Melissa Gaglione✨

AE @ Deel 🚀 Video Prospecting👸🏻| 100 Powerful Women in Sales ‘23 | Check out my VP Course | Strategic Advisor | Speaker | OneUpClub | Former On-Air News Reporter & School Teacher | Yogi

I built a $100K+ creator side hustle on LinkedIn from 0 to 40K followers in under 2 years. 

Now I help you do the same👇🏼

Most B2B professionals create great content but never get paid for it. 

I change that through Citrine Creator Accelerator and Citrine Talent Agency.



Here's what I do:

✨For aspiring creators:
The Creator Accelerator teaches you to position yourself as a paid creator, create branded content, and land your first $500-$3,000 partnership. After you graduate, you'll have an established portfolio, rate kit, and everything you need to land consistent brand partnerships. 


⭐️ For established creators:
Citrine Talent Agency takes over your partnership management. I renegotiate your rates (typically 15-30% increases), handle all contracts and payments, and advocate for you with brands. 
You just create content. 
My team does everything else from content strategy, timeline management and handling all comms. 


❤️ Why creators work with me:
I've been where you are. A posting about my corporate experience landed me my first brand partnership while I was an Account Executive. That deal funded side projects while I climbed to Head of Sales. 

💵 In two years, I generated over $100,000 in brand partnerships for my brand, as well as $70,000 in event sponsorships from corporate content houses and yacht events, all while helping 30+ creators land their first deals, and proving that this model works. 

Now I'm scaling what worked for me: a system that trains creators AND represents them professionally.

💫The bigger picture:
B2B creators are becoming the next wave of founders. 
Content creation is one of the most underrated ways to earn $2,000-$5,000+ per month. 
We're still early.

💰Our average creator: 12K followers, $3,000/month in brand income, full-time job intact.

If you're ready to monetize your LinkedIn presence, consider applying to join an agency or accelerator. 

📩 DM me or apply. 

I'll review your application and see if the Creator Accelerator or Talent Agency is the right fit.


melissa@citrinecreators.co

Account Executive

First dedicated Account Executive selling our newest offering. 
Responsible for building sales process and execution. 
Deel helps businesses hire anyone, anywhere. It’s global payroll for employees and contractors from around the world, all in one place.

4 careers in 10 years… One very confused Thanksgiving table😅
I used to panic when family asked “So what are you doing now?” at Thanksgiving.

Because my answer changed every few years.

Teacher. Reporter. Sales.

I felt like I had to apologize for not having it figured out…

Like something was wrong with me for wanting more

For wanting different



This Thanksgiving I’m sitting at the table as a Founder & CEO of Citrine ⭐️ 

I got laid off in July.
And instead of spiraling… I built

I stopped apologizing for my winding path and started seeing it for what it actually was… 

Preparation with a side of delulu ✨


Every classroom taught me how to coach.
Every news story taught me how to tell one.
Every sales call taught me how to put myself out there.
Every pivot taught me I could survive starting over.

I wasn’t lost all those years.
I was becoming✨

So if you’re sitting at a table today feeling behind…
Feeling like your path doesn’t make sense…
Feeling like you have to defend your choices to people who want a simple answer…


Here’s your permission slip

You don’t have to know the ending to trust the journey.

Your twists aren’t mistakes

They’re the plot💕


Happy Thanksgiving to everyone mid-pivot ⭐️

You don’t need to have all the answers at the table 




What's the story you are telling this thanksgiving?

Melissa Gaglione ⭐️

B2B Creator 40k+ followers | 50M impressions ✨ Founder of Citrine ⭐️ & Content @ ColdIQ 🧠

No alternative text description for this image

I've been working on something in secret since August. Today, I launch my business, Citrine ⭐ 
After earning $34,000 in 30 days, primarily from brand partnerships, and talking to over 75 people... I decided to sunset my company ASYNC and launch Citrine. 

Why? 

I generated 50M+ impressions in one year on Linkedin. 
Made $100K+ in brand partnerships while working full-time.
Built my following to 40K while climbing from SDR to Head of Sales.

And you know what I learned?

Follower count doesn't get you paid. Brand does.


But here's the thing...

I'm not looking for the person with the most followers.
⭐ I'm looking for future STARS.

Let me tell you what I mean.

The person with 10K followers, a clear POV, and exceptional content skills will out-earn the person with 50K followers posting generic content. 

Every. Single. Time.



Over the past few months, I've talked to 75+ creators.

The same questions kept coming up:
"How do I land my first brand deal?" 
"How do I know what to charge?" 
"Can I actually replace my 9-5 with this?"

And for years, I've helped over 30+ creators land their first brand partnerships. 

So I built what I wish existed when I started: Citrine ⭐ 



Two ways we work together:

⭐  Corporate Creator Accelerator
→ Learn to position yourself, create sponsored content, and land your first $500-$3,000 partnership 
→ Build your media kit, set your rates, pitch brands 
→ Graduate to our talent agency

⭐ Citrine Talent Agency 
→ I become your agent 
→ I negotiate your deals, manage contracts, handle payments 
→ You just create content 



But I'm not taking everyone.



Here's what I'm looking for in the 70+ applications I've received since launching this in secret... 

Anyone can create content.
Not everyone can build influence and a brand.



I want to build and represent the best creators on LinkedIn.

The ones who understand that brand partnerships aren't just side income...they're a business that opens doors.

The ones who see that crafting their content skills could one day replace their 9-5 income.

The ones who are serious about this.



Wherever you are in your creator journey, I'll meet you there and guide you to the next step.
Whether you have 5K followers or 50K followers.
Whether you've landed zero deals or ten deals.

⭐ If you have the passion, the expertise, the hunger, the commitment...
I'll help you become a STAR

Our average creator: $3,000/month in brand partnerships with 12K followers and has a Full-time job. 

But I'm being selective. This isn't for people chasing follower counts.

This is for future stars who understand: 
→ Brand partnerships are a business, not just a gig
→ Influence isn't about follower count, it's about impact 
→ Content is a skill that can replace your 9-5

If you're serious about becoming a paid creator (not just another person posting)

 ⭐ Comment or message me "STAR" and I'll send you the application!⭐ 

Let's build the next generation of corporate creator STARS!!!!

B2B Creator 40k+ followers | 50M impressions ⭐️ Founder of Citrine a Corporate Creator Talent Agency & Content @ ColdIQ

Can anyone relate? 

Sometimes me default is to be my normal self and not my professional self… 





ColdIQ socials saw it first… 
 
Because I am posting daily content on all ColdIQ socials! 

From corproate comedy to GTM education




⭐️Give us a follow!  

Linkedin: ColdIQ 
Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eqa4p9H4
Tiktok: https://lnkd.in/eVEgaxh8
Instagram: https://lnkd.in/e5u9W6eR

#corporate #corporatehumor #wfh #remote #b2b #dayinthelife #corporatecomedy 



Lmk in the comments if you can relateeee

Telling all 12 creators in my Creator Accelerator that they got a paid brand partnership…and it's only week 2 ❤️ 

Nothing has brought me more joy than to help new creators win 💰



If you want to get paid to post on LinkedIn… and you post consistently, have over 3k followers and ready to accelerate 

The creator accelerator is for you ⭐️




Comment or message me 🌟STAR 🌟and I’ll send you the application link 


Ps: A few creators getting paid from my accelerator are…

Kate Nelson  
Allie H. 
Emma Holden  

Check out their profiles… they are taking off!! 


lots to celebrate 💐

What would you tell yourself that is very important that you do in your 20s? 

Mine is simple… 

Don’t listen to the people who doubt you.

Because it doesn’t have to make sense to them. 

It just has to make sense to you⭐️





PS: hi I’m Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I’ve changed careers 4 times in 10 years… 

Each helping me become who I am today ❤️

The ceo building Citrine ✨

I teach corporate creators how to make branded content on LinkedIn… And I just edited this video 100% through prompting 👇 

I didn’t have to cut, clip or edit anything… 

Instead I uploaded my raw clips and prompted underlord on Descript to: 

- remove any “ums”
- Add trending sounds to my reactions (ex: when I winked & when I was offended) 
- Add “Simon” the british AI voice over 
- to add zooms in and out where the video was clipped 
- add minimal captions 
- add a background blur 
- add a soft filter to my face to make me pretty (jk.. Not really) 

If you're a corporate creator drowning in editing software… try Descript 

PS: I’ll be teaching Descript video editing in my creator accelerator 


#DescriptPartner #ad #ContentCreation #LinkedInCreators #AITools #VideoEditing #corporatecreator #content

You know I love to host a party ✨ 

This years Friendsgiving I hosted for 20! 

Wish I got more recording during the party but I was having too much fun 🤩 



Party started at 5pm but it kept going until 2am 🤣 



Just posting this for fun… bc LinkedIn doesn’t always have to be about worrrkkkk 


What’s the dish you bring to a party? 

I’m always responsible for the charcuterie board 🧀

Day in the life as a remote content creator at ColdIQ 🧠

Switching from sales to content has been a wonderful experience❤️

I love how creative I get to be while thinking of ways to talk about GTM tech. 

For this special day I even got to get my Profit Generating Pipeline book signed by the NYT best selling author Leslie Venetz!! 
 

So come spend a 9-5 with me 👇🏼


#wfh #remotework #dayinthelife #9to5

I used to think 40K followers meant you’d made it… I was wrong👇🏼

When I started on LinkedIn, I studied the creators who were “making it.”

Left corporate
Built businesses
Turned personal brands into revenue

They all had one thing in common… 
40K followers✨

That became my number.

Not for vanity

… but because in my head, 40K meant “That’s when I’ll have my business.”


The week I hit 40,000?

It so happened to be the same week I went public with Citrine✨


Since going public 2 weeks ago

→ 100+ applications for my creator accelerator and talent agency

→ Brand new creators (3K–12K followers) landing their first paid deals

→ During Session 1 of the Accelerstor I told 12 new creators they have a brand deal and are getting paid…. Already ✨



And personally… I’ve generated over $200K on this platform. 

Brand partnerships, events, courses, referrals (all while climbing from SDR to Head of Sales) 


But honestly? 
The money isn’t even the best part


Because LinkedIn gave me 
💕Friends at my wedding
💕Real mentors and mentees
💕Business partners who started as DMs
💕120+ people Yacht parties I host annually
💕Conference stages I never imagined
💕LinkedIn Creators I now help land their first paycheck


Whether you’re at 2,000 followers or 20,000 or 40,000

This platform doesn’t just feed your bank account…

It feeds your soul 💕





PS: If you’re a creator who wants to learn how to get paid to post:

⭐️ Comment STAR⭐️ I’ll send you the application link

You don’t need a lot of followers to get started!

Or just DM me…
I’d love to hear your story

30 minutes back in my day used to mean "catch up on emails I missed."
Now it means "grow the business I just launched."

That's the difference Mixmax is making for me right now.

Two weeks into running Citrine Creators, my LinkedIn creator talent agency, and I'm already managing brand deals, client onboarding, partnership pitches, and a pipeline that doesn't sleep.

I could be drowning.
But I'm not.

The Mixmax Copilots are handling the stuff that used to eat my mornings... drafting follow-ups, booking meetings, surfacing what actually needs my attention across 47 open conversations.

So that 30 minutes today? 

I spent it on a strategy call with a creator who's about to close her biggest brand deal yet.

THAT'S the work that matters.
THAT'S why I built this agency.

Not to become a human CRM, but to actually advocate for creators who deserve to get paid what they're worth.

If you're building something from scratch and can't afford to drop balls, Mixmax is worth your time.


#MixmaxPartner #ad

I’ve been teaching people how to tell stories for 10 years (Here is an easy way👇🏼)

First to a classroom of 7-year-olds
Then to a live TV audience
Followed by sales pitches

Now to LinkedIn creators who monetize their post… 

And here’s what I’ve learned after 10 years:

Nobody is a “natural” storyteller.

There are just people who learned the frameworks and people who haven’t yet.

Every time someone tells me I don’t know what to post on LinkedIn…

What they really mean is.. 
I don’t know how to structure what I want to say.

Because here’s the truth ✨

you’re not out of ideas.
You’re out of clarity.

Your posts don’t need to sound poetic.

They don’t need to be perfectly branded.

They just need a structure that connects what you know to why it matters.

That’s it



I’ve tested dozens of storytelling frameworks over the years.

These are the 6 that actually work on LinkedIn:

1. Hook–Story–Lesson
Grab attention. Share a relatable moment. End with a takeaway worth remembering.

2. Contrast Framework
Show the before and after. Nothing proves growth like transformation.

3. Numbered List
Fast, scannable, irresistible. Perfect for quick insights.

4. Question Thread
Curiosity = engagement. Ask something real, then surprise them with the answer.

5. Unpopular Opinion
Challenge what everyone else blindly agrees with. Fastest way to stand out.

6. Mini-Case Study
What you did. How you did it. What changed. Real proof builds real trust.



What I tell my creators is that you don’t need more ideas.

You need better frameworks to shape the ones you already have.

Storytelling isn’t just what makes people stop scrolling.

It’s what makes them remember who you are. ✨


Save this for the next time you’re staring at a blank page.

The story’s already in you!!! 
this just helps you tell it 


Ps: hi I’m Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I help aspiring and established linkedin creators get paid to post ✨

Check out my creator accelerator and talent agency 💫

I turned down a $3,500 brand deal last month...
And it was one of the best decisions I've made as a creator.

Here's what happened: The brand looked great on paper. 


But on the first call, they handed me a script and said, "Just post this."

No questions about my audience
No interest in my perspective
No room to make it mine

They didn't want a partner. 
They wanted a billboard 🥲 

So I said no...

When you start getting brand offers on LinkedIn, every DM feels like a win.

You worked hard for that "yes."

But here's what I've learned after $100K+ in partnerships:

Not every deal moves you forward...
Some pull you away from the creator you're actually trying to become 🤩 

The real power isn't in getting opportunities
It's in filtering them✨

I now run every partnership through 5 questions before I say yes:

1️⃣ Do their values align with mine? 
2️⃣ Do they see my value or just my reach? 
3️⃣ Is it actually mutually beneficial? 
4️⃣ Is the collaboration process healthy? 
5️⃣ Does this strengthen my brand's story?

Swipe through for the full breakdown 👆

And if you're scared to say no...remember this:
FOMO fills your calendar with the wrong opportunities!!!

One aligned "yes" is worth more than a hundred convenient ones

Choose partners like you choose friends 💕


PS: Hi i'm Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I teach you how to land brand partnerships. 

If you want to land the best brand partnerships and get paid to post on linkedin... apply my creator accelerator!

Choose the right brand partnership partner

From the 70+ convos I've had with LinkedIn creator, I've learned they don’t have a content problem: they have a clarity problem.

They post, they engage, they show up…

But when I ask, “What do you want to be known for?”

They freeze

That one question decides everything:
→ Who follows you.
→ Who hires you.
→ Who remembers you.

If you’re not clear, your audience won’t be either.

This post walks you through how to define your “known for” and align it with how you actually make money.


PS: Hi i'm Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I land aspiring and current corporate creators brand partnerships on Linkedin! Check out my creator accelerator and talent agency

The question to ask yourself 

My LinkedIn impression data and why video is the BEST performing!!!! 

I don’t know why people are avoiding posting videos on LinkedIn. 

LinkedIn has been testing and investing in the video features for the past year… and it’s not going to slow down. 

You’ll see that my videos live on LinkedIn for weeks and months! 

Always gaining impressions… 

It continues to outperform any text/image/carousel post for months. 

This is exactly how I got 50M LinkedIn impressions in 365 days… 

It’s exactly why I’m ranked number 11 as a top female US sales creator across all socials ❤️


STOP SLEEPING ON VIDEO!! 
WAKE UP AND POST!! 

————————————————-

PS: hi I’m Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I help early and aspiring LinkedIn creators get paid to post on LinkedIn 

… and we dedicate an entire week to video posts 

Apply to my creator accelerator program 

(link in bio)

The actual sound of pushing for the meeting before the holidays… 

My heart goes out to all the sellers and leadgen teams trying to hit their Q4 quota ❤️

You can do this!! 


👇🏼how are you pushing for the meeting this month? 


————————-


FYI ColdIQ socials saw it first… 
 
Because I am posting daily content on all ColdIQ socials! 

From corproate comedy to GTM education



⭐️Give us a follow!  

Linkedin: ColdIQ   
Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eqa4p9H4
Tiktok: https://lnkd.in/eVEgaxh8
Instagram: https://lnkd.in/e5u9W6eR

Coldiq: https://coldiq.com/
(New website coming soon!)

#corporate #corporatehumor #saleshumor #sales #marketing

While creators fight for $500 Instagram deals…
The real money is on LinkedIn.

Because this isn’t just another social platform: it’s where business actually happens.

Creators like Lara Acosta, Sara Stella Lattanzio, Artur Perrella Glukhovskyy, Jake Ward, and Adam Robinson are proving that the future of influence isn’t about follower count...

it’s about access, trust, and authority.

✅ Verified audiences with purchase power
✅ Thought leadership content that converts
✅ Real leads, real pipeline, real ROI



The playbook is changing:

If you’re a creator, think less like an entertainer and more like a strategic partner.

If you’re a brand, stop buying impressions: start buying influence that drives business decisions.

Because the creators who master LinkedIn now...
will own the next decade of B2B marketing 🤩 

Dive into the carousel to see why 👇 

PS: Hi i'm Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I build linkedin creators in my creator accelerator program! Apply today!

Linkeidn Brand Partnerships

I studied over 100 LinkedIn creator profiles and found 18 habits that are killing their growth… do this & not that 👇🏼

Because I don’t want to see you guys making the mistakes I see other accounts making. 

The difference isn't luck. 
It's not posting frequency. 
And it definitely isn't cracking the algorithm.

It's pattern recognition✨

Your brand isn't built on your best post but on your consistency.

One viral moment means nothing if the other 49 posts are forgettable. 

That's why I created this list: to help you avoid the traps I see destroying otherwise talented creators every single day.

Here's what I've learned about LinkedIn in 2025 (summarized):


⭐️Depth beats reach⭐️

The accounts winning right now aren't posting about everything. 

They own one lane, go deep, and become the go-to voice in that space. 

Talking about too many topics dilutes authority. 

But going in depth on a few builds authority! 



⭐️You can't automate authenticity⭐️

AI can draft a post for sureee 

But your perspective, your stories, your contrarian takes… that's where the magic’s is ✨



⭐️Credibility first, engagement second⭐️

Stop optimizing for likes. 
Start optimizing for respect ✨

The creators obsessed with being useful (or genuinely interesting) don't have to chase attention (because it finds them).

If you've been posting consistently but feel stuck, it's not the algorithm.

It's the habits you're repeating without questioning.

Ive learned that growth doesn't come from doing more…. It comes from doing different.

That's what this list is for 👇🏼

——————————————————

PS: hi I’m Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I teach LinkedIn creators with 4k-20k followers to get paid ($500-$3k) to post about brands on LinkedIn ❤️ 

check out my corporate creator accelerator and talent agency ✨ 

(accepting applicants for December now)

Closed a $36,000 / annual brand partnership deal that started with a cold LinkedIn message for my client ⭐ 
Grab the messaging script 👇 

I trained it on $5M worth of sales conversations from some of the best sellers in the space. 

Then adjusted it based on brand partnerships 💫 

Too many of you are not shooting your shot or negotiating your brand partnership deals... so I hope this helps! 

⭐ Comment SCRIPT and i'll send it to you!⭐ 


PS: Hi i'm Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I teach creators how to land brand partnerships on linkedin in my creator accelerator cohort. The next one starts in December and we are already halfway filled...

You're optimizing for the wrong metric.
Follower count doesn't matter.
 Post impressions don't matter. 
Even likes barely move the needle.

What actually matters: 
Who comments. 
Who shares. 
Who slides into your DMs afterward.

Most creators treat engagement like a vanity metric. 
The best ones treat it like a conversion funnel.

The engagement ladder: 
⭐  Likes (they noticed) 
⭐  Comments (they're interested) 
⭐  Shares (they endorse you) 
⭐  DMs (they trust you)

Every interaction is a signal. 
Stop chasing the bottom rung and start building toward the top.

Here's how:
⭐  Comment on 10 posts before publishing your own. 
⭐  Support others first, then expect support back.
⭐  Respond to every DM within 24 hours. 

That reply could be your next client, partner, or collaborator.

Share what bombed, not just what crushed. 
Vulnerability builds trust faster than highlight reels.

The shift is simple but not easy:
stop treating LinkedIn like a stage and start treating it like a room full of potential relationships.

Because your content isn't your competitive advantage. 
Your relationships are ⭐  

Who's mastering this better than anyone you follow? 
Call them out below.


PS: Hi, I'm Melissa Gaglione ⭐️ and I teach you how to get paid as a corporate creator on LinkedIn... check out my creator accelerator and talent agency!

A sorry for the email… email.. works right? 


At ColdIQ we build modern GTM tech stacks that actully work. 

So you don’t end up emailing the wrong people… at the wrong time… causing chaos on your sales team. 



I’ve been loving creating these skits!! 

Do you know how much I love making content for ColdIQ?? 

I talk about dozens on tools and strategies…

We posted this on our socials on Wednesday… check it outtttttt 

Linkedin: ColdIQ 
Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eqa4p9H4
Tiktok: https://lnkd.in/eVEgaxh8
Instagram: https://lnkd.in/e5u9W6eR



….
So which Ai agent is at fault? 

The Ai scraper or the Ai SDR?

Ben Wright

Sendspark

VP of Revenue

Head of Growth

Strategic Advisor

Sidekic.ai

Fun little side project to help job seekers through the use of ChatGPT! Free for all!

Co-Founder

Partner Fuel

Fractional support for partnership teams.

Providing:

- Fractional leadership
- Fractional marketing support
- Program Design

Founder

Gated

Helping with partnership and channel strategy.

Strategic Partnership Advisor

TestBox

Check out the new way to buy software at www.testbox.com

Help Scout

Building out the partnerships program at Help Scout.

If you need a best in class customer support tool, send me a message!

Director of Partnerships and Business Development

Partnership Leaders

Member

GoGive

Co-founder & CRO

BrainStorm Inc.

Director Of Strategic Partnerships

Overseeing sales & process strategy to enable our partners to succeed.

Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships

Team lead, responsible for a team of Customer Success Managers.

 Delivering value, by helping customers to realize their investment & achieve maximum ROI in the Microsoft stack.

Customer Success Team Lead

Oversaw a large enterprise book of business totaling $2.5 Million in the New York Metro territory.

Renewal rate of 105% in 2019.

Clients include S&P Global, Mars, Tiffany & Co.

Customer Success Manager

Babcock International Group

As a senior operations manager my role is to act as the lead  manager for the entirety of Heathrow Airports baggage system operation. 

Responsible for a team of 70+

Senior Operations Manager

Consultant, covering several different revenue operation type roles, including Business Enhancement Lead for the Metropolitan Police.

Business Enhancement Manager

Revenue @ Sendspark - On a campaign to get Americans to say football instead of soccer!

This is the section, where I tell you about how my degree in computer science catapulted me into the world of tech right?

That couldn't be further from the truth,  I did a law degree at the University of Sussex, and realized very quickly that I didn't want to spend anymore time reading case law.

Worked for a large engineering company in London for a while, started moving up the corporate ladder, before deciding to relocate to Salt Lake City ( just to let everyone know there are far less pubs here)

I then found the world of technology and start ups & I haven't looked back.

I am extremely passionate about building relationships and tackling tough problems, specifically in the customer success and partnerships space.

I also have a personal interest in social impact and corporate social responsibility, so much so that I decided to start a business that focuses on B2B charitable gifting (check out Go Give)

taplio

The Battle

Melissa Gaglione✨

Ben Wright

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreMelissa Gaglione✨'s LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Melissa Gaglione✨

Ben Wright

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);}Melissa Gaglione✨'s LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMelissa Gaglione✨'s LinkedIn Performance