Stef Curcio

Growth Marketing Manager

LinkedIn client acquisition in <​15 mins/day | Trusted by the top 1% of LinkedIn’s Creators

“We don't have time to send DMs and create content”

This is the #1 LinkedIn lead generation problem for founders and teams.

- Some companies we’ve worked with have seen revenue boosts of up to 327% in <90 days -

⭐Some people who trust our services:
- Jasmin Alic (290k+ followers)
- Richard Van Der Blom (220k+ followers)
- Okoye Chinelo (150k+ followers)

… and many others.

Most businesses know they should have a DM strategy in place…

But let’s be real...

most people do not have time for this!

(And everyone hates DMs)

But LinkedIn lead generation comes hard for many for mainly 3 reasons:

1) Don’t know how to start a conversation
2) You are used to annoying pitch slaps
3) Have better things to do

We simply do this for you.

**Scale Acqusition**:

A system of AI agents that generates clients on autopilot

*Including*

✅Content Agent
✅Lead validator Agent
✅DMs Generator Agent
✅Appointment setter Agent

🔒**Safe:**
Avoid annoying account restrictions.

👬**Don’t burn through leads:**
Avoid the pray and spray approach.

⏱️**Timeline from start to results:**
Start to see 20%-50% reply rate in 14-21 days.


📈Case studies:

- Trevor Longino, Founder - Crowd Tamers, GTM agency: +$44k in revenue in 30 days
- Gal Agadi, Founder - Gravity, Content agency: +$90k in sales in 40 days
- Beatrice Vladut, Founder - B Branded, Branding: Doubled sales calls in 30 days
- Justin Fowler-Lindner, Founder - The Rose Garden, Lead generation agency: +12 clients in 90 days


✍️How to start:

Copy and paste the URL below to get and learn how to generate clients in <15 minutes a day:

https://bit.ly/15-min-acqusition

Founder

The FREE community for entrepreneurs that want to master Elegant Lead Generation

Join at: 

stefcurcio.com

"Prices are rising next month, but not for you"

Told me the owner of our local cafe in Okinawa.

I go to this cafe at least once a week.

I have introduced it to friends and family.

The owners are a beautiful couple in their late 30s with 2 kids.

They are pretty reserved.

But we have occasionally asked each other questions...

Out of curiosity.

I asked where they were from, why they built a cafe here, who did the renovations, and questions like that.

They asked me what I do for a living, where I am from and why I moved to the Okinawa countryside.

They felt like not raising the prices for me.

I feel that when you build an authentic bond, miracles happen.

You have access to things you did not have before.

But a bond is not somethign you can force.

It's something that is built out of pure curiosity and intention.

You cannot fake it.

If you do, people feel it.

P.S. You can try by yourself... Or do it with me. Just click on "Visit my website" above to start your outreach journey.

Clients with no traffic or followers on LinkedIn | Win the human, win the deal | Trusted by the top 1% of LinkedIn’s Creators

Personalized DMs aren’t the problem.

Getting no reply is.

The problem is not:

- Time spent personalizing DMs.

It is to spend time on DMs to:

- Be ignored
- Have long convos that go nowhere

It's impossible to get a reply to 100% of your DMs.

Or convert every conversation into a sales call.

But there are ways to:

Set yourself up for success.

I have helped 300+ professionals with their outreach.

And here is the fastest way to get to set up a predictable outreach system.

1) Go manual

Spend up to 10-20, even 30 minutes (if needed) per lead and create a hyperpersonalized approach. Reach out to 3-5 prospects/d.

2) Choose your MVP

If you get 2 positive replies with <50 DMs, stop and systemize. Otherwise, repeat: iterate with a new approach.

3) Scale

Keep a manual approach for 3-5 people/day while refining to improve conversion/decrease time spent. Automate/delegate/systemize for another 20 leads a day (approximate your manual approach, the best you can).

- Extra: Every single word has to be focused on the prospect.

P.S. Want to get my help finding your unique content and DM angle to convert leads? Click here: https://lnkd.in/gSRwVezB

Outreach loves action...

And hates overthinking.

I consult at least 1-3 people daily on DMs...

And the number#1 outreach killer is:

- Not doing outreach

Sounds like a ridiculous insight...

But you might have found yourself in one of the following scenarios:

- Not wanting to sound salesy
- Not knowing whom to target
- Not knowing how to start a conversation

The root issue here is the same:

Overthinking and inaction.

And outreach lives "in action".

And many keep that nagging feeling at the back of their mind that tells them:

"You should be sending DMs".

I have worked with many consultants and business leaders...

I have never seen anything that delivers results as quickly as outreach.

It is possible to start getting leads and clients virtually TODAY.

If you do not know where to start, do this:

1) Find leads that fit your ICP

Possibly active. And leave a comment on their post (if not, go to step # 2).


2) Send a connection request

Ask a question about their business.


3) Pivot

When they reply, ask a questionabout their business but related to your services.

P.S. If you want to start your outreach journey, click on "Visit my website" above to schedule a Positioning and prospecting session.

LinkedIn reach has dropped by 60-70%.

But there is a new opportunity in 2026.

LinkedIn, like other social media platforms...

Has reached a maturity point.

It was more sudden and steep because of AI.

A year ago...

Anything below 2-4k views was an "underperforming post" for me.

Nowadays, anything that cracks the 1k views is a success :)

(and I am grateful for every single view)

The opportunity on LinkedIn used to be mostly in the "exposure" of content.

And many are still so focused on what they lost...

That they do not see what is in front of them.


- Before:

You would get several leads a week from content.

CTAs in the content and templated DMs were enough to generate clients.

We didn't have time or need to reach out to each and every one of them in a personalized way.


- Now:

We get a few leads from content.

Templated DMs and CTAs are not as effective because the numbers are smaller.

And a personalized approach becomes the new opportunity.


Here is how I do it:

1) Comment on a lead's post a few times
Be intentional with each and every comment. No AI stuff.

2) Send a conenction request
If they do not connect with you first

3) Start a conversation
Be intentional with your DMs.

P.S. I am creating a resource to show you my entire warm outreach process. Comment or DM "outreach" to receive it when it's ready.

Got my first 47 clients with templated DMs.

Then it stopped working.

Reach dropped. 

Inboxes got saturated. 

The playbook I relied on became everyone's playbook.

I was relying on profile visitors and new followers.

But the algorithm was not as generous as it used to be.

Building relationships from content became harder.

So I had to find another way to keep leads coming in.

And what came out of it is a system that:

- Takes me 30 minutes a day instead of 2 to 4 hours.
- Does not rely on traffic or followers.

Watch the training here👇

https://lnkd.in/gXBkfqjQ

I don't talk business unless I receive permission in one of these ways:

- The lead opens up about an issue you can solve
- You receive a compliment about your [topic]

(I explain my entire process here https://lnkd.in/gXBkfqjQ )

Not everyone gets here on their own...

I gently guide my prospects.

Once I have a conversation...

I ask a simple "this or that" question to gently guide them.

Relationships are built on trust.

If I don't have it... 

I don't move the conversation forward.

For example, yesterday, a prospect replied 

"I'm selling on LinkedIn, but it's hard to keep up with how much time it takes".

Here, I know I have their trust and permission to pivot.

There are other ways to do outreach.

This is the way I chose.

P.S. Do you "talk business" in your first DM?

I am all in for human outreach.

But I am not anti-automation, because:

- You can use automation to enhance the human touch

(and do it outside of your account so it's safe)

Here are 3 examples where automation enhances the human touch:


1) Lead validation

This is a classic repetitive task that is vital, but can easily be done by AI.

This already saves 15-45mins a day, depending on volume.


2) Lead research

To create personalization, you need to do your research. AI is amazing at providing information that you can then turn into a personalized message. Like content recapping or identifying the lead's ICP for example.

This can save 1-3 minutes per lead.


3) Systemization

Knowing exactly when to comment on a lead's post or connect with them and having all the conversation context in one place with Extrovert before reaching out.

Also, if I need to create a reminder when the lead is not ready to have the conversation today, I set a reminder in Kondo: Superhuman for LinkedIn DMs.

Hard to quantify, but can easily save 10-20 mins/day.


Human touch does make a huge difference.

But seeing automation and AI as enemies of intentional outreach is a mistake.

You can use automation to enhance it and free up your time and mental space to focus on leaving intentional comments and DMs to your prospects.

P.S. I am teaching how to go from a stranger to clients to my community every week. Comment or DM "system" to receive the Doc of the program.

One thing I have learned about outreach:

It likes action.

It does not matter if you get it wrong...

Fail...

And get ghosted.

It's ok even if you pitch slap people...

What's important is:

- That you take the lesson.
- Apply the learnings.
- And move on.

You have a unique opportunity to get in front of your ideal clients.

It's up to you to make the best of it.

P.S. Do you DM at all?

Build and scale intentional Client Acquisition systems | Win the human, win the deal | Trusted by the top 1% of LinkedIn’s Creators

To grow a business intentionally means:

To say no a lot more than to say yes.

If:

An opportunity does not align, you say no.

A strategy does not feel right, you say no.

If you don’t want to offer it, you say no.

That is how you unlock the exact opportunities that energize you.

And that is how you grow your business intentionally.

I'm teaming up with Lana Iwabuchi. Leadership & EQ Facilitator and Founder of Rocklit, for a live Zoom event:

How to Grow an Intentional Business

How to generate leads and manage talent effortlessly:

📅 Tuesday, March 24 

⏰ 6pm Japan · 10am CET 

💻 Live on Zoom


Here's what we'll cover: 

→ How to build an intentional LinkedIn lead gen system that brings clients to you consistently 

→ How to scale by building something that energizes you, not exhausts you → How to attract, inspire, and grow the right people around your vision

The best businesses aren't built on hustle alone.

They're built on clarity, the right systems, and the right people.

If you're ready to grow with more ease and purpose, this is your event.

P.S. Click on “attend” to join the event.

I build B2B GTM (Go-To-Market) Systems on Clay

#1 GTM Engineering Advisor in the world with 900+ students, consulting the fastest growing B2B companies and the highest number of testimonials in the entire GTME ecosystem:

1) Clay Consultant Program: Land a Client in 60 Days Guaranteed
2) Fractional GTM Engineering (mid-market companies)
3) The 80/20 GTME Course (99$)

Author of 'The GTM Engineer', Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGLVG5HL

I am working with companies like: Appcue, Teramind, Vidyard, Procore, HeyReach, Isendu (Exited, now Sendcloud), Single Grain 

What people think about my Clay Consultant Program:

'Through the GTME Training program, we now deliver advanced workflows and measurable results for mid-market and enterprise clients, even securing retainers up to $12,000 per month'.

(Daniel Monteverde Founder @ LeadField)

“A client of mine, a major tech company, was blown away by the results and even asked how I managed to deliver such exceptional outcomes. Not even the most renowned agencies had ever achieved anything close during their years of collaboration.”

(Alessandro Martinengo, Managing Partner @ Chattwin, Early Stage Startup Investor)

“Michael’s Clay Consultant Program helped me land four consulting clients in just 60 days. I started from zero and his process gave me clear structure, systems and lead generation strategies that actually work. No guesswork, no noise, just practical steps and real execution. If you want to get clients fast and know exactly what to focus on Michael is the coach you need.

"(Asher Chua, Founder @ Revenue Journey)

“Since joining, we build campaigns ten times faster and manage 12 clients with a small team. Before, I wasted time and money on tools that didn’t deliver. Now I know that just three or four well-integrated tools are enough to get strong results in most niches.”

(Pablo Beitman, Founder &amp; CEO @ Blumo.io)

You can read all testimonials at clayoperator.com

Michael Saruggia

Most companies don't know Clay
Most companies don't know Claude
Most companies don't know Outreach

It's crazy how everybody screams about saturation and replacement and they have absolutely no idea how the market thinks and works.

You live in a bubble of tech companies
You live in a bubble of content called GTM Engineering or AI in GTM

If you network with senior people in finance, RE or whatever other industry, you will realize how far they are from this kind of world.

We are like 0.1% of the evolution of the GTM world.

Saturation is just in your mind.

GTM Engineering | AI + Clay Consultant Program: Land a Client in 60 Days Guaranteed | Get My Free GTME Guide👇

State of GTM Engineering:

> 6-figures jobs
> Great company and compensation
> 40+ applications after over 1 WEEK

(Of those 40+ maybe 1-2 people are somewhat competent since pros simply run their own biz)

A similar application for an AE probably has 300+ applications in 24 hours.

If this isn't one of the craziest opportunities ever to upgrade your skill..

I don't know what it is.

> Get the skills
> Get the experience
> Build network + media

And I can guarantee you that this is the new golden era of GTM Consulting

Crazy if I think about some years ago

Here's how everything started

I was working with Alessandro Martinengo V. in a B2B SaaS in Italy

(by far the toughest thing to sell ever LOL)

Then we figured out about Clay, AI & GTM Engineering.

2 years later, together with Federico Costa:

> He built a 7-figure agency
> He hired a team and a co-founder
> He's on the path to becoming a leading GTM Agency & Data Broker in EU

(And some secret news we can't share yet aha)

I am emotionally involved since I've been following Alessandro's team from the beginning with my coaching and he's Italian too.

Super happy to become a Strategic Advisor for SalesMagic and get more hands-on work.

Claude will replace Smartlead
Claude will replace Loom
Claude will replace Clay

No it won't LOL.

1) Building and maintaining software is hard
2) The time/cost opportunity simply makes no sense
3) The problem is debugging, edge cases and security

If you are not selling a CRM, why did you spend 20 hours of your time building one and then you have to update it every X weeks because something breaks?

Unless your time is worth < $20 per hour it makes no sense

But sure my hacker friend, continue to vibecode a new Calendly competitor to save $10/month.

You smart.

The fact that you should doesn't mean you have to.

The real art is understand what to use and in what situation and quickly do a cost/time analysis. (Ex. many of my internal ops are run by Claude now).

This is so true

BUT I have 2 conflicting feelings:

From one side, it's clear that:

> Claude made people work 2X with less results
> Most people see Claude as a way to hide from real work
> Many outsourced their thinking to AI and got even dumber (decks, ads, outreach, projects)

While from the other side:

> Some people move way faster
> The 1M per year solo agency is now a reality
> You have to start learning it since it will evolve

My take:

Play with it but perform a cost/time analysis.

Does it make sense to replace a 10$/m app to work 20 hours?

Is it something that truly makes me better / faster / helps my clients?

Focus and time management is probably the #1 skill in 2026

Even more today than in the past.

-

Follow Michael Saruggia for more GTM Engineering Tips

Click 'Visit My Website' for my Become A GTME guide in the profile

I just used Claude Code to build a set of ready-to-use agents that you can steal. You can connect them to Clay, Hubspot or wherever. And I made a full document guide for you.

> Google Ads Library Scraper
> Facebook Ads Library Scraper
> My LinkedIn Flow Agent (semi-automated)
> My Twitter Content Flow Agent (semi-automated)
> How to connect everything to Clay, Hubspot, Wherever
> General Strategy, Productivity, Locally vs Claude vs Github

Like + comment 'SCRAPERS' and I will send the doc to you

Follow Michael for more GTM Engineering tips

Click 'Visit My Website' for my Become A GTME guide in the profile

From a career in Sales

To 6-Figure GTM Engineer

It's crazy how fast you can reinvent yourself when:

> You put in 5–10 hours per week
> You follow a path someone else has already taken
> You choose a proven direction that's working

Justin Roux was working in sales just a few months ago.

He discovered Clay and realized how big the trend would become.

I coached him for weeks and couldn't be more proud.

> He now masters Clay and all the top AI sales tools
> He works at one of the best GTM agencies out there
> He leverages his sales skills and new tech skills to be dangerous

Let's go, man!

-

Want to get into GTM Engineering? (close a client in 90 days or money back)

Check my 1-1 program here: clayoperator.com/program

The market is confused about the ROI of a GTME 

Here’s 27 VITAL problems that GTM Engineering solve

Data & CRM                                                                    

1. Dirty/duplicate CRM data slowing down sales teams                          
2. No standardized lead scoring or qualification framework                    
3. Missing or outdated contact/company data (enrichment)
4. Job Changes, Duplicates, Parent/Child accounts
5. Manual data entry eating up rep selling time

Outbound
 
6. Low reply rates on cold outreach (bad targeting, bad copy, bad timing)
7. No systematic way to identify and prioritize ideal prospects
8. Reps manually researching accounts instead of selling
9. No personalization at scale, every email feels generic
10. Deliverability issues, emails landing in spam

Inbound
  
11. Leads coming in but not routed to the right rep fast enough
12. No lead nurturing system, MQLs going cold
13. Website traffic but no conversion infrastructure
14. Form fills with no automated follow-up sequence
15. No visibility into which channels actually drive pipeline

Tool Stack & Integration

16. Disconnected tools, CRM, sequencer, enrichment
17. Paying for overlapping tools with redundant functionality
18. No automation between marketing and sales handoff
19. Manual reporting, pulling data from 5 different dashboards
20. New tools adopted but never properly configured or integrated

Pipeline & Revenue Operations

21. No pipeline visibility, leadership can't forecast accurately
22. Deals stalling in pipeline with no automated re-engagement
23. Job changes breaking CRM data and pipelines
24. Tech Stack consolidation: paying 5 providers when you need 1 
25. No systematic referral or partner intro process

Scaling

26. Processes that work for 2 reps but break at 10
27. Tribal knowledge, playbooks live in people's heads, not in systems

What else would you add?

More tips to become a GTME here: clayoperator.com/trainings

Jack Dorsey laid off 4000 people because of AI

This is 2026

On one side we have tens of thousands of tech workers (or knowledge workers) losing their jobs because a smaller team with AI can produce the same output as 10x more people.

All of us have 2 choices:

1) Scarcity mindset

Freaking out
Let scarcity mindset dominate us
Thinking we are lost, it's the worst time to be alive

or

2) Abundance mindset

Leverage the game to your advantage
It's never AI replacing people, it's 1 person + AI replacing people
It's  the best moment to be alive and build a $1M/year solo agency

One choice will attract other broke people

The other will attract opportunities

Choose wisely what content to consume and what you believe in

Because it has the biggest influence ever in your life

-

Want to know how to jump into GTME?

I wrote a guide for you (FREE): https://lnkd.in/gw6g424X

taplio

The Battle

Stef Curcio

Michael Saruggia

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreStef Curcio's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMichael Saruggia's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Stef Curcio

Michael Saruggia

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);}Stef Curcio's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMichael Saruggia's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreStef Curcio's LinkedIn Performance