Darren Gibb

I teach coaches how to win more clients using Strategic Content that Converts | Ask about my CLOSE Framework

How many times have you tried to make LinkedIn ‘work’ for you? 🤦‍♂️

If it's not working, you're focusing on the wrong things. Here's why 👇

Because most LinkedIn advice focuses on fluffy nonsense
→ Hooks
→ Formatting
→ How to grow your account (whilst making no money).

(spoiler alert: I am unashamedly about helping you make $$$, not get likes).

It’s easy to look popular.
To fain popularity.
And to get people liking your content.

But what coaches truly suffer from is creating the right type of strategic content.

The type of content which attracts the right people
And repels the wrong.

The type of content which turns you into your prospects’ number 1 expert.

The type of content which strategically positions you as the ONLY solution to their problems.

And the type of content which - best of all - converts those followers of yours into happy, paying clients.

You’ve likely tried the free courses.
Paid some money to unlock the ‘secrets’ from the gurus…
Yet still don’t have a predictable amount of leads coming your way every month.

Or perhaps you feel that you’ve cracked LinkedIn and are ready for that next step:
Webinars, Masterclasses and Challenges (ask me about how I helped one of my clients, Andy, turn a $150 webinar into almost $50k 👀) 

LinkedIn and social selling isn’t difficult - and I make it easier with my CLOSE Framework:

→  𝗖ontent That Attracts & Repels
→  𝗟everage LinkedIn Intelligently
→  𝗢ptimized DM Strategy
→  𝗦trong Sales Strategies
→  𝗘nhance Expert Influence

It really is as simple as that.

And that’s what I’m known for (check out my testimonials for evidence).

If you want to CLOSE and make money.
Shoot over a DM saying 'CLOSE' to find out more.

But - I only work with hard-working coaches who are serious about 

→ improving their LinkedIn strategies
→ Serving more of their ideal clients
→ Know that everything takes work.

If this sounds like you, I look forward to chatting.

If not, I hope you still learn something from my content.

And if you’ve read down to here, drop a DM just to say hello. 

DM the word ‘STARBURSTER’ and I’ll send you over something I usually sell...

For free 🌟 

Also check out my website in my Featured Section to get some free gifts and also sign up to my newsletter.

Storytelling on LinkedIn Coach

Combining my knowledge and passion for storytelling with my knowledge for LinkedIn, I help coaches and solopreneurs use storytelling and proven strategies to improve their content and convert more followers into paying clients.

International Women's Day was yesterday.

Here's what pisses me off the most:

That we even need to have one.

That it's 2026 and women and men need to go to the streets to call for equality.

1. It will take 108 years to close the gender gap
2. Only 6 countries* give women equal legal work rights as men*
3. 22% of AI professionals are women - and it could be down to lack of confidence
4. Women are 47% more likely to suffer severe injuries in car crashes because safety features are designed for men
5. 33,000 girls become child brides every day.

In every area of life, women are misrepresented.
In the past, today, and going forward.

So, whilst it's nice to celebrate women, I instead feel genuine anger that we still have to have this conversation.

At least next year's IWD will be 107 years to close the gender gap 🤷‍♀️✊.

To all of our sisters, keep fighting the right fight.
We stand by you.

(Oh, and bye bye to my misogynistic followers - every 8th March is my most unfollowed day 😇)




* Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

I teach you how to book calls in 8 DM messages | It was never about your content | Let’s stop pretending you’re not using LinkedIn to grow your business 😉

Your LinkedIn Besties' are killing your biz

(And LinkedIn's engineers have admitted it) 👇
 
I've been telling clients this for five years...
 
And LinkedIn's engineers finally published in a research paper it last year. 

Almost nobody in our space read it. 
I did.
 
Every click, like, comment and post you engage with trains LinkedIn's AI on who you are.
 
It builds your "topic fingerprint."
 
And out of hundreds of millions of posts, the AI uses that fingerprint to decide which 2,000 you see.
 
Two. Thousand.
 
So all that "networking" you've been doing:
 
The engagement pods. 
The coffee chats with your Linky Besties. 
The daily commenting on other coaches' posts so they'll comment on yours...
 
You've trained the algorithm to think you ARE a coach who CONSUMES coaching content.
 
So it shows you - more coaching content. 
And shows YOUR content to - more coaches.
 
Not prospects...
 
Peers. 🤦‍♂️
 
You built your own echo chamber. 
And now you're wondering why nobody with a chequebook ever shows up.
 
I know this because I did it.
 
A few years back I fell into the same trap. 
I wanted more engagement. 
And the easiest place to get it?
 
My peers. 
Other coaches. 
Other creators.
 
Surely, I thought, their prospects are hanging around their content - so if I show up there, those prospects will find me too.
 
Nope.
They didn't.
Their comments sections full of other coaches.
 
My engagement looked great. 
My pipeline looked empty.
 
(Sound familiar?)
 
The moment I shifted..
 
It shifted.
 
In my posts. 
In my DMs. 
On my calendar.
 
I never went back to it.
 
And I see it happening even faster with clients now with this algo.
 
Different people showing up on their posts.
In their DMs. 
On their calendar.
 
Not bEsTiEs clapping along... 
Actual prospects - because the algorithm finally knows where the hell to put them.
 
The paper explains the mechanics. 
But the lesson is simpler than any research paper:
 
The algorithm doesn't reward engagement. 
It rewards the RIGHT engagement.
 
So here's the question that'll tell you everything:
 
When was the last time an actual prospect - not a peer, not a bEsTiE, not someone in your "support group" - left a comment on your post?
 
If you can't remember, that's not a content problem. 
That's an algorithm identity problem.
 
And it's fixable. 
Fast.

 
👀 P.S. I've broken down what this paper means for coaches and consultants - the 5 things the AI actually measures in the algo and how to use them. DM or comment "DIME ALGO!" and I'll send it over.

7.1bn people - world war 3: yep, we're about to start

linkedin - 7 ways to build a personal brand!

dunno whether to love or hate this platform sometimes 😅

scrolling through is literally just like any other monday.

bUt ThE wOrLd MiGhT eNd!!!!
- umm yeah, but check out my sweet carousel about the top 67 LinkedIn Creators to follow!


what a world we live in. 😅

If I've missed something huge about the algo...

Is there a chance you've missed a few of these?

And yes.. This is a post about the algo...
But no... It's not based in hearsay or bullshit.

LinkedIn never talk about their algo
(ex-LinkedIn Alicia Teltz often emphasises how little LinkedIn staff know about it).

So when their engineers released this a few months back, it mostly went unnoticed.

I've found myself going back to it and seeing I can still be doing more.

It's nerdy and technical..

So I've broken it down in plain English:

And each one will make you re-think your entire approach:

1️⃣ Your content fights through a filter of hundreds of millions of posts. 
 ↳ Most don't survive it.

2️⃣ The algorithm builds a "fingerprint" of you. 
 ↳ And it's probably wrong.

3️⃣ Only your positive actions train the AI. 
 ↳ What you scroll past doesn't exist.

4️⃣ Your engagement strategy is training the algorithm to hide you from buyers.
 ↳ Read that again.

5️⃣ Your headline isn't written for humans anymore. 
 ↳ The AI reads it first.

6️⃣ The people who benefit most from the algorithm will never comment on your post.
 ↳ And that's not the worst thing in the world.

7️⃣ The algorithm delivers your prospects. 
↳ But if you're not catching them, someone else is.

And I've put together something I've not seen anyone else do.
 
3 Claude prompts that do the hard work for you.
 
One audits your algorithmic fingerprint in 5 minutes. One rewrites your headline so the AI actually knows where to put you. One writes your DM opener when a prospect lands in your profile views.
 
They're inside a free playbook I put together off the back of this research.

You get the prompt.
How to execute it.
And then how to use it properly

(cos let's be honest, you don't need more random prompts.)

DM me Algo Claude and I'll send it over.
 
(Swipe the carousel. Then come back and tell me which one surprised you most.)



_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb

7 Reasons the Algo HATES you (and how to fix them now)

"Post consistently!" was always shit advice.
 
And this algorithm proves it 👇
 
The more I nerd out about this algo, the more I love it. 
(Seriously.)
 
Look, if "being consistent" led to booked calls and multi six figs, 
about 90% of the coaches and consultants posting 5x a week on here would be millionaires by now.
 
But they're not.
 
This worked 4 years ago. 
When the gurus used it to grow their accounts.
 
It's because you have 5 posts a week and 5, 6, 7 different pillars/topics...
 
That's what's costing you.
 
The algorithm can't classify you. 
It's not punishing you. 
It doesn't really 'hate' you...
 
It just really... Doesn't know who in the blue hell you are. 

Or what you do.
Or who you help.
Or how you help them.
 
You're making it guess - and it's guessing wrong.
 
And those gurus whose content you're leaving comments on. 
Spending time on. 
Liking others' comments on.
 
Yeah.
 
That's bolloxed it as well.
 
The algorithm thinks you're looking for people in your own niche... 
Which is why coaches see so many other coaches. 
And solopreneurs don't see those B2B clients.
 
It thinks you're a generalist. 
So it serves you generalist content.
 
So here's what to start doing now:
 
➡️ Lock in fewer topics. 
  ↳ 2-3 Pillars (I bet those other 2-3 are bullshit leadership fluff anyway).
 
➡️ Look at your last 10 posts. Seriously - do this. 
  ↳ Count distinct topics. More than 2-3? There's your answer.
 
➡️ The creators who are closing deals... 
  ↳ Are saying the same 2-3 things 15 different ways.
 
Oh, and posting 2-3 times a week seems to be the sweet spot. 

Yeah.
 
Stop posting more. 
Start saying fewer things better.
 

🗣️ Tell me in the comments (wrong answers only):
👉 If the algorithm had to describe what you do in one sentence based on your last month of content - what would it say?


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb

90% of your buyers...

Will never comment on a single post.
 
They lurk. 
They save. 
They screenshot your carousels at 11pm. 
They check your profile three times before they ever message you.
 
And they make a decision based on 5 things you've never thought about.
 
Not your follower count. 
Not your engagement rate. 
Not how "valuable" your content is.
 
Five specific signals that tell them whether you're the expert they hire - or the resource they bookmark and forget.
 
I didn't guess this. 
I watched it happen across 20,000+ DM conversations.
 
Same patterns. 
Same signals. 
Same decision-making process. 
Over and over.
 
Most experienced coaches are sending at least 3 of the wrong signals right now.
 
(and the engagement metrics won't tell you which ones)
 
Swipe through. 
I've laid out all 5.
 
Slide 7 shows you how to reverse-engineer your LinkedIn fingerprint - shows you what the algorithm actually thinks you are. Built from LinkedIn's own engineering research.
 
DM me HIRED and I'll send it over.

🗣️ Let me know in the comments
👉 Who do you think the algorithm thinks you are (wrong answers only)?



_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

5 things your buyers see that you dont

If your posts get comments but your DMs stay empty… 

I just built the thing that fixes that 👀

(and I want 5 people to test it before I release it).

It takes ppl from your Content to Deep in the DMs.

The problem is so much AI bullshit on here is generic.
Badly engineered crap.

This takes your last 10+ LinkedIn posts.
Audits them against the algorithm we know and love/hate.
And scores each one on whether it's actually creating any DM opportunities.

(Spoiler: the majority aren't).

But here's where it gets interesting.

For the people who commented on your posts?
It writes the DM to send them.

Not a pitch.
Not "loved your comment!"
A real, contextual conversation opener based on what they actually said.

Most AI tools tell you your content "suuuuucks."
Cheers for that.

This one shows you the gap - and builds the bridge across it.

I've been deep in this AI → Conversion world for almost 4 years.
I've reviewed over 15,000 DM conversations.
I know what works.

And more importantly, what doesn't.

I've been using a version of this with my clients - it works.
It REALLY works.

But I want to stress-test it with people I haven't coached.
People who don't already know my frameworks.
To see if it holds up cold.

Here's the deal:
→ 5 people.
→ You need to have posted at least 10 times in the last 2 months.
→ You need to actually use it and tell me what happened.

That's it.

DM me the word ALPHABETAMETA.

First 5 get it today.
Everyone else waits. 💅


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb

Your sales calls aren't failing at the close. 

They're failing in the first five minutes.

And I know why you hear "I need to think about it"...

More than anything else on sales calls.
 
I know because I've listened to the recordings.
 
Hundreds of them. 

Across 150+ clients. 

Coaches, consultants, GTM professionals. 

All experienced. 
All credible. 
All losing deals they should be winning.
 
And the pattern is brutal in its consistency.
 
Five mistakes. 
The same five.
Every time. 

And not one of them is what the sales gurus tell you.
 
It's not "handle objections better." 
It's not "use this magic closing script." 
It's not confidence or energy or any of that motivational bollocks.
 
It's structural. 

The way the call is built means the prospect was always going to say "let me think about it." 

You just didn't see it happening in real time.
 
(Ryan didn't either. He was closing 1 in 5. Changed one thing - not a script, a frame - and hit 4 in 5 within weeks... Then 95%)
 
I mapped out all five in this carousel. 
Each one with the psychology underneath and the shift that fixes it.
 
Swipe through. 
Be brutally honest with yourself.
 
Then - if you want the real diagnostic - I built a GPT that reads your actual sales call transcripts and pinpoints exactly where the deal died.

Trained on the various sales experts I've studied and learned from over the years, they will pick apart your call and show you exactly where you went wrong.

Not theory. 
Your calls. 
Your patterns. 
Your blind spots.
Your future won calls.
 
DM or Comment "I DON'T NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT!" and I'll send it straight over.

🗣️ Let me know in the comments below. 
👉 Looking back what's the most cringe mistake you've made in a sales call? 

_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

5 Reasons your Sales Calls End with I NEED TO THINK ABOUT 

"If I had to start" [writing hooks again] "tomorrow..."

I'd never use this fkn structure (iykyk)🤦‍♂️.

Same with :

2020 - sad and depressed
2026 - bit happier, still depressed.

or

2025: unemployed and sad.
2026: multi-7-fig founder (and still a bit sad).

please.
(steal this hook 🤦‍♂️)...

someone tell me when the adults have come back to linkedin.

you see, the people actually booking calls from LinkedIn aren't using the same tired hook templates.
 
they're using the reader's own words back at them.
(but that's a conversation for another day)



#MonYayMotivation  
#sadnotsad 
#whydopeoplestillusehashtagslikeits2014onlinkedinfml 



PS does this 'resonate'?
PPS does this 'hit hard'?
PPPS 'is this such a 'vibe'? 😎

I feel bullied and triggered.

Are you responsible?

"Comment X for Y" posts...
 
Everyone seems to hate them all of a sudden
(Well.. apart from my bank account 🤷‍♂️)
 
Those who don't like them complain "value" isn't given. 
Bullshit.
 
It is if it's done correctly. 
If the lead magnet is great. (as it always should be)
 
🧨 Actually... DM/comment SHOW ME HOW and I'll send you over my Playbook I use with my clients on how to do this - most pull in at least 3 leads per post doing this. 💥
 
And if it leads to a client - as it often does with the right strategy... 
Then it's a WIN-WIN.
 
You've solved their problem.
 
And if a person has volunteered themselves forward... then who cares?! 
(nobody's forcing anybody to comment)
 
Seriously.
 
It has gotten me so many clients over the years.
 
Why?
 
Cos most prospects NEVER like or comment on content.
 
Fact.
 
85%+ are lurkers
(Ask yourself how many of your clients came from people who ALWAYS commented and liked your content. Exactly.)
 
So 'Comment X for Y' encourages people to reach out - who normally wouldn't.
 
It surfaces a gap in their knowledge. 
And creates an itch to be scratched.
 
So, those who have such a problem: 
Stop crying and get back to work.
 
Leave those of us who know what we're doing... do it.
 

🗣️ Let me know in the comments (bring on the debate!). 
👉 What are your thoughts and experiences about these posts?
 

PS.. Not joking! 🧨 DM/comment SHOW ME HOW and I'll send you over my Playbook I use with my clients on how to do this - most pull in at least 3 leads per post doing this. 💥
 


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

You've found that ideal prospect. Then...

Silence. Ignored. Gone. Here's why 👇 

They were interested. 
Then silence.
 
You scroll back through the thread. 
Re-read every message. 
Wonder what you said wrong.

(DM me "I SEE GHOSTS!" and I'll give you the immediate fix).
 
Then you do the thing that kills the deal:
 
"Hey, just checking in!"
 
(we've all done it)
 
Here's what 15,000+ DM conversations taught me about ghosts:
 
They didn't lose interest. 
You lost the frame.
 
Somewhere in that thread - usually two or three messages before the silence - something shifted. 

You went from expert diagnosing their problem to vendor hoping for a sale.
 
And they felt it.
Immediately.
 
The silence isn't rejection. 
It's a response to positioning.
 
The fix isn't a better follow-up message. 
(Despite what broke gurus might claim).

It's a completely different re-entry. 
No references to the silence. 
No questions. 
No pressure.
 
You reappear with something genuinely useful. 
Something that made you think of their situation. 

Not a nudge - a reason.
 
When the frame resets, they come back. 
And this time, they're the ones asking for the call.
 
I built a free GPT that diagnoses exactly where your DM threads break.

Cos giving you a clever line was never really the solution.

Paste the conversation in. 
Get the diagnosis in seconds.

Check out the carousel for the full Ghost Recovery sequence. 👀👻
 
P.S. DM me I SEE GHOSTS and I'll send you the GPT link.

DMs - Ghost Protocol

If your DM conversations keep dying...

It's not what you said - It's when.

Most coaches think their DMs are fine...
Then they show me.

And it's almost always the same:
5 specific moments where trust breaks.

Not big dramatic mistakes.
Tiny, polite, professional moves that feel right and cost you everything.
(and that's exactly why nobody catches them)

Pitching before they've owned the problem.
Giving a brilliant answer when they ask a question.
Ending messages with "no pressure" and "totally understand."

Each one feels professional.
But each one is building a door for your prospect to leave through.

The real issue isn't five separate mistakes.

It's one missing skill: knowing who controls the frame.

Experts get hired. 
Resources get bookmarked.
And forgotten about moments later.

Your DMs are deciding which one you are.

The deal didn't die when they ghosted.
It died three messages earlier. 
You just didn't see it.

🗣️ Let me know in the comments
👉 If you scrolled your last five dead DM threads right now - what pattern would you see? (Wrong answers only)

P.S. - DM me DM Killer and I'll send you the GPT that diagnoses - and fixes - exactly where your conversations are dying. Paste your thread in. It maps the break point in 20 seconds.

5 DMs Which Are KILLING Your Conversations

You lost the call before you even opened Zoom.

(And yes. This one was ALL on you 👇)

I see this constantly.

Coaches invest in sales training. 
Objection handling scripts. 
Closing techniques. 
Better slide decks.

Then they get on a call and hear: 

"Let me think about it." 
"Can you send me more info?" 
"I need to speak to my partner."

And they think: I need to get better at selling.

No. 

You need to get better at the 8 messages before the sell.

Here is what nobody tells you:

If the prospect has not named their own problem before the call - 
↳ You are pitching, not closing.

If they have not said what it is costing them - 
↳ They have no urgency.

If they have not told you what they actually want - 
↳ You are guessing, not solving.

These 3 things happen in DMs. 
Or they do not happen at all.

Steve saw this firsthand.
Actually, a great salesperson.
But lost the call more often than not in the DMs.

He changed nothing about his call. 
Changed everything about his DM conversations.
And closed $32k is his second month of working together.

The call is just the last step. 
The sale was made - or lost - in the conversation before it.


👀 Still here? Congrats! 

DM or comment below saying 'NO PRECALL NERVES!' and I'll send you over the exact checklist I send to my clients before their sales call - with the questions you're likely missing included.


🗣️ Let me know in the comments
👉 What is the most common thing you hear on sales calls that tells you the deal is already dead?


P.S.
Are text-only posts kinda cool again?
Asking for a friend 🤷‍♂️


_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb

I see you fucking up every day.

This is my open letter to you:

Stop chasing trends.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not.
Stop trying to be something you’re not.

Cos this isn’t working for you.

Posting on LinkedIn.
Numerous times a week.
Cos the Gurus told you to.

Delegating your soul to ChatGPT.

Cos you simply don’t have the energy to create the amount of content you’ve been led to believe that you need to.

DMs?
They’re just reserved for Linky Besties.

Why?
Cos of that daily rejection you feel.
Those aimless messages.
That DM script you got given.

None of it works.

And it never has.

So just be your fucking self.

I tried to be someone else for the first 9 months on here.
It drove me to almost quit.

I swear like a trooper.

That’s why the 'f-word' is in my content.

It’s to warn people I’m like this…
And to warm those who are cool with it.

So strip back the bullshit.

Fuck the trends
(those billboards kinda make you look desperate - sorry!).

And start communicating like a human being.

Oh, and get in the damn DMs - your business depends on it

Almost 90% of my buyers have never liked or commented on a single post.
(yep - read that back again).

But they saw me.
My values. 
How I believe things should be done.

And when they were ready - they reached out.

And that's where the conversation starts.

In the DMs.
I promise - they're beautiful once you know how.

You know what to do.

You might just surprise yourself.

See you Monday 💪
(and remember - be a human being ffs).


🗣️ Let me know in the comments 
👉 What's the worst bit of LinkedIn advice you’ve followed? 🤦‍♀️



_____________
Click here to follow --> Darren Gibb 
I burn the fluff from your feed 🔥

LinkedIn makes you feel everyone's winning.

They're not - and nor are you. And that's ok.

It's ok to be having a bad day.
(yep, read that back again).

To lack creativity or inspiration.
To question every answer you think you have.

To lose that call you were sure you were going to win.
To wonder why it seems so easy for everyone else.
To feel it might, MIGHT just be better to quit.

We all have those days.

And when we do, walk away from it all.
Take the day off.
Be graceful with yourself.

And come back ready tomorrow... Or even on Monday.

Cos you're good at this shit.
You know it.
Your clients know it.

And deep down, that voice inside does as well.

Entrepreneurs, Tech & Sales: Own Your Voice on LinkedIn | Social Selling and Personal Branding —> Increase Pipeline & Brand Awareness | LEGO Flower Power 🌻

You're not a content creator. (Phew!!) 

You're a business owner leveraging content to grow your business.

2 very different ways to approaching LinkedIn.

You don't need to post daily. 
Chase the algorithm. 
Or become someone you're not.

You need conversations that turn into relationships that turn into revenue.

I'm on LinkedIn to help you get off LinkedIn.
The platform isn't the point. The relationships are.

That's what fills my cup AND my bank account.

---

Hi, I'm Natasha. 🙌

New mom. Breadwinner. Introvert who hates cold outreach.

I built my business to half a million in 2 years. All because of how I show up on LinkedIn.

Not by being loud. Not by gaming the algorithm. Not by sending soul-destroying pitch slaps in the DMs.

By building real relationships.

I've been "doing LinkedIn" for 10 years - as a scrappy sales rep who hated cold calling, running sales at Forbes Books, to now growing my own business exclusively through this platform.

I teach founders and executives to do the same.

---

Who is this for?

6-figure founders who've built something real.

You're good at what you do. Clients stay, refer, and thank you.

But on LinkedIn? Oddly invisible.

Your competitors aren't better. They're just louder.

The issue isn't confidence. It's knowing what to say and who to say it to.

---

Through my REALationship Growth Method I help founders go from respected offline to recognized online - without becoming someone they're not.

No hacks. No volume tactics. No influencer cosplay. 👀

Real outcomes:

→ Josie closed 3x 12 month contracts from one event
→ Michelle landed two $30k speaking engagements in three months
→ Dr. Ashley secured two speaking gigs in two weeks plus a five-figure client

If LinkedIn feels like noise, performance, or a mild existential crisis...

You're exactly who this is for.

DM me "LFG" and let's chat. 💜

Natasha Walstra

I hate drama. I have no bandwidth for it. I'm building a business, raising a toddler, and pouring everything I have into both.

But something came to my attention last week that I can't ignore.

Someone I trusted has been reaching out to my network - clients, partners, prospects. Scraping my posts and using my name to get in the door.

I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting.

Nothing prepares you when you realize not everyone operates with the same integrity you do. And that's a hard lesson when you assume the best in people.

The silver lining? It makes the right people stand out even more.

The ones who show up for you, the ones who protect your name when you're not in the room, the ones who would never use your success to build theirs.

Those are the relationships worth protecting.

So instead of losing any sleep over this, I'm focusing on how I show up. For me, for my family, for my clients, for all of you. And I'll keep doing it the way I always have - with integrity and real relationships.

All this to say, if you've received a message using my name, please know that's not a referral from me. Working with them reminded me why I don't operate that way. And never will.

Ok. Back to building.

You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t need to be | LinkedIn personal branding & social selling for founders (not influencers) | Filling APRIL cohort - ask me about it! 🙌

I got reprimanded by 4 men on a call at 10am.

By 2pm, the President of Nokia asked for my resume.

Here's the full story:

I was on a call with the CEO, my manager, and two other senior colleagues. They were telling me how badly I was performing, especially on my cold calls.

(to be fair, I was sh!t on those calls.)

But I'd started leveraging LinkedIn for outreach instead, focusing on quality over quantity, building relationships instead of dialing for dollars. (booked calls with top companies like Home Depot even!)

They didn't see it that way.

For 30 minutes, I sat there shaking, on the verge of a panic attack...or throwing my computer out the door - wasn't sure which.

The crazy part? I had an in-person meeting in San Jose with the President of Nokia a few hours later..to pitch the tech from the company that just yelled at me.

You can imagine how that went.

I walked in and said: "I'm so sorry, I'm not sure what I'm doing here. I think I'm going to resign tomorrow."

He looked at me and asked, "Do you have a resume?" Then gave me a tour of the office.

I resigned the next day. And although I didn't end up going to Nokia, it led me to a unicorn 3D printing company that actually embraced my crazy LinkedIn ideas.

Sometimes the thing that feels like rejection is actually redirection. 

The approach that got me scolded is now the foundation of my entire business.

Turns out I wasn't bad at sales, I was just bad at their version of it.

P.S. How did I get that meeting with the President of Nokia? Through my network. I'd started intuitively connecting with and reaching out to people who already knew me, trusted me, and liked me. Wasn't intentional then (it was just better than cold calling 😅). 

P.S.2 Even crazier? Yesterday I had a call with the VP of CX from that same company. She was there that day, making sure I didn't break things (in the most supportive way). She's been following me ever since. Now she wants to bring what I do to her current company. Talk about full circle moment!

I'm finally retiring my profile pic.

(long overdue)

My hair is 3x the length now, I've got a lot more wrinkles, and a whole different life.

The pic was fun while it lasted! You might not even know the original actually has a plant on my head - edited it out last year. It was a whole vibe (see below).

But a lot has changed since 2021.

Back then, I was newly in leadership as VP & Director of Sales at Forbes Books and I'd just moved to South Carolina (for the first time).  

I was very unsure of myself, very single, and honestly? A lotta bit lost.

Feels like a lifetime ago...and it was.

Now? 

I'm a Founder, a wife, a mother.

Same me. Just with more clarity, more stories, and a lot more life lived.

Here's to the next chapter. 🙌 

P.S. Peekaboo! Expect some new fun pics in the coming weeks! 📸

I don't know what I was doing in college, but it sure wasn't this!

On Tuesday, I spoke at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina to an entrepreneurship class where every student is starting a business this semester.

Let that sink in...they're not just learning about entrepreneurship. They're doing it. Literally! One student has an AI automation company and already bringing on big clients! 🤯

What we covered:
→ Why LinkedIn matters even when you're 20 
→ My 3-step framework for a successful LinkedIn presence 
→ 3 things they could do today

I also gave them a custom GPT, the Profile Glow Up, I built to help with their profiles. 

The questions they asked were so on point:

"I have a job lined up, but I'm building a business on the side. How should I show up on LinkedIn?"

"What content should I create beyond 'about me' posts?"

"How do I get a company's attention without pitching in the DM's?"

These students are thinking about intentional relationship-building NOW.

While everyone else waits until they "need" to network, these future founders are already making trust deposits. 😎

AND what was cool about this on a personal note? 
This is the third time I've spoken to this class.

The first time was exactly 2 years ago. 
I was six months into my business. Terrified. 
I have no idea what I even said to them.

Now I'm back. More confident. Having FUN.
Growth is wild when you're paying attention.

P.S. Shoutout to Jeff Savage, PhD for inviting me back. We met at a previous startup, and one of the best things that came from it was meeting him. Some relationships outlast the circumstances that created them.

Anything look strange here? 

Yep, my eyes are super dilated. 👀

And if you could see me right now, I’m typing this post at an arms distance since I can’t see sh!t. 

I’m doing something I never thought I’d be able to afford: 

Correcting my eyes! 

The prescription is too strong for Lazik but there’s another surgery that works despite the -7.0 eyes and astigmatism! 

It’s something I’ve wanting to do for some time, but even more so now because it makes me so sad every time I have to tell my son to “watch out for my mamas glasses!” I just want him to be able to touch my face. Sounds silly typing that but, how cool would that be?? 

Have to admit though, I feel pretty proud I’m able to do this. 🤓

Happy Monday, y’all! Anything you’re feeling proud of this week? Share below! 👇

Edit: today’s just prep, surgery isn’t for a few months. I’m too excited not to share though. Someone just told me, ‘shine your light’ so I’m shining it!

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The CO— by U.S. Chamber of Commerce featured me!

They asked me to be part of their "Ask the Board" series - where they connect business owners with thought leaders to help solve their biggest challenges.

(A fictional fantasy board of directors. Pretty cool, right?)

They asked me to share how to build a reputation-first business that cuts through the noise.

I've got a lot to share on this, as you can imagine.

Your reputation isn't part of your strategy.
It IS the strategy.

Everything else... your brand, your relationships, your growth... flows from it.

In the article, I break down 7 ways to build a reputation-first business:

1. Why your LinkedIn profile is your reputation's home base 
2. The content balance that builds trust (hint: it's not just expertise) 
3. Why posting alone isn't enough 
4. What to show instead of polish 
5. How to turn clients into amplifiers 
6. The long game most people skip 
7. The one thing that makes you referable

With fluffy BS, exaggerated claims, and flashy marketing, people are looking for something REAL.

This is how you become it.

Take a look!

https://lnkd.in/eR25iWea

P.S. Still can't believe that the girl who was "too empathetic to be in sales" is now giving business advice in the US Chamber of Commerce. Pretty cool stuff if I can say so! 🤓

I took a 7-day "break" from alcohol.

That was 3 years ago this week.

I didn’t realize it then, but alcohol was my "extrovert fairy dust" 🧚‍♀️

For years, I used it as a security blanket to transform my introverted (and insecure) self into someone I thought the world wanted me to be.

The result?
→ Chronic migraines (for 5 years straight)
→ Relationships that never felt right
→ Insomnia that wouldn't quit
→ A career that drained me

Then 3 years ago, I took a break after going to SXSW
That break turned into weeks, weeks to months...

In the first 2 years:
- met my now husband
- started a business
- got married
- had a baby
- crossed $500k in revenue

In just the last 6 months?
- bought a house
- signed a Big Four contract
- Sold Out of 3 cohorts (and filling my 4th!)
- accidentally built a community.

Coincidence? I think not.

But, this isn't an anti-alcohol post.
It's an anti-hiding-who-you-truly-are post.

For me, drinking masked my introversion and kept me chasing relationships and environments that weren't aligned with my authentic self.

The moment I embraced who I really am?
Literally my world did a 180.

Now I have a beautiful toddler, the love of my life by my side, and a thriving business that energizes me instead of draining me.

Life doesn't truly begin until you stop forcing yourself into shapes that weren't designed for you.

If you feel stuck, misaligned, or something is holding you back from doing "the thing" you're meant to do...take a look around.
Maybe something isn't serving you the way you thought it was. Maybe it's time to make changes.

And once you do?
Everything really does fall into place.

PS: Being your authentic self is probably the most strategic thing you can do.

When you show up as who you really are, you attract the right people, opportunities, and energy that fuel sustainable success.

I've never felt better.🤸‍♀️

You know those days where everything just flows?!

Yesterday was not that day.

→ Didn't sleep a wink
→ Massive headache
→ Bombed a workshop 
→ Mixed up client work
→ Dog threw up everywhere 
→ Spoke gibberish on my cohort call
→ Showed up 13m late to a call (thought was an hour later)

The good news?

Apparently, there's some planetary alignment happening that explains all of this.

I'm choosing to believe that. 👀

____

Anyone else blaming the planets this week? 🪐
.
.
.
TGIF

Yesterday, 2 clients renewed with me.

One's a biotech sales team that's been with me for 2 years. 

The other is a 1:1 client for 4 months.

Different industries, different stages, same reason for staying:

There's always more to do.

New approaches to test, relationships to deepen, and business development that never stops (#AlwaysBeProspecting)

The first few months are the heavy lift...profile, content, figuring out your voice. Gaining the confidence to get into the DMs and understanding how to show up without feeling weird about it.

We set a foundation.
Then things start to get really interesting.

Now it's tactical, strategic. Who do you reach out to this week? How do you get in front of this person or that person? How do you turn a comment into a conversation? A conversation into a call? What about that upcoming event? Or workshop? Cohort?

The trust deposits start to compound...the flywheel starts to spin.

My client asked: "Do you think we still have things we can do?"
I almost laughed.

This is when it gets fun. 🤓

P.S. He also left 2 industry associations he'd been part of for years. Said he's gotten more from LinkedIn in 4 months than he got from them in 2 years.

"Thanks to you, I've got too much work." 

Want the same thing? I'm booking for Q2. I still have space for 1x team and 4x 1:1. DM me "LFG" for deets.

I'm a day late for International Women's Day.

But let's be real, one day isn't enough anyways!

I want to celebrate the 39 women in the REALationship Growth Method right now.

12 that just kicked off in my third cohort. 27 in my other cohort and community.

Every single one of them is building something unique.

Growing businesses, dominating industries...showing up with heart, care, and an insane amount of strength.

But it's not just how they show up for their own businesses.
→ It's how they show up for each other. 👯‍♂️

The encouragement, the referrals, the "you've got this" when someone needs it most.

I wake up every morning genuinely grateful that these women trust me with their LinkedIn and business development strategies... it's not something I take lightly.

To my cohorts and my community:
You inspire me more than you know.

Keep building, keep showing up, keep being exactly who you are.

The world needs what you're creating.

Their like was the first move.

Your DM should be the second.

No one will get mad at you for sending a DM after they like your post.

In fact, they might even be grateful you reached out because, guess what,
Initiating conversations is hard!

And someone has to start the conversation - why not let it be you? 🤔

Plus, the way I see it:

- A like
- A profile view
- And definitely a comment

These are the digital (subtle) versions of starting a conversation.

It's them quietly waving saying,
"Hello, I hear you, and what you said makes sense!"

Now, don't go pitch-slapping them, please. 🙏

But connect, say hi back.
See where the conversation goes.

You never know what inspired that little hint of interest.

Might be your next client.
Might be a referral partnership.
Might be an intro to the best networking call you've ever had.

All I know is this:
The best opportunities only happen once words are exchanged.

____

PS. I know it might be time consuming. I have to admit I'm not able to do this all the time either.

But if you're not doing this type of follow-up, you're going to struggle to see results from all the effort you're putting into actually posting!

My challenge to you:

After your next 3 posts, send 5 DMs to people who engaged with each one.
Start small. See big impact.

I never felt rage towards tech until ChatGPT.

(I'm embarrassed to say that. I shouldn't have let it get to me so much, I know 🙈.)

But it just wouldn't listen!

The em dashes everywhere.
The "Here's the thing:" before every point.
The excessive praise.
The trying-to-be-my-bro energy.

I'd ask for direct,
I'd get fluff.

I'd ask for my voice,
I'd get... motivational poster.

So when I discovered Claude early last year, I literally couldn't believe my eyes.

It actually listens.
It's straightforward.
It remembers what I've shared.

Yes, it still makes mistakes. 
But it doesn't hallucinate to the extent that ChatGPT does. 

And it does SUCH a good job maintaining tone of voice and copywriting.

My writing changed significantly since I started using it.

I brain dump ideas. 
Based on my instructions, it turns them into posts. 

Always starting with my original thought. 
Never replacing it.

Which sparked a really cool idea:
What if I made custom Claude bots for my clients?

So easy they can't NOT post.
So I did.

Now all my clients get a custom ClaudeBot - loaded with information about them, my Know-Like-Trust content framework, and their brand voice, and my instructions.

All they have to do is speak into their phone and poof! - a post is there.

It's the opposite of garbage in, garbage out.

Is it perfect? 
No. But it gets to 80-90%.

And then there's the feedback from clients:

"I can write 8 new posts in 4x less time."

"It's one of my most satisfying relationships" 
(that one made me LOL)

"This stuff is really good."

AI isn't replacing your voice.
It's amplifying it - if you use it right.

____

P.S. I offer this not just for my 1:1 clients, but my cohort, also! I've got 1x 1:1 spot left for March and already filling my April cohort. 

You also get custom branding...AND video content. 

(yep, I'm basically an agency disguised as a coach. if you've been even the slightest bit curious, now's the time to lock it in before things change!) 

DM me "LFG" for deets!

Can we just say the unpopular opinion instead of stating “Unpopular Opinion:” first? 

Thoughts? 😉

"It's working out gooood!"

My client was skeptical for weeks. Wouldn't try it.
Finally did. First post? Someone reached out.

This same approach has gotten me 160+ workshop registrations and 3 SOLD OUT cohorts. 

Without a single promotional post.

What is it?

Take a peek! 👀

P.S. Can you guess what it is? ; )

Question for you: if you don't tell people how to work with you, how will they know how to work with you? Really obvious question, I know, but I find 

Open article: How to sell in posts without actually selling (I sold out 3 cohorts this way) by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

How to sell in posts without actually selling (I sold out 3 cohorts this way)

I got real on this one.

Just did a podcast with Nick Berry about why LinkedIn feels harder than it should for business owners.

Nick's interviewed top dogs like Jason Feifer (Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine), Dr. Benjamin Hardy (10x Is Easier Than 2x, The Science of Scaling), and other impressive people. I was so shocked to be asked on it.

This was his first episode specifically on LinkedIn for entrepreneurs.

We broke down:
→ Why most advice doesn't fit you
→ Why smart people act weird online
→ What to do instead

I also shared some personal stuff I've never talked about publicly.

Take a read (and a listen!)

https://lnkd.in/eFgkAg_D

(my most honest conversation about LinkedIn yet) Hey you! I was recently a guest on The Business Owner’s Journey podcast with Nick Berry. And I’m stil

Open article: You're going to want to hear this by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

"There's no way anyone would respond to this."

My client said this about a DM I suggested she send.

It was a simple DM for when someone views your profile.

She thought it was weird, too forward, pointless.
She sent it anyway.

The response? A four-paragraph novel.

The person explained exactly why they'd checked out her profile, what they were looking for, what they were struggling with.

They went back and forth and then jumped on a call.
All from one "weird" DM.

Here's the reframe (and why she sent it anyways):

You're not bothering them, you're doing them a favor.

Most people have so much to say, they're just waiting for someone to start the conversation.

They viewed your profile for a reason, they're curious, maybe interested. 
But nervous to initiate.

So you go first.

And if they have no reason? They just won't respond. No harm done.

But more often than not? 
They're relieved you broke the ice.

The DM that feels awkward to send is usually the one that starts the best conversations.


____

P.S. I'm doing another live workshop! And you bet we'll cover this. 

April 2nd at 12:00 ET

Why Your LinkedIn Isn't Converting...and the System That Fixes It

Register here! https://lnkd.in/eg3Kq5iX

Everyone in my community wants 2 things:

Visibility and sales.

And one of the best ways to get both? Speaking.

So I brought in Marta Spirk, M.A.

Her story was powerful. 
Her framework was clear. 
And her interactive Bingo exercise got everyone thinking about their next move.

The feedback?
"This was a phenomenal session." 
"This was so valuable!"

I could talk about LinkedIn all day. 
But speaking? That's not my lane.

Part of building something that actually serves people is recognizing where your expertise ends and someone else's begins.

Marta was the right person to have in the room. 
And my people are better for it.

P.S. My April cohort of the REALationship Growth Method is filling up FAST. 

We're not just learning LinkedIn tactics, we're hearing from top experts, actually implementing together, and you guessed it, building REALationships. Spaces are limited, and the next cohort won't be until June! 

If you're curious to learn more, DM me "LFG" for more deets OR let's hop on a call! https://lnkd.in/ecAKhTAq

Brain fog, breadwinner, business owner... AND content creator?

No, thank you!

This week's newsletter is a permission slip for everyone who's been told they need to "show up more" but can barely remember where they put their coffee.

You don't have to become a content creator to grow your business.

You just have to play a different game.

Check it out 😎

P.S. I'm hosting my next live workshop! April 2nd at 12:00 ET!! Deets coming next week. In the meantime, register here:
https://lnkd.in/ejGSQN2Z

You expect me to be a content creator on top of everything else going on? No, thank you. I've got a multi-6 fig business I run on my own (with a few c

Open article: Brain fog, breadwinner, business owner, AND content creator? by Natasha Walstra • 2 min read

Brain fog, breadwinner, business owner, AND content creator?

The most underutilized part of your LinkedIn profile?

→ Recommendations.

You might think no one looks at them. But if someone's about to spend $1000s with you? They're checking you out everywhere.

They *might* not notice if you don't have any...but they'll definitely notice if you do.

Here's one I got last week from Mahesh Guruswamy - CTO of Kickstarter when we worked together, now COO at Kajabi.

When someone's vetting me, they see this. They click his profile, they verify he's real, he held those positions, AND he said I'm "the real deal."

That builds trust faster than anything I could say about myself.

And right now? Trust is everything.
We're not in a trust recession...we're in a trust depression.

Everyone claims to be an expert, AI can write anything that sounds credible, and anyone can put "strategist" in their title.

How do you know who's the real deal anymore?
You don't - unless you can prove it.

Recommendations are one form of proof.

Real names, real titles, real companies, specific results.
 
Not a testimonial on your website that could've been written by anyone or a quote you could've made up.

A real person vouching for you in a way that AI (and potential clients) can verify.

If you don't have recommendations on your profile, you're asking people to take your word for it when where very few take anyone's word for anything anymore.
(Or at least, they want to trust, but they also just want a little proof to back it up. Recommendations give them that.)

P.S. I'm going to be sharing more juicy systems about why your LinkedIn isn't converting. April 2nd at 12:00 ET. LFG!

https://lnkd.in/epsuaE8z

Today’s the day!! 

LIVE MERCH LAB → Turning My “No Pitch Slaps” Into Swag! 

There’s a lot I’ve been saying lately that’s triggering (in a good way). 

Definitely could make for some good swag. 

And I love how Amanda Hofman turns your brand essence into company swag you’d *actually* wear. 

Can’t wait to see what we come up with today!! See you there!!

Branded Merch & Swag Expert | Chief Swag Officer | Your guide for sustainable & anti-boring branded merchandise | Print-on-Demand Shop Set-Up | NYC Marathoner turned Cyclist 🏃🏻‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Can LinkedIn advice become wearable? We’re about to find out.

Natasha Walstra is known for helping people sell on LinkedIn without being weird about it. She’s built her brand around making LinkedIn feel more human and helping you be more effective while you’re there.

Her signature rule: No Pitch Slaps. 

But Natasha’s message goes beyond one phrase. If her bold, honest, refreshingly real voice had to become wearable… what would actually make the cut?

In this 🎉 Live Merch Lab 🎉, we’re building Natasha’s very first merch line — translating her sharp, funny, straight-talking energy into something her community would genuinely want to wear.

If you care about building visibility without being cringe, spammy, or robotic, this session is for you.

In this live session, you’ll see:

→ How to brainstorm merch for your own brand while helping design Natasha’s
→ How to turn a strong point of view into something people proudly wear
→ What Natasha should absolutely NOT print
→ A live audience vote on the final picks

This isn’t a webinar. It’s a working session.

→→ RSVP to influence what makes the drop.

Bring your opinions, claim your (virtual) creative director seat, and help us decide what goes from idea to wearable.

Danae Gabriel, Kelly Edmondson and 34 other attendees

LIVE MERCH LAB → Turning Natasha Walstra’s “No Pitch Slaps” Into Swag

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The Battle

Darren Gibb

Natasha Walstra

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreDarren Gibb's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNatasha Walstra's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Darren Gibb

Natasha Walstra

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);}Darren Gibb's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNatasha Walstra's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDarren Gibb's LinkedIn Performance