Set Non-Negotiable Activity Targets This is critical. Decide right now what your daily minimums are going to be during the holiday season. Set the targets. Write them down. Commit to them. Then—and this is the important part—review your progress against these targets every single morning and every single afternoon to hold yourself accountable. Nobody else is going to do this for you. You have to be your own accountability partner. Step Four: Front-Load December We know that the last two weeks of the year are going to be a circus so double down and bank as much activity as possible at the end of November and into the early part of December. That way, by the time Santa comes down the chimney, you've already done the work to keep your pipeline healthy. Step Five: Plan Your January Don't wait until January 2nd to start thinking about your first quarter. Plan it now. What's your goal for Q1 revenue? How much pipeline do you need to hit that goal? What actions do you need to take now to start strong in January? Top performers don't "get back into it" in January. They hit January running because they planned for it in November. This isn't about working 80-hour weeks. It's about being strategic with your time so you can be productive AND enjoy time with your family. By maintaining discipline during the holidays, you actually feel less stressed and enjoy them more.  Take Action Now Now here's your assignment: Block two hours on your calendar this week. Use that time to conduct your pipeline audit, build your holiday schedule, and set your activity targets. Don't wait. Don't tell yourself you'll get to it next week. Do it now. The salespeople who take this seriously will end the year strong and start off next year even stronger. The salespeople who ignore this advice will spend the first quarter digging themselves out of a hole. The only question that remains is which one of these salespeople are you going to be? And remember, when it's time to go home, especially during the holidays when you're tempted to call it early, always stop and make one more call. That discipline is often the difference that will help you outsell the holidays. 

We are moving into the most dangerous time of year for sales professionals . . . the holidays.  From now until the first week of January, you're going to face a perfect storm of distractions, excuses, and temptations that can absolutely destroy your year end number and your first quarter production next year. Sadly, most salespeople don't even see it coming. It's not until the end of December that they realize they're in trouble, but by then, it's too late.  The Trouble With the Holidays The trouble typically starts Thanksgiving week in the United States and continues as we move into the first week of December. That's when distractions start flooding in. You've got company parties, family obligations, shopping to do. All of which knock you off of your routine causing your daily prospecting and follow up activities to drop. And let's be honest, you've been grinding hard for the entire year and you're ready to let your guard down and coast a bit before the end of the year.  By the second and third week of December many of the opportunities in your pipeline that you were counting on closing start to ghost you or tell you that their pushing decisions off to next year. And by now you're so mentally checked out that you're barely doing any prospecting at all.  Once we move into the Christmas and New Years weeks your office is a ghost town, the phones are silent, your pipeline is stalled, you've missed your forecast and you convince yourself there's no point in even trying.  And just like that, you've lost an entire month of selling.   My book The LinkedIn Edge gives you the master blueprint for turning LinkedIn into an optimized, revenue-generating sales engine—whether you're deploying Sales Navigator or not. Learn to work LinkedIn like a professional with step-by-step, immediately actionable tactics that supercharge your presence on the world's largest networking platform. Get it today wherever books are sold.       Holiday Sales Math But here's the brutal truth: You didn't just lose a month. You lost three months. Because all of those prospects that pushed off decisions until the new year are not coming back; and that empty pipeline you're staring at, as you move into January, is going to haunt you through March and potentially, through the entire year.  Your average sales cycle is probably 60-90 days. That means deals you put into the pipeline over the next two to three weeks are crucial for a good January. Likewise, the ones you add in December are the key to delivering a solid February and March.  But if you allow the Holidays to take you off of your game, you might not recover until April or May. Your entire first quarter is shot.  This is the killer and how so many promising sales careers end prematurely. I've witnessed far too many salespeople get fired in March for pipeline problems that started in November when they let their discipline slip during the holidays. Do Not Allow Active Deals Stall and Die The deals currently in your pipeline are more vulnerable right now than at any other time of year. Your prospects have the perfect excuse to push decisions.  When deals sit idle for a month, bad things happen. Stakeholders change. Budgets get reallocated. Priorities shift. Your champion gets distracted by seventeen other initiatives. Your competitors slip in while you're eating fruitcake and drinking eggnog. I've watched salespeople lose six-figure deals that they thought were "locked up" in November, simply because they took their foot off the gas during the holidays.  I've said this before and I'll say it again. Pipeline opportunities that push into the new year are not coming back. Do not count on them. Do not allow yourself to be delusional about them. If you don't get forecasted opportunities closed by the end of the year, consider them dead! For this reason, you must be vigilant with follow up, assertive with your communication and do whatever it t...

In this special episode, Gresham shares what he's been doing to generate leads: cold direct messages on LinkedIn using Sales Navigator, a few automation tools (Closely), and follow‑up emails to keep contacts warm. While he's begun to see “nibbles” — small bits of traction — he admits to frustration over the limited results. Through reflection he realizes he may have been targeting the wrong audience (B2B instead of the more receptive B2C segment of people facing layoffs or career dissatisfaction) and recognizes the importance of networking and leading with empathy. Gresh wraps up by acknowledging that success comes from consistently doing the right things over time, not just repeating ineffective tactics. He sees the current outreach as planting seeds that could later grow, and commits to experimenting, learning, and taking the journey one step at a time.  Blue Star Franchise: bluestarfranchise.com Browse the Franchise Inventory: bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - franchiseceo.co Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!

Whether you're a job seeker trying to get noticed by recruiters, an executive positioning for a board seat, a consultant building authority, or a business owner looking for visibility—LinkedIn is your most powerful career asset. But most people are doing it completely wrong.In this video, I'm breaking down the exact 3-phase strategy to grow from 0 to 5,000+ LinkedIn followers—and why hitting that number means you'll never have to worry about your next opportunity again. No more cold applying. No more waiting for someone to discover you. This is how you make opportunities come to YOU.This isn't generic LinkedIn advice. This is the real system I use with my clients at Resume Assassin to help professionals at every level turn LinkedIn into their personal opportunity engine.Here's what we cover:✅ Why 5K followers is the credibility threshold that opens doors to consulting gigs, board seats, speaking opportunities, and executive roles  ✅ The 3-phase blueprint: 0-1K, 1K-5K, and scaling beyond with authority  ✅ Profile weaponization: How to position yourself as THE expert in your space  ✅ The Sales Navigator strategy for connecting with decision-makers (not just recruiters)  ✅ Why you should ENGAGE before you CREATE (this changes everything)  ✅ The 60/30/10 content framework that builds authority and trust at scale  ✅ How to stand out in a sea of AI-generated LinkedIn noise with YOUR voice and brand  ✅ Conversion mechanisms that turn followers into clients, speaking gigs, board invitations, and executive opportunities  ✅ Real client stories: From corporate exec to $150K consulting contracts, VP roles without applying, paid speaking gigs from LinkedIn reach The truth about LinkedIn in 2025: Everyone's pumping out AI-generated content that sounds exactly the same. The professionals who will dominate—whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or building your own brand—are the ones who show up authentically with their own voice, stories, and perspective. This strategy works if you want to: 

Here's a problem that'll tie you in knots: You've got a killer software solution that saves companies massive money on employee benefits. You know exactly who needs it. Fortune 1000 companies with self-insured health plans. But you can't get a single meeting with the people who matter. That's the situation Peter Kleinman from Provo, Utah, found himself in. As the sales and marketing guy for his dad's startup, he was tasked with landing enterprise clients while juggling full-time classes at BYU. He had LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, and a burning desire to make it work. He also had virtually no chance of success using his current approach. If you're nodding your head right now, keep reading. Because Peter's problem is your problem if you're trying to sell into enterprise accounts without the business acumen, social proof, or strategy to break through. The 100-Foot Wall Problem Let me be brutally honest: Fortune 1000 CHROs and C-suite executives have built a wall around themselves that's about 100 feet high. Their entire job is keeping people like you from wasting their time. And if you're young, inexperienced, or new to enterprise sales? That wall might as well be 1,000 feet high. Peter was doing everything the sales books tell you to do. He was going straight to the top. He was messaging decision makers on LinkedIn. He was targeting the right titles. He was also getting absolutely nowhere. Here's why: It has nothing to do with age and everything to do with business acumen. You can't speak the language of enterprise buyers if you've never lived in their world. You don't understand their buying process, their risk aversion, or the organizational politics that determine whether your deal lives or dies. Most critically, you're trying to sell something they don't even know they need. And you have zero social proof to back up your claims. That's not a recipe for success. That's a recipe for frustration, burnout, and a pipeline full of nothing. The Bottom-Up, Top-Down Strategy If you can't get to the top, start at the bottom. I'm not talking about giving up on enterprise accounts. I'm talking about running a multi-threading strategy that builds your business acumen while creating pathways into those massive organizations. Here's how it works: Find the amplifiers. These are the people in the trenches who actually deal with the problem your solution solves every single day. They're not directors or VPs. They're managers, analysts, and coordinators who feel the pain but lack the authority to fix it. These people are 100 times easier to talk to than C-suite executives. They'll take your call. They'll teach you. They'll tell you exactly what's broken in their organization and how decisions actually get made. Compress your experience. When you talk to these amplifiers, you're not selling. You're learning. You're asking questions like, "Help me understand how you make these decisions," and "What problems are you running into?" Every conversation compresses years of experience into hours. You learn the language. You understand the pain points. You gather insights that become ammunition for conversations with decision makers. Surface the insights upward. Now when you finally get in front of that CHRO or VP of Benefits, you're not some kid with a PowerPoint. You're someone who understands their organization better than they do. You can tell them stories about what their own people are experiencing and how you can close the gap. That's how you get meetings. That's how you build credibility. That's how you win deals when you have no business acumen and no social proof. The Insurance Broker Shortcut Here's another path Peter needed to explore: Insurance brokers. If you can't talk to the self-insured companies directly, talk to the people who advise them. Insurance brokers work with these organizations every day. They understand the buying process. They know the pain points.

Here's a problem that'll tie you in knots: You've got a killer software solution that saves companies massive amounts of money on employee benefits. You know exactly who needs it: Fortune 1000 companies with self-insured health plans. But you can't get a single meeting with the people who matter. That's the situation Peter Kleinman from Provo, Utah, finds himself in. As the sales and marketing guy for his dad's startup, he's tasked with landing enterprise clients while juggling full-time classes at BYU. He has LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, and a burning desire to make it work. He also has virtually no chance of success using his current approach. If you're nodding your head right now, keep reading. Because Peter's problem is your problem if you're trying to sell into enterprise accounts without the business acumen, social proof, or strategy to break through. The 100-Foot Wall Problem Here's the biggest issue: Fortune 1000 CHROs and C-suite executives have built a wall around themselves that's about 100 feet high. Their entire job is keeping people like you from wasting their time. And if you're young, inexperienced, or new to enterprise sales? That wall might as well be 1,000 feet high. Peter is doing everything the sales books tell you to do. He's going straight to the top. He's messaging decision makers on LinkedIn. He's targeting the right titles. He's also getting absolutely nowhere. Here's why: It has nothing to do with age and everything to do with business acumen. You can't speak the language of enterprise buyers if you've never lived in their world. You don't understand their buying process, their risk aversion, or the organizational politics that determine whether your deal lives or dies. Most critically, you're trying to sell something they don't even know they need. And you have zero social proof to back up your claims. That's not a recipe for success. That's a recipe for frustration, burnout, and a pipeline full of nothing. The Bottom-Up, Top-Down Strategy If you can't get to the top, start at the bottom. I'm not talking about giving up on enterprise accounts. I'm talking about running a multi-threading strategy that builds your business acumen while creating pathways into those massive organizations. Here's how it works: Find the amplifiers. These are the people in the trenches who actually deal with the problem your solution solves every single day. They're not directors or VPs. They're managers, analysts, and coordinators who feel the pain but lack the authority to fix it. These people are 100 times easier to talk to than C-suite executives. They'll take your call. They'll teach you. They'll tell you exactly what's broken in their organization and how decisions actually get made. Compress your experience. When you talk to these amplifiers, you're not selling. You're learning. You're asking questions like, "Help me understand how you make these decisions," and "What problems are you running into?" Every conversation compresses years of experience into hours. You learn the language. You understand the pain points. You gather insights that become ammunition for conversations with decision-makers. Surface the insights upward. Now when you finally get in front of that CHRO or VP of Benefits, you're not some kid with a PowerPoint. You're someone who understands their organization better than they do. You can tell them stories about what their own people are experiencing and how you can close the gap. That's how you get meetings. That's how you build credibility. That's how you win deals when you have no business acumen and no social proof. The Insurance Broker Shortcut Here's another path Peter needs to explore: Insurance brokers. If you can't talk to the self-insured companies directly, talk to the people who advise them. Insurance brokers work with these organizations every day. They understand the buying process. They know the pain points. They're infinitely more accessible than Fortune 1000 executives. Better yet, they can become your distribution channel. If your software helps them serve their clients better, they'll sell it for you. This is classic fanatical prospecting. When your ideal customer is hard to reach, find the people who already have relationships with them. Build those relationships first. Let them open doors you can't open on your own. Stop Playing in LinkedIn's Sandbox Peter spends a lot of time on LinkedIn. Posting to the company page. Messaging prospects. Running outreach campaigns. Here's the truth: C-suite executives aren't hanging out on LinkedIn waiting for your cold outreach. They're not there. And the few who are there ignore 99% of the messages they receive. LinkedIn is great for research and building your personal brand. But if that's your entire go-to-market strategy, you're dead in the water. You need real tools. A proper CRM like HubSpot to manage your pipeline and run marketing campaigns. A platform like ZoomInfo to identify the right people and get their actual contact information. An integrated stack that lets you execute across email, phone, and social simultaneously. Most importantly, you need to pick up the phone. Real conversations with real people will always beat automated LinkedIn messages. Always. The Real Investment Required Peter's dad hates sales. He wants to build a great product and have customers magically appear. The company is running its entire sales operation on an Excel spreadsheet. That's not going to cut it. If you want to win enterprise deals, you need to invest in the tools, training, and processes that make it possible. You're looking at $50,000 per year minimum for the tech stack alone. Plus conferences, trade shows, and face-to-face relationship building. That sounds expensive until you land your first six-figure deal. Then it looks like the smartest investment you ever made. Your Action Plan If you're in Peter's shoes, here's what you do right now: Stop going straight to the top. Identify the amplifiers at the bottom of your target organizations and start having conversations with them. Learn the language. Gather insights. Build your business acumen fast. Find adjacent markets. If decision-makers are too hard to reach, find the brokers, consultants, or advisors who already have relationships with them. Invest in real tools. Get off the Excel spreadsheet. Build a proper sales tech stack with a CRM, contact database, and marketing automation. Use AI to accelerate everything. Get face-to-face. Attend conferences. Work trade shows. Build relationships in person where trust forms faster than it ever will over LinkedIn. Enterprise sales doesn't require working harder. It requires working smarter with the right strategy, the right tools, and the relentless discipline to execute even when the path forward isn't clear. That's how you break through the wall. That's how you win deals you have no business winning. And that's how you turn yourself from a struggling startup intern into an enterprise sales machine. Ready to master LinkedIn and build a prospecting system that actually works? Grab a copy of The LinkedIn Edge for the complete handbook on leveraging LinkedIn, AI, and modern sales tools to win more deals.

In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Andy Gwynn, founder of Three Degrees Social, based in Málaga, Spain. Andy shares his inspiring journey from being a business coach to becoming a LinkedIn marketing expert, helping small business owners generate consistent leads and engagement through powerful digital strategies. He discusses how consistency, mindset, and leveraging technology have been key to his success, along with valuable lessons learned from franchising, scaling, and adapting to change. Andy's story is a great example of resilience, innovation, and the power of building meaningful connections online. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Andy Gwynn, the hardest thing in growing a small business is mastering sales and marketing. Many business owners struggle to effectively promote and sell their products or services, even when they offer great value. Andy believes that consistent marketing, clear systems, and the ability to adapt quickly are essential for sustainable growth. He also emphasizes that as a business scales, systemizing operations becomes one of the biggest challenges, requiring strong processes to support rapid expansion and maintain quality.  What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? According to Andy Gwynn, the business book that has helped him the most is “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael Gerber. He explains that it taught him the importance of systemizing a business so it can run efficiently without relying solely on the owner. Andy also recommends “The Business Coach” by Brad Sugars, which aligns with his coaching background, and “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, for shifting the mindset from simply working in a business to building one that creates long-term wealth and investment opportunities. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to Andy Gwynn, some of the best online learning resources for growing a small business include ChatGPT, YouTube, and the teachings of Russell Brunson, especially for improving webinars and sales strategies. He also values using platforms like LinkedIn for continuous learning and networking with experts in different industries. While Andy doesn't host his own dedicated podcast, he frequently shares insights through interviews and training content under his company, Three Degrees Social, helping business owners master LinkedIn marketing and digital growth strategies. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? According to Andy Gwynn, one of the best tools to help grow a small business is LinkedIn, especially when used strategically for sales and relationship building. He recommends using advanced LinkedIn features like Sales Navigator to identify ideal clients, automate outreach, and maintain consistent engagement. Andy also highlights the value of tools such as ChatGPT, Xero for bookkeeping, Dashlane for password management, and GoHighLevel for CRM and marketing automation. Together, these tools help small business owners save time, stay organized, and build meaningful connections that drive sustainable growth. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to Andy Gwynn, the advice he would give himself on day one of starting out in business is to follow the system and get out of his own way. He admits that in the early days, he often let overconfidence and complacency lead to missed sales opportunities or inconsistent results. Andy emphasizes the importance of learning proven systems, sticking to them, and maintaining focus instead of constantly trying to reinvent the process. His key message is that success comes from discipline, structure, and trusting the process rather than relying solely on natural talent or intuition. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Massive action times the right stuff times consistency equals results — Andy Gwynn Be militant with your time because discipline creates success — Andy Gwynn If you're totally honest with yourself and truly happy, that's real success — Andy Gwynn      

Most advisors try a bunch of random LinkedIn marketing strategies, then get discouraged and quit when they get subpar results.  The problem? You're vastly overcomplicating LinkedIn. In fact, I can sum up the single most effective LinkedIn strategy in only 5 words. That's it. If your plan isn't that simple, you're wasting a bunch of your time for nada.  Here's the good news:  By simplifying your strategy with the one I recommend in today's show, you'll not only free up your time, but your results will “hockey stick” too.  Listen now if you want real results from LinkedIn.  Show highlights include: How to make LinkedIn one of your most successful marketing strategies you've ever run (6:30)  Why overcomplicating your LinkedIn marketing strategy is the #1 reason it'll fail (and the 5-word strategy that gets you almost more clients than you can handle) (7:35)  The “newsfeed” trick that's so obvious it's overlooked - and how it guarantees your DMs get seen (8:30)  Why having SalesNavigator send you LinkedIn prospects is a quick way to blow through your dough without landing a single appointment (9:22)  The weird way to “hire” LinkedIn as your personal (and free) marketing intern by getting a fewer number of responses (11:00)  Why treating LinkedIn like a numbers game is the single biggest mistake you can make on the platform (13:42) The “Digital Begging” mistake upwards of 90% of advisors using LinkedIn as a marketing strategy commit (19:06)  Since you listen to this podcast, I want to give you a gift: If you subscribe to the Inner Circle Newsletter, I'll send you a collection of seven “objection busting” and copyright free emails, personally written by me, that you can use right away to begin getting more clients. Sign up here: https://TheAdvisorCoach.com/Coaching. Then, let me know you subscribed, and I will reply back with a link where you can download them for free.

Cold Calling beginnt weit vor dem ersten Kontakt. Gero Decker zeigt, wie gezieltes Targeting, echtes Research und persönliches Messaging Kaltakquise vom reinen Zahlen-Spiel zur klugen Begegnung machen. Wer den Buying Cycle versteht und erkennt, ob Angst, Neugier oder echter Bedarf den Handlungsimpuls prägen, schafft Verbindungen, die über Standardprozesse hinausgehen. Eine Episode für alle, die Kaltakquise nicht als Routine, sondern als echtes Handwerk erleben. Du erfährst... …wie du erfolgreich Cold Calling vorbereitest und die richtigen Kontakte findest. …welche Strategien Gero Decker für effektives Targeting und Messaging nutzt. …wie du durch Multi-Touch-Kampagnen und kreative Ansprache deine Sales-Quote steigerst. __________________________ ||||| PERSONEN |||||

In this FDE+ episode, Kortney Harmon is joined by Benjamin Mena, Managing Partner at Select Source Solutions and host of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, to explore how AI is transforming the recruiting industry.They discuss how top performers are using AI to automate sourcing, streamline outreach, and clean up CRMs — while doubling down on the human skills that build trust, strengthen relationships, and drive revenue. Benjamin also shares real-world examples of how combining technology with a personal touch is helping recruiters stay competitive and deliver stronger results.Tune in to learn how to leverage AI without losing what makes recruiters indispensable — and position yourself to thrive in 2025 and beyond.__________________________Follow Benjamin Mean on LinkedIn at: LinkedIn | Benjamin MenaLink to the Tool List mentioned at: hereFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crelate/Want to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience

Discovery Calls, LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, and the Future of Sales w/ Brad Pearse. By focusing on curiosity and problem-solving, salespeople can streamline their approach and improve effectiveness. Listen as guest Brad, and Mark, break down the complex world of sales into three essential components: identifying the client's problem, understanding your audience, and determining how you can help them achieve their goals.  They emphasize the importance of asking "why" during discovery calls to gain a deeper understanding of your clients' needs and position yourself as a problem-solver rather than just a seller. Transform your LinkedIn profile from a static resume into a dynamic personal brand that resonates with informed buyers. Brad explores the potential of LinkedIn Sales Navigator and how strategic use of this tool can enhance your sales approach by providing vital buying signals and triggers.   

Welcome to this special reproduced episode of The Positive Polarity Podcast! We're taking you back to where it all began — our very first episode, featuring LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth. In this conversation with Dave Molenda, Wayne shares how LinkedIn can be a powerful tool to grow your organization, boost profitability, attract ideal prospects, and connect with key decision-makers. Whether you missed it the first time or are revisiting it with fresh ears, this episode is packed with insights that are just as relevant today as they were when we first released it.

LinkedIn expert Brynne Tillman joins us to talk strategies for transforming LinkedIn into a powerful sales tool. Mark and Brynne dive into the cutting-edge advancements in AI and the capabilities of Sales Navigator, all while discussing LinkedIn's ethical stance on AI integration, which equips sales professionals with critical data for pre-call planning.  The conversation also tackles LinkedIn's controversial crackdown on bots and automation to ensure a superior user experience. Brynne outlines seven essential searches that tap into the potential of Sales Navigator, revealing how targeted prospecting can drive meaningful connections. The importance of detecting buyer intent on LinkedIn, specifically through job changes, is highlighted, offering a glimpse into more sophisticated signals.  

Ready to land bigger, better deals with ease? You're probably overlooking the most powerful sales tool hiding in plain sight: LinkedIn Sales Navigator. In this episode of The Influence Economy Podcast, I sit down with digital sales strategist and LinkedIn expert Tamika Brunetti to pull back the curtain on how to use Sales Navigator to book high-level clients, access decision-makers, and position yourself for six and seven-figure deals. Tamika—founder of Ascent Social Capital and a certified LinkedIn Sales Navigator community expert—breaks down exactly how to make LinkedIn work for you, not just sit pretty on your to-do list. She's trained thousands of professionals across Fortune 500 companies, and today she's spilling insider tips you won't get from a YouTube tutorial. This is not your average “optimize your LinkedIn profile” talk. We're talking real strategy to attract serious income. Here's the truth: you don't need more followers—you need better filters, smarter targeting, and a system that builds relationships with power players on autopilot. Let's fix that. What You'll Learn: The key difference between regular LinkedIn and Sales Navigator (and why it matters for high-ticket deals) How to use Sales Navigator to find decision-makers, bypass gatekeepers, and multithread your outreach The #1 mistake most users make that's keeping them broke Tamika's favorite under-the-radar Sales Navigator feature that tracks buyer intent (and how to use it for bigger conversions) How to use job postings as your strategy shortcut to land fractional roles and consulting contracts How to manage your time on the platform for maximum results in just 30 minutes a day Mentioned Resources: Connect with Tamika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamikabrunetti/ Want to go deeper? Book a session or find training info via her LinkedIn profile. Your Next Steps: Access the Deal-Attracting Makeover to upgrade your messaging, authority signals, and brand presence so it speaks to the decision-makers who cut the checks. https://dealreadyplatform.com Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/shaynarattlerdavis Follow us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/shaynarattlerdavis

show notes

From the archive - This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. Julbert Abraham is widely known as “The LinkedIn Guy”. He is the author of the book “7 Steps to 7 Figures Using LinkedIn”. His firm has worked with over 600 plus companies in 4 continents. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. LinkedIn information is verified so that the platform can help people. 2. LinkedIn Sales Navigator is worth the investment because of the type of information you are getting from your potential clients. 3. Before you do anything, develop a plan first because it will simplify the whole process. Connect with Julbert on LinkedIn - Julbert's LinkedIn Sponsors HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. OddsJam - Ready to launch your own sports betting platform? OddsJam's real-time API is trusted by companies big and small. Visit OddsJam.com/odds-api to learn more and talk with their team today. Mention promo FIRENATION to receive an exclusive discount. Franocity - Franocity has helped hundreds of people leave unfulfilling jobs, invest in recession-resilient businesses, and create legacy income for their families through franchising. Get started today by downloading Franocity's Franchise Funding Guide at Franocity.com.

In this episode of Making Sales Social, Brynne Tillman welcomes Kevin Schmitz, a decade-long veteran of LinkedIn's Sales Navigator team, to share insights on how the platform has evolved from a tech-focused prospecting tool to a powerhouse for B2B engagement across industries. Discover what “making sales social” truly means, why mapping social proximity is a game-changer for outreach, and how human connection online drives measurable business growth.

This week, Leighann Lovely from Love Your Sales joins us to dive into what it takes to build a successful sales strategy. She and Dave explore actionable insights for sales professionals at every stage of their career—from rookies to seasoned pros. Together, they break down key topics like time management, effective scheduling, smart prospecting, and how to consistently deliver value to your prospects.

Think LinkedIn is just for job hunting? Think again. In this episode, Carly flips the script and interviews Joe about one of the most underrated lead gen tools for solopreneurs: LinkedIn Sales Navigator. They pull back the curtain on exactly how they use it to fill their events, build real relationships, and grow their network—without ever sounding salesy. If you've been hesitant about spending money on a tool like this, Joe's breakdown might just change your mind.Being a solopreneur is awesome but it's not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr Intro gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out LifeStarr Intro!Access Lifestarr Intro

In the ever-evolving landscape of professional networking, mastering LinkedIn has become essential for career growth and business success. This episode of Business Chop features Al Kushner, an award-winning author and thought leader in AI-driven strategies, who shares invaluable insights on leveraging LinkedIn.Al Kushner introduces his groundbreaking book, "The AI LinkedIn Advantage," which combines the power of artificial intelligence with LinkedIn strategies. He emphasizes:Creating standout profiles that capture attentionDeveloping thought leadership through strategic content creationAvoiding common pitfalls that hinder networking successFollowing influencers before connectingEngaging thoughtfully with others' contentUtilizing AI tools to craft compelling messages and posts"LinkedIn is more about giving than receiving. You want to provide value to whoever you're connecting with."Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming networking:Generating ideas for newsletters and postsEnhancing profile visibility with strategic keyword placementCreating personalized outreach strategiesAl shares lesser-known features that can set you apart:Sales Navigator for targeted outreachbackground image slides to showcase expertiseJoining and actively participating in relevant groupsReady to revolutionize your LinkedIn approach? Visit LinkedVantage.com to access Al Kushner's free e-book and start optimizing your profile today.Whether you're new to LinkedIn or looking to elevateSend us a messageGet Quality Podcast Guests NowKeep your podcast schedule filled with quality guests from PodMatch.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEDesignrr for eBooks, BlogsCreate eBooks, Blogs, Lead Magnets and more! Riverside.fm Your Own Virtual StudioProfessional Virtual StudioAltogether Domains, Hosting and MoreBringing your business online - domain names, web design, branded email, security, hosting and more.Digital Business CardsLet's speed up your follow up. Get a digital business card.Small Business Legal ServicesYour Small Business Legal Plan can help with any business legal matter.Mens and Womens HatsSince 1972, American Hat Makers has been dedicated to the art of fine hat making.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showWant to be a guest on Business Chop? Send Audrey Wiggins a message on PodMatch, here: podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/audreywiggins Please Rate & ReviewTo work with Audrey schedule a breakthrough/discovery session.

What if your next major donor or corporate partner is already in your LinkedIn inbox, and all you need is the right message to start the conversation? Carson Heady is someone who's truly mastered the art of showing up online with purpose. He's a five times best selling author, podcast host, and one of the most insightful voices on social leadership. As the Managing Director at Microsoft Tech for Social Impact, Carson is here to share how nonprofit professionals can borrow proven strategies from the sales world to build genuine relationships, increase visibility, and spark fundraising opportunities - ALL through LinkedIn.Thoughtful DMs are outperforming long emails! You'll learn how to send better connection requests, strategies for leveraging Sales Navigator for donor prospecting, and how to use the platform as a relationship engine rather than just a digital resume.You'll also hear how Carson personally raised $80,000 for a nonprofit through a targeted LinkedIn campaign and why he believes nonprofit leaders should embrace the title of "social fundraiser."Resources & LinksConnect with Carson on LinkedIn and check out his podcast, Mastering Modern Selling. He also published a great article on LinkedIn, How I Became the #1 Social Seller in Tech - and How You Can Too.Carson recommends Opus as his favorite AI video clipping tool. This show is presented by LinkedIn for Nonprofits. We're so grateful for their partnership. Explore their incredible suite of resources and discounts for nonprofit teams here, including up to 50% off LinkedIn hiring tools. Are you still dreaming about building your monthly giving program or refreshing your current one? Applications are now open for my “done with you” Monthly Giving Mastermind. Limited spots are left and we start in July. Click here to apply. My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Let's Connect! Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show! Head to YouTube for digital marketing how-to videos and podcast teasers Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

In this episode of Making Sales Social, host Stan Robinson Jr. takes the reins to explore five powerful Sales Navigator features that can supercharge your B2B outreach. From targeted search filters and intent signals to customizable alerts and curated lists, discover how this premium LinkedIn tool helps sales pros stay laser-focused, uncover new opportunities, and start better conversations. Whether you're a Sales Nav novice or a seasoned user, this episode delivers actionable insights you won't want to miss.

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Colin Hirdman, the antidote to automated mediocrity. As a lifelong entrepreneur and co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, he has spent two decades scaling SaaS tools, digital agencies, and now Rainmaker – a ‘white-glove’ service that ethically automates LinkedIn outreach to turn connections into revenue. Colin discusses Rainmaker’s ‘Authentic Engine’ framework: 10-30% connection rates, campaigns tailored to micro-audiences, and why human-driven strategies still dominate AI in B2B growth. As well as why he targets 25 people/day — and how even solo founders can replicate this, the ‘criminal justice grad’ who turned entrepreneur, accidently and sold his first startup days after college, and LinkedIn’s automation guardrails: What’s ‘ethical’ vs. what gets you banned. KEY TAKEAWAYS I’ve done a lot of growth hacking through email and LinkedIn, but I got better results through LinkedIn and ended up building out a software and process for myself. Rainmaker was born through me making it available to other businesses. But, you don’t need me or rainmaker to do any of the things we discuss on this podcast, you can do it manually. You have to be authentic on LinkedIn, both as yourself as well as the brands you represent. You should also have an educational mindset – no one wants to be sold to on LinkedIn, but almost everyone is willing to be educated – and an experimentation mindset, trying different features and functions of LinkedIn, stack the things that work and set aside the things that don’t. Understand the pains an barriers that you prospects are trying to overcome and know what it is that you can teach them. Growth hacks: LinkedIn Events – if you have a direct competitor, industry or organisation putting on a LinkedIn Event that your business solves for, if you attend that event you can see everyone else who attended that event and create a prospects list. Use people who are big in your area as proxies – use people’s open connections to see all first connections to her, second connections to you and is in your area, and begin connecting to them Building out your first connections is critical. I reach out to 15 people per day Monday-Friday during normal working hours. That gives you 500 people per month, which is below LinkedIn’s limits. Typically, you’ll get a 20% connection rate. Within 30 days of sending an invite, and they haven’t connected, withdraw the invite. It’s good hygiene, but after 3 weeks you can reach out to them again. Everything you do after that only gets better and has bigger possibilities as your audience grows. BEST MOMENTS ‘There’s lots of opportunity to engage with you prospects on LinkedIn in ways that are valuable for relationship building and set you up as a thought leader.’‘People undervalue the value of being a first connection, when you’re a first connection you can see all kids of information about them, direct message them, and use other features and functions to engage with them.’‘I typically build my audience through Sales Navigator – a tool within LinkedIn that allows you to hone in on audiences..’‘If you’re using automation that is in any way inauthentic it won’t work, you wouldn’t immediately set up a meeting with someone you just met, I wish people would stop, it’s lazy.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Colin Hirdman is a lifelong entrepreneur, startup advocate, and visionary behind Rainmaker, a platform revolutionizing LinkedIn’s growth strategies through its "Authentic Engine." As co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, a venture studio launched in 2007 with childhood friends, Colin has spent nearly two decades fostering tech innovation and scaling ventures like SaaS tools, digital marketing agencies, and software development firms. His passion lies in unlocking the power of authentic relationship-building—evidenced by Rainmaker’s mission to help founders, coaches, and sales teams expand their networks, generate leads, and close deals ethically on LinkedIn. A Minnesota native, Colin’s journey began with selling his first startup (launched just days after college) and evolved into mentoring entrepreneurs through actionable strategies like LinkedIn automation, audience targeting via Sales Navigator, and educational outreach. His philosophy blends authenticity, experimentation, and a focus on solving audience pain points—principles he shares as a board member of MNblockchain and a sought-after voice in B2B growth. When not advising startups or hosting LinkedIn livestreams, Colin champions the entrepreneurial spirit, proving that even a criminal justice graduate-turned-accidental-founder can redefine 21st-century scaling. Catch his insights on turning connections into revenue—no bots or spam required. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for your business–but only if you use it properly. Today's guest will show you how to make the most of this platform with authentic, non-spammy connection strategies.  Colin Hirdman started his first business a week after graduating from college with no background in business or marketing. He's the co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, along with two of his childhood best friends. Over the last 18 years, they've built over a dozen software and service businesses. Their newest venture, Rainmaker, helps people in sales roles build their network, leads, and sales through LinkedIn. The LinkedIn Philosophy There are three components for success on LinkedIn. The first piece is philosophy. You need to be authentic and genuine. Speak to people with a conversational tone. The second aspect is approaching it with an educational mindset, because no one wants to be sold on LinkedIn. Jumping right into sales tactics doesn't work. Focus on building relationships, not pitching meetings. Lastly, try to understand the pain points your prospects are experiencing. What do they want to be educated on, and what can you teach?  Grow Your Audience The easiest way to build an audience on LinkedIn is to identify your ideal client profile and use Sales Navigator to find people who meet that criteria. Another option is to attend LinkedIn events in your industry. Start building a prospect list of people who are participating in those events. You can also use influencers as a proxy: if there's someone in your niche with a large following, reach out to them for a connection. If their connections are open, you'll be able to see them in Sales Navigator. The final step is to create proactive connection campaigns. In Colin's business, they connect with 25 people a day, Monday through Friday, which works out to 500 connections per month. Out of those, around 20-25% will connect back. If a prospect doesn't connect within 30 days, they withdraw the invite and then re-invite those people at a later date.  Enjoy this episode with Colin Hirdman… Soundbytes 9:30-10:01 “We came up with the five F's, which are freedom, finances, friendship, family, and fun. And those are the five F's that the three of us live by. I would highly recommend, if you have someone as a business partner that you can just innately trust and rely on to go through the ups and downs of what it's like being in business…I highly encourage you to do that, because when you're doing it all yourself, it can be lonely at the top.” 13:27-13:46 “LinkedIn is incredibly powerful because it's the only business social network out there. It's growing like crazy. Everyone's trying to crack the nut of how you leverage LinkedIn, but you have to approach it still in wanting to build relationships, and having that educational mindset is absolutely paramount.”  Quotes “Nobody wants to be sold on LinkedIn.” “Everyone is trying to crack the nut of how you leverage LinkedIn, but you have to approach it still in wanting to build relationships.” “If you approach LinkedIn the right way, that's where you can have a lot of success.”  “The messages that you are sending should not be salesy in any way. It should be providing value. It should establish you as a thought leader.”  Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://www.rainmakergrows.com/ Connect with Colin Hirdman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinhirdman/ Connect with brandiD Download our free guide to learn 16 crucial website updates that attract more leads and convert visitors into clients: https://thebrandid.com/website-tweaks/ Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

Welcome to the Ed Parcaut Show! In this episode, Ed sits down with Colin Hirdman, a seasoned entrepreneur with a keen expertise in leveraging LinkedIn for business growth. They dive into Colin's unexpected journey into entrepreneurship that started at a birthday party, and his early days in the data processing business during the mid-90s. Colin shares his insights on transitioning from direct mail to digital marketing, selling his first business in 2006, and co-founding Monkey Island Ventures. Listen in as they explore the art of building authentic connections on LinkedIn, Colin's philosophy on audience building, and the detailed process of using LinkedIn Live Streams to engage with potential clients. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a business professional looking to sharpen your LinkedIn game, this episode is packed with valuable tips and strategies to help you succeed. Tune in now to learn how to create meaningful interactions and establish thought leadership on the platform.  **Contact Ed Parcaut:** -