The TRIBE

Think you're winning on LinkedIn™ by just focusing on your connections? Wrong move! You're overlooking 8 hidden communities, each a potential goldmine for your business. Think over 70% of your LinkedIn™ connections still matter? Think again. They're relics of your past: the college buddy, the ex-colleague, that nightmare boss, or the holiday acquaintance you impulsively added. What's their common thread? Their interest in you is a souvenir from your previous life, a dance long finished. Enter your followers - the fresh crowd. These are the folks who've recently signaled, "Hey, you've got something I need." They're here for your insights, hungry for relevance, and more likely to engage with what you have to say. The intent and potential here outscores those of your outdated connections. So, who deserves your focus now? Next: • don't underestimate the power of the hidden community on Page 6 • and the huge conversion opportunities from the community on Page 12 PS: Connections or Followers? Who do you focus on?

Yesterday I talked at PwC's EMEA Marketing Lead Meeting in Lisbon about the importance of Employee Advocacy. Today delivering a masterclass "Converting Leads" for a Finance Consultancy company. Here is my process in one infographic. Don't complicate things. Identify 👇 Create Engagement Lists (CRM, Sales Navigator, Aware etc) 👇 Engage (relevant insights, added value) 👇 Look for responses (answers, likes, invites) 👇 Act (invite to connect) 👇 Start conversations (offer valuable insights, position yourself as an expert) 👇 Add psychological triggers (to see if they are open to convert) 👇 Convert (to a first introduction meeting Still have some gaps in my agenda for your Annual Sales Kick-off. Want to kickstart sales in your company in 2025? We have some amazing LinkedIn™ sales programs waiting for you to embark! PS: Which step is the most important you think?

The moment has come! I’ve got a call with LinkedIn tomorrow—what do we need to keep this platform valuable? More of what? Less of what? Your input matters—drop your thoughts below! My "Open Letter to LinkedIn" post from always two weeks ago, generated a lot of engagements. More people are concerned about how this beautiful platform is evolving. The good thing, LinkedIn reached out and Product Development and Executive User Experience team want to share thoughts in a call. Points I addressed in my post and will be addressing in my call: 1. Feed Flooded with Nonsense  (Copy-Paste Content) 2. Automated Comments Killing Authenticity   3. Organic Reach is Tanking   4. Bullying & Toxic Behavior   5. Automated Spam Flooding Inboxes   6. Lack of Transparency and Accountability  What is your main concern? What is that one change or feature that will make a huge difference? How do we maintain LinkedIn™'s huge potential for business? Don't get me wrong, have been a huge fan of LinkedIn™ since 2005. But it needs us, dedicated members, to speak up every now and then. I more than ever need your comments.

Your LinkedIn Banner Can Make You Unforgettable in 3 Seconds.   But it makes many disappear into the black hole A LinkedIn banner is not a "nice-to-have." It's your visual elevator pitch—a tool to build instant trust, stand out, and drive real business results. 4 Reasons Your Banner Helps Your Business:  1. It’s your first impression.      - Don’t: Use blurry stock images or irrelevant visuals.      - Do: Use high-quality images with clear messaging on your unique value. 2. It reflects your personal brand.      - Don’t: Overload it with logos, slogans, or cluttered designs.      - Do: Highlight your USP and UVP. 3. It boosts engagement.      - Don’t: Use a corporate banner that screams, “I’m just another employee.”      - Do: Create a personalized design with social proof and keywords 4. It differentiates you from the crowd.      - Don’t: Forget that LinkedIn is about PEOPLE    - Do: Design banners that feel authentic, knowledgeable and approachable Advice for Corporate Marketing Teams:  ✔️ Create multiple banner templates for employees to personalize—showcasing their expertise, not just the company logo.   ✔️ Create personalized banners to amplify thought leaders in your organization. Position them as go-to experts in their field.   ✔️ Celebrate individuality within your team to showcase creativity and innovation.  Don't see your banner as a static image. It’s a conversion tool. Treat it as such.  So tell me, is your LinkedIn banner working FOR you or AGAINST you?   When was the last time you changed your banner? Some people that can do magic with banners: Darren Pallatina, Sadaf Sana Anwar, Nurjesa Shehadeh and many more Banner & Carousel made with Kittl, not "just another" design tool...

Your LinkedIn Post Isn’t Failing Because of the Algorithm. It’s You.   Let’s face it: most LinkedIn posts are ignored because they’re boring, irrelevant, or outright lazy... Before you blame the algorithm, ask yourself—does your post 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 engagement? Here’s how to write posts that earn it.  In this post, I’ll show you the exact framework I’ve used to write hundreds of LinkedIn posts that get people to stop, read, engage and convert. It’s not magic—it’s a method.  After working with 1,000+ clients and writing 1,000+ posts over the past 30 months, I know what works and what tanks. The difference often comes down to just a few simple tweaks. Here’s the no-excuse framework to write LinkedIn posts that actually work:  1. Start with a Hook That Shocks or Inspires      If the first line doesn’t punch, your post is dead.      - Example: “You’re doing LinkedIn wrong. Here’s how to fix it.”      - Tip: Be bold, be provocative, or spark curiosity—but 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 be generic.  2. Re-Hook to Keep Them Scrolling      Follow up your hook with a statement that deepens their curiosity or promises insight.      - Example: “This one tweak doubled my client’s LinkedIn engagement overnight.”  3. Add Value Immediately      Make it clear why they should care. What will they learn or gain by reading your post?      - Example: “By the end of this post, you’ll have a step-by-step guide to triple the engagement of your content strategy.”  4. Position Yourself as the Go-To Expert      Share your experience or results to establish credibility. If you’ve done it, say it.      - Example: “After analyzing 600,000 LinkedIn posts, I know exactly what triggers engagement.”  5. Write a Body That’s Easy to Read      Use lists, short sentences, and white space. Avoid dense paragraphs.      - Examples that work:        ↳ 3 paragraphs (problem, approach, solution)      ↳ listicles that are easy to follow, digest and implement 6. End with a Power Insight      Give your reader one actionable takeaway to apply right now.      - Example: “Start your next post with this sentence: ‘The one thing most people get wrong about X is…’ Watch the difference.”  7. Call to Engagement      I’ve just shared my framework. What’s 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 go-to tip for writing LinkedIn posts? Seize the opportunity to tap into my +210k network and share in the comments     8. PS      A question, a side-discussion, anything that sparks conversations    - Example: "Want more in-depth strategies? Drop a "🔥" in the comments, and I’ll send you my exclusive guide on mastering LinkedIn algorithms!" Now... Have you noticed that this post is written in the exact same way as the structure I just shared? Try it out in your next post and see the results for yourself.  

"Can you tell them all to upload our Corporate Banner?" - I won't "We want them all to like the Post on the Company Page!" - Why? The 1-million dollar question for Employee Advocacy! Do you want your employees to act like bots, mindlessly clicking 'like' and sharing corporate content? Or are you ready to empower them, amplifying not only your brand but also their personal brand?  Employee Advocacy is NOT...   ❌ Forcing employees to upload a generic corporate banner on LinkedIn.   ❌ Expecting them to robotically 'like' every post on your company page.   ❌ Pushing them to share scripted content that feels unnatural and inauthentic.   ❌ Treating them like megaphones to blast company promotions without value. Instead think of Employee Support... ✅ Equipping your team with tools and guidance to build their personal brand authentically.   ✅ Encouraging them to share stories and experiences that connect with their network.   ✅ Celebrating their achievements and expertise to build mutual trust and influence.   ✅ Empowering them to become thought leaders who naturally advocate for your brand. If your employee advocacy strategy is just about boosting your company’s reach, you’re doing it wrong. The real power lies in helping your people grow their own influence—because when they win, your brand wins too. We work to amplify 4 different roles of ambassadorship in your company: 1. Thought Leaders 2. Brand Ambassadors 3. Engagement Advocates 4. Potential Promoters No One Size Fits All approach Tailor made to tap into the needs of each role PS: Your banner? What's that ONE message you want to get across?

Are you selling to Executives using LinkedIn™? Like Mike Tyson or... Here is my 5 Step Social Selling strategy for successful selling... Why selling has become harder on LinkedIn The reality of reaching decision-makers on LinkedIn has changed drastically since 2021. Consider this: The average C-level executive now receives 6 times more InMails from sellers.     ↘️ More noise means lower open rates and diminished trust. They have 3 times more connections, including your competitors.     ↘️ Greater connectivity means more information, more options. Despite the increase in users, C-levels only spend 15% more time on the platform.     ↘️ If you don’t make an impact quickly, you’re out. So, how do you break through the noise? Step 1: Identify - Leverage the 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘰 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘥 (decision makers, influencers, champions). - Use LinkedIn's Sales Navigator to save Accounts and Leads on a 1:8 ratio. - Create a dedicated list to monitor their posts and comments. Step 2: Engage - Commit to engaging with their posts or comments for 2-4 weeks. - Leave thoughtful, relevant comments to position yourself as an expert. - Use comment “triggers” to test if they’re open to connecting. Step 3: Outreach - Use one of our proven 5 Hooks to send personalized connection requests. - For InMails, skip attachments or overtly commercial CTAs. - Your only outreach goal: get a response, not conversion Step 4: Build Credibility and Trust - Follow up with messages that add value: insights, event invites, or webinars. - Only share content after getting explicit consent. - Once you have permission, you can continue the conversation naturally. Step 5: Convert to Your First (Online) Meeting - Use the “Rule-of-3”:   - After 3 positive interactions, propose a 15-minute introduction call. - Sequence: Connection Request, Follow-Up Message, Content Share, Feedback. This is the exact method we’ve taught our clients. It’s what led a US software company to book 35% more qualified meetings from scratch in just 3 months. It’s how a European leadership consultancy boosted revenue by 20% in 4 months. No shortcuts.   No canned templates.   No automation tricks.   No “one-punch” strategies. Just doing the work, the right way—as a trusted advisor. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿? I still have some room in my agenda to inspire your sales (and marketing) team with a game changing keynote during your Sales Kick-Off. Just one DM away!

My Step-by-Step Guide to Uncover Leads in a Peers LinkedIn™ Network! And guess what? This method is 100% free on LinkedIn. No Sales Navigator required Let’s get real: 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵-𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵. I’m talking about tapping into hidden networks — without anyone knowing you’re there. No spammy outreach, no pushy tactics... just pure, under-the-radar lead generation. With just a few clicks, you can: • Find out who’s connected to your prospects   • Identify hidden decision-makers   • Uncover warm introductions and potential leads  ...all 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 anyone knowing you were there. A few years ago, even I was skeptical about using LinkedIn like this. But after seeing how it’s helped thousands of sales reps get ahead, I’m ready to share this. Here’s What You’re Doing Wrong: If you’re blindly sending connection requests and hoping for a response, you’re wasting time. Why not leverage the connections of your peers, competitors, or industry thought leaders to get warm leads and insights? Why This Works: People trust the recommendations of those they already know. By stealthily researching connections and engagement, you can pinpoint who’s influential in your industry and craft a highly targeted outreach strategy. Next time, instead of sending another cold message, dig into the network of someone who’s already influencing your prospects. Trust me, it’s a game-changer. 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗨𝗽? My Step-by-Step Guide to dive into your Competitor's network to protect or grow your Business. PS: What do you think of this strategy? 💥 my name is Richard. 🔺Supporting you leveraging LinkedIn for sales and marketing success. 🔺Providing training, consultancy and keynotes in 7 native languages with a team of 15 awesome colleagues Liked this post? Want to see more? 📥 save for later 💬 comment with a LinkedIn myth ♻️ repost for more visibility

On my way to Dubai Airport after 2 days of intensive training with partners, principals, recruitment and marketing team of Strategy& Middle East. The goal? Simple: get the partners and principals to 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 of LinkedIn's undeniable power in amplifying their Thought Leadership and elevating Strategy&’s Middle East brand to higher levels. Here's the thing—I don't waste my energy trying to convince my clients. Why? Because the moment I walk out the door, that push vanishes. But when they see the instant impact for themselves? That’s where the magic happens. It lights a fire, making them realize just how easy it is to outperform the 98% of competitors still asleep at the wheel. What we focused on? • Crafting a Thought Leadership brand that drives relevant visibility and influence. • Building a content strategy that not only elevates their brand but does so authentically—because let’s face it, time is money. • Mastering the art of networking with industry peers and executive clients. • And most importantly, making LinkedIn actually 𝘧𝘶𝘯—instead of a tedious burden. Thanks to Hala Maalouf and Christine Hachem for the wonderful reception and guidance on my first-ever-trip to Dubai. Also thanks to GUILLAUME LARRONDE for the little tour, the lunch and above all the great chats about LinkedIn and how to serve our clients. Again, a great example of the power of LinkedIn™ for real-life networking. Next one is on me in Valencia, mon ami. Next stop? Delivering a Keynote and a Break-Out Session on the NAILBA 43 event in Washington DC organised by Dan LaBert and his team. After that? Back to Europe to join PwC in Lissabon and provide an update on LinkedIn Marketing & Employee Advocacy, launching our Pyramid of Influencers But enough about me—what about you? Where's your journey taking you today?

Ever notice how all the gurus out there say it’s ‘not about the money’ once they’re already rich? Listen, I’m calling it like it is—success doesn’t come from two-hour workdays or vague ‘follow your passion’ slogans. The people who say that? They’ve already done the hustle, reached financial security, and then decided they could focus on “freedom.” But they didn’t skip the hard parts to get there. They deserve it, don't get me wrong, but... If you’re just starting out, understand this: building a business takes more than lofty ideas. It takes strategy, being able to deal with frustration and disappointment, and a relentless focus on growth. There’s nothing wrong with wanting wealth and success—as long as you’re putting in the work and keeping it ethical. For me, 2025 is all about hitting 1 million in revenue while keeping the spirit of true entrepreneurship alive. If you’re ready to do the real work, stop looking for shortcuts. Start building. Nothing wrong with having earning lots of money as an objective! Do you agree? PS: Those are not my real glasses