Chief Helpfulness Officer at Xocial Gong LLC | LinkedIn Strategist | Community-Driven Brand Builder

What is a Personal Link(Ed)In Net(Work)ER?

Let’s break it down:
Link(Ed) = education, connection, access
Net(Work)ER = doing the work, increasing your net, becoming the responder who moves relationships forward

It’s a philosophy, a strategy, and the title of my upcoming book. (A free course is in the works, too. Stay tuned 📚👀.)

I started as a personal trainer with no marketing budget and no visibility. Before I even named my company Iron Dog Fitness, I had a tough realization: no one knew who I was. That sparked a journey of self-education and strategic experimentation.

I learned that Facebook creates awareness, LinkedIn builds trust, and newsletters keep you top of mind. I built my brand around these pillars, eventually growing from unknown to in-demand — and along the way, I helped others do the same.

As I volunteered with chambers of commerce and nonprofits, I used my newsletter and outreach to revive participation and drive real engagement. One councilmember even asked for my help on his mayoral campaign based on the transformation I sparked in his local chamber. That’s when I knew I wasn’t just promoting myself — I was building a repeatable system.

Today, I run Xocial Gong LLC, a LinkedIn-focused marketing agency for small business owners, startups, and freelancers — people like me, who wear too many hats and have too little time or budget.

Most of my clients don’t need to advertise on LinkedIn. They just need to optimize their profile, apply the right etiquette, and use proven outreach methods to get in the door with decision-makers.

That’s where we come in.

Xocial Gong is the “Link” and “Ed” educator that helps you get “In” with your ideal customers. We increase your “Net” profits by doing the “Work” for you on LinkedIn — using “ER” (Effective, Responsive) strategies to fill your calendar with quality leads who are already interested in what you offer.

Let’s connect if you’re ready to turn LinkedIn into your #1 relationship-building tool.
📲 Text me directly: 323-690-1659

Damien Orozco

Fun days at today's first networking breakfast mixer of the year, hosted by the DoubleTree by Hilton - Rosemead. 
The event was organized as a collaboration networking event by the Commerce Business Council, the Montebello Chamber of Commerce, and the Rosemead Chamber Of Commerce.
 
It's always great when chamber of commerce organizations come together to host a joint mixer, increasing networking opportunities for members of their chambers with members of other chambers. We are all in it together. Team work, makes the dream work! 🥳
#NetworkingEvents #MorningMingleNetworkingEvent #CommerceBusinessCouncil #RosemeadChamber #MontebelloChamber #DoubleTreebyHiltonRosemead

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Alignable event and account invite

Want my free "The 3-1-1 Client Formula: Book Your Calendar with Qualified B2B Leads in Just 5 Minutes a Day on LinkedIn"? Comment 👉🏾 5 a Day Workbook in the comments

LinkedIn 5 a Day Workbook Lead Magnet

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LinkedIn Xocial Mastery Invite

Want more helpful tips. If you're based in the USA or Canada, I'd like to invite you to join my LinkedIn Xocial Mastery Community👀🗣️😃 Comment 👉🏾 "COMMUNITY and I will reach out to you with instructions on how to join for FREE!

LinkedIn Xocial Mastery Community Invite

Stan Store Affiliate Lead Magnet Link

Here is how to get leads and clients on Instagram with automation and AI👉🏾 https://join.stan.store/XocialGong

30 Minute Discover CTA Invite

Need help with a marketing strategy tailored to your specific needs? Let's have a conversation. Book A Discover Call With Us Today!👉🏾 https://calendly.com/xocialgong/30-minute-discovery-call

iron-dog-fitness

commerce-business-council

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DoubleTree by Hilton

Commerce Business Council

Montebello Chamber of Commerce

Rosemead Chamber Of Commerce

Chief Helpfulness Officer at Xocial Gong. Your personal Link(Ed)In Net(Work)ER. We hook'm, book'm and all you do is close'm. Let's grow your business. Find out how! 👉🏾📞🗣️💬 +1 323.690.1659

I call it the "Peek-a-boo" stage 👀😂
Checking out someone's LinkedIn profile isn't just creeping. It's a strategy. 

Most people don't realize this: when you view a profile, LinkedIn notifies the profile owner.

That notification? It's your silent handshake. 🤝

So here's what I do.

I view a prospect's profile 24 hours before I send a message or a connection request. Not random. Not by accident. I'm planting a seed. 🌱

When that message lands, I'm no longer a stranger. I'm the face they just saw in their notifications.

It's like walking into a room where you already nodded at someone across the hall. Warmer. Easier. Less awkward.

But here's the real debate:

Do you go incognito in Private Mode, hiding in the shadows, or do you let your name and headline do the work in Public Mode? 🔍

Pick a lane. There are only two kinds of people on LinkedIn:

1. The ones who stay in the shadows and wonder why nobody responds.
2. The ones who show up, get noticed, and start real conversations. 💬

I know what works for me. 👍🏾

How about you? 👀

Do you stay private, or do you like people to know you were there? 🤔

Drop your answer in the comments.

Let's see who's really out here building relationships. 🧑💼

#LinkedInTips #LeadGeneration #StanSocialSprint #RelationshipBuilding #PersonalBranding

Happy Sunday, LinkedIn family! Here's today's hot LinkedIn tip: Your LinkedIn inbox isn't just for random hellos. It's also your digital treasure chest 🏴‍☠️🪙🧰 in your sales pipeline. 📝💼

If you treat it like casual conversation, you're leaving money on the table. Seriously. 💸

Every missed reply is a missed opportunity. I've seen founders let red-hot leads turn ice cold, just because they "forgot to reply." Ouch. ❄️

Let's keep it simple:

👉🏾 Mark important messages inside your LinkedIn inbox as unread so they don't slip away. 🔔
👉🏾 Use the "Star" ⭐ feature to tag high-potential leads, especially if it seems they're likely to convert into a hot sales lead that could result in a booked meeting. 😃
👉🏾 Block off 15 minutes a day (yes, every day) to clear out the inbox and follow up. ⏰

I get it, life gets busy. But 15 minutes can mean the difference between another closed deal and an opportunity lost to your competitor.

Your next sale could be sitting in that pile of unread messages. 📬

No fancy tools. No magic strategy. Just discipline.

How many unread messages are lurking in your inbox right now? Be honest, drop your number below. 👇

#SalesStrategy #StanSocialSprint #InboxManagement #FollowUpTips #LinkedInInboxTips

Consistency beats talent every single time. 🚀

I've watched average service providers quietly become industry giants, not because they're the best, but because they refuse to disappear. 💪

Every day, for years, they're showing up, sharing insights, building trust, growing their network. 🌱🤝

Meanwhile, the "brilliant" folks with flashy posts? Most go hard for a month, then vanish the second results don't go viral. 🎇👻

Here's a tough truth: the LinkedIn game isn't about raw talent or being a genius. It's about persistence. About being the one people remember, simply because you never leave. 🧠🔁

The algorithm is simple. If you play every day, it keeps letting you play. 🎲💼

So if you're waiting for inspiration or the perfect idea, stop. Show up, even on the boring days. Post when you think no one notices. Consistency is your secret weapon. 🗝️🔥

Forget being "the best." Be the last one standing. 🏁

How long have you kept at it? Are you in for the long run, or waiting for overnight results?

Tag someone who needs the reminder, let's keep each other accountable. 🫶

#LinkedInTips #PersonalBranding #StanSocialSprint #Consistency #LeadGeneration

Stop writing for "Everyone." You are attracting "No One." 🚫

Let me be blunt.
I repeat, "Write for everyone, attract no one." 🗣️

If your post could apply to any business, any person, any situation, it's doing nothing for you. Zero. Zilch. 🕳️

Most content out there sounds like background music in a dentist's office. Safe. Bland. Instantly forgettable. 😴

Want leads? Want engagement? You need to aim for being memorable, not universally liked. 💥

Here's the real secret: 

Good content repels most people. It should turn off at least 90% of your audience. It should have 10% of readers hooked, nodding, and thinking, "Finally, someone gets it." 🎯

That's who you're writing for.

Your ideal client. The one with the headache, you know how to cure. 💊

Trying to please everyone? 
That's like making a pizza with every topping. No one actually wants that. Most just want the one combo that hits the spot for them. (Hint: I love Buffalo Chicken Pizza) 🍕

So get specific. Talk about pain points your best customers complain about on Monday mornings. ☕️

Call out the problems only you can solve. Let the rest scroll past. If non-buyers unfollow, congratulate yourself. You just made room for the right people. 🎉

It's simple. Watered-down content gets ignored. Brave, honest, targeted content gets business. 💡

If you haven't already done so, starting today, pick one person.
Write the post they desperately need to read. 📝

If you don't know who that person is, figure it out. Your next lead is waiting on it. ⏳

Who are you writing for today?
Tag them. Call them in. 📲
If you never repel anyone, you're not attracting anyone either.
#contentmarketing #stansocialsprint #usergeneratedcontent #socialmediatips #LinkedInTipsforSmallBusinessOwners

Bet most of you didn't know this LinkedIn hack. 👀🤔💭😮

You can't send a video message to a prospect from your laptop 💻 or desktop 🖥️ unless you record it elsewhere and send it as a link. Not happening. 😡

Desktop browser? Forget it. The option isn't there. 😮

Here's the truth: the only way to record and send a LinkedIn video message is on your phone. 📱

Open the LinkedIn mobile app. Go to your DMs. Spot that little Camera 📷icon? That's your secret weapon to sending a video directly through LinkedIn's inbox without having to copy and paste a link. 🎥

Why does it matter? Video DMs crush every other outreach tactic. They work. They stand out. 🚀If you wonder why this is true, just ask me in the comments or send me an inbox message. 

But if you're chained to your desktop, you're missing out, plain and simple. 🚫

Next time you want to actually get a reply, grab your phone. 🔓

Try it and tell me what happens. Did you spot the Camera icon? Did you use it? 👀

I'll be here to hear your results. 👂

#LinkedInTips #LeadGeneration #StanSocialSprint #SocialSelling #VideoMarketing

Trying to pitch the CEO? That's like showing up to the Super Bowl with a kazoo. 🏈🎺

Nobody's listening.

Here's the real game: skip the corner office. Talk to the people who care if something actually works.

The ops folks. The sales reps. The quiet genius in accounting who never misses a bug. 🕵️‍♂️

Win them over, and you're golden. Suddenly, your name bounces around the office like a viral meme. 💬

By the time the CEO hears about you, it's already a done deal. ✅

Want to see the fast lane to trust? It's not a cold email to "Dear Decision Maker."

It's a DM to "Hey, saw you're always the first to fix broken CRM stuff, what drives you nuts about it?" 🚀

That's how legends are made. Not with a chart. Not with a pitch deck. Not with a LinkedIn message written by a committee.

So, stop chasing shiny titles and aim for the people making things tick. 🔧

Become a legend in the break room first. The boardroom will catch up.

You want to sell? Start where people are actually buying. 💡

Who gets it already? Tag them. Who needs this wake-up call? Tag them too.

Let's make some noise. Preferably not with a kazoo. 🎉

#leadgeneration #salesstrategy #stansocialsprint #relationshipbuilding #linkedin

This is probably one of my newest favorite posts I've seen on LinkedIn because it lays out the facts...🤣

Chairman – VaynerX, CEO – VaynerMedia, Creator – VeeFriends

Nobody talks about saving money. 

You don’t need Peacock when you’re signed up to 7 different streaming services already… 

People are f*cking leasing new sh*t with money they don’t have. People that are broke having closets and wardrobes..

Everyone’s like “inflation” and “we got f*cked by the Boomers” .. no accountability. Do you know what the Boomers think? They didn’t go out to eat every day .. they cooked at home. They didn’t have 7 purses.. They had 1 purse for 9 years. 

Materialism has eaten up society. 

Some people argue that life is short, so they’re going to spend their money how they want. On the record, that’s fine. You can do whatever the f*ck you want .. but then, don’t complain.

🚀 The "Trojan Horse" Growth Strategy (Or: How to steal followers legally)

Stop shouting into the void. The fastest way to grow your network isn't posting more content. It's commenting on the right content.

📉 The Problem:

Posting when you have zero followers is like throwing a party in an empty warehouse. You bought the snacks, you played the music, but nobody knows the address. It’s demoralizing, and frankly, a waste of time.

💡 The Strategy:

Instead of trying to build a crowd from scratch, go where the crowd already is. 

Here is your 4-step blueprint to drafting off the giants in your niche.

Step 1: Identify Your "Big 5" 🎯
Don't just pick celebrities like Elon Musk. Find 5 creators in your specific niche who are slightly ahead of you (10k–100k followers). These are the people whose audience you want.
Action: List 5 people who post daily about your topic.

Step 2: Ring the Bell 🔔
Timing is everything. You want to be one of the first comments, so you stay at the top of the thread.
Action: Go to their profiles and hit the Bell Icon (Turn on notifications).

Step 3: Drop "Value Bombs" (Not Fluff) 💣
This is where most people fail. Writing "Great post! 🔥" is a waste of digital ink. It makes you look like a bot.
To steal attention, your comment needs to be a mini-post in itself. 

Use one of these 3 Comment Frameworks:

👉🏾 The "Yes, And..."
Bad: "Totally agree."
Good: "Love this point about [Topic]. It reminds me of [Related Concept]. I actually tried this last week and found that [Specific Result]. Thanks for sharing!"

👉🏾 The "Summarizer"
Bad: "Nice list."
Good: "This is a masterclass in [Topic]. My biggest takeaway is point #3—people always forget about [Nuance]. Saving this for later."

👉🏾 The "Friendly Counterpoint"
Bad: "You're wrong."
Good: "Interesting perspective! I usually see people argue for [Option A], but you're making a strong case for [Option B]. Do you think this applies to beginners too?"

Step 4: The Profile Funnel 🧲
Here is the magic: When you leave a killer comment, the creator’s audience sees it. They think, "Who is this smart person?" and click your profile.

The Result: You turn their traffic into your followers. You are essentially "drafting" behind a race car to pick up speed.

🗣️ Here is your 'Call to Action' of the week (basically my challenge to you, if you dare!)

Let’s practice right now. Tag one creator in the comments who always drops knowledge bombs (and tell us why you follow them)!👇🏾
#StanSocialSprint #TrojanHorseGrowthStrategy #CommentFrameworks #ContentStrategy #SocialSelling #NetworkMarketing #LinkedInTips

Want more sales calls on your calendar? Stop begging strangers for their time. 📞🚫

Let's be honest. If you open with, "Can we get on a quick call?", you'll get ghosted more than you'd like to admit. 👻

Nobody owes you 15 minutes. And most people know that 15 minutes = a discovery call, or, in other words, a sales call. You need to prove you're worth it.

Here's how you flip the script: 
Try asking for permission to share real value. 💡

I call it the "Permission Asset" play. 
It sounds like this:

"Hi [Name], I put together a simple checklist on [Pain Point] that helps small business owners. Would it be helpful if I sent it over? No strings attached." ✅

That's it.

What happens next?

👉🏾 If they say yes, you just scored a warm lead, someone who wants what you have. 🔥
👉🏾 If they say no, you avoid awkward calls and wasted time. ⏳
👉🏾 Either way, you come across as helpful, not pushy.

When you offer value first, your DMs stop feeling like cold calls and start sounding like invitations. 🎉

Here's the real test: 
Can you name one resource you wish someone had sent you for free? 
Now, go create it for your own network. 🚀Boom 🧨That's fire 🔥 when it comes to providing value. 💰

What's the best free resource you've shared lately? Drop it in the comments, let's build a library of game-changers together. 👇🏾😃
#LinkedInTips #LeadGeneration #SmallBusinessGrowth #ValueBasedMarketing #SocialSelling #StanSocialSprint

You're invited to join us at the Alignable Alliance of Commerce's first 2026 IN-PERSON kick-off networking event of the year, hosted by The Compound by Dirt Dog Inc. Commerce and organized by Damien Orozco of Xocial Gong, LLC, Ambassador of Alignable.  

WHEN: Wednesday, October 8th, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM WHERE: Dirt Dog the Compound in Commerce, 2909 Supply Avenue, Commerce, CA 90040
COST: FREE for all Alignable and Non-Alignable members (MUST RSVP via provided link)

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

First, we will begin the meeting by discussing best practices for networking to maximize your experience and achieve your goals.

Secondly, if this is your first time attending one of these networking events, don't worry. As your host, I will help you get the most out of this event so that your time with us is well spent.

Thirdly, at each event, I will give you a free tip on how to grow your brand and your business using Alignable and other networking and marketing strategies you can implement immediately during and after the event. 

Help me make this an incredible experience by answering the questions below:

Question #1:
What is the biggest challenge you are facing right now that, if I gave you some advice, would help you grow your network and generate more sales?

Question #2:
What could I do to increase the likelihood that you will register and attend the event, and to ensure you don't want to miss it?

Question #3:
We all have different schedules, so I want to consider that and create events that accommodate the schedule challenges we face.

Question #4
Would it make sense for me to host one in the morning, another during lunch hour, and one in the evening? Each on separate weeks? For example, Week 1 at 7:00 am, Week 2 at 12:00 pm, and Week 3 at 7:00 pm? Thank you for answering these questions.

I want to be the best host possible, so as long as I understand how I can optimize these events for you, I can host events where everyone can participate. 

Damien Orozco, Ambassador
Alignable Alliance of Commerce,
Founder & Chief Helpfulness Officer, Xocial Gong LLC.

Help spread the word and invite others to join our group and attend our events. I promise you it will be fun, engaging, and insightful.
#InPersonNetworking #AlignableAllianceofCommerce #DirtDog #BusinessMixer #NetworkingLuncheon #StanSocialSprint #XocialGong

Dirt Dog Inc.

Xocial Gong, LLC

Alignable

Do people really hate their birthdays that much? 🤔💭😕
Today, the first person this year 'blocked' me on LinkedIn after sending them a happy birthday message.

Initially, she replied with a 'Thank You.'

Then I asked if she had any exciting plans for the new year of life she's been blessed with (not a sales pitch, by any means).

Surprisingly, I got a thumbs up 👍🏾, and then I was blocked.

A similar thing happened once last year with another person. I sent them a happy birthday message and was immediately 'blocked' without any response.

It's weird, but a true story. 😂 Do people really hate their birthdays that much that they block you for wishing them well?
Why do you think they reacted this way? 🤔💭
#BirthdayBoundaries #LinkedInEtiquette #BuildingConnections #StanSocialSprint #LinkedInTips

Your face might be costing you deals (or whatever that is in your profile photo section) 😬

Think your LinkedIn photo doesn't matter? Think again. 📸

In less than a second, people decide if they can trust you, just by looking at your profile picture 👀

Not your headline.
Not your experience.
Your face.

If your photo is dark, blurry, or looks like you snapped it on the way to the airport, you're losing deals before you even say hello. 🚫

Here's the truth:

👉🏾 You don't need a suit or fancy backdrop.
👉🏾 You do need daylight, a real smile, and eye contact 😁
👉🏾 The "approachable" vibe? It's what buyers want most 🤝

1000 words in your summary won't save a profile pic that whispers, "I don't want to be here." 🙈

Want to know where you stand?
Rate your current profile photo from 1 to 10. 🔟
No lying.

Even better: DM it to someone who doesn't know you and ask for brutal honesty. 💬

Ready to find out if your photo is helping or hurting?
Drop your score below or tag someone who needs the nudge. 👇

#LinkedInTips #PersonalBranding #LinkedInProfileOptimization #SmallBusiness #StanSocialSprint

Stop handing out business cards. Serious🤔💭😲
Throw away your business cards. 🗑️

You meet someone at an event. You trade cards. What happens next?  
They toss it in their bag, forget your name, and your big "connection" dies before it starts. ☠️

Try this instead: 👇🏾

👉🏾 Next time, pull out your phone. 📱  
👉🏾 Open the LinkedIn app.  
👉🏾 Click the search bar at the top.  
👉🏾 See that little QR code in the top right corner? Tap it. 🧑‍💻  
👉🏾 Show it to your new contact. 
👉🏾 Have them scan your QR code.
👉🏾 Boom. You're connected on the spot.😃

No lost cards. No awkward follow-up. No one is searching for your email three days later. ❌

You get:

👉🏾 Instant connection 🤝  
👉🏾 Their face next to their name (no more "who was that guy?") 🧠  
👉🏾 The ability to DM tomorrow, not next quarter ⏱️

Bet most people in the room have no idea this feature exists. 🤷‍♂️
Instant, immediate first impression gold. 👏🏾

Go ahead. Try it right now.  
Open your LinkedIn QR code and see if you can surprise someone today. 🎯

Did you even know this trick was hiding in your app? 🤔💭

HINT: If you have a Sales Navigator account, the app offers useful ways to remind yourself about your new connection and what they mean to you. Type 'community' as a comment if you're in the USA or Canada and want to learn more. 🙌🏾

#LinkedInTips #StanSocialSprint #LeadGeneration #NetworkingStrategy #OmniChannelMarketingStrategy

Your Brand. Their Living Room. Total Local Authority. 🏠📺🛋️👀🚀

There is nothing quite like the "Wow" factor of a customer seeing your business on their Roku or Apple TV. It builds instant trust before you even knock on their door.

If you’re a home service provider looking to dominate your local market, it’s time to move beyond the mailbox and onto the screen.

What is Streaming TV?

Streaming TV refers to the digital delivery of TV shows, movies, original series, live sports and events, breaking news, and other videos through ad-supported streaming platforms. Unlike traditional TV, streaming puts viewers in control by offering choice, flexibility, and the ability to watch what they want, when they want.

What are the key benefits of advertising on Streaming TV?

Targeted TV Commercials + Streaming Platforms = Targeted TV/Audience 🎯

✅ Targeted by Zip Code
✅ Shown on Premium Channels
✅ Built for Small Business Budgets

Advantages: TV audiences are twice as likely to make a purchase after seeing an ad

• CTV is the best way to reach households with children 
• CTV mirrors America’s diversity profile compared to traditional TV

Technology allows advertisers to target by location, demographics, interests, occupation, and even income bracket.

No Contracts. Minimal Spend Requirement.

Where do TV ads appear?

Reaches your target households through all major streaming platforms, devices, and television networks. Partners include Hulu, Roku, Paramount, Amazon, Apple, and DirecTV, with commercials appearing on major networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, Weather Channel, HGTV, Fox Sports, and CNN, among others.

Type "STREAM" in the comments if you would like to learn more.
NOTE: We only work with US-based businesses.
#streamingtv #Geofencing #advertising #MarketingForSmallBusiness #StanSocialSprint

I often see others saying text-only posts are dead.💀

Wrong. Text-Only posts are not dead. 😮

That's just more engagement bait gibberish. 🧲

If anything, they're the secret weapon most people ignore.💣

Look at your feed. Videos everywhere. 🎥 Fancy graphics screaming for attention (some images being embarrassing, outright low quality "AI slop") 🤦♂️

But you know what actually makes you pause? ⏸️

A raw, plain-text post. No distractions. Just words. 
Words that feel like someone slid it into your inbox, not your feed. ✉️

Here's why it works: 

👉🏾 It's human. 👤 Polished content looks nice, but the text feels real.
👉🏾 There's zero fluff. 🍃 Short lines. Lots of white space. Zero effort to consume.
👉🏾 It's honest.😃 You can't hide behind flashy edits or stock photos. 🫣

The best performing posts I've seen? 🏆 
A few sentences and a story that actually means something.

Try it. 👇

Share a simple thought or observation here on LinkedIn. ✍️

Forget the Canva templates and the ring lights for five minutes. 🚫🖼️💡 
Write what you want to say, hit post, and see what happens. 🎯

Chances are, more people will actually read it, because it doesn't look like an ad. 👓

So here's my challenge: 🎲

This week, drop the visuals. 
Go text-only. 
See who listens when the noise disappears. 🔇

If you're still stuck on the bench, tag a friend who always overthinks their post. 🤔👥

Let's see who dares to keep it simple. 🤝

#LinkedInTips #ContentStrategy #PersonalBranding #StanSocialSprint #LeadGeneration

🚀 Perplexity & Microsoft: Is This The Ultimate Power Move? 🤖☁️🤔💭

The AI search world just got a $750 million glow-up! Perplexity AI has officially inked a massive three-year cloud deal with Microsoft.

Here’s the tea ☕️:

👉🏾 The Bill: A cool $750M. Perplexity is heading to the Azure clouds!
👉🏾 The Hookup: This gives Perplexity elite access to run frontier models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI via Microsoft’s Foundry service.
👉🏾 The Drama: After some legal friction with Amazon over its shopping bot, Perplexity is diversifying its "friend group." While they’re still keeping AWS as a "preferred" cloud partner, they now have a major safety net in Azure.
👉🏾 The Goal: Faster searches, smarter shopping agents, and zero downtime.

Microsoft is proving Azure is the "place to be" for every major AI player, not just OpenAI. 🏗️🎮👾

Is this the start of an AI search revolution? What do you think?👇🏾
#PerplexityAI #Microsoft #CloudComputing #ArtificialIntelligence #TechNews #Azure #StanSocialSprint

reuters.com

Perplexity signs $750 million AI cloud deal with Microsoft, Bloomberg News reports

The Connection Request 👉🏾 Stop sending blank connection requests.
Blank connection requests are the fastest way to get ignored.

Seriously, when was the last time you accepted a connection request that said nothing but "I'd like to add you to my professional network"?

You don't start a conversation with a stranger by staring at them blankly, right? It might get you punched in the mouth. So why do it on LinkedIn?

Adding context is your secret advantage.

When you send a request, say something real.
Show them you noticed their work.
Give them a reason to hit "Accept."

Try this instead:
"Hi [Name], I just read your post about [Topic]. Your point on X really hit home. I'm also in [Industry] and would love to swap ideas."

or 

"Hi [Name], I just read your post about [Topic] and agreed with your point on X. I work in [Industry] too and would love to follow your work."

Flattery + Context = Acceptance.

That's it.
It's not rocket science.
It just takes 10 more seconds.

Every time I take the extra moment to personalize, my acceptance rate shoots up.

When I get a blank one?
Delete.

So, let's settle this. I am actually very curious:

Do you ever accept blank connection requests?
Drop a Yes or No below.
Every honest answer helps someone here on LinkedIn learn.

#OnlineNetworkingTips #ConnectionRequests #StanSocialSprint #LinkedInTips #InboxStrategies

Stop "Pitch Slapping" me. 🚫

You know the type. You accept a new connection and, before you can even blink, BAM... a sales pitch lands in your DMs. 💥

No hello. No context. Just a cold, hard sell tossed your way like a surprise pop quiz at 7am.

Let's be real, nobody likes a digital ambush. 😬

Imagine walking into a networking event and someone just hands you a business card, starts rattling off their product features, and never even asks your name.

That's what a cold pitch DM feels like. Zero connection. Zero trust.

Think of LinkedIn like a cocktail party, not a used car lot. 🍸

Here's a better way:

👉🏾 Start with a genuine hello 👋🏾 
👉🏾 Find common ground  
👉🏾 Ask questions (and actually listen to the answers)  
👉🏾 Build some trust before trying to sell 💡

You're not just chasing sales. You're building a reputation. 

The fastest way to get blocked? Pitch slapping someone right out of the gate. 🚫

Want to stand out? Be human first, seller second.

I've heard some wild stories about bizarre DMs. What's the worst sales pitch you've ever gotten in your inbox? Drop it in the comments and let's have a laugh (or cringe) together. 😂

#LinkedInEtiquette #HumanFirstSelling #LeadGenerationTips #StanSocialSprint #RelationshipMarketing

I'm hosting the Alignable of Commerce IN-PERSON Networking Event at Dirt Dog on January 21. 😃👇🏾
Just putting this out here again in case you didn't see it yesterday. 

You're invited to join us at the Alignable Alliance of Commerce's first 2026 IN-PERSON kick-off networking event of the year, hosted by The Compound by Dirt Dog Inc. Commerce and organized by Damien Orozco of Xocial Gong, LLC, Ambassador of Alignable. 

WHEN: Wednesday, October 8th, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM WHERE: Dirt Dog the Compound in Commerce, 2909 Supply Avenue, Commerce, CA 90040
COST: FREE for all Alignable and Non-Alignable members (MUST RSVP via provided link)

Mario A. Vitale, Charlene Dimas-Peinado and 13 other attendees

View event: Alignable of Commerce IN-PERSON Networking Event at Dirt Dog

Alignable of Commerce IN-PERSON Networking Event at Dirt Dog

Social Media Growth Strategist • Creative Director & Investigative Content Creator • Researcher of Digital Meta-Patterns & Macrotrends • Aspiring Interior Designer • AI & GPT Enthusiast • Accepting New Clients

I’m a creative director and social media growth strategist focused on how attention, behavior, and culture intersect online.

My work is rooted in pattern recognition, research, and strategy, not trend-chasing or template-driven content. With a background in executive support and project management, I bring structure, clarity, and follow-through to creative work.

I write The New Unhinged, a Substack where I explore digital behavior, platform shifts, and emerging cultural patterns.

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The Battle

Damien Orozco

Mariah Faith Continelli

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taplio

The Battle

Damien Orozco

Mariah Faith Continelli

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Damien Orozco's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreDamien Orozco's LinkedIn Performance