I'll cold call for you.

Try me out for £1,000.

30-50 conversations with your target market.

I'll provide the list, mobile numbers, and reporting.

All I need to know is the problems you solve, who you solve them for, and why they'd be motivated to solve them.

If it goes well, we keep working together.

If not, you walk away.

Mark Bangs

“Just pick up the phone to grow your business.”

It’s ok advice, but it misses most of what actually makes outbound work.

Before a single dial happens, you need to:

- Build a quality list without Sales Nav sprinkling in Yoga Instructors and Chemistry Professors

- Find reliable data that isn't full of wrong numbers

- Set up a CRM so you can stay on top of tasks

- Choose and configure a dialler so you're not manually calling everything

- Write and refine messaging that doesn't make you sound like a call centre in Bangalore

- Track follow ups (it takes us 4.2 dial attempts on avg to get a conversation with someone)

- Work the list consistently

That’s a big ask for a founder who’s already wearing five hats.

What usually happens is this:

A few good sessions, a few missed ones, and that non-negotiable “prospecting time” ends up being quietly removed from the calendar.

At that point, most revert back to relying on referrals or inbound,  neither of which are scaleable or consistent.

The truth is, cold calling works.

But it only works when it’s done systematically, every day, at volume, by people who live and breathe it.

That’s why founders outsource it.

Not because they can’t do it but because it's a ballache.

I book qualified meetings for founders and MDs 📞

Spoke with a company recently who said they don’t cold call as they know everyone in their market. 

Yet I routinely see their MD twerking on every teenager's post to get their super secret AI prompt or n8n workflow for lead gen.

Maybe he just didn't like me.

Or he’d spoken with Céan.

That’s more likely.

🚨 Comment "BRO" to boost my reach. 🚨

If your outbound sales efforts aren’t landing, it might not be your pitch or your people.

It might be your list.

If you’re calling people who don’t feel the pain you solve, or who aren’t motivated to fix it, you’re probably wasting time and money.

Before you invest in outsourcing or hiring salespeople, make sure you know your target market inside and out.

If you don’t, that’s fine.

Just recognise that your goal shifts from selling to learning.

Use outbound to validate your assumptions.

Every “no,” “maybe,” and “tell me more” gives you clues about your market.

The wrong list makes sales impossible.

The right list allows you to learn exactly what matters to your ICP, what questions/objections they're likely to raise, and ultimately what will motivate them to spend money with you.

LinkedIn engagement ≠ quality service

Instead of paying someone to do your outbound sales because their posts get loads of likes and comments, think about:

1. What are their clients saying about them?
(If anything)

2. How many will actually vouch for them?
(We can point to several)

3. What is their overall retention rate?
(Ours is 92.3%)

The "fractional SDR" space is getting more popular as people realise they can just post selfies on LinkedIn and work for themselves.

It's important to vet these people and ask what kind of results their clients are seeing.

If you've got monkeys dialling for you, don't be surprised if it ends up being a banana skin for your business (yeah I know, terrible...)

🙈

The list is the foundation of any outbound campaign.

If the list isn't right, everything else falls apart.

You can have great messaging delivered expertly, but it's all for nought you’re not speaking to the right people.

By “the right people,” I mean those who actually have the problem you solve, and who are motivated to solve it.

This is why clarity on your ICP isn’t optional.

If you’re not clear on who you help and why, you’re probably not ready to hire an outsourced sales agency.

And hiring internally could be disastrous.

That said, outbound can still play a role in finding that clarity.

If you have a working hypothesis of who your ICP is and what your value proposition might be, cold calling is the fastest way to test it.

Every conversation is a data point.

Every objection, question, or nugget of feedback helps you refine your message and/or targeting

By having live conversations you’ll very quickly know whether to pivot or double down.

I'd never do "brand partnership" posts.

Mainly cos I never get asked.

Researching prospects before cold calling can be a waste of time.

Hypothetical A:

+ 6 hours of dialling time
+ 5 mins of research per call
+ 2 min avg. call duration
= 51 dials (assuming you don't eat, drink, or pee)

15% connect rate = 8 connects
80% connect to conversation rate = 6 conversations

Hypothetical B:

+ 6 hours of dialling time
+ 2 min avg. call duration
= 180 dials

15% connect rate = 27 connects
65% connect to conversation rate = 18 conversations

So for all you hyper-personalisation "warm call" advocates, a genuine question:

Is the quality of your 6 conversations higher enough than my 18 conversations to justify having 1/3 as many?

Could it make more sense to build a list and go after it with a relevant message?

Business & Sales Strategist for Solos & Service Based Entrepreneurs | You know your craft, I help you close it at higher rates | Elegant Client Acquisition | Grow from $5K to $30K+ months | Company Training

Imagine a business that grows with ease, because your sales system actually fits you.

Clients you’re excited to work with.
Content that sparks real conversations.
Offers you can confidently sell without pressure
And consistent revenue that doesn’t depend on hustle or hacks.

That’s what I help coaches, consultants, fractionals and founders build, with The Elegant Sales System™ method.

Telling your business' story through right content 
Driving engagement that results in interest, engagement, messages and requests
Market in a way that warms an audience and places you at the front of mind
Keeping ROI in mind with a focus on conversion rather than views

→ You’re posting, but not converting
→ Getting DMs—but not decisions
→ Sales calls stall out or ghost
→ Your offer isn’t landing like it should
→ Leads feel random or hard to qualify

It’s not that you’re mediocre at sales.
You just don’t have a system built around how real people buy.

That’s what we fix inside The Client Acquisition Club.
I teach a no-pressure, sales process that combines:

✔️ Warm outbound
✔️ Buyer-led conversations
✔️ Follow-up flows that don’t drop the ball
✔️ AI to speed things up, not water them down
✔️ Real messaging that speaks to your client’s actual pain points
✔️ Scaling your business beyond $10K a month so you can focus your energy on what matters

Even if you're a consultant with big B2B cycles that are complex, we help you navigate the buyer matrix.

- Generate more leads, clients, and business without relying only on referrals or networking
- Create different income streams with courses, speaking + brand deals
- Magnetize your brand & build trust with premium buyers
- Consistently hit $20K+ months without working harder
- Shift from 1:1 to scalable hybrid group programs
- Sell with confidence & sell as you

I also work 1:1 with consultants and coaches who want deeper support and accountability as they grow into consistent 5-figure months (and beyond).

If you’re ready to build a sales process that finally matches your skill set and values…

I open 5 spots a month for a client acquisition audit: 

📩 DM me “CLUB” to get started or book a call here: 
https://calendly.com/charlotte-lloyd-sales/client-acquisition-club-introductory-call

🎧 Listen in or catch interviews here: https://linktr.ee/charlottelloyd

Charlotte Lloyd

I stopped trying to fix my daughter.

And it changed how I run my business.

My daughter is autistic.
She feels the world in a way most people don’t. 
Deeper. Louder. Sharper. 

Sometimes it floors her. Sometimes it floors me.

Every time I watch someone try to squeeze her into a box she was never built for…

…I think about how often founders do the same thing to themselves.

Especially around year two.
Year one is survival mode. 
You’re just trying not to drown.
Year two hits differently.

You suddenly realise the things you were told you “should” do don’t actually work for you. 

Not because you’re lazy. 
Not because you’re doing it wrong. 
Because you’re trying to run your business in a way your nervous system can’t stand.

That offer you dread delivering? 
That marketing tactic that spikes your anxiety? 
That “scalable” model that just scales burnout?
Yeah. That.

You’re allowed to walk away from the stuff that doesn’t fit you.
We forget this: 

Most of us left corporate because we couldn’t breathe in the tiny box they gave us. 

Then we go build… another box.

Watching my daughter move through a world that wasn’t designed with her in mind taught me something I didn’t want to admit:

Difference isn’t a flaw. 
Building around how 𝘺𝘰𝘶 work is a strategy, not a compromise.

Stop copying business models that drain you. 
Stop chasing goals that never felt like yours. 
Stop squeezing yourself into shapes that look “marketable” but feel awful.

What if you built the thing you actually need? 
The way 𝘺𝘰𝘶 need it?

Because the wild thing is… 
The more you honour how you’re built, the more everything else starts lining up.

On your terms. At your pace. No box required.

What did you let go of in year two that didn’t fit anymore?

Helping high performing solos, coaches and consultants win premium B2B/B2C clients with buyer-led selling and AI | Coaches, Consultants, Solos | Social selling for teams |

I stopped trying to build a group program like everyone else.
After 85 live coaching sessions in 
The Client Acquisition Club

It's time to showcase the brilliant work our members do.

And a membership it is, but in the spirit of empowerment and helping others.

I want to put the spotlight on them. 

Often group programs: 

Focus on results .
Promise connection, deliver surface-level interactions.
Are built for engagement, not transformation.

The Client Acquisition Club was designed differently from day one.

No endless networking events. 
Live coaching.

Sales and deal making strategy.
Actual solutions.

Here are just a few of them

Graham - 3D Motion Director
Steffan - Executive Leadership
Evi M. 👣  - Innovation Strategist
Briony - Sustainability Consultant
Joselina - Supply Chain Consultant
Jeff-  Leadership Coach for B2B Teams
Christoph - Executive Mindset Strategist
James - Leadership Coach for Engineers
Phyllis  - AI & Business Strategy Architect
Siobhan - Transformational Business Coach
Angelina - Marketing & Brand Visibility Strategist
Todd - Executive Coach for 8 & 9 figure businesses

All committed to growing their businesses.

All I ask: tag someone in the comments who might be looking for these services.

When we lift each other up, everyone wins.
♻️ Repost to amplify their expertise.

How do you sound natural on camera? 
Most people think it’s about being yourself. 
It’s not.

As Nausheen I. Chen in our OpusClip 
Video and speaker coach told me recently:

“If you don’t show energy, enthusiasm, 
and passion for your topic, no one else will feel it.”

You might know your subject inside out, 
but if you don’t bring that energy forward, people won’t believe it.

AI can write your script. 
It can edit your clips. 
It can even generate your captions.

But it can’t fake conviction. 
It can’t replicate human energy. 
And it definitely can’t make people 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 something.

When the spotlight’s on you, whether it’s a stage or your phone camera

You have to bring 𝟭𝟮𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.

Not the version of you who slumps on the couch. 
The version who believes deeply in what they’re saying.

You’re not performing. 
You’re communicating with intention.

Mastering your voice, energy, and body language 
Isn’t about being fake
It’s about being 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵.

If you want your audience to care, you have to go first.

Land high ticket clients with sales, psyschology and a sprinkle of AI - Coaches, Consultants, Solos | 3x top 100 powerful women in sales Demandbase | Company Training | Helped 300+ businesses and sellers

5 myths I stopped believing and everything changed.

1️⃣ "I need more experience before I can charge what I'm worth."

Your corporate background already proves your expertise. Stop underpricing yourself while you "build credibility."

2️⃣ "High-ticket clients expect me to chase them."

Wrong. Premium buyers want to feel chosen, not hunted. Scarcity sells better than availability.

3️⃣ "If I raise my prices, I'll lose all my clients."

You'll lose the wrong ones. The right clients were waiting for you to value yourself properly.

4️⃣ "I need to say yes to every opportunity to build momentum."

Desperation repels high-ticket buyers. Selectivity signals expertise and creates demand.

5️⃣ "Good work speaks for itself."

Silence doesn't sell. 
Your expertise needs a voice, a process
A clear path to transformation.

This isn't about sales tactics.

It's about:
→ How you position your value in the market
→ The boundaries that protect your energy and profits  
→ Systems that turn expertise into predictable revenue
→ Shifting from order-taker to strategic advisor

The gap isn't your experience or your network.

It's the courage to charge what you're worth and the systems to deliver it consistently.

Success is built one confident conversation at a time.

Which myth do you still catch yourself believing?

💾 Save this if you're ready to shift your mindset
♻️ Repost to help other consultants break through
➕ Follow Charlotte Lloyd for more high-ticket strategies

Post inspo from Jay Rahman

Most high achievers struggle when they start their own business.

But running my own business? That was the real test.

For years, I thrived on clear expectations.
Study hard, get good grades.
Meet targets, get promoted.
Follow the system, succeed.

The rules were set.
The path was mapped out.
Success felt predictable.

Then I started my own business.

Suddenly:
• No guaranteed salary at the end of the month.
• There was no boss to tell me what to do.
• No clear metrics to follow.

The skills that made me excel before?
They weren't enough anymore.

Being smart wasn't the challenge.
Being disciplined wasn't the issue.

The real test was learning to:
• Handle rejection and keep going.
• Trust my own judgment without validation.
• Sell my expertise when I'd never had to before.

In corporate, I had a team, resources, and established processes.
In business, I had to build everything from scratch.

The hardest part wasn't the long hours or financial uncertainty.
It was the mental shift.

From employee to entrepreneur.
From following to leading.
From certainty to constant adaptation.

Many of the consultants and coaches I work with face this same reality.

They were top performers in their careers.
They have incredible expertise.
But building a business tests different muscles entirely.

It's not about being less capable.
It's about learning new skills:

• How to scale beyond trading time for money.
• How to position your expertise in the market.
• How to attract and convert ideal clients.

The transition isn't easy, but it's worth it.

Because once you learn these new skills, 
You don't just run a business.
You aren't just self employed.

You create the freedom and impact 
You've always wanted.

What's been your biggest learning curve in business?

I wrote this post with MagicPost

We’re in a trust recession. A connection crisis 
Yet you’re still hiding behind text posts? 

Most founders think they need to “learn video.” 
They don’t.

Part 2 with Nausheen in this OpusClip who says
If you’re already posting on LinkedIn, 
you’ve already done the hard part.

Smart entrepreneurs, execs, and consultants hiding behind the keyboard.
They’ll happily use AI to write their posts but won’t show their face.

We’re not just in a trust recession. 
We’re in a connection crisis.
People don’t know what’s real anymore. 

They don’t trust filtered content. They trust 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴.
And yes, video 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 get less reach than text. 
But it builds 𝟭𝟬𝘅 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 with the right people.

Because video isn’t just content. It’s 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳.
📌 Proof of how you think 
📌 How you speak 
📌 How you handle challenges 
📌 How you carry yourself under pressure

Your clients aren’t buying your words. 

They’re buying 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
And if they can’t see you? 
You’re hitting a ceiling on your credibility, your conversions, and your growth.

Video isn’t optional anymore. 
It’s the fastest path out of the trust recession and into real connection.

taplio

The Battle

Mark Bangs

Charlotte Lloyd

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreMark Bangs's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCharlotte Lloyd's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Mark Bangs

Charlotte Lloyd

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);}Mark Bangs's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCharlotte Lloyd's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMark Bangs's LinkedIn Performance