Stop running ads and just build your brand.
Here's why:
If you're a service provider here on LinkedIn, think about how many clients you need for the rest of this year.
You might only need a handful, maybe 10.
So you don't need to be selling every day because you don't need new clients every day.
And your service isn't something people need to buy every day, either.
So your focus should be staying top of mind for people.
Building your brand so when they do need what you're selling, you're the first person they think of.
When you build your brand, you're making people feel like they know you, which means they'll feel comfortable reaching out to speak to you when they need to.
I'm not saying lead gen strategies and paid ads don't work.
They do.
But when you look at the amount of time they take to get you good leads, and the amount of money you'll spend to get those leads,
You're much better off using a brand strategy instead.
When you focus on brand, the quality of the clients that come to you will be way better than the ones that come to you through paid ads anyway.
So especially if you only need a handful of clients for the rest of this year, just focus on building your brand.
Climate Journey Roadmap
🌍
This diagram developed by KPMG provides a solid visual framework to guide companies through the process of aligning with climate disclosure requirements.
It is central to ESRS E1, the European standard for climate-related reporting, and increasingly relevant as other jurisdictions adopt similar expectations.
The framework outlines five connected phases that help translate climate ambition into structured actions and credible reporting.
It begins with governance, ambition, and strategy, focusing on defining climate goals, assigning responsibilities, and linking performance incentives to sustainability outcomes.
The second phase emphasizes identifying and assessing physical and transition risks through climate scenarios, helping businesses understand material impacts on strategy and operations.
Transition planning focuses on quantifying emissions, evaluating mitigation strategies, and integrating tools like internal carbon pricing and offset mechanisms.
Next comes defining concrete actions, allocating CapEx and OpEx, setting science-aligned targets, and creating an implementation roadmap.
The final stage embeds climate across core business systems, processes, and reporting infrastructure to ensure long term integration.
Beyond compliance, this roadmap helps businesses future-proof their operations and respond to increasing investor and stakeholder scrutiny.
It enables companies to move from high-level commitments to measurable progress.
It also provides internal clarity, helping align teams across departments and functions under a common direction.
As regulatory momentum builds, this kind of structured approach is becoming essential to stay ahead, manage risks, and seize opportunities in the transition.
#sustainability#sustainable#esg#climatechange
When I first met this founder, his agency was just another name in a crowded market.
He had the right services, but no one knew about him.
The problem?
He was relying on ads to get attention.
Here’s the truth:
People are tuning out ads.
They don’t care about flashy promises. They want to connect with real people.
Here’s What We Did:
1. Focused on Building His Brand
Instead of ads, we put him front and center. We shared his story, the real struggles, the wins, and the why behind his agency. People connect with people, not logos.
2. Content Over Ads
We stopped spending on ads and started sharing valuable content that solved problems. No sales pitches, just genuine conversations.
3. Built Through Organic Growth
We used organic growth to build real connections. We built trust, and his brand grew without spending a rupee on ads.
The Result?
• His agency went from just another name to a recognized brand.
• Leads started coming in naturally. People trusted him because they knew his story.
• No ads. Just authentic content.
Key Takeaways:
• People don’t trust ads anymore. They trust the person behind the business.
• Storytelling helps you build real relationships.
• Personal branding leads to organic growth and conversion.
• If you’re still focusing on ads to grow your brand, it’s time for a change.
• It’s not about shouting louder; it’s about connecting deeper.
Ready to stop chasing ads and start building a brand that resonates?
Drop your ideas and suggestions in the comments!
#DigitalMarketing#MitThakkar#Searchonic#BrandBuilding#MarketingStrategy#PersonalBranding#ContentMarketing#StorytellingMarketing#FounderBranding#AuthenticMarketing
Most founders think:
“No ads = no growth.”
But that’s not true.
You can build demand without burning a rupee on ads.
It just takes a different kind of investment.
Here’s how:
1- Positioning
If your message is unclear, no ad budget can save you.
Be specific about:
– Who do you help
– What outcome do you drive
– Why you’re the one to trust
2- Content
Founders don’t need “viral” posts.
They need consistent, credibility-driven stories.
Case studies, lessons, and sharp insights.
This creates awareness you can’t buy.
3- Engagement
Half the demand you want is already on LinkedIn.
But most founders only “post and vanish.”
Commenting on the right conversations builds more visibility than a sponsored ad ever could.
4- Trust Signals
Speaking gigs, press features, and even a few client testimonials were shared well.
These become assets that sell for you, even while you sleep.
Building demand is not about reach.
It’s about relevance.
When you own your positioning and show up with clarity,
You’ll attract the right inbound leads, without spending on ads.
#founders#personalbranding#business
In the past 6 months, I have:
• 7x'd my email list (from 1k to 7k)
• 8x'd my LI following (from 2k to 16k)
• And started to get 2-4 inbound leads per week
The crazy part?
80% of this growth has come from one tactic:
Viral giveaway lead magnets.
Here are my 4 go-to techniques to come up with banger lead magnet ideas:
1/ Expand
Start by looking at your best-performing social media posts and *expand* them into a lead magnet.
Why this works:
If a post resonated with your audience, the idea has already been pre-validated.
For example:
One of my most successful lead magnets actually began as a LinkedIn post.
After noticing the post had 4x my average engagement, I decided to expand it.
How?
By:
• Adding actionable ChatGPT prompts
• Including visuals (to make it digestible)
• Sharing examples (to make implementation easier)
If a post has already proven its value, don’t let it collect dust - turn it into a lead magnet!
2/ Compress
Next, find an in-depth resource you’ve already created:
• A course
• A presentation
• An internal document or SOP
And *compress* it down into an actionable lead magnet.
Why this works:
Usually the more time you’ve spent creating something, the more valuable it is.
For example:
A few months ago, I delivered a keynote presentation at a private mastermind event.
But after I was done, I realized the presentation was jam-packed.
So, I found the transcript & then created a compressed (but still in-depth) guide breaking down the same frameworks.
The bottom line:
You’re probably sitting on a TON of valuable assets you could repurpose as lead magnets.
3/ Replicate
Next, you can study lead magnets working well in other niches…
And *replicate* them for your niche.
For example:
Last year, I studied Tori Dunlap’s quiz funnel.
(Which helped her build a 700,000 email list.)
And by reverse engineering her framework, I realized I could build a similar lead magnet for myself.
If a strategy is proven to work, adapt it to your niche and make it your own.
No need to reinvent the wheel.
4/ Unbundle
Finally, my favorite way to create a banger lead magnet:
Unbundle your paid offer.
Ask yourself:
What’s a *small* problem your audience needs to solve before tackling the *bigger* problem your core offer solves?
Then, create a lead magnet that offers a complete solution to that narrow problem.
For example:
If you help clients sell homes (big problem), create a lead magnet that helps them write compelling listings (smaller problem).
This approach not only builds trust but also positions your paid offer as the natural next step.
And that’s it!
Now, the question is:
Which approach will you try first?
Let me know in the comments!
I did a workshop with beehiiv on how companies are adding $1M in ARR using founder-led newsletters. Here's the tl;dr:
But, first, why write a founder-led newsletter?
• 90% of your ICP isn’t in the market to buy TODAY. But when they will be, you’ll be the first person they think of.
• You can meet only once per quarter on a sales call with your prospects —
miss it, and you wait for 3 months. But a newsletter lets you talk to your ideal customers 2-4X a month.
• Newsletters help you go from "pushy salesperson" to "thought partner" if you focus on consistently providing value (more on that below)
• <20% of your social followers are likely to see your content, but 40-60% of your subscribers will open/read your newsletter
So, the question is not “if” you should write a newsletter, it’s “how.”
Here are 4 principles you can use:
1) Focus on who reads, not how many
I sent my first issue to 236 people I met at conferences / had already worked with.
Today, the founders of beehiiv, 1440, The Rundown, and most of the largest newsletter brands read it.
So don’t overthink. Just start.
And obsess over attracting the right audience instead of chasing # of subscribers - that’s a vanity metric.
2) Give away the secrets, sell the execution
My highest-performing content (60%+ open rates):
• Tactical playbooks (we share our ads playbook for the largest newsletter brands)
• Case studies (like how we drove $250K for a 15K-person newsletter)
• Also great: interviews with experts, guest posts, industry hot takes/trends
3) Focus on the four highest-leverage growth levers
• Lead magnets
I recommend some kind of triple T lead magnet (tactics, templates, or tools) that’s gated by a simple landing page in Carrd. People sign up to your email list to receive what you put together for them.
• The Dream 100 strategy
Create a list of people you’d love to work with → Find them on LinkedIn → DM them: Share value (lead magnet, past newsletter issue) → Invite them to subscribe to your newsletter
Example: (“Hey, I have a newsletter where I share growth/monetization tactics 2X a month. [people/brands they respect] are reading it. Mind if I add you?)
• Post on socials and share the newsletter link at the end
• Auto-DM new followers and send the newsletter link
4) Convert readers into clients
Step 1: Do interesting things and talk about them
Every Sunday, review your calendar from the past week:
• What questions kept coming up in calls?
• Which client problems did you solve?
• What frameworks worked?
That's your next month of newsletter content.
Step 2: Introduce subtle CTAs
• Show how you've helped similar clients and how you can help them.
Example: I shared how we helped a founder generate $250K and naturally mentioned we scale newsletters.
• I sign off with my LinkedIn and calendar link for anyone to book a call with me.
• After delivering value, I reach out 1:1 to book meetings.
Following this template, I grew my agency to $1M in ARR in 11 months.
$50,000 burned on ads.
What I learned could save your business.
At one point, I believed that throwing money at ads was how you grow.
More budget = more results, right?
Wrong.
I spent $50,000 on ad campaigns that didn’t work.
No ROI.
No growth.
Just frustration.
That’s where I learned one hard truth: most ads are designed for big brands, not small businesses.
If you’re running ads without smart strategies, you’re setting money on fire.
Here are three strategies that saved my businesses—and could save yours:
1️⃣ Weaponizing Happy Customers
Your customers can sell better than any ad.
- Screenshot their best reviews. Turn them directly into ads.
- DM your happiest customers and ask for quick video testimonials (4/10 will say yes!).
- Share these everywhere—social media, emails, even your website.
Cost: $0. Trust: Priceless.
2️⃣ Hijacking Micro-Influencers’ Audiences
Forget big-name influencers charging $5,000 per post.
- Find local or niche creators with small but engaged audiences (1–10,000 followers).
- Offer free products + commission for sales. Most will say yes—and they’ll work harder than paid ads.
Cost: $0 upfront. You only pay for results.
3️⃣ Resurrect “Dead” Leads
Your email list is untapped gold.
- Use this subject line: “Hey [NAME], we messed up...”
- Inside: Admit your mistake, offer an exclusive discount, and ask for feedback.
Why this works:
Vulnerability builds trust.
Trust drives clicks.
These strategies taught me something I’ll never forget:
Creativity beats cash.
Always.
In 6 months, we tripled The Dallas Express' newsletter list size.
While improving their inboxing from 70.5% to 98.7% (here’s how):
The Problem?
The Dallas Express damaged their sending reputation and email deliverability.
How?
Previous attempts to rapidly scale their email list within the Dallas/Fort Worth area
But through their own efforts, they recover enough to land in spam just 30% of the time.
DX came to our team looking for both improved deliverability and sustainable list growth.
The solution?
1/ Segmentation
Critical to preserving deliverability, we introduced key audience segments to include in the rotation of newsletter sends.
If a contact doesn't engage with newsletters from DX for an extended period of time, they receive less frequent communication.
With this simple change, we were able to drive down unsubscribe and spam complaints, making room for more new list growth.
2/ New data channels
The Dallas Express has solid site traffic.
We introduced identity resolution tools that enabled DX to collect email address based on that site traffic.
Apart from opt-ins, data collected using this tool was our healthiest source for list growth.
3/ Prospecting
In addition to opt-ins and identity resolution…
The Dallas Express was still interested in re-incorporating the data they originally had (nearly 1 million records).
So we put DX on a safe growth trajectory by introducing that data into the list with low doses.
4/ Sourcing more & better audiences
We worked with a variety of different sources to find out new audiences that would be ideal for DX content.
When contacts engaged, they would be incorporated to the primary content.
These audiences were the best performing.
The Outcome?
- Inbox Placement Improvement from 70% to 98%+
- Core List Growth from 200k contacts to 600k
Venture funding can get a business started, but working capital keeps companies alive.
In times of fluctuating federal funding and fleet-footed investors, climate founders need a reliable #workingcapital strategy to extend runway, scale smarter, and avoid unnecessary dilution.
We go deep on these under-appreciated financing instruments and the when, what, and how to wield them in Sightline Climate (CTVC)‘s Working Capital Playbook. TLDR:
💳 Debt stabilizes cash flow. Credit lines, term loans & venture debt fund operations but require assets or revenue.
💡 Hybrid instruments bridge early gaps. SAFEs & convertible notes offer flexible funding without immediate dilution.
🏗️ Grants fuel deep tech. Government & catalytic capital de-risk FOAK projects and unlock follow-on investment.
🔄 Creative financing frees up cash. Factoring, revenue-based financing & invoice advances fund growth without equity.
🏛️ Policy & community capital add leverage. Green banks, philanthropy & state incentives provide non-dilutive funding.
Nerd out on the full pros & cons analysis, self-assessment questionnaire, and case studies with Enduring Planet, DexMat, Thea Energy, HSBC Innovation Banking, Rondo Energy, and Breakthrough Energy in the report below 👇
https://lnkd.in/ettJuAGv
𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
In #insurance, growth doesn’t come from hype—it comes from clarity.
Before you spend on sales teams, channels, or partnerships, you need to nail the five pillars of your #GTM foundation:
✅ Who exactly is your ideal customer?
✅ What problem do you solve—and what outcome do you deliver?
✅ How will you reach buyers?
✅ How will you price and package your solution?
✅ What channels will you use?
In Episode 3 of my new video series, “The InsurTech GTM Playbook,” I break down each pillar and share why getting them right early matters so much in this industry.
And here’s the thing—this doesn’t just apply to #startups. Mature organizations often think they have these nailed, but the market shifts fast. Revisiting your 𝐆𝐓𝐌 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is just as important for them, too.
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 — 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.
#GTMstrategy#InsurTech#B2Bgrowth#InsuranceInnovation#StartupPlaybook#SalesLeadership