Entrepreneurs, Tech & Sales: Own Your Voice on LinkedIn | Social Selling and Personal Branding —> Increase Pipeline & Brand Awareness | LEGO Flower Power 🌻

I'm on LinkedIn to get OFF LinkedIn.

I know, crazy for someone who teaches LinkedIn.

But getting off LinkedIn and building real relationships? That's what fills my cup and my pipeline (and bank account).

I teach you the same.

Your expertise deserves to be known.🙌

You're a business owner, tech leader, or executive who's built something incredible. 
You solve real problems. You get results. Your clients love working with you.

But your ideal clients are scrolling right past you on LinkedIn.

Here's what I see every day:
— Brilliant professionals who are invisible online while their competitors get all the attention. 
— Leaders who've built amazing businesses but can't translate that success into LinkedIn visibility. 
— Executives who know they should be networking but feel awkward and inauthentic trying to "work" the platform.

You're probably struggling with:
— Your network could be an asset, but right now it's untapped potential
— You're tired of relying on cold outreach, referrals, or waiting for leads to find you
— You know LinkedIn has potential, but you don't have a system to use it effectively
— You want to build genuine relationships, not just chase vanity metrics
— You feel overwhelmed by the platform and don't know where to start

The frustrating part? You're amazing at what you do, but that expertise isn't translating into the visibility and opportunities you deserve.

There are two approaches to LinkedIn:
1. Random posting and cold outreach that leads nowhere
2. Strategic visibility + intentional relationship-building

I help leaders like you transform from invisible to influential through my REALationship Growth Method.

Real results from real clients:
Scott: Closed a $400k deal from LinkedIn relationships
Michelle: Landed 2x $30k speaking engagements in 3 months
Dr. Ashley: 2 speaking gigs in 2 weeks, 5-figure client in 4 weeks

This isn't generic social media coaching. I built my own multi-six figure business using these exact strategies while being an introvert who hates traditional networking (and definitely hates cold outreach). 

Ready to be known for what you do?

DM me "LFG" and let's chat! 💜

Natasha Walstra

My first time on stage!

200 women at the Women Breaking the Mold Forum - an event for women making real impact in manufacturing.

The speakers on Day 1 were incredible, and I still can't believe I was included with them. 

Aoife Beirne , CEO of Mergon Group , shared her RISE framework for building confidence and started us off with breathing exercises I desperately needed. 

Genevieve Caplette , Director of Transformation at Michelin, talked about what REAL leadership and culture looks like within an organization. 

Heather Preu, CEO of Intellect, shared her experience as a CEO multiple times over, raising a family, and her take on work-life balance: "It's just life. Good enough is good enough." 

And Tina Richter of Weapon X Worldwide, Inc., fighting global plastic waste with such passion and purpose.

Then I had the honor of sitting on a panel with Katherine Bashir (CEO, EVCO Plastics), Jennifer Hoffman (PM Director, Eurofins ), and Christine Yeager r (Founder, CSY Impact Consulting sulting). Moderated by Teresa Schell ll, President of Vive Marketing. We talked about mentorship, advancing in male-dominated industries, having a voice, and supporting other women.

And it was full circle moment seeing Lisa Lehman, who I connected with at Carbon. Felt like no time had passed! We stayed in touch over the years, and this opportunity to speak wouldn't have happened without her. 

The statistics we saw were eye-opening. The disparity in executive positions.
The pay gap. How underrepresented women still are in manufacturing (and tech). 

But this room of 200 women? 
This is how we change those numbers. 
By showing up, speaking up, and lifting each other up.

___

P.S. I used to be a shy, anxious person. 
Crazy to realize: that's not who I am anymore.
If you're waiting to feel "ready" to step up - you never will. 
Do it anyway.

Grow the REAL (and profitable) way on LinkedIn | Social Selling for Entrepreneurs & B2B Teams | Filling January cohort of the REALationship Growth Method - ask me about it! 🙌

I’ve never had a year test me like this one.
 
Last Thanksgiving, I wasn’t thinking about business growth or strategy.  

I was sitting in the NICU.
 
Our son arrived 7 weeks early. He was where he needed to be, but leaving the hospital without him broke me in a way I still struggle to put into words.  

Coming home not pregnant and without our baby was one of the hardest things I’ve ever lived through.
 
Unsurprisingly, postpartum depression hit fast and hard.  
My mindset tanked.  My business struggled.  
I questioned everything, including whether I was meant for entrepreneurship at all.
 
But what I know now:  
Sometimes your business doesn’t grow because you push harder.  
It grows because you do.
 
And that’s what happened.
 
Today, our little dude is thriving.  
My business is the strongest it has ever been.  
And last week, we moved into our forever home.
 
This Thanksgiving, I feel an 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 sense of gratitude.  

And I want to say thank you.
 
To the people who checked on me during my lowest moments. 

To my 1:1 clients who trusted me while I was still finding my footing.  

To the 25 who've signed up for my group program even knowing group was out of my comfort zone. 

To my coaches and mentors who helped me rebuild from the inside out.  

To my loving husband who is the best partner and father I could ever have dreamed of.

And to YOU, who continue to support the very unpolished, but always real, me.
 
I am not curated.  
I am not perfect.  
And there is no flawless strategy behind any of this.
 
But you still show up.  
You still support me.  
You make all this possible.
 
If you told me six months ago that we would be buying our dream home, there's no way I'd believe it.  But here we are.
 
I am grateful.  
My family is grateful.  
And I couldn't have done this without you. 
 
Happy (late) Thanksgiving. 💜

Having a network of REAL connections matters.

In the last month, I've made 26 introductions.

That's almost one per day. (Although, did 4 in one day!)

I can only do that because I actually KNOW these people.
Not just their LinkedIn profiles. 
Not just their business cards.
I know them.

Which is why I'm excited about expanding my network by joining The Dames, LLC

By amazing luck, they had an in-person conference here in Charleston last week.

I heard from incredible women with 6, 7, and 8-figure businesses.

I deepened relationships with connections I already had - Deb Boulanger 💫 and Jess Sato 

I met Kim Boudreau Smith IRL - a friend I met on (you guessed it) LinkedIn nearly 2 years ago. 

And I'm excited for the new connections I made: Julia Linn, Samantha Irish, Elizabeth Hill, MSW, Nicole Glover

I love being in rooms where women choose collaboration over competition.
Where truth and honesty echo through conversations.
Where everyone's network benefits from the new relationships being formed.

I was randomly introduced to the Charleston chapter VP while looking for a new community AND trying to figure out how to get out of my baby bubble. (I will be honest, the introvert in me has been LOVING this bubble)
Grateful to Kim Russo for taking that call.

And to the founder, Meghann Conter, for being so incredibly welcoming as I nervously showed up at the welcome BBQ not knowing anyone. (We both lived in the south of France which is a unique connection to have in common!)

This is what real community looks like.
Not transactional networking.
Not "what can you do for me?"
Just people genuinely supporting each other's success.
And that room was FULL of this.

P.S. My entire network now gets to benefit from these new relationships I'm forming. That's the compound effect of showing up and actually building connections that matter.

Last week I posted once.

And I "posted & ghosted" that same post.

No engagement. No comments. A handful of DMs.

Why? Life was life-ing and I had no capacity to show up on here.

And that's OKAY.

There are seasons for everything.

Sometimes I'm heavy on engagement and network building.

Other times I'm focused on the behind-the-scenes stuff that doesn't show up in my feed.

Like the last few weeks:

→ Putting on my first live workshop
→ Speaking on a panel IRL (also a first)
→ Consulting with a Big Four (stay tuned)
→ Launching my group program (another first)
→ Selling out of my 2nd and filling my third cohort

That's a lot of doing the thing while not talking about the thing.

LinkedIn isn't about showing up perfectly every day.

It's about showing up consistently over time.

Some weeks that's 4 posts and 50 comments.

Other weeks it's 1 post and radio silence.

Both are fine.

The goal isn't perfection.

It's presence. Over the long haul.

Don't let the fear of "not doing LinkedIn right" keep you invisible.

Imperfect visibility beats perfect invisibility. Every time.

P.S. Oh, and something BIG on the personal front happened on Friday... can't wait to share more about that soon!

Anyone else's life life-ing hard right now??

P.S.2. Hiiii!! 👋👋 My little guy just learned to wave so you can imagine, we've got lots of waving going on in the house these days. 👋

"I'm a hat kind of guy...I wear a hat every day."

My client was torn about his LinkedIn presence.

Asking me how he should brand himself.

Should he dress up? Wear the sport coat? Look more "executive"?

He wants to reach C-suite folks.
But that's not who he is day-to-day.

You "brand yourself" as YOU.
Not some version you think people want to see.
Hence the "personal" in personal branding!

Think of it like this:
If they're offended by your cap, they can go find someone else.
That's actually a FEATURE, not a bug.

I'm not saying you can't button up for the right occasion.
If you want to show you can clean up for client meetings or speaking gigs? 
Of course - time & place.

But don't create this alter ego version of yourself and then be someone entirely different in real life.

The more REAL you can be, the better your business becomes.
Because you're working with and attracting the right people.

Your REALness is your filter.

The clients worth having? They'll appreciate your directness.
The ones who don't weren't your people anyway.

Don't try to be who you think you "should" be on LinkedIn.
Be who you actually are.

That's how you build a business you actually enjoy running.

___

P.S. Could you tell I'm trying not to use the word 'authentic'? 😅 I had it in here a few times, but I feel like it's lost it's meaning. 
 
Apparently 'being authentic' now = being someone else. 

I don't really think you can 'be authentic' you either are you aren't. So to avoid this confusion, I'm sticking with REAL.

"Spend 2 hours a day commenting on LinkedIn."

That's what a top personal brand creator recommended.

My reaction: 
Who the heck has time for that? 👀

Then I realized the problem:
You're taking advice from the wrong people on LinkedIn.

Most LinkedIn "experts" are content creators.

Their business model is completely different from yours.

I'm breaking down the difference and why it matters for your strategy.
Check it out 👇

P.S. I'm already filling up my next cohort in January - which isn't actually that crazy because there are only 35 working days left in the year. 35! You've got one week left to join at the founding member rate PLUS lifetime access (yep, I did accidentally start a community 😅 and it's AWESOME). 

DM me "LFG" for deets!

(And that's OK!) I recently saw one of the top personal brand creators in the world recommend spending 2 hours a day commenting on LinkedIn. 2 hours. 

Open article: You're not a content creator by Natasha Walstra • 2 min read

"It worked!" - my client, shocked.

He was skeptical adding a CTA at the end of his posts.

For weeks I'd been trying to get him to do it. WEEKS!

But I was insistent: If people don't know how to take the next step with you, how will they know how to take the next step with you?

For some context...this is person is reaching out to engineers.
If you're struggling with what to say in DMs, imagine an engineer who doesn't post at all.

So we put together a simple CTA: "DM me [keyword] for [offer]"

The result?
The FIRST time he used it, someone reached out. 👀

People are tired of being pitched in DMs.
But we're all here to grow our businesses, right?

The difference: This is a soft sell. 
An entry point to the bigger offer.

We're not trying to get them to buy immediately.
We're trying to welcome them into our orbit EASILY so they can see what we have to offer.

This is exactly how 164 people registered for my workshop.
Not through promotional posts saying "come to my workshop."
Through a nudge in the P.S. and comments.

Give people an easy way to raise their hand.
Then have a real conversation.

_____

P.S. If you're not using soft CTA/CTEs in your posts, you're making people work too hard to connect with you.

"I'm back to being a LinkedIn fan. 😍"

Jackie posted this after 3 weeks of joining my cohort.

Before: 
→ Rewriting every post multiple times 
→ Spreadsheets full of content 
→ Feeling like LinkedIn was taking away from her business

3 weeks later: 
→ Confident about what to post 
→ Booking clients 
→ Actually enjoying it

What changed? It wasn't tactics.

This week's newsletter breaks down the shift that matters + an announcement about switching things up with this newsletter.

____

P.S. Day 2 of what I'm grateful for: Community. I'm about to jump on a call with Aprelle Duany who I met through Entreprenista. We already collaborated on an AI Summit she hosted last year, and now we're connecting to share insights in our respective expertise to support and grow our businesses. Collaboration > competition everyday. 🙌

Hello, subscriber! Quick announcement: I'm switching things up You're still getting this newsletter here on LinkedIn on Tuesdays. But I just switched 

Open article: "I'm back to being a LinkedIn fan. 😍" by Natasha Walstra • 4 min read

24k impressions on one post.
Sounds great, right?

The number that's actually impressive:
→ 209 profile views.

Those are the people who didn't just scroll past.
They saw my clients content and clicked to check out his profile.
That's intent.

And here's the wild part:
Only 160 people liked the post.

That means 49 people were interested enough to visit his profile but too uncomfortable to engage publicly.

They're lurking.
And they're everywhere on LinkedIn.

67% of people log in weekly but never comment or like anything.
That's over 670+ million lurkers (!)

They're reading your content. They're interested. 
But too uncomfortable to engage publicly.

Don't look just at likes and comments to tell you who's interested.
Profile views are a quiet little 'hellos'

After every post, check who's viewing your profile.
If they're your ideal client? Reach out directly.

Big caveat:
This only works if your profile actually speaks to them.
If they land on a corporate resume? They bounce.
If it clearly solves their problem? They remember you.

The most interested people often engage the least publicly.
Don't let vanity metrics fool you.

Your biggest opportunities might be in those profile views, not those likes.

___

P.S. This client just started posting on LinkedIn 3 months ago. Never used social media before in his life. Now with my custom AI bot helping him create content consistently? One post got 24K impressions and 209 profile views. Not bad for being 3 months in!

Y'all, I love that posts live longer on LinkedIn. 🙊

(I might be one of the few who feel this way.)

Why?

Because that means if you only post 2-3x a week, you're still top of mind in your network.
Unlike Meta where posts die after 24 hours, on here they stick around.

I absolutely dig it. 

In October I had a LOT going on and just couldn't get to my usual posting (and I hate posting & ghosting).
So I only posted 3x a week.

But every morning I woke up with notifications - comments and likes from past posts.

And guess what?
October was my best month ever. By nearly double.
Let that sink in.
Less posting and I closed more deals.

Use this as an opportunity to reevaluate how often you're posting.

If you're posting 5x a week: 
→ Do you feel like you're burning out? 
→ Is the quality of your posts all good?

If you're not posting at all: 
→ What if you only had to post 2x a week instead of 5x? 
→ Does that help reframe your overwhelm and make it seem easier to start?

While LinkedIn figures out its algorithm, remember this:
Quality beats quantity. Every time.

Your posts show up in feeds for days...even weeks.
So give yourself permission to post less and stress less.
Your content has a longer shelf life than you think.

___

P.S. My goal is still to show up with quality content at 4-5x a week, but sometimes life keeps life-ing and I can't do it. And that's OKAY. Give yourself grace and do what works for you that doesn't lead to burnout. The LAST thing I'd want is for you to go ham on here and then disappear for months at a time because it got too overwhelming. You've got this! 🙌

"Would I say this if I ran into them at a coffee shop?"

This is what you should be asking yourself before you send any DM. 

If the answer is no... don't send it.

This one filter will save you from 99% of bad LinkedIn DMs.

Most people have forgotten that LinkedIn follows the same social rules as real life.

And that there's a real HUMAN on the other side of the screen.

You wouldn't walk up to a stranger at Starbucks and say: "I noticed you're in leadership and wanted to explore synergies with our AI-powered solutions..."

So why would you say it in a DM?

Instead of treating LinkedIn like a networking platform.
Treat it like your office.

Your connections? 
They're your colleagues.

Comments? 
Water cooler conversations.

DMs? 
Dropping by someone's desk to say hi.

When you make this mental shift, everything changes.

____

P.S. Today in the REALationship Growth Method we're covering "Social Selling & Conversation Starters" - I went through all my DM's in the last month and compiled examples for the group. Might have to make this a lead magnet...would anyone be interested in this?

The most valuable thing I added to my business this year? 

→ A small (but growing!) newsletter.

(Hard to say exact numbers, but it's ~$75k in 6 months and I currently have 381 subscribers + my LinkedIn subscribers)

Here's the thing about newsletters: 
It's not about size. It's about attention.

These people invited me into their inbox. 
They want to hear from me every week. 
No algorithm deciding if they see my stuff.

Just real attention from real people.

When I hosted my first workshop, 176 people registered. 
More than half came from my newsletter. 
And I didn't send a single promotional email! 
Just mentioned it naturally, the way I'd tell a friend.

That's the power of a list that actually pays attention.

This week's newsletter breaks down why newsletters work, what I didn't expect, and why NOW is the time to start one (or fix yours).

P.S. I'm the LinkedIn Lady, yes... but growing your business? That's the actual mission. 😎

Are you thinking about starting a newsletter? Do it. Already have one but not seeing results? Keep reading…you might be missing a few key elements. St

Open article: The most valuable thing I added to my business by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

The most valuable thing I added to my business

Don't think people read profiles?

No worries. My client didn't either.

In fact, she was skeptical even AFTER we updated hers.

Then ONE week later, she got this message:

"𝘖𝘔𝘎. 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 ...𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘭!"

She immediately reached out: "I'm glad to be proven wrong."

What got this person's attention?
Not the banner. Not the headline.

→ The Experience section.

The section most people copy-paste from their resume OR have some corporate marketing jargon they were forced to put in during onboarding and call it a day.

Your Experience section is an opportunity:
- To show off without actually showing off
- To talk about your wins, your obstacles, what you learned

All those lessons that led you to be the expert you are today?
THAT'S what people want to hear about.

Not "Responsible for increasing revenue and managing cross-functional teams."

TELL A STORY.

How did you crush your quota every quarter?
What obstacles did you overcome?
What made you realize you were onto something?

My client's story in her experience section?
Real. Human. Memorable.
And it made someone stop scrolling and reach out.

Not everyone will read it, no.

But if it means ONE person was swayed to have a call with you after just one week?
I'd say that's worth it.

Your profile isn't a resume.
It's your story.
Tell it like one.

___

P.S.  Part of my program includes a total profile makeover. Doesn't matter if you have branding or not (this client here didn't!) I'm all about progress > perfection. Helping you find a system (or brand) that works for where you are. 

I'm booking for January cohort - final weeks to get founding member rate AND Lifetime access. 

DM "LFG" for deets.

How I create 5+ posts from one call.

This is so simple, but no one was doing this!

Whenever I have a really good conversation with a client or team - great questions, big problem solved, interesting debate - I take that transcript and drop it into my chat.

My super simple prompt: 
"Pull all the themes and questions discussed on this call."

It gives me ~3-5 themes/?s (or more in this case)

From there, I turn the best ones into posts.

Here's what it gave me from last Monday's call:

Themes:
- Google Alerts for prospecting
- Post engagement & follow-up strategies
- Avoiding pitch slaps in DMs
- Content creation struggles
- Using call transcripts for content (𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸)

Questions:
• "Should I reach out to people who liked my post?"
• "How do I make content creation faster?"
• "What's the balance between content creation and engagement?"
  
All solid. All post-worthy.

If one client is asking these questions, you can bet others are wondering the same thing.

You're literally getting handed post ideas every day - you just need to capture them.

"𝘋𝘰 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭?"

As much as possible. Why?

→ It turns it into a unique story.
Not some generic advice post anyone could write.

→ It's social proof. Shows I'm doing the thing I say I do. 
On calls. With real clients.

Obviously, I respect privacy - I don't share names or identifying details, unless discussed.

But this approach shows you do what you say you do while creating relevant content.

Easy peasy.

___

P.S. I thought everyone was doing this, until I started to share it with my clients and realized no one was doing it.

Best way to think of this: instead of creating content, you're capturing it.

Is this an AWS meltdown but Cloudfare style? 

I can't access half my tools right now. 😐

(I actually have a great post for today, but Canva wasn't having it and you know me, I like images with posts haha). 

Anyone else feeling stuck?

Storylock Legal

At Storylock Legal, we help entrepreneurs, innovators, and creatives start smart with intellectual property protection. We offer comprehensive legal guidance, including trademark and copyright registration as well as contract drafting and negotiation.

For a free 30-minute consultation or for questions, feel free to contact me. 

You can reach me at: lauren@lstorylocklegal.com or you can book your consult on the link at the top of my profile.

Founder | Trademark & Copyright Attorney | Intellectual Property Protection

Dreamers & Doers®

Dreamers & Doers is a curated community and PR Hype Machine™ amplifying extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders.

Executive Member

Entreprenista

I am a proud member of The Entreprenista League, a private community created to help founders make meaningful connections that lead to real business results.

Member of the Entreprenista League

Happily Ever Elephants

Founder, Happily Ever Elephants

Beth Am Day School

School Library Media Specialist

Florida Third District Court of Appeal

Research Assistant/Law Clerk for Judge Kevin Emas

Research Assistant

Lott & Friedland, P.A.

Intellectual property attorney with an emphasis on all aspects of trademark law, including clearance, prosecution, and infringement matters.

Attorney

Imagine this: You are a strong, dynamic female founder who has created your dream
company and business is flourishing – until the day you get hit with a cease-and-desist letter
because you unknowingly infringed on someone else’s trademark. Ouch! 
It’s an expensive, painful mistake that can easily be avoided.

I'm Lauren, a trademark and copyright attorney. I’m passionate about helping innovators and
entrepreneurs (like our female founder above) protect their brands and businesses. I offer
comprehensive intellectual property guidance, including trademark clearance and registration,
copyright protection, contract drafting, and negotiation.

Those who can benefit most from my legal services include:

✔ START-UP BUSINESS OWNERS who want to ensure they are entering the marketplace with a
legally cleared and protectable trademark.

✔ ESTABLISHED BUSINESS OWNERS who want to protect their cherished brand and brand stories
through trademark and copyright registrations.

✔ FEMALE FOUNDERS with dynamic podcasts who want to safeguard their podcast names and
content.

✔ COURSE CREATORS whose blood, sweat, and tears went into creating their courses and need to
be protected from copycats.

✔ INFLUENCERS, AUTHORS, BLOGGERS, MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, AND OTHER CREATIVES who need to be sure their hard work and intellectual property is secured.

Working with a lawyer does NOT have to be intimidating, so choose wisely!
I pride myself on the strong relationships I build with my clients and am committed to providing
honest, ethical, transparent, and cost-effective guidance at all times.

I’m excited to jump on board and help you achieve your goals.

For a free 30-minute consultation or for questions, feel free to contact me. 

You can reach me at: lauren@storylocklegal.com or you can book your consult on the link at the top of my profile.

Specialties: Trademark Law | Copyright Infringement | Intellectual Property Protection | Contract
Drafting & Negotiation | Website Terms of Use & Privacy Policies | Children’s Book Reviewer &
Blogger | Female Founder | Entrepreneur | Mom Boss | Boy Mom | Multi-tasker | Creative Writer |
Avid Reader |

Lauren Bercuson

One of the most painful conversations I have with founders:

"I've been using this name for three years. I have customers who know and trust my brand. And NOW someone's telling me I can't use it?"

Yes. And I'm so sorry.

This happens more than you'd think. You launch. You grow. Everything seems fine.

Then one of three things happens:

Scenario 1: You finally try to register your trademark.

You've been operating successfully for 2-3 years. You're ready to "make it official."

You file the application. And the USPTO examiner finds a confusingly similar mark that's already registered.

Application denied.

Now you're stuck operating under a name you don't own and can't protect.

Scenario 2: Someone else files for YOUR mark.

You've been using it. You have common law rights in your geographic area.

But someone else—maybe in a different state—files a federal application for the same or similar mark.

They get the registration. You don't. Now THEY have superior rights in most of the country, even though you were using it first in your area.

Scenario 3: The cease and desist letter arrives.

Someone's been watching. They have a registered mark. They've decided you're infringing.

Now you're facing:

Potential legal action
A costly rebrand
Loss of all the brand equity you've built

All three scenarios are devastating. All three are preventable.
I know founders skip trademark registration because:

- It feels expensive when you're starting out
- It feels like something you can "do later"
- You're not sure your business will succeed yet
- You found the domain and Googled your name and nothing came up

I get all of that. I really do.

But waiting to protect your trademark is one of the riskiest bets you can make in business.

Because the longer you operate without protection:

- The more you invest in a brand you might not be able to keep
- The harder it is emotionally to rebrand if you have to
- The more you have to lose

I've seen founders in tears over this. Successful businesses forced to completely rebrand because they waited too long.

If you're operating under a business name you haven't cleared and registered, we need to talk.

Even if you've been using it for years. Even if you have customers. Even if it feels "too late."

It's not too late to protect what you've built—but the longer you wait, the more complicated it gets.

Book a time for us to connect: https://lnkd.in/ecpjNS-m

Let's assess where you are and create a plan that protects what you've already built.

#StorylockLegal #TrademarkLawyer #SecureYourStory

--------
I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

Award Winning Trademark & Copyright Attorney | Contracts | Legal & Creative | Ensuring You Secure Your Business with Trademark & Intellectual Property Protection

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Taking a moment before the holiday to say thank you.

To every founder who's trusted me with their brand story this year—you've made this work meaningful in ways I didn't expect.

To everyone building something from scratch, pouring your heart into your vision, and doing the brave thing of putting your ideas out into the world—I see you, and I'm rooting for you.

Wishing you and yours a beautiful Thanksgiving. 🧡

#StorylockLegal #TrademarkLawyer #SecureYourStory

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I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

Picture this:

Your business is absolutely killing it. Sales are up. Your calendar is booked solid. You're finally gaining real traction in your market.

Then your phone buzzes with an email. From a lawyer.

"Your trademark infringes on my client's rights. Cease and desist immediately or we'll see you in court."

Your stomach drops.

All that momentum. All that investment. Everything you've built. Suddenly at risk.

This is the nightmare scenario I help founders avoid. But it's also the reality I help them navigate when it happens.

Most people don't realize that getting a cease and desist letter doesn't automatically mean you're in the wrong.

The first question I always ask: Were you using the mark first?

Trademark law is built on the principle of "first use." If you were genuinely using your mark in commerce before they were, you may have a strong defense. Even without a registration.

If you weren't the first user, we dig deeper into something called "likelihood of confusion factors"—a set of legal criteria that determines whether consumers would actually confuse the two brands.

And this is where it gets interesting:

Sometimes we can negotiate a consent agreement. Maybe you operate in Florida and they operate in California. Maybe your products don't actually overlap. There might be room for both brands to coexist.

Sometimes we can modify your use slightly—maybe you drop one product category that conflicts, but keep everything else.

And sometimes? You have a stronger position than the letter makes it seem. Their attorney is doing their job by being aggressive. Your attorney (hi, that's me) does their job by analyzing the actual merits of their claim.

The absolute best way to handle a cease and desist letter is to never receive one in the first place.

That means:
→ Conducting a comprehensive trademark search before you launch
→ Registering your mark to establish your rights
→ Building your brand on a foundation you actually own

I know it feels like "something you'll do later" when you're just starting out.
But I've sat across from too many founders who waited. Who thought they were too small to worry about it. Who are now facing rebranding costs that could have funded their next three product launches.

Don't let that be you.

If you're using a brand name that you haven't cleared and protected, let's fix that. Even if you've been operating for months or years, it's not too late. We'll look at your specific situation and create a plan that actually makes sense for where you are right now.

Let's make sure you're building something that lasts.

Book a free consultation: https://lnkd.in/ecpjNS-m

#StorylockLegal #TrademarkLawyer #SecureYourStory

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I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

"Do I actually need a trademark, or is that just a nice-to-have?"

I get asked this question at least once a week.

And I get why people ask. When you're bootstrapping a business, every dollar matters. Trademarks feel expensive. And honestly, they feel optional.

What I tell every founder who asks me this question:

If you're serious about your business, it's not optional. It's essential.

Why:

1. Your brand IS your business.

Your reputation. Your customer relationships. The trust you've built. All of it lives in your brand name. Without trademark protection, you don't actually OWN that. You're just... using it. And hoping no one takes it from you.

2. Trademark registration gives you legal superpowers.

With a registered trademark, you get:
→ Legal presumption that you OWN the mark
→ Public notice that deters copycats
→ The ability to enforce your rights nationwide
→ A stronger position in any dispute

Without it? You're fighting uphill in every situation.

3. Your trademark becomes a valuable asset.

As your business grows, your brand grows in value. A strong trademark can be licensed. It can be expanded into new product categories. It appreciates over time.

I've seen trademarks become worth more than any physical asset a business owns.

4. Trademarks last forever.

Unlike patents (which expire) or copyrights (which have limitations), trademarks can last indefinitely as long as you're using them and maintaining the registration.

You protect it once. It protects you for the life of your business.

5. It's your foundation for growth.

Want to expand into new products? Launch in new markets? Eventually sell your business?

A registered trademark makes all of that possible. It's the legal foundation for everything else is built on.

When someone asks me "Do I NEED a trademark?"—my answer:
If you're building something you plan to grow, scale, and protect—yes. You absolutely need a trademark.

What you don't need: confusion, overwhelm, or a process that feels intimidating.

That's where I come in.

I make trademark protection straightforward, transparent, and honestly kind of easy. You tell me about your business. I tell you exactly what you need and why. No legal jargon. No surprises. Just clear guidance and a plan that makes sense.

Book a free consultation: https://lnkd.in/ecpjNS-m

They're free, genuinely helpful, and zero pressure.

We'll talk about:
→ Whether you actually need a trademark (spoiler: probably yes)
→ What the process looks like
→ What it costs (I believe in transparent pricing)
→ When it makes sense to move forward

Comment NEED below and I'll send you the link. Let's protect what you're building.

#StorylockLegal #TrademarkLawyer #SecureYourStory

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I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

You did a Google search. The domain was available. You were good to go, right?

Wrong.

What happens next:

You spend $5,000 on branding. Another $3,000 on a website. You launch your marketing campaigns. You start building momentum.

Six months later, a cease and desist letter arrives.

Someone else owns the trademark. You had no idea. Now you're facing a complete rebrand or a legal battle you can't afford.

This exact scenario plays out more often than you think.

Founders don't realize: A Google search is not a trademark search.

When I conduct a comprehensive trademark search, I'm looking at:
→ Every federal trademark application and registration in the USPTO database
→ State-level registrations in all 50 states
→ Common law uses (marks that exist but aren't registered yet)
→ Business directories and domain databases
→ Variations and permutations of your proposed name

I'm not just checking if your exact name is taken. I'm checking if anything SIMILAR is already out there that could block your registration or create infringement risk.

The USPTO will reject your application if there's a confusingly similar mark already registered—even if it's not identical.

And that cease and desist letter? It can come from someone using a similar mark even if they never filed a federal registration.

The cost of my Trust Your Trademark pacakge, including the full comprehensive trademark search AND prepping and filing the application: $2,500.

The cost of rebranding after you've invested in a name you can't protect: $15,000-50,000+ (and that's just the financial cost, not the damage to the momentum you've built).

I know it feels like an expense you can skip when you're just starting out.
But it's actually the cheapest insurance policy you'll ever buy for your brand.
Before you print those business cards. Before you order that inventory. Before you invest another dollar in a brand name—let's make sure you can actually own it.

Book a free consultation: https://lnkd.in/ecpjNS-m

We'll talk through your name, where you are in your business, and what makes sense for you.

Let's build your brand on solid ground from day one.

#StorylockLegal #TrademarkLawyer #SecureYourStory

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I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

"Can I trademark that?"

This might be the second most common question I get (right after "Do I actually need a trademark?").

And the answer is usually: Yes! Probably more than you think.

Most founders know you can trademark:

Business names
Logos
Slogans

But did you know you can also trademark:

Sounds: The NBC chimes. The MGM lion roar. Intel's five-note bong. If you have a distinctive audio signature associated with your brand, it can be protected.

Colors: Tiffany Blue. UPS Brown. T-Mobile Magenta. A single color can become a protectable trademark if consumers associate it exclusively with your brand.

Product Design: The shape of a Coca-Cola bottle. The red sole of a Christian Louboutin shoe. If your product's appearance is distinctive enough, it can function as a trademark.

Scents (yes, really): This one's rare, but possible. A company once trademarked a plumeria blossom scent for sewing thread. If a smell distinctively identifies your brand, it can potentially be protected.

Packaging: Think about instantly recognizable packaging—like Toblerone's triangular box or Method's unique soap bottle shapes.

The key requirement for ALL of these: The element must function as a source identifier. Consumers must recognize it and associate it with YOUR brand specifically.

You can't trademark:
- Generic terms (like "Cookie Store" for a cookie store)
- Purely functional features (you can't monopolize something that serves a utilitarian purpose)
- Government insignia or flags
- Scandalous or immoral content
- Anything that's merely ornamental or decorative

Most founders should start with the basics: your wordmark (business name) first, then your logo, then your tagline if you have one that's central to your brand.

Once those are protected, we can get creative with the rest—your signature color, your unique packaging, your audio branding.

But you have to build the foundation first.

If you're not sure what elements of your brand are protectable or where to start, that's exactly what my free consultations are for. 

Book a time here: https://lnkd.in/ecpjNS-m

Let's figure out what parts of your brand story deserve legal protection.

#StorylockLegal #TrademarkLawyer #SecureYourStory

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I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

You don't need to have everything figured out to protect your trademark.

You don't need to be "big enough yet."
You don't need to hit a certain revenue number.
You don't need to have your entire business plan mapped out for the next five years.

You just need to be using your brand name in commerce (or planning to very soon).

That's it. That's the requirement.

Some of the best trademark strategies I've seen came from founders who protected their brand EARLY—before they had it all figured out.

Because when you lock in your foundation early, you have the freedom to build on it without constantly worrying whether someone's going to challenge your right to use your own name.

Food for thought as you plan for 2026.

If you want to start the new year with your brand properly protected, book a free consultation here: https://lnkd.in/ecpjNS-m

#StorylockLegal #TrademarkLawyer #SecureYourStory

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I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

Myth I hear constantly:

"I secured the .com, so I'm good!"

Not quite.

The domain gets people to your website.
The trademark protects your legal right to use that name.
You need both.

Owning [yourbusinessname].com does NOT:
→ Give you legal protection
→ Stop others from using your brand name
→ Defend you against cease and desist letters
→ Prevent someone from registering YOUR name as their trademark

I've watched founders build entire businesses around domains they secured... only to discover someone else owns the trademark.
Now they're facing a rebrand they can't afford.

The smart order:
1. Choose your name
2. Do a comprehensive trademark search
3. Secure the domain
4. File for trademark protection
5. Build with confidence

Not the other way around.

Poll for you: How many of you secured your domain BEFORE checking trademark availability? 

Be honest—no judgment! I just think this would be eye-opening for founders reading this.

#StorylockLegal #TrademarkLawyer #SecureYourStory

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I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

I’ve got my NEST holiday candle burning so my house smells like a Christmas tree… which can only mean one thing:

 We’ve officially entered end-of-year mode!!

And I know you’re all asking yourselves this one VERY important December question:

Do I actually own my brand going into the new year? 😉 

Starting the new year knowing your name, your work, your story — all of it — is legally yours?

That’s the win you want heading into 2026.

If you want to walk into 2026 knowing your brand is truly yours, I’d be honored to guide you through it! Let's talk!!

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Hi! I’m Lauren, the trademark attorney behind Storylock Legal, and I help visionary founders secure their brands and lock in their legacies with strategic trademark and IP protection. Let’s write the next chapter of your brand’s success together!

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