Espresso+

Running an online community of 150+ small business owners and solopreneurs, to provide ongoing education, support and accountability for those who want to grow their business visibility on LinkedIn and online in an ethical, organic way.

I created this Experience item on 13 January 2022 but Espresso+ actually launched on 31 January 2022. Those who don't read this (which is most people) will congratulate me for my work anniversary on the 13th 🤓

Community Manager

UpLift Live

UpLift Live is the UK conference for LinkedIn specialists, power users & enthusiasts. The first conference took place on Thursday 21 March 2024 in Birmingham, UK. The next event is on Thursday 27 March 2025.

🎫 TICKETS: https://uplift-live.com
📨 NEWS: https://uplift-live.com/email
🔊 PODCAST: https://uplift-live.com/podcast

Conference Organizer

Espirian.co.uk

As I'm not a jobseeker applying for roles, I don't believe anyone will really pay much attention to this part of my LinkedIn profile. 

Anyway, I was a content writer for more than a decade and used LinkedIn to look for more clients. 

In the process, I found it was more fun to explain how LinkedIn works than to write content for faceless corporations. 

I transitioned away from copywriting in 2022 and now offer 1-to-1 LinkedIn consultancy and ongoing support for LinkedIn and online visibility through my Espresso+ community.

If you're on a tight budget, my book Content DNA will give you a solid grounding in how to build a congruent personal brand. The first 6 written and audio chapters are free here (no signup necessary): https://espirian.co.uk/content-dna-chapters/

Independent Consultant

Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)

I was responsible for all the technical aspects of running the organisation's web and email platforms. I managed a web content team that looked after the entire web domain, having led a two-year project to refresh the website and move it to a new content management system. 

The site visitorship increased from 300K to well over 1 million page views per year during my tenure.

I was also the creator and principal administrator of the SfEP forums, a private discussion group with more than 600 regular users and well over 150,000 posts.

As part of my role, I regularly attended meetings of the organisation's council, and managed some of the direct communication with members.

It was a good role but, as most of it was done on a voluntary basis, I had to give up my directorship so that I could focus on building my own business.

Internet Director and Advanced Professional Member

Worked in a small team to ensure maintenance and ongoing development of the organisation's website.

Designed and implemented an integrated web forum and mailing list communications system.

Website administrator

Fujitsu Services

Testing software and hardware for clients, as well as being a quality assurance officer and document author. 

I was the guy who pressed the buttons, furrowed his brow at confusing menus and tried to work out what it all meant. This led to me constantly having a long queue of people at my desk, asking how stuff worked.

Remember "all calls are recorded for training purposes"? I was one of those who had to listen to countless customer phone calls and also read the emails that our agents sent to customers. It was the sharp end of learning what good and bad customer service looked like.

Quality Assurance and UAT

I'm an independent LinkedIn® trainer, offering training sessions, consultations and workshops  for individuals and organisations who need support on the latest best practices on LinkedIn. My Espresso+ community is for small business owners and service providers who need ongoing learning, support and accountability to grow their business online and on LinkedIn. 

👦🏻🧒🏽  𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢+ 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬
Join our supportive community to improve in these areas:

✅   LinkedIn best practice
✅   Personal branding
✅   Content creation
✅   Online visibility

Get your first month of Espresso+ for only 𝟮𝟵 𝗚𝗕𝗣 with code INTRO

Join today: jesp.me/join

🟦   𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦
⚙️   20/60-min Zoom consultations – jesp.me/call
⚙️   LinkedIn remote training for teams – jesp.me/training
⚙️   LinkedIn course – jesp.me/course

🟩   𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗩-𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗧
🎓   Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (Consumer Mac)
🛠   10+ years in software & hardware testing
✍🏻   10+ years in technical content writing
🚀   Creator of UpLift Live conference
📘   Author of Content DNA

🟧   𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗠𝗘?
Most good communicators aren't great with tech.
Most techie nerds aren't great communicators.
I'm pretty good at communications and tech.
By the way, I *train* other LinkedIn trainers …

🍍   𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗!
1.   Include the word "pineapple" in your invitation to connect.
2.   Accept with your full heart that pineapple on pizza is double delish.

On LinkedIn mobile, DO NOT tap Connect. 
Instead, go to More | Personalize invite.

🎤   I love non-craptacular LinkedIn voice notes. Don't be mad if I send you one.

📘   𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗗𝗡𝗔
Get 6 free audio chapters of my book: jesp.me/contentdna

🥶   𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧
🐶   Boxers: the best dog breed
⚽️   Liverpool Football Club
🧠   Severance (Apple TV+)
⚔️   The Traitors (BBC)

I used to be heavier: jesp.me/fat
I'm an actual lord: jesp.me/truth

Me: Things can't get worse for free users here.
LinkedIn: Hold my beer.

Posted: 11 Nov 2025 at 11.22pm (GMT)

John Espirian

Relentlessly helpful® LinkedIn® nerd. Independent LinkedIn trainer & LinkedIn speaker. Creator of Espresso+ community & UpLift Live conference. Host of Informed podcast. Not a douche canoe 🛶

"Quiet, Piggy."

In light of the latest outburst above from the broken mind cemetery that is Trump, directed at an unsuspecting female journalist, I'm reminded of a quote attributed to George Bernard Shaw:

"Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty but the pig likes it."

I hope the journalists' unions come out in support of Catherine Lucey, the wronged person.

I hope also that decorum finds a way back soon.

Posted: 18 Nov 2025 at 6.41pm (GMT)

I've officially been running the Informed podcast for a mere 11 days. Here's what Captivate FM* (my podcasting host) shows as the download figures for my two episodes so far.

I don't know whether this counts as good, though I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have reached even these modest numbers if I'd been starting a podcast from scratch. 

"Downloads" doesn't equate to "listens", of course, so how many people have actually heard the content is unknown.

Anyway, I shan't be retiring to a private island anytime soon, but I hope you find the LinkedIn-focused content in the show of some utility.

* Thanks to Neal Veglio for this recommendation. It's been pretty solid so far.

Posted: 19 Nov 2025 at 11.57am (GMT)

Today's the day to be sure that this AI training setting is turned off on your LinkedIn account. Here's where to look:

ON DESKTOP
1. Me > Settings & Privacy
2. Data privacy
3. Data for Generative AI Improvement
4. Set to Off

ON MOBILE
1. Tap your face (top-left corner)
2. Settings
3. Data privacy
4. Data for Generative AI Improvement
5. Set to Off

I've posted about this before but was reminded that today's the day for the switch to happen. Thanks to Tamas Banki for the nudge.

Posted: 3 Nov 2025 at 1.05pm (GMT)

👍🏻  I've never thought twice about changing the skin tone on hand emojis but I've heard a couple of people say recently (not on LinkedIn) that changing from the default yellow tone is unnecessary, inappropriate and possibly even offensive. I'm not sure why it would be.

As a nerd, I'm apt to customise things if I can. I wonder if some who use the default yellow tone are even aware that you can customise this.

There are more important things to worry about, of course, but it does surprise me what people take umbrage to sometimes.

Posted: 18 Nov 2025 at 10.20am (GMT)

A quick chat about engagement pods and what LinkedIn are doing to counter them in this week's short episode.

Do send me your questions for next week's Postbag.

PS. If you spot any good posts out in the wild, send them to me and I might include them in the next show.

Postbag via Beth Kirk: Loving the informed podcast! I have a question around the proactive use of DMs to build relationships on LinkedIn. Do you have 

Open article: Informed 469 by John Espirian • 11 min read

Seems like only yesterday that I published the previous episode of the Informed podcast. Here's this week's slice of LinkedIn insight.

Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify The first episode of the new-look show took me 6 hours to record, edit and produce last week. Postbag How d

Open article: Informed podcast episode 467 by John Espirian • 17 min read

This one's shorter than usual, as I've had a cold this week. I hope it's still helpful!

Posted: 22 Nov 2025 at 8.26am (GMT)

Thanks to Mark Williams for his kind farewell newsletter. Postbag Profile verification: to verify or not? (see more) Post timing: when is best to post

Open article: Informed 468 by John Espirian • 13 min read

Threads now allows you to link your profile to a podcast. This feature started rolling out in the US weeks ago, and I've just got access this morning. Check out my profile to see what it looks like:

threads . com/@johnespirian
OR
threads . com/johnespirian

(Didn't realise until just now that you can drop the @ in Threads profile addresses.)

I'd love to see an enriched link option like this on LinkedIn. The custom button for Premium users is fine but doesn't stand out in the same way.

A better win for LinkedIn would be to allow each image in the Premium rotating banner to link to a different destination. Then we could craft our own calls to action, and I'm sure some people would pay for that option. 

A free money-making idea for you there, LinkedIn – not that you pay attention to anything I say 👋🏻

Posted: 26 Nov 2025 at 7.13am (GMT)

Podcast ratings insight: did you know that Apple Podcasts shows you ratings and reviews for a show only in your own location? If you're in the UK, you see only ratings and reviews from other people in the UK, etc.

A show's creator can use Apple Podcasts Connect to see all ratings and reviews. Here's an example below for the UK and US. Brits seem to like the Informed podcast a little more than Americans do. (I can't take credit for any of these ratings or reviews, as I took over the show just last week.)

This separation setup sort of makes sense, as a listener probably wouldn't want to see reviews written in other languages. Then again, a combined global star rating wouldn't be a bad idea, right?

If you've enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review – but please let me know if you've done so and are outside the UK, as I won't see it unless I go back into Apple Podcasts Connect to check other regions. I don't believe podcast hosts are sent a notification when new reviews arrive.

Posted: 11 Nov 2025 at 10.06am (GMT)

Our next UpLift Live LaunchPad Zoom call is tomorrow, 14 November, at 4pm GMT. It's open to anyone who's already bought a ticket to our next conference in March 2026. 

If you've already booked your spot, look out for an email with the Zoom link to tomorrow's call. It'll be a fun 30-min catch-up with lots of people who are going to be in the room in Birmingham next March for our third event.

If you haven't yet got a ticket, there's still time to hop aboard now so that you're eligible to attend tomorrow's call. 

👇🏻  Get your in-person or livestream ticket
uplift-live . com

As you can see, we have a couple more calls scheduled after the next one. Get them in your diary – they're always a good laugh 😊

Posted: 13 Nov 2025 at 12.32pm (GMT)

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