Chris Donnelly

Founder (Business Acquired by Croud)

Co Founder of Searchable.com | Follow for posts on Business, Marketing, Personal Brand & AI

Cofounder of Searchable: 

An Autonomous SEO & AEO Growth Engineer 
Analyse, fix, & scale your website to drive customers

Work out how to master AI Search here: searchable.com

The short life story 

I decided to skip the corporate job & start a digital marketing agency at 21. Here is the journey so far: 

Age 21: Bootstrapped Adjust Media at university making websites 
Age 22: Left Uni and rebranded to Verb Brands
Age 27: Acquired DBD Media Ltd, their 20 staff & expanded to digital marketing
Age 28: Won Bugatti & recognised as leading luxury agency
Age 30: Sell entirety of Verb Brands to Croud & LDC in an 8-figure deal
Age 31: Founded Lottie Org w/ Will Donnelly (Grow revenue to 8 figures, raise $35m & hire 100 people).
Age 32: Launch my Media, Education and Investment business
Age 33: Launched the Creator Accelerator and reached 8 figures in revenue
Age 34: Co Founded Searchable

It’s been a journey. 

Through Searchable.com I help founders and marketers to grow their organic traffic on auto pilot with our autonomous Seo and Aeo tool: searchable.com

Through my investment company, we support and invest into Entrepreneurs running incredible businesses, and with our experience as operators, help them scale. 

If you are a founder of a profitable and growing company with approximately $1m+ EBITDA, and you want to see if you can grow faster, reach out. 

If you are not at that level yet, I produce resources to help you get there. 

I run a podcast called Wake Up, and produce content on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram for free.

Commercial enquiries for speaking or brand deals: enquiries@chris-donnelly.co.uk

Co-Founder

Found CRM by Lottie 

A cloud-based care home operation software, mapped and built specifically to the care and retirement industries unique customer journey and supports care homes with CRM, Occupancy, Administration and Finance

Found results in a higher conversion rate, better attribution of marketing spend, saved time and ultimately high occupancy.

SEO, AEO, and GEO aren't the same thing.

Understanding the difference is essential: 

The vast majority of businesses still optimise for SEO alone. 
But that's only because they haven't realised what's changed.

They are now competing for attention with SEM, PPC, and AI Overviews...

They bet losing hands because they refuse to accept the game has changed. 

Visibility is fragmenting across three layers: 

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
This is the model we've optimised for over the past 20 years.

AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)
Get your content extracted into answer boxes, on Google and in AI responses.

GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation)
Get cited in AI-generated responses on ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude.

(Btw, If you don't know where you stand in any of these...

We've created this free visibility report to analyse your current gaps: 
https://lnkd.in/g6XApkfm)

Here's what you need to know right now: 

➡️ SEO = Appearing in traditional search engines (Google, Bing)

Focus: Rankings and click-through traffic
Outcome: Your page appears in search results

➡️ AEO = Content extracted into Google Snippets and short AI answers

Focus: Featured snippets, answer boxes, "People Also Ask," quick AI responses
Outcome: Your content is displayed as the answer (often zero-click)

➡️ GEO = Cited in detailed AI responses on ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, etc. 

Focus: Being referenced in longer, synthesised AI-generated content
Outcome: Your brand/content is cited with attribution in AI answers

It's not hard to get ahead of this in 2026. 
There aren't that many brands optimising for all three. 

But the ones that are, are already: 

- Structuring content for extraction
- Building authority for citations
- And reinforcing traditional SEO foundations 

To put it simply: 
Acknowledge the game has changed, and start playing accordingly. 

Do you understand the difference between SEO/AEO/GEO? 
Comment below with your thoughts. 

Searchable is the easiest possible way to prepare for all three at once. 

And our free visibility report is a great starting point to see where you stand.

Find your gaps here: https://lnkd.in/g6XApkfm

You then have a 14-day free trial to plug those gaps !

♻️ Repost this to help others optimise for all three layers.
Follow Chris Donnelly for more on mastering AI search.

Anthropic just released courses worth at least $10,000.

13 free courses to master AI with certificates worth $0:

Everyone is talking about these and rightly so.

This is insane value, and I suggest you jump on it right now.

Whether you're a developer, educator, student, or founder, 
They have a course for you. 

Here's the full list with links 👇

1. Claude Code In Action
↳ Integrate Claude Code into your development workflow.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eAq7a5nd

2. Claude 101
↳ Learn how to use Claude for everyday tasks.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/e3rQFcqv

3. AI Fluency: Framework & Foundations
↳ Learn to collaborate with AI systems effectively.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eXek4MAz

4. Building With The Claude API
↳ Covers the full spectrum of working with Anthropic models.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/e8ejEAcD

5. Introduction To Model Context Protocol
↳ Learn to build MCP servers and clients using Python.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/esdrs_Ht

6. AI Fluency For Educators
↳ Apply AI Fluency into your own teaching practices.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eVGpYn3X

7. AI Fluency For Students
↳ Develop AI Fluency skills that enhance learning and academic success.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/ejkDsUB5

8. Model Context Protocol: Advanced Topics
↳ Discover advanced MCP implementation patterns.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eSawHD-w

9. Claude With Amazon Bedrock
↳ Part of the accreditation program created for AWS.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eKVDsCVX

10. Claude With Google Cloud's Vertex AI
↳ Learn how to work with Anthropic through Google Cloud's Vertex AI.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eXSyE9kE

11. Teaching AI Fluency
↳ Understand how to teach and assess AI Fluency.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/e-XdXciK

12. AI Fluency For Nonprofits
↳ Empowers nonprofit professionals to develop practical AI skills.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/edSk3W6x

13. Introduction To Agent Skills
↳ Learn how to build, configure, and share Skills in Claude Code.
🔗 https://lnkd.in/egppQ7pm

The people learning AI now will have the advantage. 

But these courses won't be free forever.

Act now while the window is still open, 
And you can still pull ahead of your peers. 

What level of AI knowledge would you say you have? 
Drop a comment below. I'd be interested to know where you're at. 

♻️ Save this for later and repost to help others get ahead of the curve. 
And follow Chris Donnelly for the latest AI resources and knowledge.

Everyone wants to know which AI is "the best."

The answer isn't simple. But here's the breakdown:

I've spent months testing every major AI model.  

And they all have different strengths and weaknesses. 

The real skill is knowing which AI to use for each specific task. 

Here's how the top 6 stack up in 2026: 

(See the sheet for more details and updates 👇)

1. Claude Opus 4.5
The model I rely on most.

Best for: Strong reasoning and long-form thinking
Handles complex documents without losing structure
Downside: Less spontaneous with creative ideas

New updates: 
Claude Code, Cowork, and Excel will change how technical teams work.  

2. ChatGPT-5.2
Still the most versatile tool available.

Best for: Strong reasoning and multimodal support.
Fast for content, workflows, and experimentation
Downside: Costs increase quickly with heavy usage

New updates: 
With Health features, Atlas, and Apps, ChatGPT has captured more of the market.  

3. Gemini 3
Google’s model, now properly usable.

Best for: Multimodal understanding across documents and data
Very good for research-heavy work inside Google-heavy teams. 
Downside: Creative output can feel restrained

New updates: 
Nano Banana with revolutionary image creation, Gemini 3, and personal intelligence. 

4. Perplexity
The fastest way to get reliable answers.

Best for: Real-time search with clear citations
Transparent sources reduce guesswork 
Downside: Limited creative generation

New updates: 
Learn Mode for structured, guided understanding and a new AI browser, Comet. 

5. Grok 4.1
Strong awareness of what’s happening now.

Best for: Real-time trend and cultural context
Useful for social listening and narratives
Downside: Limited use for structured or technical work

New updates: 
The new image generation feature is impressive (if not controversial !).  

6. DeepSeek 3.2
Open-source, highly efficient for technical teams. 

Best for: Strong quantitative and STEM reasoning
High performance relative to cost
Downside: Limited documentation outside Asia

New updates: 
3.2, which is essentially DeepSeek 3.1 with better reasoning and stability. 

Each model will serve a slightly different purpose. 

I encourage everyone to test them and make up their own mind. 

The more you experiment, the more value each one can provide.  

Which LLMs are you already using? Which ones are you most curious about? 
Drop a comment below. 

P.S. We built Searchable to make it as easy as possible to prepare for AI search 
that happens within these LLMs. 

It's an autonomous SEO & AEO Growth Engineer that: 
Analyses, fixes, and scales your website automatically to drive customers. 

Learn more and get started with a 14-day free trial 👇
https://lnkd.in/epgXyFmi

----

📌 If you want a high-res PDF of this sheet:

1. Follow Chris Donnelly
2. Like the post.
3. Repost to your network.
4. Subscribe to: https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb

"LinkedIn is dead now." Heard this a million times.

No, it isn't, you just need the right approach:

So many founders post randomly and run out of steam in weeks. 

A strong brand can change the trajectory of your business. 

But only if you have a strategy to scale it properly. 

I recorded a 19-minute guide to prepare you for all the recent updates 👇
https://lnkd.in/gQFQcRza

Watch the video to get up to date. Then follow these steps:  

(See cheat sheet for the full breakdown) 

1. Your North Star

Your personal brand needs one clear North Star for the next 90 days.

Ask yourself:
What does success genuinely look like 12 weeks from now?

2. The Positioning Triangle

Personal brands win when three things overlap:

1. Your expertise
2. A painful market problem
3. Your point of view

3. The Audience Clarity Map

There are only 3 groups you need to speak to: 

- Buyers: The people who will pay you
- Aspirational followers: The people who amplify you
- Learners: Early-stage, curious, watching quietly

4. The Content OS

This is how I structure every content system I build: 

1. Teach – frameworks, tactics, step-by-step
2. Think – opinions, observations, contrarian takes
3. Build – behind-the-scenes, lessons, mistakes
4. Sell – results, stories, clear offers

5. The Attention Engine

Consistency in personal brand requires a weekly execution system.

1. Idea Sourcing (60 minutes)
2. Batch Writing (2 hours)
3. Daily Engagement (15–20 minutes)
4. End-of-Week Review (20 minutes)

6. The Trust Ladder Framework

People buy from you because you’ve earned their trust based on: 

1. Awareness
2. Relevance
3. Authority
4. Proof
5. Action

7. The Content Feedback Loop

Your audience will always tell you what to create next.

Each week, analyse:

- Your highest-performing post
- Your lowest-performing post
- Which topic resonated the most
- Which format could be repeated

8. The 3-Level Personal Brand Funnel

A strong personal brand is built to sell.

Your funnel should follow:

1. Top of Funnel: Content geared towards reach
2. Middle of Funnel: Deeper education (cheat sheets, carousels, etc)
3. Bottom of Funnel: Proof and clear transformations

9. The Growth Scorecard

You only need 5 metrics to know if your brand is working: 

- Number of views
- Follower growth
- Engagement rate
- Inbound leads
- Newsletter signups

Your personal brand is either your biggest asset or a complete time drain.

The difference is the strategy you use to manage it. 

What part of your personal brand are you struggling with the most? 
Drop a comment below with your thoughts. 

If it's the LinkedIn algorithm throwing you off, that's an easy fix. 

My recent video is less than 20 minutes should clear up your concerns: https://lnkd.in/gQFQcRza

♻️ Repost to share this system with your network. 
And follow Chris Donnelly for more on building your brand.

Don’t be the person who gets caught producing terrible AI output. 

Instead, steal 1 of these 8 frameworks: 

This is where you should start with AI:
Mastering the art of prompting.

Prompting basic questions will get you basic answers.
Honestly, it is a misuse of insanely valuable technology.

My team and I have learned this deeply as a skill.

The results are amazing:

- Streamlined and optimised operations.
- Tasks are being automated, freeing up time.
- Therefore, more time spent on truly valuable tasks.

These are the 8 prompt frameworks I use to power my businesses:

1️⃣ R-T-F
Role: Specify the role you want the AI to assume.
Task: Define the task you want the AI to perform.
Format: Indicate the format in which you want the output.

2️⃣ S-O-L-V-E
Situation: Define the context or situation.
Objective: Specify the goals.
Limits: Define any limitations or constraints.
Vision: Outline the vision or goal.
Execution: Plan the steps for execution.

3️⃣ T-A-G
Task: Define the task at hand.
Action: State the action needed.
Goal: Clarify the goal to be achieved.

4️⃣ R-A-C-E
Role: Specify the character you want the AI to play.
Action: State the basic instruction or the job you need to be done.
Context: Provide the background information the AI will need.
Expectation: Describe the outcome you need.

5️⃣ D-R-E-A-M
Define: Define the problem or context.
Research: State the research needed.
Execute: How to execute the plan.
Analyse: How to analyse the results.
Measure: Define how to measure the outcomes.

6️⃣ P-A-C-T
Problem: Define the problem.
Approach: Describe the approach.
Checks: Write about potential compromises.
Test: Define the test or measurement.

7️⃣ C-A-R-E
Context: Give the context.
Action: Describe the action needed.
Result: Clarify the expected result.
Example: Provide an example for clarity.

8️⃣ R-I-S-E
Role: Specify the role.
Input: Describe the input needed.
Steps: Could you ask for steps to follow?
Expectation: Describe the expectation.

AI is the single biggest source of leverage across all my businesses.
But we couldn't have achieved any of it without learning how to prompt.

If you spend 1-2 hours scrolling on Instagram per day...
I know you have time to learn these prompting techniques.

My newsletter shares resources like this, every single week.

There is always something you can apply the exact same day.

Sign up now and join 250k reading weekly: https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb

I also have 30+ free learning resources for you.

Which prompting technique will you try first? 
Let me know how it goes in the comments.

♻️ Repost to help your network learn vital AI skills. 
And follow Chris Donnelly for more on leveraging AI in 2026.

There is a reason everyone is talking about Claude Code.
It is the most powerful AI tool available.
This is the full breakdown you need to understand it:

You now no longer need to know coding to code.

You don't need to write the code; you just manage the agents that write it.

People are building some incredible apps and websites using it in a couple of hours max.

Which is pretty crazy, all things considered. Yet another seismic moment.

However, if you don't know where to start, it can be a tiny bit confusing. 

Which is why I've created this all-in-one guide,
Aiming to get you up to speed in just a couple of minutes:

(Save this sheet for when you come to test Claude Code !)

So, what is Claude Code? 🧑🏻‍💻

It's a command-line tool built by Anthropic that sits inside your terminal and works across your entire workflow.

Anthropic's Claude Code Beginner Guide: https://lnkd.in/eB5N3mx7

Next, what is the optimal workflow? 🔀

This is the flow that works best:

Start in plan mode (Shift+Tab twice)
↓
Write your goal clearly
↓
Let Claude break it into steps
↓
Review & iterate the plan
↓
Switch to auto-accept edits mode
↓
Claude executes the plan end-to-end
↓
Review output → Refine if needed

The key is a good plan. Without that, you'll get tons of revision rounds.

The Claude Code Creator's (Boris Cherny) Setup: https://lnkd.in/e8JF3ca7

But what can you actually use Claude Code for as a founder? 💻

1. Synthesise customer feedback
2. Draft documents & presentations
3. Build code & prototypes
4. Research & competitive analysis
5. Automate repetitive workflows
6. Create reusable skills

Plus many more. Like I said, people are building full websites and apps with this.

50 Ways Non-Technical People Are Using Claude Code: https://lnkd.in/ebK25X6M

What are the Power Features worth knowing about? 📲

1. MCP (Model Context Protocol)
This is like a USB-C for AI - one interface for your entire tool stack.

2. Skills (Reusable Automations)
These are task-specific instruction packages Claude auto-loads when relevant.

3. CLAUDE .md (Project Memory)
A markdown file that gives Claude permanent context about your project.

Connect Claude Code To Tools Via MCP Guide: https://lnkd.in/epQbcNst
Extend Claude With Skills Guide: https://lnkd.in/en_jt5sg
Writing a good CLAUDE .md File Guide: https://lnkd.in/e_UttjWa

And finally, you can find some useful dos and don'ts in the sheet below.

With all of that covered, you should be good to start building.

If you're planning on doing so, let me know in the comments.
I will try and guide you in the right direction !

For more on building using AI, you'll want to read my newsletter, Step by Step:
https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb

💾 Save and repost this so your network sees this.
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Stop wasting months building your first website. 

Here's how to use Claude Code to create it in 10 mins:  

2 years ago, founders needed time and developers to build a website. 

Those days are (fortunately) long gone. 

It's just one of the many reasons everyone's talking about Claude Code. 
But it's a huge one if you're trying to launch this year. 

Especially if you're doing it alone...

ChatGPT can generate code snippets. 
That's helpful for smaller projects. 

But Claude Code can: 

- Build complete applications
- Set up hosting
- Deploys your site
- And give you a live link to share immediately 

Here's how to build a website in 10 minutes:

1. Open Claude Code

Start a new project in Claude Code (claude.ai or desktop app).

2. Define Your Goal

Before you write a single word, get clear on your goal.

Pick one primary goal: Collect email signups... book calls... sell a product, etc.

3. Write Your Detailed Brief

"I need a website for [your business/project]. The main goal is [specific outcome]. Style should be inspired by [reference site 1] and [reference site 2]. Include these features: [list 3-5 key features]. Target audience is [describe who]. The main CTA should be [specific action]."

4. Add Reference Sites

Give Claude 1-2 websites to reference for style and structure. 
Claude will analyse them and apply the best elements to your site.

5. Let Claude Plan

Claude creates a full plan and shows you the structure before building.

6. Review & Approve

Check the plan before Claude builds and make any changes to save time later.

Review Checklist:

☑️ Does the site structure match your brief?
☑️ Are all key features included?
☑️ Does the tech stack make sense?
☑️ Is the design direction aligned with your references?
☑️ Are the pages and sections correct?

7. Claude Builds

Claude writes all the code, sets up hosting, and deploys your site. 
Can take up around 10-20 minutes. 

Go make yourself a coffee or check LinkedIn. 

8. Go Live

Claude provides deployment links. Your website is live and ready to share.

Seems too good to be true? 
I would have thought so too... 

But I've tried it and seen what it can produce. 
Impressive stuff. 

And that's not the only thing founders are using it for. 
Claude Code can create product MVPs, internal tools, SaaS platforms...and more! 

Eventually everyone will learn this and it won't be an advantage. 
But you can still be an early mover if you act now. 

That means learning AND implementing these tools as soon as you can. 

Have you built anything with Claude Code yet?
Comment down below. 

♻️ Repost to help founders in your network move faster.
And follow Chris Donnelly for more on building with AI.

- - - -

📌 If you want a high-res PDF of this sheet:

1. Follow Chris Donnelly.
2. Like the post.
3. Repost to your network.
4. Subscribe to: https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb

Claude Cowork is a non-negotiable for non-technical founders.

Here's the full breakdown so you can get started: 

Founders assume they need to handle all the minor details of their business. 

That was certainly true when I started building VERB back when I was 21.
But Claude Cowork has basically removed the need to do any admin. 

You just tell Cowork what you want done, and it handles it. 
Kinda wild.

People are automating entire hours-long workflows down to minutes.

The way we build businesses will, once again, no longer be the same. 

But you probably aren't prepared to handle this shift right away.
Building is hard enough without blindly navigating a new platform...

This all-in-one guide should give you everything you need to get started:  

(Save this sheet so you can test Claude Cowork confidently !)

First of all, what is Claude Cowork? 🖥️

Cowork is an AI assistant that lives on your computer and does things for you.

→ It reads your files and controls your browser
→ Opens Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack, Notion
→ Fills in forms, sends emails, and organises folders

Anthropic's Claude Cowork guide: https://lnkd.in/gkf5tpEK 

I’ve also included a comparison of Code and Cowork in the sheet below 👇

You can start with Cowork and graduate to Code when you need more control.

Coworker Code (reviews + comparisons): cowork-code.com

There's no reason to wait either. 

You can set up Cowork today in about 5 minutes: 

1. Download the Claude desktop app
2. Install the Chrome extension for browser control
3. Mount the folders you want Cowork to access
4. Start with something simple: "Organise this folder by file type and date"

Don’t over-customise at first. Get value first, then add Skills and Plugins for specific tasks.

Claude Help Center: https://lnkd.in/gVT83EM9

The sheet also has details on: 

- Core features
- An example workflow
- 10 prompts you can run today

When I built Searchable, automating admin and repetitive tasks freed up hours every week to focus on strategy and product.

Cowork handles the work that doesn’t need your attention. 

If you're planning on testing Cowork, let me know in the comments. 

I'll give as much guidance as I can to get started ! 

For more on building using AI, you'll want to read my newsletter, Step by Step: https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb

💾 Save and repost this so your network sees this.
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99% of people are learning to use the wrong AI tools.

If you are a CEO, you don't need to understand Claude Code...

Same as if you were a CFO, you don't really need to know Cursor.

What you first need is an understanding of which tool types you need.

Then deciding from there which tool is best for you.

I've broken it down in the graphic below by use case. 👇
(The tool you're probably currently using, and what to replace it with)

1. Writing 
❌ Old: Google Docs
✅ New: Claude

Claude is the gold standard for writing using LLMs.
It has the best conversational tone that matches human writing.

2. Research
❌ Old: Google Search
✅ New: Perplexity Comet

Comet is Perplexity's AI-native browser with agentic capabilities.
Powered by their LLM that excels in detailed market research.

3. Coding
❌ Old: Stack Overflow
✅ New: Cursor

Cursor is a complete behavioural shift for coders. 
Simply put, hit a problem:  

→ ask Cursor in your editor 
→ get a solution written for your specific code 
→ apply it in one click.

4. SEO/AEO/GEO
❌ Old: SEMrush
✅ New: Searchable

Cheeky plug, but I do believe we are the market-leading tool for a reason.
With Searchable you get the analytics, actions, and agentic workflows to increase your visibility drastically.

5. Pitch Decks
❌ Old: PowerPoint
✅ New: Gamma

What used to take hours of edits and fine-tuning...
You can now create a near-perfect pitch deck in 5 minutes using Gamma.

6. Outreach
❌ Old: Mailchimp
✅ New: Clay

Mailchimp is a broadcast-style approach - one message to many people.
Clay is a completely different animal. It gives you data enrichment and personalised outreach at scale.

7. Speech To Text
❌ Old: Rev
✅ New: Willow AI

Willow, in my opinion, is the best of the AI-powered voice dictation available.
You no longer need to type. You can now write with your voice at 5x speed.

8. Email
❌ Old: Gmail
✅ New: Superhuman

Forget spending time writing emails in archaic systems.
Superhuman will help you send high-quality and effective emails in a heartbeat.

9. Productivity
❌ Old: Trello
✅ New: Claude Code

I'll be honest, Claude Code is hard to fit into one binary category.
However, it is probably the most efficient AI tool out there on the market.

With these tools, you could probably avoid the outlay of a couple new hires.

And by the time you do hire, you've built leverage with an enormously capable and high-margin team.

I've seen this progress over the years, and I knew I eventually needed to establish my own company in the space.

And once I saw the gap, Searchable was born.

If you are looking to increase visibility and traffic to your business at rapid pace... look no further.

Click this link and grab a 14-day free trial: https://lnkd.in/epgXyFmi

Share your favourite AI tool in the comments, always on the hunt for some great ones !

♻️ Repost to help your network build with AI.
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LinkedIn just replaced its entire algorithm.

And most people have no idea...

This isn't a small update. 

LinkedIn has killed its old ranking system entirely 
And replaced it with an AI language model that: 

- Reads your content
- Judges your profile
- And decides whether you deserve to be seen.

If you'd like to understand what has happened, I made a 19 min video. 
Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gxFXSsET

The tactics that worked well for you in the past simply won't cut through in 2026.

Most creators won't catch on to this for another 6-12 months. 
By then, the people who moved first will have already locked in the audience, the authority, and the clients. 

This is that window.

In the video I go over: 

1. What LinkedIn's new AI algorithm actually rewards (and what it now punishes)
2. The content format that converts followers at the highest rate right now
3. How to turn LinkedIn attention into actual revenue for your business
4. A pre-validation method that takes the guesswork out of every post
5. Why most personal branding advice is making it harder for you

I did a video like this on my previous channel,
And it went on to become my highest-performing video on that channel. 

Every bit of advice I share comes from my own experience. 
As well as the data we're seeing across 100s of accounts every single day. 

So if you want to start making LinkedIn work for you this year. 
I deeply recommend you give this video a look. 
 
Once again, you can check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gxFXSsET

For those who may not know, after reaching 173,000 subscribers on YouTube. 
I decided to start again from scratch. 

The reason was to start a new kind of channel. 

I loved the podcast and interviews we did previously, but I wanted to share something new.

Something to genuinely help entrepreneurs build exceptional businesses.
Whilst showing how you can utilise leverage, your personal brand and AI.

So if you'd like to support the channel, check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gQFQcRza

I have very ambitious goals with this, so any support early on is very much appreciated ! 

💾 Save this to re-visit later and repost to help others take on LinkedIn
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For decades, marketing operated in a clear funnel. 

Now, it's taken on a completely new shape: 

And most marketers have yet to respond accordingly. 
Some might call it a network, others a web. 

But the point is that it's more complex, with far more touchpoints. 
And most businesses are only showing up at one or two touchpoints.

Therefore missing out on huge opportunities for visibility.

(To find where you're missing out, we actually have a free tool for just that at Searchable. Grab your free visibility report here: https://lnkd.in/g6XApkfm) 

This is what marketing actually involves in 2026... 

☑️ Google Search

What to do:

- Target conversational queries, rather than short-tail keywords.
- Strengthen your E-E-A-T signals by adding and updating content regularly.
- Answer questions directly in the first paragraph to capture featured snippet positions.

☑️ AI Search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude)

What to do:

- Structure your content with clear definitions, FAQ sections, and schema markup.
- Write in natural language that answers specific questions.
- Get mentioned on third-party sites, forums, and trusted publications. 

☑️ Social Search (LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, X)

What to do:

- Participate in genuine conversations in your niche. 
- Share original educational content that get saved and reshared.
- Publish consistently so the algorithm associates your profile with your topic.

☑️ Video Search (YouTube, TikTok)

What to do:

- Write video titles as questions people actually ask.
- Add full transcripts to every video so AI crawlers can parse the content.
- Create short summaries of longer content and publish them as Shorts or Reels.

☑️ Community & Trust Platforms (Reddit, Quora, G2, Trustpilot)

What to do:

- Seed value-driven answers on Reddit threads relevant to your category.
- Encourage customers to leave detailed reviews that mention specific use cases.
- Monitor and respond to mentions so AI platforms see active brand engagement.

☑️ Traditional Search (Bing)

What to do:

- Don't ignore Bing. ChatGPT pulls heavily from Bing's index.
- Optimise for Bing with clean structure, fast load times, schema markup.
- The brands that do are showing up in ChatGPT results their competitors aren't.

☑️ Voice Search (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant)

What to do:

- Write in natural, conversational language that mirrors how people speak.
- Answer "near me" and "best for" queries explicitly in your content.
- Format key pages as direct question-and-answer pairs.

Again, to spot where you are missing opportunities...
Highly encourage you to grab a free visibility report here: https://lnkd.in/g6XApkfm

Do you see marketing as a funnel or a network? 
Drop a comment below. 

♻️ Repost to share the new search model with your network. 
Follow Chris Donnelly for the latest updates in SEO and AI search.

The number one most ineffective phrase within business: 

”Let’s create a plan”. Here’s why: 

An incorrect plan means poor execution and no growth.

In order to approach your business with clarity... 
Adopt these 3 types of planning 👇

Strategic Planning 🗺️

What is it:
Sets the long-term vision and direction for the business.

Timeline:
3-5 years out.

Use case:
Deciding to expand into a new market.
Choosing to build a product vs acquire one.
Planning a fundraise or an exit.

Suited to:
CEOs, Founders, Co-Founders, Board Members.

Top tips:
Keep it to 3 priorities max.
Decide what you WON'T do.
Revisit it annually.

Common errors:
Setting goals so vague they could mean anything.
Avoiding the hard trade-offs.
Trying to go after 5 markets at once and winning none.

Tactical Planning 🔀

What is it:
Turns the strategy into specific initiatives and projects.

Timeline:
1-3 years ahead.

Use case:
Launching a European sales team to support expansion.
Hiring 10 engineers over 6 months to ship a new product.
Running a paid beta programme for a new features.

Suited to:
Head of Departments, VPs, Senior Managers, COOs.

Top tips:
Assign one owner per project.
Set quarterly checkpoints.
Kill projects that aren't working.

Common errors:
Taking on too many initiatives at once.
Building plans that sound good but have no clear owner.
Spending 3 months planning and 1 month executing.

Operational Planning ⚙️

What is it:
Daily and weekly execution of tasks and processes.

Timeline:
Days to 12 months.

Use case:
Weekly content publishing schedule.
Daily sales outreach targets and pipeline reviews.
Monthly reporting cadence.

Suited to:
Team Leads, Managers, Project Managers, Individual Contributors.

Top tips:
Build SOPs for anything done more than twice.
Track the 2-3 KPIs that actually matter.
Keep plans realistic.

Common errors:
Confusing being busy with making progress.
Losing sight of why you're doing the work.
Overloading teams with tasks.

I see many teams blending all three and lack clarity to progress.

When you separate it into these three approaches, it's a bit of a progress unlock to be honest.

Give your team the clarity they need to grow !

Anyway I'm curious to hear your experience with planning in your business...

Is it something you or your team typically struggle with?
Let me know and I'll see if I can provide guidance.

- - - -

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We are still very early with AI. But learning Claude alone won't cut it. 

These skills will serve you for years to come: 

Until last year, I thought my level of AI knowledge was pretty high. 
I've been learning it consistently every day for several years. 

But building Searchable has been a humbling experience. 
And I'm more convinced than ever of how incredible this tech can be. 

However, there are some AI skills that are more worth learning than others. 

If I had to start over and learn AI again...
These are the top 10 I'd put my energy towards: 

1. Prompt Engineering
→ This is the difference between average and great output.
→ Learn this to have the AI think like an actual strategist.
Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity.

2. AI Agents
→ AI that doesn't just reply, it finishes tasks end-to-end.
→ Use it to automate jobs you'd normally hand to an intern.
Tools: OpenAI Agents, Crew AI, LangGraph, LangChain.

3. Workflow Automation
→ Combining tools so routine work happens without you.
→ Use it for tasks that are repeated, like reporting.
Tools: Make, Zapier, n8n, Bardeen

4. Agentic AI
→ AI that can plan, adapt, and self-correct on its own.
→ Use it for complex multi-step tasks like research.
Tools: OpenAI o4-mini, Claude Code, Reflexion, DSPy

5. Multimodal AI
→ AI that works across text, images, audio, and code.
→ Use this to turn a rough idea into a full campaign.
Tools: Gemini, Claude 4.6 Sonnet, OpenAI Vision, Stable Audio

6. RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
→ This is teaching AI to pull from your ownable data.
→ Use it for tasks where accuracy is absolutely essential.
Tools: Pinecone, LlamaIndex, Haystack, Elastic

7. AEO / GEO (Answer & Generative Engine Optimisation)
→ This is making sure your brand shows up in AI answers.
→ Use this if your business requires multi-step marketing.
Tools: Searchable (Yep! Just the one... it's all you need 😉)

Our free visibility report will show you where you're at: 
https://lnkd.in/gMNzzNG3) 

8. AI Tool Stacking
→ Combine your best tools so they run as one system.
→ You can then build always-on workflows to cut costs.
Tools: Notion AI, ClickUp AI, Airtable AI, Zapier AI

9. AI Content Generation
→ Content at scale without having a big marketing team.
→ Leverage this for daily posting, video edits, etc.
Tools: Descript, Saywhat, OpusClip, ElevenLabs

10. LLM Management
→ This is about controlling the cost and performance of AI.
→ Without this, you won't be able to properly track ROI.
Tools: Arize AI, TruLens, Helicone, Weights & Biases

There's a lot of buzz around AI "replacing" folks. 
And, depending on what you do, it could happen. 

So my question to you is: 

When AI arrives, will you complain and do nothing...

Or will you take the time to prepare yourself for its arrival? 

----

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I'm 35. I started building businesses at 21.  

If I were to do it again, I'd focus on these skills: 

I've spent the better part of 15 years growing startups.
And when I say I've learned lessons the hard way, I mean it. 

Some mistakes were unavoidable, but others could have been solved faster. 

It really all came down to the skills I did or didn't have. 

If I could snap my fingers and have learned these at 21, I would. 
It would have saved countless hours of making and learning from mistakes. 

There are others, of course, but these are my top 10: 

1. AI Literacy
↳ AI is the biggest shift in how work gets done since the internet. 
↳ If you don't understand how to use it, you'll be left behind. 

2. Agency
↳ Agency is the belief that you can change your circumstances. 
↳ Without it, you'll always be waiting. Start small, but start now.  

3. Adaptability
↳ The entire business landscape will be completely different in 5 years. 
↳ If you can't adapt quickly, you'll be stuck in a dying market.

4. Critical Thinking
↳ Most people accept information at face value. 
↳ Critical thinkers question assumptions and make better decisions. 

5. Systems Thinking
↳ Systemising anything makes it easier to handle. 
↳ If you can't see the system, you can't fix it or scale it.

(Try subscribing to my newsletter to work on this !
Here: https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb)

6. Public Speaking
↳ Your ability to communicate ideas clearly determines your outcomes. 
↳ It's a non-negotiable.

7. Negotiation
↳ Everything is a negotiation. Salary, contracts, partnerships, deals. 
↳ If you don't know how to negotiate, you leave money and opportunity on the table.

8. Time Management
↳ Time is your only non-renewable resource. 
↳ If you can't manage it, you'll be "busy" without making progress.

9. Delegation
↳ You can't scale if you're doing everything yourself. 
↳ Learning to delegate effectively is the only way to grow beyond yourself.

10. Pattern Recognition
↳ The best founders spot patterns early.  
↳ Pattern recognition is how you get ahead of trends.

Find the full breakdown in the carousel below 👇

Save this. You'll need it as things start to move quicker and quicker and quicker...

If you're in your 20s, learning these will put you ahead, I promise.
And if you're not, it's not too late to start. 

But do start now. Things will only get more competitive with time...

For more in-depth advice on what it takes to build smarter today, 
Subscribe to my newsletter Step by Step: https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb

What's one skill you're focused on in 2026? 
Comment down below. 

♻️ Save this and repost to help others upskill early on. 
And follow Chris Donnelly for more resources like this.

 I'm 35... 

SEO was never "easy"... but it was simpler.  

Then the behavioural shift happened that you cannot ignore.

And now SEO is not just about Google anymore. 

It's expanded to LLMs and AI Overviews on Google. 

You might not even know if you're visible in these AI responses or not...

(Btw, Searchable has a free tool that checks your visibility and gives you a full report: https://lnkd.in/g6XApkfm)

ChatGPT processes 2.5 billion searches daily.

And a good chunk of those are going to determine purchases...

Businesses are still in denial about it, but I suggest you don't be. 

Here's what you need to know 👇

1️⃣ There are 3 types of search visibility: 

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
Outcome: You rank higher on Google, so more people find your website.

AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)
Outcome: You become the direct answer Google gives.

GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation)
Outcome: AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini cite your brand.

2️⃣ Old SEO is not the same as New SEO. 

Old SEO focused on:

- Keyword density and exact match phrases
- Backlinks at volume (quality was secondary)
- Page rank and domain authority
- Getting clicks to your website

New SEO focuses on:

- Natural language and question-based content
- Authoritative citations from trusted sources
- Entity recognition and schema markup
- Being cited before the click happens

3️⃣ You need to be found inside LLMs. 

There are 4 levels to this.

Level 1: Crawlable
AI can access your website.

- AI crawlers are not blocked in robots.txt
- Site loads fast, clean HTML, updated sitemaps
- But being crawlable doesn't mean being visible

Level 2: Understandable
AI can make sense of your content.

- Schema markup implemented 
- Clear headings, Q&A formatting, short paragraphs
- Answer-first structure so AI can extract what it needs

Level 3: Trustworthy
AI recognises you as a credible source.

- Backlinks and citations from high-authority domains
- Real author bios with visible credentials on every page
- Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Google Knowledge Panel claimed

Level 4: Citation-Worthy
AI actively recommends and cites your brand.

- Original research and proprietary data
- Content that answers specific questions 
- Recently updated and fact-checked regularly

When we built Searchable, we implemented all this knowledge into the product to help businesses rank inside LLMs 
(Without working harder)...

And I'm thrilled with the results so far: 

£1 million turnover in 60 days
700+ paying customers
Winning clients daily from legacy SEO competitors.

It's completely automated to find gaps and fix them autonomously.

Which you can find with our free AI Visibility Report: https://lnkd.in/g6XApkfm

Has your business started optimising for the new SEO?  

💾 Save and Repost to share this guide with your network. 
And follow Chris Donnelly for more on SEO/AEO/GEO.

90% of startup tasks can be automated by AI (Harvard) 

Here's how to build a $1M business by yourself: 

2 years ago, start-ups required: 

- A team of 50 
- Millions in VC funding
- A fancy office in San Francisco

But AI has eliminated the need for all that.  

Today, you can start a business with just: 

- Zero employees 
- A laptop and a good wifi connection
- Knowledge of the right AI tools

There is almost no barrier to entry at this point in time. 

All you have to do is follow these steps 👇

1️⃣ Spot the Pain 
↳ Find a boring pain point (repetitive, costly, ignored).
↳ Map out the workflow: inputs → steps → outputs.

2️⃣ Start as a Service 
↳ Do the job manually as a productised service.
↳ Prove demand before automation. Charge from day one.

3️⃣ Choose Your Business Model 

✅ Productised Services 
✅ Cohorts/Courses 
✅ SaaS/Micro-tools 
✅ Templates/Digital Assets 

4️⃣ Build a Marketing Engine 

✅ Find pain points with Listen Labs & AI research.
✅ Build a site and create content (Lovable + Searchable).
✅ Use Clay + Mutiny to personalise content. 
✅ Track traffic and mentions in ChatGPT or Perplexity using Searchable.

5️⃣ Create an Operations OS 
↳ Rule: If it repeats → automate. 
↳ If it needs judgement → template.

✅ Use Lindy for inbox, scheduling, CRM.
✅ Fathom is great for call memory.
✅ Cursor builds internal automations.
✅ Precision is the cockpit of live KPIs.

6️⃣ Sales Engine 
↳ Follow this pipeline: Capture → Qualify → Nurture → Close → Expand.
↳ Use Gamma decks to show problem → proof → plan → price.

Then follow one of these formulas: 

£3k/mo × 28 clients = £1m
£1k product × 84/month = £1m
£199 SaaS × 420 subs = £1m

(With the math laid out like that, it's not as daunting !)  

We're entering the era of 1-person, AI-powered businesses, 
Which makes this a golden age for founders. 

And as always with these things, the early bird will get the worm...

Which, in this case, means earning millions in revenue. 

But be aware: 

The perfect business doesn't stand a chance if customers can't find you. 
Google matters, but so do LLMs (ChatGPT, Perplexity) and AI Overviews. 

That's why 100s of founders are already using Searchable. 

It's an autonomous SEO & AEO Growth Engineer that analyses and fixes your website automatically to ensure visibility everywhere your ICP is searching. 

Learn more and get started for free: 
https://lnkd.in/epgXyFmi

And if you're still unsure about where to start, subscribe to Step By Step. 

It's a practical, digestible breakdown of everything I've learned building multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses over the last 15 years. 

Join 200K+ founders already learning 👇
https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb

♻️ Repost to share with potential founders in your network. 
And follow Chris Donnelly for more on building smarter in 2026.

AI Agents and Agentic AI are not the same thing. 

Your competitors already know the difference:  

There are actually 3 major types of AI workflows you need to know.

Each one fills a slightly different gap in your business.  

But be warned: the window is narrowing. 

Your competitors are already using them to automate their businesses.  

Here's how they differ (and how to use them properly): 

🤖 Non-Agentic AI
↳ Basic prompt-response AI with no memory/reasoning. 

⚙️ How it works:

- User types a single prompt, model processes 
- Generates a direct response immediately 
- Interaction ends with no context retention

✅ Pros:
↳ Fast, cheap, and universally accessible
↳ Requires no technical build or integration
↳ Great for clear, one-off tasks

🚫 Cons:
↳ No reasoning or context awareness
↳ Quality depends heavily on prompts
↳ Struggles with multi-step work

📈 How to build fast:
↳ Open ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini
↳ Write clear, specific prompts with context
↳ Copy output, edit as needed, and repeat

🧠 Agentic AI
↳ A self-managing AI system that can plan and execute. 

⚙️ How it works:

- The system breaks your goal into sub-tasks
- Connects to tools, APIs, data sources 
- Evaluates results with feedback loops

✅ Pros:
↳ Handles complex, changing projects 
↳ Can integrate with tools and databases
↳ Produces more reliable outcomes 

🚫 Cons:
↳ Slower and more expensive than agents
↳ Requires human oversight and guardrails
↳ Risk of overbuilding for simple problems

📈 How to build fast:
↳ Start with a code-native LLM like Claude Code
↳ Give structured goals, constraints, & acceptance criteria
↳ Add an execution loop and persist memory

⚡ AI Agent
↳ Single-task AI worker designed to automate one task.

⚙️ How it works:

- User defines one clear responsibility
- Agent receives inputs, accesses connected tools
- Executes and outputs without guidance

✅ Pros:
↳ Automates repetitive, time-consuming tasks
↳ Quick setup and cost-efficient
↳ Easy to test and refine within roles

🚫 Cons:
↳ It can't handle broader projects 
↳ Breaks if inputs are unclear or data is missing
↳ Needs orchestration to work alongside other agents

📈 How to build fast:
↳ Define one clear outcome with measurable success criteria
↳ Connect the agent to structured inputs (e.g. CRM)
↳ Use worfklow tools like Zapier, MNake, or n8n

TL;DR: 

AI Agents perform single-task automation. 
Agentic AI is for multi-step problem solving.  

Dominant businesses have graduated to building these AI systems.  

Searchable is the perfect starting point for Agentic AI. 

It analyses your site, identifies visibility gaps across Google and AI search, and optimises your website for SEO and AI search.

Letting you focus on your business.

Start your 14-day free trial here: 
https://lnkd.in/epgXyFmi

--

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84% of people have never used AI. That's quite shocking.

Here’s how you can take advantage of this: 

There are 8.1 billion humans on the planet. 

Of those, around 1.38B (16%) use a chatbot. 
And between 15-25M (~0.3%) pay ~$20 per month to use AI regularly. 

Of course, it's a bit skewed as some countries do not have the tech yet. 

But it's still huge if you think about the competitive advantage. 

When you're in the AI space, it might feel like you're falling behind. 

But I like to think of it in a different way...

The vast majority of people haven't even touched AI.

And as someone who has built an AI start-up to over $1.5m ARR in 60 days...
This is where we are headed... And fast. 

(It's happening faster than any other tech development in history.) 

That means if you can start seriously building with AI, 
You'll be miles ahead. 

That's what we did with my new business Searchable.
We took advantage of this rising tide and went all in. 

And it's easier than it sounds. 

All you need is to start learning and applying those lessons every day. 

Choose 2-3 tools and become very knowledgeable about how they work. 
Then start to implement them to automate parts of your business. 

It can be messy at first, but the point is you're getting started. 

ChatGPT has ~800m monthly active users.
And look at this graph, it's only the beginning. 

If you can get out ahead of this, the implications will be massive. 

This is true of building your business and getting your name out there. 

We've seen the rise of people asking ChatGPT questions, rather than Google.

Now, when they shop, they get immediate and direct answers.
As opposed to a wave of blue links...

The businesses that position themselves now will benefit from this shift. 

But the window won't stay open forever. 

Most of your competitors are still figuring out if AI is a fad.

You can be the one who's already ranking in ChatGPT when they finally show up.

If you want to see where your business ranks in AI search right now, 
Try Searchable's AI Agent: https://lnkd.in/gVwCJJDX

It's a free tool you can ask any questions RE SEO, AEO, or GEO.

That will be your first step to capturing millions of clicks.

♻️ Repost if this shifted your perspective on AI.
And follow Chris Donnelly for more practical insights like this.

Relying completely on Google SEO is a thing of the past. 

AI citation should be your focus:  

99% of marketers are still optimising for Google. 

Meanwhile, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude are reshaping search.

(If you want to quickly check how they are impacting your website, 
We have a free agent you can try: https://lnkd.in/gasKu7jB)

Each AI engine handles citations differently. 
Here's how to optimise your content for all three: 

ChatGPT: The Volume Engine
↳ Citations appear in separate "Sources" panel
↳ Needs authoritative domain signals
↳ Loves structured FAQ formats
↳ Target high-volume topics with current data

Perplexity: The Transparent Engine
↳ Shows inline citations with direct links
↳ Prioritises recent, authoritative sources
↳ Needs precise, quotable statements
↳ Creates actual referral traffic

Claude: The Context-Aware Engine
↳ Focuses on well-reasoned content
↳ Prefers detailed methodologies
↳ Values balanced, objective viewpoints
↳ Targets professional use cases

The Cross-Platform Strategy:
Create content that works for all three:

→ Lead with clear, quotable statements
→ Include comprehensive background
→ Add detailed methodology
→ Use structured headings and data

Citation Readiness Checklist:
✅ Author credentials displayed
✅ Publication date prominent
✅ Sources documented
✅ Statistics verified
✅ Scannable formatting
✅ Regular updates scheduled

Weekly Actions:
✅ Test your brand in all three systems
✅ Screenshot citation appearances
✅ Track competitor mentions
✅ Update underperforming content

Proactive businesses won't wait until they're already behind. 
They'll start optimising for AI now to dominate visibility all year. 

While your competitors are still focused on Google, you'll already own: 

→ Traditional search results
→ AI Overview features
→ ChatGPT recommendations
→ Perplexity citations

If you want to see where your business stands, 
Try the FREE agent out today: https://lnkd.in/gasKu7jB

The shift to AI search is happening faster than expected. 

How are you preparing for the new era of search? 

----

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Claude is now considerably better than ChatGPT.

These 8 prompts will help you get 10x output:

I mean, with Claude...

You have Cowork for automation, 
Code for building (now integrated with Figma !), 
and the core model for strategic thinking.

If you're a founder, you'll get more out of prompting Claude than any other AI tool.

But most people still use it to write pretty basic content (at best)...

Follow these steps to prompt Claude properly:

✅ Be specific about context
Give Claude your company stage, team size, budget, and constraints. 

✅ Ask for reasoning
Saying "tell me why" forces the LLM to show its work and catch flawed logic.

✅ Define your output format
Once you do this, you do get usable results much faster.

✅ Set the role
Try "you're a hiring manager at a top startup" to calibrate the response, for example. 

✅ Provide examples when possible
Reference competitors, past work, or style guides even.

✅ Iterate in the same conversation
Claude remembers context. Refine answers instead of starting fresh each time.

Here are 8 prompts that turn Claude into a $10k consultant:

1. Pressure-Test My Business Idea

Forces Claude to identify the 5 biggest failure risks, analyse existing competition, and tell you what market conditions need to exist for success. 

2. Build My Go-To-Market From Scratch

Generates a 90-day GTM plan broken into pre-launch, launch week, and post-launch phases.

3. Stress-Test My Pricing

Analyses if you're underpriced, overpriced, or positioned wrong. 

4. Prepare Me For a Board Meeting

Drafts a confident board update covering progress against goals, key metrics, biggest risks, and clear asks. 

5. Evaluate Whether I Should Build or Buy

Walks through the build vs buy decision with cost, time-to-value, maintenance, and strategic risk analysis. 

6. Write a Job Description That Attracts A-Players

Creates a JD that attracts high performers by being specific about challenges, impact, and who thrives in the role. 

7. Map My Competitive Landscape

Analyses each competitor's positioning, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses. 

8. Plan My Next Hire

Tells you which hire gives you the biggest leverage based on your bottlenecks. 

Claude can be a free 24/7 strategic advisor...

But you have to know which questions to ask and how to ask them.  

These prompts will do just that. 

We built Searchable to respond to very similar prompts. (No coincidence) 

You can ask it strategic questions about your visibility against competitors... 

And it will give you detailed analytics and actions for both traditional and AI search.

We have a 14-day free trial up and running: 
https://lnkd.in/epgXyFmi

Have you started using Claude yet? If so, what's your take? 
Drop a comment below. 

♻️ Repost to help founders in your network build smarter.
And follow Chris Donnelly for more on building with AI.

Deciding to hang up my football boots at 18 and chase entrepreneurship changed the entire trajectory of my life.

Here’s what happened next:

2018: Quit professional football after representing Scotland at youth level. No plan. Just a feeling that there was something bigger out there.

2019: Joined university and stumbled into entrepreneurship at Bright Red Triangle. Learned my first lessons in sales, content, and surviving off side hustles — video editing, PT, selling double glazing… whatever paid the rent.

2020: Founded a health-tech startup with BRT’s support. We won 2 international awards. We also learned the hard way what “too early” and “too ambitious” really mean. Paused the project.

2021: Joined another mental health tech startup. We nearly closed our seed round but missed it. Another painful lesson, but it sharpened my understanding of GTM and investor psychology.

2022: Landed my first pure sales role at OnceHub under the mentorship of Adam Parnell — the guy who shaped how I lead teams today.

2022: Moved up the sales value chain into Shine Interview. Got my first official leadership responsibilities. Fell in love with outbound and GTM.

2023: Quit to launch my own fractional marketing consultancy. Hit $5K MRR but couldn’t break through. Failed forward.

2024: Started Traction — a tiny outbound agency with a big obsession for client results. We hit 95.2% success rate, kept clients for 6+ months, and passed $20K MRR. Most stable thing I’d ever built.

2025: Moved to Australia alone. No network. No safety net. Hit the $25K MRR ceiling… and then Instantly.ai entered the picture.

I joined as the lead of Instantly’s first-ever done-for-you outbound programme — Instantly VIP — and helped turn it into one of the fastest-growing GTM services in the world.

If you’re not yet at the stage where you’re scaling a full outbound engine then maybe my team at Instantly can help.

🔗 Website: https://instantly.ai/vip

🔗 VIP Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7384166190551572480/

🔗 Speaking / Podcast Appearances: email aaron@instantly.ai

Aaron. Reid

It’s 6am in my crazy coffee shop and someone asks me “how do I win at outbound?”

My Answer:

Think of your prospects biggest outcome (in relation to your offer) then think about the biggest hurdle stopping them from achieving it.

Imagine you fired everyone of your users/clients and focussed your whole product/service to this specific prospect.

Now think…how could I make this offer super low in resource/time/cost to deliver (even automatic) while retaining as much of the value as possible so someone would still pay $100+ for it.

Come up with 3/4 of those free lead magnets, send 10k emails and decide which one performed the best. Double down and scale.

No results? Repeat process until you win.

Then test a bunch of approaches to max meetings set and meetings closed.

Voila, there is your outbound motion. 

Enjoy your coffee

Leader of the Instantly VIP Team, GTM Voice [20k+ Opportunities Created], Former Agency Owner, 2x Founder & Ex-Pro Footballer.

How to sell your 100k service for 1k in 10 months.

*oops typo (but I got you 😉), 1k service for $100k in 24 hours.

Everyone lands at 8pm.
Regardless if they travel economy, business, first class.

So why are competitors charging 10 times more than you while offering an identical service to you?

Hormozi cracked the code:
Value = (Dream outcome × Belief it works) ÷ (Time to results × Effort required)

First class maximises the top and minimises the bottom. Your service can too.

5 shifts you can make today and this quarter:

👉 Sell the thing they want (usually more revenue), not the "how" you do it.
👉 Show proof, don't claim quality.
👉 Deliver it faster than Usain Bolt.
👉 Reduce risks to purchase through "skin in the game" pricing
👉 Remove their effort entirely

One rule: this only works if your product is actually good.

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The Battle

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