Stefan Stefanov

Making magic happen through Email 🦅👁️

You know retention should be a growth engine.
But instead, it’s mostly a source of stress.

👉 If you’re an agency, you’re juggling more accounts - but the systems behind them are patched together and breaking.
👉 If you’re a brand, in-house retention sounds smart… until you’re buried in clunky ESPs, missing data, and slow handoffs.
👉 Or maybe you're running retention - but something feels off. Results are flat. Ops are messy. Team’s flying blind.

You’re not alone. And the pain is real.

Fragmented flows.
Campaigns delayed.
No clear ownership.
And every “quick fix” breaks something else.

You know it could run smoother. Perform better. Without the constant drag.

Now imagine this:

✅ Your lifecycle automations just work - logic is tight, handoffs are seamless
✅ Campaigns go out on time, on brand, without bugs or bottlenecks
✅ Your team knows what to do, and when - without Slack chaos or last-minute scrambles
✅ Strategy, tech, and execution are finally aligned

That’s what I help agencies and brands build:

→ Retention systems that grow without fires
→ Flawless backend ops across email, SMS, and CRM
→ Consulting that turns scattered teams into calm executors

Whether you need a deep audit, help structuring your in-house retention ops, or a partner who knows what “done right” really looks like:

Send me a DM.
Let’s make retention flow again.

Email Production Manager

Looking at the comment sections on LinkedIn… It’s getting crazy!

AI convos ftw lol 🤖

Even making them look more “natural”. with a small letter at the start of a sentence here and there. Long ass comments too.

Sh*t… it’s funny what this has turned into and I’m not questioning the authenticity of anyone but are you? 😆

Retention systems that run without you | Precision-built ops for growing teams | C.E.G. (Certified Email Geek)

Most marketers are addicted to quick wins.

Results this week. ROI this month. A/B tests that must show something by EOD.

But most meaningful progress compounds.

Take Zero-Party Data.

It takes time to collect.
Even more time to analyze.
But once it clicks, it can reshape:

• How you segment and message
• How your flows convert
• Who you attract in the first place

Delayed gratification isn’t a flaw in the system.
It 𝘪𝘴 the system.

What long game are you playing in your marketing right now?

The most misunderstood thing in email?

You tell me 🫵 

IMHO, thinking it’s all about sending emails.

Treating email like a send button means:
Write copy → hit send → tweak subject lines → optimize opens.

Staying top of mind is a big part but don’t get me wrong.

Email isn’t purely a channel.
It’s a system.

And when that system is broken, no amount of clever copy or AI will save it.

What breaks most often?

• Chasing “winning” metrics that lose money
• Testing popups, flows, and campaigns in isolation
• Prioritizing output over structure
• Chasing retention on the expense of acquisition and quantity over quality

Email only works when you build for 𝗲𝗻𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, not isolated tactics.

What’s the most common email misconception you keep running into - with teams, clients, or leadership? Let’s make a list in the comments 🗒️

AI will save you time... until it doesn’t.

Here’s what I keep seeing:
• AI-generated SOPs missing key steps
• Summaries that include made-up “facts”
• Action items based on information that doesn’t exist

Why?
Because the person using AI hit copy/paste... and never checked the output.

We 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 the speed AI offers.
But unless you build internal guardrails, you’re just speeding into chaos faster.

What’s worked for us:

✅ Teach the team how to prompt 𝘢𝘯𝘥 QA
✅ Never use output without reading every line
✅ Create a simple AI-use policy (summaries, docs, outlines - what’s okay, what’s not)

AI isn’t the problem.
Undefined usage is.

Does your org have an internal AI playbook? Or winging it for now?

Most walls are made of paper.

If there’s one belief I’d want to build into every team I work with - it’s that.

That just because something 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 fixed, doesn’t mean it is.

That constraints often aren’t real.
That policies can be rewritten.
That “we’ve always done it this way” is the weakest argument in any meeting.

The teams that move fast?
They poke at the wall.
They ask better questions.
They assume improvement is possible.

It’s a mindset thing.
Not ego. Not rebellion. Just... forward energy.

That belief is contagious.
And it spreads fastest from leadership down.

Do your people feel like they can push boundaries?

P.S. Shout out Steven Bartlett for the phrase. Love it!

Do you know your numbers?

Most leadership teams think this just means financials.

But what about the 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 deliverables?

• How many emails did you actually send?
• How many versions, translations, and last-minute clones?
• How much troubleshooting and app setup work quietly piles up?

Not everything needs to be counted as a single “unit.” But if you don’t have a way to scope the invisible work, it’s going to cost you - in capacity, morale, and retention.

A quantifiable scope = predictable workload = less chaos.

And everything outside that scope?

Well… there's no free lunch (as we say here).

How do you track the “untrackable” in your team?

Been thinking about this lately:

Agency roles used to feel... fixed.

Account manager does this. Copywriter does that. Strategy stays over here.
Clean boxes. Clear swim lanes.

But lately?

I’m seeing the opposite.

More fluidity.

And it could work - as long as two things are true:
1. Boundaries are clear enough to avoid chaos
2. Redundancy is avoided (no one’s tripping over each other)

The old rigid structure?

Might be holding teams back more than it’s helping so I'm curious... What are you seeing inside your org or with agency partners?

“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦?”

Everyone loves the idea of “surprise and delight.”
But when you’re managing client work, it’s not that simple.

So here’s the question I’ve been thinking about:

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰?

You know the kind:
• A quick dive into an analytics tool to explore something adjacent
• A one-off Loom with a strategy tweak
• A deliverable they didn’t expect - but actually needed

Small moments.
High leverage.
Zero expectation.

But if you’re not careful, these turn into scope creep.
Which means they either stress your team…
Or train clients to expect more than they’re paying for.

So here’s how I’ve started approaching it:

A 3-part framework to protect margin and enable surprise:

1. Baseline clarity - lock down what’s in scope, clearly and early.
2. Buffer zone - build 10-15% bandwidth into your process for “discretionary effort.”
3. Use it intentionally - don’t throw extras randomly. Use them to reinforce trust or momentum when it matters most.

This way, surprise is a strategy - not a burnout driver.

Curious how you approach this.
Do you intentionally leave room for “unscoped value”?

Stop chasing shiny tools. Start asking better questions.

I’ve seen teams throw money and time at new tech stacks…
Only to realize the real issue wasn’t the tool.
It was their thinking.

❌ “Tool X will fix our lifecycle”
❌ “Let’s just buy Y - it works for [cool brand]”

But pause. Ask:

✅ What core problem are we solving?
✅ Is this helping the customer experience?
✅ Could we do this with what we already have?

Because 80% of the time?
You can.

You either already have the feature,
Or a workaround exists - if you’re willing to dig.

Before the next big purchase or “urgent” implementation:
Ask how it improves what’s already working.

Optimization beats overhaul.
Systems over novelty.

Your turn:
What’s a tool your team bought… just to optimize (the lately so popular buzz word) “vanity metrics”?

Incrementally getting better in any (ideally all) of these will bring you the highest ROI.

Not talking about money and work but what fuels them and being the best version of yourself.

Not only for you but for the people around you.

And this might be the best post on LinkedIn ever cause all the work strategies and "hacks" don't matter if you feel like crap.

Master these 10 habits in 2026. 
Feel amazing, reclaim agency + self-respect. 

1. final food 4 hr before bed 
2. screens off 30 min before bed 
3. avoid blue light 2hr before bed, use red/amber
4. book in hand 10 min before sleep 
5. go to bed same time every night 
6. light in eyes when waking (sun or 10k lux)
7. walk for 10 min immediately following eating 
8. daily exercise (even if for 20 min)
9. eat good stuff, ditch the junk 
10. foster friends, family and love 

They read as simple. I promise they'll change your life. Make them non-negotiate life habits. Do them every_single_day.  Once you establish the habits, it is very easy to maintain. Stick with it for two weeks and start getting the dividends.

AI Marketing Funnels & AI Systems Consultant For E-Comm, Wellness & Agencies

WHAT I DO: I help small businesses, agencies, and entrepreneurs attract, engage, and sell to their ideal clients online with funnels. 

You get 100% unique digital marketing content including ads, emails, lead magnets, social media posts, funnels, webinars, websites, and VSLs. 📈

WHO I WORK WITH: I've spent the last 10 years serving clients including:
🥼Sermo
👩‍💼Forbes
🏃‍♀️Custom Health Centers
📈Dentsu Aegis Network
👫Dr. Vivianna Coles
🏋️Gym Launch
👩‍💻Hirsh Marketing
🧠Integrative Concussion Therapy
💦Le Sweat
🏥Modoma Clinics
🩺Neuropathy Relief Project
🧑‍⚕️Practice Acceleration
💊Prestige Labs
🗣️Simon Sinek Inc.
🏒Sport Chek
🍹Tropical Smoothie Cafe
🧼Unilever

WHAT MAKES ME UNIQUE: I have consulted on marketing strategy for over 2,500+ small businesses, e-comm, and coaching entrepreneurs over the last 10 years. I DO NOT offer a one-size-fits-all strategy or 'templated' content to clients, but instead provide 100% done for you custom, data-driven campaigns pulled from my experiences of working with some of the most successful companies in their respective niches. With me, you will stand out AND reel in a positive ROI predictably without needing to hire a whole army of freelancers.

WHY IT WORKS: The majority of content agencies and providers online merely 'copy and paste' what they see others doing and then significantly upcharge you for it. I refuse to do this, but instead, conduct thorough research of your specific sub-niche, and create (or optimize your current) digital marketing strategy based on data you can easily understand. You'll be able to pivot faster than your competition and attract your perfect patients / customers without being spammy or shady. In fact, they won't be able to get enough of the killer content you'll be sending their way, resulting in a positive ROI on your marketing campaigns.

SERVICES I PROVIDE (Design & Copy):
Ads (videos & images for FB/IG/LI/Tok/YT)
Ebooks
Emails
Lead Magnets
Organic Social Media Posts
Sales Funnels / Landing Pages
SMS / Text sequences
Video Sales Letters
Webinars
Websites

READY TO TALK? 
Connect with me here on LinkedIn or visit me online at www.hardymarketing.biz

Justin Hardy

Creating AI content is easy.

Turning it into steady cashflow? 
That’s the boss fight. 🕹️

This Wednesday, I’m joining a seriously stacked panel hosted by Graphy Inc. to break down how the best creators build sustainable income systems—not just “posts that perform.”

EXPERT MASTERCLASS

From Content to Cashflow: How Creators Build Sustainable Income in 2026
🗓️ Jan 21
🕛 12 PM EST
🎟️ Free
🔗 https://lnkd.in/gHZTTAvu

The Panel (aka people who’ve actually done the thing)

Jahmaal Marshall

Host of the top 1.5% Listen Then Speak Podcast with 700,000+ downloads and global reach. 

He’s guided 100s of executives to break burnout and turn stressful conversations into structured, monetized offerings through sustainable growth and communication mastery.  

Grant Johnson

A 6× CMO and growth strategist who doubles revenue, scales large teams, and transforms global B2B brands. 

He’s driven massive pipeline growth at Emburse, Billtrust, Pegasystems & Kofax. He’s the master of turning insights, experimentation, and data into repeatable offers and predictable income systems.

Justin Hardy — AI Funnel King

Sharing marketing secrets from working with Hormozi, Amy P, Simon Sinek, and 100s of other creators… 

I’ll be diving into how you move beyond trends and build automated systems that generate predictable cha-ching, not just likes. From AI-powered funnels to consistent revenue engines — this is the stuff you can implement immediately to win for you and your clients.

Dr. Axa Yox, First-Prize Award

With 20+ years as a scientist and educator, Dr. Yox has a unique ability to translate complex human psychology into monetizable content, Axa helps creators build trust and authority that converts without selling their soul.

What We’re Covering (No Fluff)

This isn’t “post more videos” advice.

We’re diving into:

• AI as a business partner, not just a tool
• Leveraging content into revenue-generating assets
• Pricing and packaging expertise without burnout
• Funnels vs. one-off launches
• Building trust that converts into long-term income
• Systems that keep paying even when content output dips

Plus live Audience Q&A to answer all your burning content/creator questions. .

Why You Should Join

If you’re a creator, consultant, or expert who:

• has an audience but inconsistent income
• feels stuck between visibility and monetization
• wants systems that scale on Linkedin, Meta and the key platforms in 2026

This is the room you need to be in.

About Graphy (Your Host)

Graphy helps creators turn knowledge into scalable businesses. Courses, communities, and monetization systems designed for long-term growth, not chaos.

They’re basically anti-hustle bro culture… with infrastructure.

P.S. It’s free. It’s practical.

And it will explain why you or your client’s content performs, but your income doesn’t (yet).

See you on Jan 21 at 12pm est 👊 https://lnkd.in/gHZTTAvu

AI Marketing Funnels & AI Systems Consultant For Startups, Small Biz & Agencies

You can’t go AI Super Saiyan overnight.

First, you need to know your power level. 🐉

After helping 100+ marketers upgrade their AI skills, I’ve learned this the hard way:

Most people don’t need more AI tools…
They need the right training arc.

In Dragon Ball Z, you don’t go Super Saiyan by believing harder. You unlock it by grinding.

Same thing with AI.

⸻

🧠 Step 1: Assess Your Current Power Level

Before adding tools, answer this honestly:
• Are you using AI occasionally or daily?
• Are you prompting, or directing?
• Are you copying outputs, or building systems?
• Does AI save you minutes… or entire workflows?

Now let’s map it DBZ-style 👇

⸻

🟡 Saiyan Phase (Beginner)

Power Level: “This thing writes emails, right?”

You’re here if:
• You use ChatGPT like Google
• Prompts are one sentence long
• Outputs feel generic
• AI saves time but doesn’t compound

Focus:
Learn prompting fundamentals, context, tone, and structure.
One tool. One job. No chaos.

⸻

🔵 Super Saiyan Phase (Intermediate)

Power Level: “Okay… this is getting dangerous.”

You’re here if:
• You use multiple tools (copy, research, visuals)
• You understand prompt context
• You edit AI output instead of pasting blindly
• AI helps you ship faster

Focus:
Tool specialization.
Perplexity for research.
ChatGPT / Claude for copy.
Descript for video.
Leonardo for images.

You’re still hands-on, but now you're entering the hyperbolic time chamber. 

⸻

🔴 Super Saiyan God Phase (Advanced)

Power Level: “Its over 9,000!”

You’re here if:
• AI handles repeatable tasks
• You build workflows, not prompts
• Outputs stay on-brand automatically
• You trust AI to run parts of the process with limited oversight

Focus:
Systems > outputs.
Shared context.
Templates.
Agents.
Automation.

This is where AI starts compounding instead of just helping.

⸻

⚫ Ultra Instinct (Elite)

Power Level: “AI total fusion”

You’re here if:
• AI anticipates next steps
• Campaigns, funnels, and reports run automatically
• Humans focus on strategy, taste, and decisions
• AI does the busywork flawlessly

Focus:
Governance, review loops, and scaling full campaigns responsibly across platforms a S your entire team. 

⸻

You don’t upgrade your AI power level by adding more tools.

You upgrade it by knowing where you are, and training for the next form.

P.S. What AI form are you currently in?

Saiyan? Super Saiyan? God Mode?

Drop it below 👇 and I’ll tell you what to train next. 🐉

No alternative text description for this image

Stop using a website like it’s a sales funnel.

And stop using a sales funnel like it’s a Wikipedia page.

I see this mistake daily.
And yes… it hurts my soul. ☠️

So let’s settle this once and for all:

When You SHOULD Use a Sales Funnel

Think of a funnel like a sniper rifle.

Use it when you have:

✅ 1 niche audience
✅ 1 specific offer
✅ 1 clear conversion goal

Funnels are built to maximize conversions, not educate the entire internet.

Best use cases:

• Lead magnets
• Webinar signups
• Appointment booking
• Full stack single offers
• Cold traffic ads

Best funnel builders (tested in the wild):

⚡ GoHighLevel → automation, follow-ups, CRM, scaling
⚡ Perspective → mobile-first funnels that convert above average

If your goal is “get them to do ONE thing” → use a funnel.

When You SHOULD Use a Website

Websites are more like museums.

Use them when you need:

✅ SEO reach
✅ Brand credibility
✅ Corporate / About Us info
✅ Multiple products or collections

Websites are built to inform, rank, and build trust, not force decisions in 12 seconds.

Best website builders by use case:

Webflow → animated, high-end, “wow” factor sites

Squarespace → brick-and-mortar businesses that want something pretty and easy

Shopify → e-commerce, catalogs, and scaling product sales

If your goal is “show everything we do and who we are” → use a website.

⚠️ The Most Common Mistake

Using a website and expecting funnel-level conversions.

That’s like bringing a PowerPoint deck to a knife fight.

Impressive slides. Zero results.

Funnels = focus + speed + conversions
Websites = reach + trust + discovery

Use the right tool or keep wondering why traffic isn’t converting.

P.S. Be honest… are you running ads to a homepage right now?

If yes — blink twice so I know you’re okay. 😅

In today's crowded AI-slop marketplace…

There's only 1 way to stand out.

After building 100+ funnels for the biggest names in the game, this is the key differentiator between “meh” brands and category kings. 

It's the best way to:

—> Become unforgettable 
—> Emotionally inspire others to follow, click, buy, share
—> Build a moat around your business
—> Attract the right kind of customers

Whether you use AI or not, this is what all the elite creators I've worked for do so well (Hormozi, Amy Porterfield, Mel Robbins), and most corporations suck at.

It's what humans are hard-wired to pay attention to...

Storytelling. 

Here's how to tell the best marketing stories:

1. Audience as the hero 

Make the customer clearly see themselves as the main character.

- The audience’s pains, desires, and context have to drive the narrative, with the brand positioned as a guide or ally rather than a savior. 

- Detailed understanding of personas (what keeps them up at night, what future they want) makes the story feel personally relevant.

2. Emotional resonance

Emotion is usually what makes a story “stick” and be retellable.

- Evoke specific emotions (hope, relief, belonging, pride, even controlled fear) tied to the transformation the product enables.  

- Strengthen this with concrete, human-centered detail: specific situations, quotes, and small moments that feel real instead of abstract benefits.

3. Authenticity and truth

If the story feels manufactured, the memory fades or even backfires.

- The narrative should align with the brand’s real values, history, and behavior in the world; overclaiming or “polished fiction” erodes trust.

- Imperfections, setbacks, and vulnerability make stories more credible and easier to believe.

4. Clear narrative structure

Memorability improves when the story has a simple, recognizable arc.

- Classic structure—setup, conflict, and resolution—helps the brain encode the sequence.

- Tension (stakes, obstacles, a “villain”) followed by satisfying resolution gives the audience a sense of closure and a mental “hook” to recall later.

5. Consistent message and brand link  

Stories become assets when they reinforce the same core idea repeatedly.

- A memorable story ladders up to a clear brand promise or positioning (the “one thing” you want associated with you) instead of many messages.

- Details (tone, visuals, channels) can vary, but the underlying narrative and values remain consistent.

6. Distinctiveness and specificity  

People remember what is different, concrete, and visual.

- Unusual angles (unexpected setting, surprising protagonist, or twists) separate the story from the noise of similar messages.

- Specific imagery, numbers, or moments (e.g., “the 3 a.m. on-call nurse scrolling for answers”) create retrievable mental pictures.

Swipe these storytelling secrets to dominate your niche today.

P.S. Who do you think is the best marketer at storytelling? 👇

AI Avengers Storytelling

What’s your LinkedIn goal for the New Year?

Mine is simple: help marketers leverage the best AI tools.

After 3 years building AI funnels and stress-testing every “shiny” AI platform that drops, I’ve learned one thing — tools don’t win. The right stack does.

If you’re a marketer, agency owner, or builder, this is my current go-to stack.

🧠 Research & Strategy

Perplexity
Why: Real-time research, citations, competitive analysis without hallucinations.
Use it when: You need answers with legit sources, not vibes.

✍️ Copy & Creative Brainpower

ChatGPT + Claude
Why: Best combo for ad copy, emails, hooks, offers, and creative ideation.
Bonus: GPT tools for image gen for ad concepts.

🎥 Video Ads & VSLs

Descript AI

Why: Edit videos by talking to AI. Captions, cuts, b-roll, highlights, reels — done in minutes.

I used Descript to create a video ad that’s already driven $10k in the last 30 days for a client.

👉 Comment “AI 2026” and I’ll send you:
• My VSL script
• The walkthrough video
• The exact Descript workflow I used

🎨 Image Generation

Leonardo.Ai
Why: Consistent styles, high-quality ad visuals, and way better control than “surprise me” generators.

Gemini
Why: Easy to prompt with higher resolution images and better font adherence than most other image generators (even with the free model).

🧪 Funnel Mockups & Experiments

Gamma
Why: Build sales decks that overcome audience objections that you can easily turn into sales pages

Replit
Why: Build no-code funnel mockups fast. Test ideas before burning dev time or ad spend.

📱 Funnel Builds & Conversion

Perspective + GoHighLevel
Why: Mobile-optimized funnels that actually convert.

Perspective for speed. GHL for automation, AI follow-ups, and scale.

My 2026 goal isn’t to hype up AI.

It’s to help marketers use fewer tools — better — and build funnels that convert.

Now I’m curious…

What’s your LinkedIn or business goal for the New Year?

Drop it below 👇 and let’s hold each other accountable.


#aimarketing #funnels #digitalmarketing #ai

The worst funnel mistake you can make?

Skimping on research and going straight to “Launch.”

After building and fixing funnels for 9 years, I’ve learned this the hard way:

Most funnels don’t fail because of bad copy. They fail because teams never got their research ducks in a row. QUACK QUACK! 🦆

Too many marketers do this 👇
❌ Pick a niche
❌ Guess the pain points
❌ Write “clever” copy
❌ Launch
❌ Blame the ads or competition

That’s not funnel strategy.
That’s marketing cosplay. 🦸‍♂️

Here’s the exact research prompt framework I use to outline client funnels.

PLEASE NOTE: This is for initial research. Use ChatGPT 'Deep Research' and the 5.2 Thinking model. Upload marketing context files first.

Steal it. Swap the placeholders and win! 👇

## Role ##
Act as an expert marketing industry and competitor analyst in the [INSERT NICHE] niche. You have 20 years of researching the top [INSERT NICHE] businesses and know all of the main subject matter experts and influencers in the industry.

## Context ##
Our brand is [INSERT BRAND NAME] ([INSERT WEBSITE URL]). 
We are an experienced, personalized [INSERT SERVICE TYPE] brand led by [INSERT FOUNDER / CREDENTIALS]. We provide [SERVICE/PRODUCT] for [INSERT TARGET AUDIENCE].

## Target Audience ##
[INSERT DEMOGRAPHICS]

## Task ##
Analyze the uploaded project files, our competitors, and trending market offers. 
Create a comprehensive research document.

## Expectations / Format ##

1. Analyze these direct competitors and create a 2 paragraph SWOT analysis for each, including offer, social media, and funnel / website analysis:
[INSERT TOP 5 COMPETITOR URLS]

2. Analyze our target audience and create a 1 paragraph summary of:
- Where they congregate online (influencers they follow, groups they join, media they consume)
- Their commonly asked questions and pain points
- Their objections to getting started
- Their goals and desired outcomes

3. Analyze our website and create a concise bullet list of recommendations to:
a) increase trust  
b) better position our brand for the target audience  
c) increase opt-ins for free resources  
d) add urgency for acting sooner  
e) clearly differentiate us from competitors 
f) increase paid conversions

4. Analyze the top [INSERT NUMBER] influencers / subject matter experts in this niche.
Create a bullet list including:
- Name
- Social handle(s)
- Topics of their best-performing posts (3x engagement)
- Offer details
- Unique positioning and messaging

5. Create a social media strategy based on the research above with:
- First 30 content topics
- Top 3 platforms to post on
- Recommended creative format for each

6. Create a copy outline for the top 3 ideas for a new lead magnet funnel.

7. Analyze leading ads in this niche (copy, creative, targeting)
and create a short brief of Meta ad concepts worth testing.

---------

Funnels don’t fail because of button color.

They fail because nobody did the homework.

P.S. What do you research before new client campaigns? 👇

Growing on LinkedIn in 2026 is easy.

If you enjoy pain, cringe, and algorithmic gaslighting. 😂🥲

Let’s get something straight before we continue:

The LinkedIn algorithm is not broken.
It’s just emotionally unavailable. 💔

The Reality of LinkedIn Growth in 2026

❌ It will NOT save you because you posted once.
❌ It will NOT reward you for “thought leadership” without engaging first.
❌ It does NOT care about your Canva gradient if nobody reads sentence two.

LinkedIn wants one thing now: human attention that sticks.

If people scroll past you faster than a Terms & Conditions page, say bye bye.

What Actually Works in 2026 (No Fairy Tales)

1. Opinions > Information

AI can explain everything.
Only you can take a stance.

If your post sounds like ChatGPT wrote it…
Congratulations, LinkedIn already saw it 4,000 times today.

2. Hooks Are Non-Negotiable

Your first two lines decide your fate.

Not “Happy to announce…”
Not “In today’s fast-paced world…”

If your hook doesn’t stop a scroll,
the rest of your post is just vibes in the void.

3. Comments Matter More Than Likes

Likes are polite.
Comments are commitment.

Ask questions.
Invite disagreement.
Say something that makes people want to correct you publicly.

(That’s not drama, it’s polarizing the audience.)

4. Mobile-First or Die Trying

80%+ of LinkedIn is mobile.
But people still write posts like they’re publishing a PDF.

Short lines.
White space.
Readable without squinting like you forgot your glasses.

5. Consistency Beats Virality

One viral post feels great.
Then… silence.

The algorithm trusts people who show up like adults.

3–5 quality posts a week > praying for one banger.

6. Use AI — Don’t Sound Like AI

Use AI to:
• research
• outline
• ideate
• repurpose

Do NOT let it write your personality.
That’s how you end up sounding like “Generic Marketing Influencer #847.”

What LinkedIn Is Secretly Rewarding

✔️ Clear positioning
✔️ Repeated themes
✔️ Original experiences
✔️ Practical takeaways
✔️ Human voice

In other words:
If you’re sharing things only you can say, you win.

⸻

LinkedIn growth in 2026 isn’t about hacks.
It’s about unique stories, dwell time, and engaging.

Stop whispering into the algorithm’s ear and start giving it a reason to care.

P.S. What’s been hardest about growing on LinkedIn lately?

The algorithm? Consistency?
Or figuring out what the heck to post? 👇

Today, I’m giving away my top-performing LinkedIn funnel for $0. 

Because weak funnels are a crime and I’m here to start a revolution.

After building funnels for Hormozi, Simon Sinek Inc., AI Report, and more...

Most funnels are built like this:

Design on desktop → shrink it for mobile → pray. 🙏

Meanwhile…

📱 80%+ of traffic is mobile (which is why I'm teaming up with the best mobile-first funnel builder, Perspective).

👎 Yet most funnels still treat mobile like an afterthought.

That’s why the average funnel converts under 10%.

(And why I cry into my pillow at night) 😭

Why Mobile-First Funnels Actually Convert Better

1. Fewer decisions = higher conversions
Mobile forces simplicity.
Less clutter. Fewer CTAs. One clear action.
Your thumbs don’t want options — they want clarity.

2. Thumb-friendly design = less friction
Buttons too small. Text too dense. Forms too long.
If your funnel fights the thumb… the thumb wins.

3. Faster load times = more patience
Mobile users bounce fast.
Heavy images, desktop layouts, and bloated scripts = goodbye traffic.

4. Vertical flow matches how people think
Scroll → consume → decide.
Mobile-first funnels follow natural behavior instead of forcing users to “figure it out.”

The Most Common Funnel Mistakes I See (Daily 😭)

❌ Designing for desktop first w/ heavy images
❌ Headlines that wrap into unreadable chaos on mobile
❌ Forms that feel like applying for a mortgage
❌ Tiny buttons that require surgeon-level precision
❌ No scrolling — just wall-of-text despair

Basically…

Funnels built like it’s 2003, but traffic lives in 2026.

The Fix

When you design mobile-first, everything changes:

⚡ Cleaner layouts
⚡ Better flow
⚡ Higher completion rates
⚡ Fewer excuses for bad performance

Your funnel stops fighting users…
…and starts guiding them.

Mobile-first funnels don’t convert better because they’re trendy.

They convert better because they respect how humans actually use the internet.

👑 Comment “Perspective” and I’ll hook you up with my funnel plus 16 more battle-tested beasts you can brand in a click, totally free.


#aimarketing #aifunnel #funnelbuilder #funnelmarketing

taplio

The Battle

Stefan Stefanov

Justin Hardy

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreStefan Stefanov's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreJustin Hardy's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Stefan Stefanov

Justin Hardy

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);}Stefan Stefanov's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreJustin Hardy's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreStefan Stefanov's LinkedIn Performance