Richard van der Blom

Tired of LinkedIn™️ not delivering the leads you need? Struggling to stand out in all the noise? Too much advice, not enough results? Running out of time to land new clients? Wondering how to turn connections into paying customers? I’ve got exactly what you need!  ☎️ 𝘁𝗲𝗹. +𝟯𝟭 𝟲 𝟱𝟱𝟭𝟭 𝟳𝟮𝟴𝟮

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗔𝗺 𝗜?
I'm Richard van der Blom, born in the Netherlands 🇳🇱, currently living the Spanish 🇪🇸 life. My world revolves around my partner Evelina 🇦🇷, our delightful doodle Siena 🇩🇪, and an undying love for international cuisine 🍲 , travel, Pearl Jam 🎶 , and yes, a Gin-Tonic 🍸 . Once a technical wizard on the football ⚽️  field, now I get my kicks from steering businesses towards success on LinkedIn™️.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗼
We specialize in leveraging comprehensive, evidence-based strategies to enhance LinkedIn™️ engagement and effectiveness for B2B clients. Our partnerships with a diverse clientele of over 900 companies and the mentorship of more than 300,000 professionals have enabled us to develop a robust repository of best practices and actionable insights. Our commitment to ongoing research in social selling, content optimization, and staying ahead of LinkedIn’s algorithmic updates ensures that our consultancy and training services are at the forefront of the industry, delivering customized solutions that drive tangible business outcomes.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁?

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗨𝗕
An independent 100% dedicated LinkedIn™️ training and consultancy agency. Founded in 2009, we empower our clients with insights-based LinkedIn™️ training for sales, marketing and recruitment professionals as executives and consultants. In 7 native languages, online and on-site.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘
Join my vibrant online community of 150+ members. We're all about leveraging social selling to amplify your online presence through continuous training, community events, and masterclasses. Learn from industry leaders and become part of a groundbreaking training community.

𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 
I bring the stage to life – either live or virtually – with insights that 99.9% of LinkedIn™️ experts can't match. Rated as the Best Keynote Speaker in over 80% of my engagements, I'm here to deliver strategies that truly make a difference and inspire business growth

𝗦𝗼...
Dive into the transformative world of insights-based LinkedIn™️ strategies and training – to see more results, with a more efficient and less time-consuming approach

📞 +31 6 5511 7282
✉ Or share your ambition with me via richardvanderblom@justconnecting.nl

Public Speaker / Keynote Speaker

Renowned international keynote speaker, deeply passionate and knowledgeable about a range of topics including LinkedIn, Social Selling, Content Strategy, and the evolving landscape of Sales. My expertise is in delivering insights-based, engaging, and impactful keynotes.

With a track record of delivering 60+ keynotes across cosmopolitan cities such as Buenos Aires, Marrakech, Austin, Paris, Copenhagen, Athens, Vienna, and Dubai, my global experience enables me to bring unique perspectives and insights to every event.

I'm proud to have been rated as the best speaker at 80% of all events I've attended, with an impressive average rating of 9.1 out of 10. As a speaker, I am dedicated to not just sharing knowledge, but also inspiring change and action. My talks are a blend of current trends, practical strategies, and forward-thinking ideas, designed to empower professionals to thrive in today's dynamic sales environment.

Dannos Tsakalos (CEO)
Richard was one of the 10+ international speakers who took the stage at our annual Social Media & Influencer Marketing Conference (Athens October 2023). He was the last who took the stage, yet he managed to captivate the audience and received an impressive rate of 9,5/10. Why? Because, in a nutshell, he is a gifted presenter, a true expert who delivers tons of actionable insights and useful tips around LinkedIn and how to stand out on it.

Michael Geary (CEO - SMPS)
I have had the pleasure of witnessing Richard in action at our annual marketing conference, Amplify A|E|C, and I am was impressed by his ability to captivate and engage audiences. He's a true master of a stage presentation and communication skills. Richard possesses the talent for making complex ideas accessible and compelling. He has the the ability to distill intricate concepts into clear, concise messages that resonate with our audience.

5 ways LinkedIn silently kills your post. 
No warning. No explanation. Just... gone.

Analyzed 600,000+ posts, found algorithm behaviors that LinkedIn will never publicly acknowledge. Some are brutal. Some are bizarre. All are real.

1.     The 60-Minute Cliff

Your post gets 50+ engagements in the first hour. Comments flowing. Likes stacking. You're thinking "this one's going viral."

Then... nothing. Complete flatline at minute 61.

We've tracked posts where 50%+ of ALL lifetime engagement came from that first hour — then the algorithm just... stopped distributing. No second wave. No extended reach. Dead.

Why? Our theory: LinkedIn's "quality gate" triggers at the 60-minute mark. If engagement velocity doesn't hit a specific threshold relative to your follower count, the algorithm assumes the content peaked. Distribution stops.


2.     The “See More” Shadow Ban

This one's eerie. Post something critical about LinkedIn, gender issues, religion, or politics. Get decent engagement. Someone clicks "see more" to expand your post and...

It vanishes. Not scrolls down. VANISHES. Gone from their feed entirely.

We've replicated this dozens of times. The post still exists on your profile. But it's been quietly removed from active distribution. No notification. No policy violation. Just algorithmic erasure.

3.     The Ambassador Penalty

This one breaks my heart. You have 15-20 loyal supporters. Real people. Genuine fans of your content. They comment on everything you post — manually, thoughtfully, because they actually care.

And LinkedIn punishes you for it.

When the same accounts engage with your content repeatedly, the algorithm flags it as "artificial engagement patterns." Your reach gets throttled. Sometimes immediately. Your biggest fans are accidentally killing your distribution.

4.     The Ghost Follower Drain

You have 10,000 followers. But only 2,000 are "active" (logged in within 30 days).
LinkedIn doesn't care about your total count. It calculates engagement rate against your 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 follower base — including the ghosts.

So your 200 likes on a post? 
LinkedIn sees that as 2% engagement on 10K followers. Mediocre. Distribution slows.

Meanwhile, someone with 2,000 active followers gets 200 likes and LinkedIn sees 10% engagement. Exceptional. 


5.     The Hashtag Trap

Using hashtags should expand your reach, right? Not anymore.
Posts with 3+ hashtags now consistently underperform posts with 0-2 hashtags. But here's the strange part: it's not gradual. At exactly 3 hashtags, we see a 15-20% reach drop. At 5+, it's 35%+.

LinkedIn's spam detection now treats hashtag stacking as a manipulation signal. The very feature designed to help discovery is now triggering suppression.

The algorithm isn't evil. It's just optimizing for metrics we can't see. Understanding these hidden rules won't guarantee virality. But ignoring them guarantees suppression.

Which of these surprises you the most? Drop a number (1-5) in the comments

Helping B2B Sales & Marketing Teams Turn LinkedIn into a Lead Generation & Business Growth Engine | Social Selling Expert | International Keynote Speaker| 4x Investor

Your 2024 LinkedIn tactics are killing your 2026 reach.
Lifespan of posts have changed, and this is how you can extend them

Please understand this. The algorithm didn't just update. 
It fundamentally shifted — from network-based to interest-based.

Here's what that means for your post lifespan:

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻:
• 20% of total reach in first hour
• 65% in first 24 hours
• 85% in first 48 hours
• Post dies around 84 hours

How to extend it? Likes, comments, engagement from your connections and followers. Being relevant to your inner-circle.

Boost tactics? Pods. Replying to every comment.

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻:
• 40% of total reach in first hour (2x faster!)
• 55% in first 24 hours
• 65% in first 48 hours
• Last 5% often comes after 6-8 days

How to extend it? Saves, reposts, comments from 2nd and 3rd degree connections. Being relevant to your Interest Cluster.

Boost tactics? Paid promotion. Getting into Suggested Posts.

See the shift?

In 2024, your network decided your reach.
In 2026, your topic relevance decides your reach.

Your connections don't matter as much anymore.
Your content's fit to interest clusters matters more.

Pods? Mostly useless now — the algorithm sees through same-network engagement patterns.

The new currency? 
Strangers saving and reposting your content.

𝟰 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲:

1. Write for saves, not just likes. Ask yourself: "Would someone bookmark this to reference later?"

2. Create repost-worthy content. Give people something they want to share with their audience — not just react to.

3. Target interest clusters, not your network. Your ICP might be a 3rd-degree connection who's never heard of you.

4. Front-load value in the first hour. 40% of your reach happens there — make those first 60 minutes count.

The algorithm isn't broken.
It just stopped caring about who you know.

Now it only cares about what you know — and who needs to hear it.

Still optimizing for 2024? 
You're already behind.

Which shift surprises you most — the speed (40% in first hour) or the extended tail (6-8 days)?

Next Chapter Career Transitions

o	I have successfully worked with job seekers at all levels who are interested in expediting their search for a new role.

o	I create and provide first class marketing materials along with actionable plans and collateral that will assist you in landing an interview. 

o	I partner with professionals to help them through the often daunting task of changing jobs or careers. 

o	I have a passion for creating compelling resumes and LinkedIn profiles that get noticed by the right people.

Contact me at matthewjtooker@gmail.com to get started moving your job search forward.

President

Bridge Technical Talent

Accountable for hiring, training and scaling an inside/outside sales team in a matrix management environment. Responsible for developing a KPI model that drove profit and productivity.  Created a culture of accountability by reinforcing best practices through one on ones and hands on management.  Modeled and developed a recruiting and on-boarding process for continuous candidate identification, evaluation, and hiring.

SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:

o	TALENT DEVELOPMENT: Created a multi-faceted Sales Playbook to lead new hires through their first 6 months of ramp. Key topics included CRM utilization, KPI expectations, all aspects of funnel management and critical aspects of consultative selling methodologies.

o	PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION: Championed the development of a metric performance model.  Immediate results included a 130% increase in outbound call metrics within first 90-120 days.    

o	SALES GROWTH: Spearheaded the creation of a sales focused culture with an emphasis on coaching and feedback. Created role playing groups focused on challenging each Account Executive to raise the bar on their own performance.  As a result, job orders increased 39% from Q1 2018 to Q2 2018

Director Of Sales

Towerstream

Lead inside sales operations across 12 national markets for this $30M telecommunications company, managing strategic planning, performance optimization, pricing, recruitment, talent development, mergers and acquisitions as well as 123-person staff. Revenue grew from $5M to $30M during tenure.  

SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:

o	PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION: Increased installed revenue per account executive from $475 to $1,440 over 6 years →  evaluated historical performance data, interviewed staff members, identified challenges, restructured KPIs, optimized incentive compensation, retrained team and galvanized support

o	ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Grew annual channel sales from $35K to $165K over 4 years by leveraging post-acquisition synergies to meet growth milestones → Researched acquired company components, collaborated with key stakeholders, facilitated cross-functional meetings and launched new vertical.

o	PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: Initiated formalized sales training → Interviewed direct reports, evaluated skill-sets, outlined individual action plans, established KPIs and facilitated weekly coaching sessions resulting in reduction of boarding time from 24 to 16 weeks; boosted ARPU from $239 to $681 over 4 months. 

o	TALENT DEVELOPMENT: Retrained 50-person sales team; grew average revenue per account executive by 203% over 6 years; authored sales training playbook, raising new hire productivity by 12%

o	SALES GROWTH: Optimized geographic location of inside sales team; boosted market revenue by 32% over 6 years; planned and launched new sales channel program, increasing annual revenue by 368% over 3 years; spearheaded planning and opening of remote sales center; achieved 112% of quota in first 6 months.  

o     RECRUITMENT AND STAFFING: Recruited and staffed sales and operations roles in a 100 seat inside sales center.  Oversaw sales, marketing, installations and customer care functions.

Vice President Sales and Marketing

HSBC

Oversaw inside and outside sales operations for $12M branch, leading strategic planning, sales training, performance optimization, marketing, recruitment, talent development and P&L with direct oversight of 34-person staff.

SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:

o	SALES GROWTH: Launched new inside sales team growing annual sales revenue from $0 to $290M annually over 6 years; increased funded volume per FTE from $579K to $1.1M over 12 months

o	CROSS FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP: Grew P&L from $235K loss to a profit of $8.3M over 4 years → Analyzed production data, interviewed key stakeholders, performed industry and competitor analysis, discovered customer needs, developed niche product portfolio and authored strategic road map

o	CHANGE MANAGEMENT: Initiated 16-month top down cost review achieving 10.3% higher profit margins than company average as well as implementing test and learn methodology achieving 119% of funded loan volume quota over 24 months.
 
o	PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: Championed efficiency initiative; improved funded units per FTE from 8.22 to 13.07 over 12 months; developed early payment dashboard and detection; cut problem loans to .57%, top 5% in company.

o	SALES OPERATIONS: Re-engineered sales structure; consolidated account management teams, saved $240K over 18 months; optimized product portfolio; boosted average funded loan size from $98K to $149K over 2 years.

Regional Vice President |  Northeast 

GE Capital

o	Hired, trained and managed a nationwide industry leading sales team.  
o	Worked cross functionally to create and implement  GE's mini bulk and bulk purchase mortgage program

Vice President Sales

National Sales Manager

Director of Sales

Director Of Operations

Branch Manager

Resume and LinkedIn Rewrites 🔹Interview Prep 🔹Crafting Effective Career Marketing Materials That Create Positive Outcomes 🔹Insights From A Hiring Manager’s Perspective 🔹Actionable Advice To Get You Hired

As a Senior Executive with significant experience at Fortune 500 companies and startups, I have a unique perspective on the hiring process. 

If you hire me you will:

Work with me directly.  I do not outsource my work.

Have a 60-90 minute Career Debrief call with me where we will do a deep dive into your experience, value proposition and why you should be the chosen candidate. 

Receive a top tier resume with appropriate keywords, Executive Summary and a contemporary design.   

Receive a custom written resume in both PDF and MS Word format.

Receive a LinkedIn profile that will elevate your brand as a candidate and make you stand out from the pack.

Receive a fully optimized profile that takes advantage of your "About" section and accentuates the skills most wanted for your chosen role. 

Additionally, I can guide you through the interview process by offering you insights from a hiring manager. What we want to see and hear....and what we don't! 

What I Do

✅LinkedIn Profiles/Branding

✅Resume Rewrites

✅Interview Prep/Mock Interviews

I partner with professionals to help them through the often daunting task of creating authentic and effective career marketing materials. 

I have a passion for creating compelling resumes and LinkedIn profiles that get noticed by the right people.  And when that happens, I can help you land that role by coaching you through mock interviews. 

My experience as a Senior Executive will help you:

🚀Hit the job market with career marketing materials that get you noticed.

🚀Get the attention of hiring managers

🚀Reduce your job search time 

I will help you accelerate your job search results. I know what hiring manager are looking for, I was one!

What Others Are Saying

“Matt is a true professional and great at what he does! He has a way of taking your experience and showcasing how those transferable skills are part of what makes you ready for the next stage in your career”

“After previously working for Matt when I saw he was doing resumes and helping with image on LinkedIn I knew he was the right person for the job. He has been on the other side of the hiring desk for many years and knows what hiring managers are looking for from a prospective candidate”


👉If you are interested in moving your career forward reach me at matthewjtooker@gmail.com

Matt Tooker

Here are 4 “language traps” that can work against 45+ job seekers 

↳ Calling yourself “seasoned” You mean “experienced.” They read “older.” ➡️ Instead: Use “strategic,” “accomplished,” or “recognized for driving results.”

↳ Using dated corporate jargon (“results-oriented,” “team player,” “responsible for”) These scream resume template circa 1998. ➡️ Instead: Lead with fresh verbs: led, built, drove, delivered, transformed.

↳ Saying “Proficient in Microsoft Office” That’s expected baseline knowledge, not a differentiator. ➡️ Instead: Get specific: Excel data modeling, workflow automation, digital collaboration tools.

↳ Using overly formal language (“utilized,” “leveraged synergies”) Stiff and outdated. ➡️ Instead: Clear, modern phrasing: used, partnered, collaborated across teams.

Modern language doesn’t just update your resume, it updates perception.

———
 Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.

Resumes and LinkedIn profiles written by a former hiring manager.

Work 1:1 with an ex-Fortune 500 Senior Executive

Resume Rewrites & LinkedIn Branding🔹Interview Prep🔹Crushing Ageism One Client At A Time 🔹 Ex-Fortune 500 Senior Manager🔹Work With A Former Hiring Manager🔹 Jump Start Your Job Search

As a former hiring manager I reviewed thousands of resumes and I always looked for the same things. Some made it easy for me to say yes. Others made me work too hard.

Here are four reasons why your resume prompted me to set up a screening call while others did not.

↳ You made your value obvious in the top third. I understood who you are, what you do, and why you matter without having to scan line by line. Clarity wins.

↳ Your achievements were tied to outcomes. You did not just list responsibilities. You showed impact. Numbers. Improvements. Results. Real evidence of performance.

↳ Your format was simple to read. Not fancy. Not overloaded. Clean spacing. Clear headings. Linear flow. I could open it on any device and get the story fast.

↳ You aligned your experience to the role. You did not try to be everything to everyone. You tailored your message to the job I was filling. That told me you cared enough to put in the work.

If you want more eyes on your resume and more yes responses from hiring managers this is where it starts. Let me know if you want help tightening yours up.

———
 Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.

Résumés and LinkedIn profiles written by a former hiring manager.

Work 1:1 with an ex-Fortune 500 Senior Executive

I’m back with another edition of Myth Buster Monday.
Today I am focused on resumes

MYTH You should list every job you’ve ever had.

REALITY Your resume isn’t your autobiography. It’s a marketing document. Showcase the experience that supports the role you want next, and cut the rest.  Have some relevant early career wins you want to share…there are ways to do that.

MYTH Your resume should only look back.

REALITY A great resume points forward. It doesn’t just summarize where you’ve been, it positions you for where you want to go next.  Recruiters want to see that you can do the job that’s ahead of you.

MYTH Your resume needs to be “visually different” to stand out.

REALITY Recruiters don’t hire design. They hire clarity. The resumes that rise to the top are the ones that are skimmable, and make your value obvious in 6 seconds.

This last myth is especially important to understand and debunk.  Recruiters look at a lot of resumes in a short period of time, they need to be able to find the information they want and need quickly.  Cute, quirky designs are often a roadblock to doing exactly this.

Help them to help you.

———
 Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.

Résumés and LinkedIn profiles written by a former hiring manager.

Work 1:1 with an ex-Fortune 500 Senior Executive

Thoughts and musings on our recent trip to Dublin.

One overriding takeaway: Dublin is not a city — it’s a community.

The people there are some of the kindest, most welcoming individuals we’ve ever met, anywhere. They greet you with open arms, they want to share their history, and they genuinely invite your friends and family to visit. They’re overtly courteous, thoughtful, and gracious.

I’m convinced — and a cabbie actually said this — that if I tripped and fell on the sidewalk, a whole group of people would rush over to help me up. That was the vibe. And it was wonderful. It set the tone for our entire visit.

It also reminded me of my own community here on LinkedIn.

I’m incredibly fortunate to have people in my network who are thoughtful, welcoming, and willing to offer a hand or an encouraging word. Even though I had OOO in my headline this past week, I still found myself checking in from time to time, commenting on posts when I had a spare minute. 

Even while “away,” I still wanted to stay connected.

So on this Sunday, I’m feeling grateful for you all. My community.

Thanks for showing up.

No alternative text description for this image

Wishing all who celebrate a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Thankful for this community. You show up and you support. 

Grateful for every one of you in my network. I appreciate you.

I will be checking out for a few days while Aimee and I enjoy the sights in Dublin.  Back soon!

Leaving you with one of the most peaceful sunrises I have seen in while.

Time for another edition of Myth Buster Monday

MYTH Buying a bestselling resume template from a marketplace like Etsy guarantees you’ll stand out.

REALITY Maybe. Some of those “top sellers” work against you. Many include photos that can open you to bias and discrimination. Additionally many applicant tracking systems have a challenge processing the photo. Others rely on two-column layouts that look pretty but make your experience harder to scan quickly. Recruiters don’t slow down for design choices that hide your value.

Remember, a resume isn’t about trendiness. It’s about clarity, content, and making your story effortless to understand.

———
 Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.

Résumés and LinkedIn profiles written by a former hiring manager.

Work 1:1 with an ex-Fortune 500 Senior Executive

Sharing with my network.  These Verizon folks got hit hard.

Hi everyone,
Verizon is concluding my role as part of its historic restructuring / workforce reduction initiative, now widely reported in the news. After 30 years leading technical and unionized operations teams, delivering client support to other Wholesale Telecom customers, and building resilient, high-performance workforces, I’m immediately available for my next leadership opportunity.
Focused on Operations and Workforce-Leadership roles in a remote, hybrid, on onsite compacity where I can drive team performance, service delivery, operational discipline, and people-first management in any industry that values execution-driven leadership.

#OpenToWork #Operations #TeamLeadership

About me & what I’m looking for:
💼 I’m looking for Operations Manager, Telecommunications Manager, and Customer Service Management roles. Currently managing a home based team.
🌎 I’m open to roles in Orlando, Massachusetts, and Atlanta. 
⭐ I’ve previously worked at Verizon.

Looking for Telecommunications Manager, Customer Service Management, Team Leader and Supervisor roles

taplio

The Battle

Richard van der Blom

Matt Tooker

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taplio

The Battle

Richard van der Blom

Matt Tooker

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);}Richard van der Blom's LinkedIn Performance

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