Pivot from click chasing to reputation building

"Only made $20K last month," the young agency owner laments, scrolling past some guy on Instagram bragging about his $300K month, flashing a Lamborghini Urus and a diamond-encrusted Rolex. This right here is why so many young folks crash and burn in digital marketing. When you're obsessed with cash collected, you prioritize selling over actually delivering results. You turn into THAT guy—flexing, over-promising, blasting out cold DMs just to book more sales calls. Think doubling your income from $20K to $40K means you need twice as many sales calls? What if you just kept your clients for 4 months instead of 2? Hold onto them for a year, and you're looking at a 600% revenue boost without chasing a single new lead. When I suggest focusing on taking exceptional care of existing clients instead of spamming LinkedIn and Instagram, they say... "But I need to generate sales right now." Here's the thing—if you're doing such an outstanding job that your clients can't stop talking about you, the sales will come. Every dollar I've earned—which adds up to millions—came from referrals and reputation. Zero cold outreach. Zero spamming inboxes. Stop chasing the quick cash and start building something that lasts.

Authority ^ Attention My LinkedIn impressions dropped 70%. My revenue increased 70%. Here’s why this “failure” was actually the best business decision I ever made: In 2025, I made a radical decision. I walked away from a multiple $7 figures med tech business - the sector that provided 70% of our revenue for 15 years—and pivoted our agency to focus exclusively on helping individual surgeons monetize their reputation. Everyone thought I was crazy. The Numbers Don’t Lie What happened to our LinkedIn metrics: - 70% decline in impressions - Significant drop in followers - Far fewer “vanity” engagements What happened to our business: - 70% revenue increase - Zero sales and marketing expenses - Surgeons now contact us (we don’t chase them) Why This “Failure” Was Actually Success The Med Tech Model: - Required constant prospecting - Complex, slow sales cycles - Ongoing customer support demands - Chasing followers who would never buy The Surgeon Model: - One decision-maker per client - Rapid yes/no pipeline - Word-of-mouth referrals eliminate sales costs - Quality over quantity audience The Lesson That Changed Everything I learned the difference between attention and authority. Attention asks: “Did they see me?” Authority asks: “Did I help them see differently?” Attention is about you. Authority is about them. The Question That Matters Would you rather have: - 10,000 followers who scroll past your content? - Or 100 people who call you when they need help? Your answer determines whether you’re building a social media presence or a profitable business. The Bottom Line Sometimes the best business decision looks like failure on the surface. My declining LinkedIn metrics aren’t about losing relevance- they’re about becoming the go-to expert for the people who actually matter. ----- Are you chasing followers or building authority? The difference will determine your success.

The truth is—cold DMs were never the real strategy. We just packaged them as one because they felt like a shortcut. A clever message. The right person. Perfect timing. That’s all it takes, right? Except… it rarely works like that. Most cold DMs aren’t ignored because the message was bad. They’re ignored because there was nothing to connect to. No story. No signal. No context for why the message matters. Here’s what really happens: You send the DM. They see it. Then they click your profile. And that’s where the real decision happens. Not in what you said—but in what they see. They want to know: — Who is this person? — What are they building? — Are they active, curious, consistent? — Is there a reason to take this seriously? And if they see silence, clutter, or vagueness—you're just another message in a long list of asks. This isn’t theory. I’ve lived it. When I was chasing replies, I focused on messaging. When I started building in public—sharing projects, lessons, small wins—I stopped needing perfect DMs. People already had a reason to reply. Because I gave them one. Before I ever asked. What I’ve learned is simple: Cold DMs are not the beginning. They're the follow-up to the reputation you’ve already built. And reputation today isn’t just word of mouth. It’s digital footprint. Proof of work. Presence. You don’t need to go viral. But you do need to be visible in a way that reflects what you’re really about. That’s the shift. So if you’re sending messages and getting no response, don’t start with “how do I write better DMs?” Start with: “What will they see when they look me up?” Because they will. And that moment? That’s where opportunities begin—or quietly disappear. Cold outreach will always be part of the game. But it only works when your presence makes the ask feel earned. Let your profile, your posts, your work—say the first words. The message is just the echo. #LinkedInStrategy #ColdDMs #DigitalPresence #BuildInPublic #ProofOverPitch #PersonalBrand #ReputationMatters #GenZLeadership #QuietPower #LinkedInGrowth

Are you choosing quick wins or lasting success? I see it all the time on LinkedIn… → People setting 30-day growth goals. → People panicking when a post flops. → People obsess over monthly metrics. Short-term mindset is killing your momentum. It’s blinding you to the bigger opportunity. → LinkedIn isn’t a lead machine. → It’s not a content scoreboard. → It’s not a place to “hit targets.” It’s THE target. It’s a living portfolio. It’s your digital reputation. It’s the one place where opportunity finds you, If you build the right presence. And presence takes time. When people panic about their LinkedIn growth, it looks exactly like investors panicking when the market dips red for a week: -They start checking stats every hour -They lose trust in the system -They make reckless decisions It’s the same here. I’ve seen people: -Quit after 3 “underperforming” posts -Pivot content 5 times in 5 weeks -Measure every day’s numbers Obsessing over arbitrary KPIs, That your audience couldn't care less about, Then wonder why it’s not working. They are wolf of wall streeting LinkedIn, Instead of treating it like strategic founders. If you’re serious about LinkedIn growth, Stop trying to track it like a campaign. Start treating it like a reputation you’re earning: -Let trust compound in public -Build a profile that speaks for you -Post to be present, not to perform -Engage with people in your ecosystem Growth on LinkedIn isn’t a spike. It’s a slope. You won’t always see the impact this week. But next month? → New followers come in. 3-6 months from now? → A decision-maker DMs you. Next year? → You’re top of mind in your industry. Stop setting 30-day goals for a 10-year platform. Stop measuring everything, And start building something. Choose the long game. It’s the only one worth playing.

Lately, “personal branding” is being peddled like a shortcut to relevance. As someone who’s worked in strategic comms and reputation management for over two decades, I find the term both overused and wildly misunderstood. Let’s take a step back. Reputation isn’t built through visibility alone. It’s built over time, through actions, consistency, relationships, and the ability to navigate both the spotlight and the shadows with integrity. It’s not what you post, it’s how you behave when the camera’s off, the deal falls through, or the media asks tough questions. And that’s why PR pros, those who work behind the scenes to shape, protect, and elevate reputations are far more equipped to guide “personal branding” than anyone writing posts for clicks. Yet, we’ve allowed the term to be hijacked. Now, personal branding often means a loud online presence, a templated tone of voice, and the word “authentic” thrown in for good measure. But building a personal brand isn’t ONLY about being seen. It’s about being known, for your thinking, your perspective, and your values. That’s where thought leadership comes in. In today’s noisy, fast-moving world, people don’t just follow visibility. They follow clarity. They follow those who consistently show up with insight, who offer something deeper than the algorithm rewards. It’s about being trusted, not just noticed. Over the last few months, I’ve been building something close to my heart: a personal branding programme designed especially for women at different crossroads in their journey. I launched this for International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, and it remains deeply relevant—especially in light of everything happening in the world when it comes to DEI. In times like these, reclaiming space, voice, and visibility isn’t just important, it’s urgent. This is for: → Female founders building visibility and credibility from the ground up → Mid-career professionals wanting to scale and be seen for the leaders they already are → Anyone who feels stuck, unheard, or invisible in rooms where decisions are made → Women (and anyone who identifies as a woman) ready to reclaim their voice, with intention This is not a visibility hack. It’s a one-on-one programme delivered online, tailored to your story, your pace, and your power. It’s about finding your voice with clarity and purpose—and using it when it matters most: in a boardroom, at a turning point, or when you’re finally ready to back yourself. Contd.. in comments.

The myth of chasing LinkedIn followers is destroying your potential. Everyone teaches how to gain followers, but nobody talks about building a solid reputation. Building followers is simple sending 40 request in week every week and every post is too much appreciated without knowing this true or not Building reputation? That's different. A reputation comes from: • Solving business problems • Consistency • Delivering value • Sharing case studies • Standing behind your word Decision-makers don't care about your follower count. They care about: • Your track record • Problems solved • Results generated • Testimonials Stop chasing meaningless metrics. Focus on becoming known for what you do best. Showcase expertise, not virality. Build relationships, not just a following. Forget follower counts. Start building a reputation that makes people want to work with you. What are your thoughts? #Personalbranding #Linkedln #Mindset

She stopped chasing clients for 60 days What happened next shocked her. A friend of mine is a Health & Wellness coach. She used to send cold DMs and go to events to find clients. She’d talk about her certifications and hope someone would hire her. It was tiring and didn’t really work. I suggested her to focus on building her personal brand on LinkedIn. ⭐ Instead of chasing clients, she started posting client success stories, health tips, and her own journey. No sales pitch. Just valuable content. ⭐ Within 3 months, clients started reaching out to her. The same people who ignored her messages were now asking for her help. Why? Because marketing today isn’t about chasing people. It’s about making them come to you. Here’s the shift that separates outdated marketers from those who dominate today: 1/ Selling vs. Attracting- Cold DMs and mass outreach? They scream desperation. Today, value-first content brings the right people to you. 2/ Credentials vs. Proof of Work- Degrees and titles used to open doors. Now? Real results do the talking. Case studies beat certificates. 3/ Corporate Voice vs. Human Voice- The buttoned-up, robotic tone is dead. People trust brands that sound human- raw, real, and relatable. 4/ One-Size-Fits-All vs. Niche Positioning- Trying to appeal to everyone means resonating with no one. The winners? Those who own a specific space. 5/ Algorithm-Chasing vs. Authority Building- Virality fades. Authority compounds. Creating for trust beats chasing trends. 6/ Private Reputation vs. Public Influence- Networking used to be a closed-door game. Now? Your content is your reputation. Every post builds trust or breaks it. 7/ Big Budgets vs. Organic Growth- Money once controlled attention. Now? A single, well-positioned voice can dominate without spending a dime. The game has changed. The question is, have you? Most people will keep marketing like it’s 2015. But the ones who adapt? They’ll own the future and grow their business with "positive numbers" on their balance sheet. Drop a comment: What’s the biggest marketing shift you’ve noticed? #PersonalBranding #AuthorityLedBrands #OrganicGrowth

“Click the link to learn more!” … But what if they don’t? People aren’t clicking as much as they used to (Amanda Natividad has been saying this for years!).  Let’s talk about why building trust, sharing knowledge, and offering value upfront is the key to standing out today and not forcing a ‘disconnected’ journey down the line. ⬇️ 📱 PLATFORMS REWARD WHAT KEEPS USERS ENGAGED Social platforms, like LinkedIn, are built to keep you scrolling. Posts that educate, entertain, or start conversations directly in the feed get prioritized. Link-heavy posts often get buried. In other words, if you want your LinkedIn post to go viral (or just eclipse your usual stats)… ❌ DON’T link to your website in all of your posts. ❌ DON’T think of social media platforms *just* as distribution vehicles. ❌ DON’T disregard why people visit these platforms in the first place – to learn right then and there! ✅ DO reward your audience for clicking on your post by giving them what they’re looking for. 💡 ENGAGEMENT IS THE REAL BEHAVIOR TO TRACK For years, marketers have optimized for clicks (myself included!). But not all traffic is created equal. And NOT all journeys are the same (especially with rise of AI search as buyers seek additional insights along the way). With SEO becoming more competitive than ever, getting found isn’t the guarantee it once was. And it's not enough anymore, either. You need to attract the right audience and keep them engaged.  That is no easy task – but it’s doable. If the goal is instilling trust, building reputation, and being known for your insights, it’s important to recognize that you won’t be able to measure everything. As we all know - 70% of the buying journey is at least partially hidden. But here’s what you can control: the content you write and where you share it. Don’t chase the next wave of hype so much. Focus and listen to what your ICP needs from you and stay tethered to your value and purpose. 📊 ZERO-CLICK DOESN’T MEAN ZERO TACTICS Here’s a personal litmus test I have: “Would I stop scrolling to read this post?” If the answer’s “no I wouldn't stop scrolling” then we shouldn’t write it in the first place. And if the answer’s “yes I would stop scrolling” then we need to think about how people can EASILY access that piece of content. If you have a premium asset, like a white paper, instead of just sharing its link, you can…    ➕ Summarize your key ideas in a series of LinkedIn posts.  ➕ Create a carousel that shares notable stats and figures.  ➕ Offer an executive summary in your brand’s newsletter. Summary.......providing real value – right away – establishes credibility and trust. Do that consistently, and your audience will come to you. Do that as a spray and pray approach, and you’ll be chasing those vanity metrics all day long....... How is your team approaching this shift? Let’s discuss and I can dive into how PAN tackles this opportunity to stay connected. 👇 

Great brands don’t happen. They’re constructed brick by brick. Here are 32 bricks you can start laying today. Most brands you admire didn’t start with the best product. They started by getting noticed deliberately. Visibility isn’t a bonus for being good. It’s the price you pay to even be considered. If you're serious about building a brand that outlasts noise, it won’t come from chasing trends. It will come from building reputation, one visible move at a time. Here’s where you start. The 32-Step Blueprint to Uplift Your Brand 🔵 Foundational Bricks: Set the Ground 1. Fix your profile photo for professional consistency. 2. Choose three focus topics you want to own. 3. Define your one-line personal brand statement. 4. Update your LinkedIn headline to match your promise. 5. Refresh your About section to tell a story, not a resume. 🟠 Visibility Bricks: Make Noise Where It Matters 6. Post a real customer success story this week. 7. Share one lesson you learned from a failure. 8. Break down a complex idea in simple language. 9. Share a "Myth vs Reality" post from your industry. 10. Publish a bold opinion that challenges common thinking. 🟢 Engagement Bricks: Start Conversations, Not Monologues 11. Celebrate someone else's win publicly. 12. Comment thoughtfully on five relevant posts. 13. Ask a question your audience would love to answer. 14. Tag a peer and highlight what they do well. 15. Send a handwritten thank-you note to a client or mentor. 🔵 Trust Bricks: Build Silent Confidence 16. Repost a client's kind words about your work. 17. Request three new testimonials this month. 18. Share a “before and after” transformation story. 19. Post behind-the-scenes of a real project day. 20. Explain how you made a tough professional decision. 🟠 Community Bricks: Expand Your Circle 21. Join one online professional community this week. 22. Offer help without pitching anything inside the group. 23. Start three real conversations with new connections. 24. Collaborate with a non-competing peer on a project. 25. Volunteer to mentor someone just starting out. 🟢 Authority Bricks: Shift From Player to Leader 26. Host a short live Q&A on a burning topic. 27. Post a two-minute video sharing one key insight. 28. Speak at a small podcast or online event. 29. Write about what’s changing in your industry. 🔵 Legacy Bricks: Make It Bigger Than You 30. Thank someone publicly who shaped your journey. 31. Share a cause your brand genuinely supports. 32. Tell your audience where you are headed next. You don’t build a brand by shouting louder. You build it by becoming so trusted that others speak louder for you. Brand is not about attention. It’s about authority. And authority isn’t given. It’s constructed. One deliberate action at a time. (Photo by davisuko on Unsplash)

Let’s talk about what’s actually working for creators building 7-figure brands in today’s market. It’s not hacks. It’s not chasing trends. It’s not posting every day until you burn out. It’s building trust and doing it in the right order. Most creators jump straight into selling without taking the time to build real connection. But here’s the truth: Trust is the new currency. And if you want to grow something that lasts, you have to earn it before you can monetize it. Here’s how the most successful creators are doing it: 🔸 Stage 1: Foundation First Build Audience — Focus on who you're talking to and why. Build Trust — Be valuable, be honest, be human. Create Demand — When people trust you, demand is natural. 🔸 Stage 2: Growth with Purpose Launch Product — Don’t create it first. Validate with trust. Grow with UGC — Let your community help you scale visibility. Scale Community — From followers to family. That’s where brand equity lives. Creators who follow this structure aren’t just building businesses, they’re building movements. And they’re doing it without burning out, pivoting every month, or guessing their way through growth. So here’s the real question: Are you chasing clicks or building a brand? Follow @dralexadagostino for more strategies that turn passion into profit — and audience into legacy. #CreatorEconomy #7FigureBrand #BrandTrust #DigitalCEO #MarketingWithHeart #AudienceGrowth #MonetizeYourGenius #BrandBeforeBusiness #MarketingDoctor #DrAlexaDagostino