Natasha Walstra's Linkedin Analytics

"Am I being productive or am I just being active?" I share this question with every client. When you're on LinkedIn, you should always ask yourself this. Active LinkedIn looks like: → Reading but not engaging → Mindlessly scrolling the feed → Consuming content for hours → Liking posts without commenting Productive LinkedIn looks like: → Commenting meaningfully on 3-5 posts → Checking who viewed your profile → Following up on conversations → Sending 2-5 thoughtful DMs → Connecting with intention It's easy to get sucked into the endless scroll. (this is a social media platform, after all). But scrolling doesn't build relationships. Scrolling doesn't generate opportunities. Scrolling doesn't grow your business. Scrolling leads to frustration or burnout. The solution? Set specific metrics for your LinkedIn time. Then get off. 20 minutes of productive LinkedIn beats 2 hours of mindless scrolling. Every time. Your future self (and your business) (and your mental health) will thank you. 🙌 _____ PS: I've got a lot of exciting things happening behind the scenes - case studies, onboarding 5 (!) new clients, launching a new website, growing my newsletter. I'm only just beginning! AND I finally have mental space to figure out how to scale my business, too. What does that even look like?! Stay tuned 😎

Social media's biggest lie: if you build it, they will buy. Marketing celebrates "400 million impressions!" Sales Team wonders how many led to revenue. 🧐 Sound familiar? I saw this at a unicorn tech company I worked at Marketing proudly announced their impressive numbers at company meetings. The room would erupt in applause. Don't get me wrong...those campaigns DID build valuable brand awareness. But as someone on the sales team, I was always curious about the direct connection to revenue. (Which in this case, led to zero sales 🙊). Not because marketing wasn't valuable— but because alignment between departments creates magic. This same dynamic plays out on LinkedIn every day. We track metrics: - Comments - Followers - Views - Likes These numbers matter 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵. They expand your reach and build credibility. But they're just a piece of the journey. The real business impact happens where no one's watching: - In the DMs - On discovery calls - In follow-up conversations - Through relationship building That's where deals close. That's where partnerships form. That's where opportunities emerge. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲. So create content that resonates AND put energy into what happens next. Because the most successful LinkedIn strategies don't end with the metrics. They begin with them. ____ Let's commit to starting 5 new conversations a day this week. Just 5! These can be a combination of: Prospects, Former colleagues, Community members, Possible collaborators. or a creator who's vibe you dig, Let's start some magic!

I love seeing my clients succeed.🤩 Ilya grew his LinkedIn following by 3X AND now hosts industry events with 100+ attendees. But first, he was stuck in a frustrating cycle: "I tried posting on LinkedIn. I would be really excited. I would do it for a week or two, and then I would pop off because I couldn't think about what to say or who to say it to or how to say it." So, we implemented a strategic framework for 6 months that gave him clarity and confidence: "In working with you, you showed me a framework. You got the ball rolling. You convinced me that I can do this." Then, he took that foundation and achieved unexpected results: — His following grew from 3,000 to 8,000+ targeted industry connections — His posts regularly get thousands of views with viral engagement (1,000+ likes from his exact audience) — He started hosting events for his network (100+ atendees) "LinkedIn used to be a drag. Now I have fun with it. I have a process that I follow. I know that it works." The key to his success? Staying laser-focused on a specific audience: "What I think I'm doing that is really effective is I'm very niche. My goal is not to get 75,000 followers. My audience are career professionals who are passionate about their work and also happen to make a good income. So whenever you put those people together that are enough alike into the same space, there's a lot of value there." LinkedIn personal branding opens doors you didn't even know existed. But you have no idea where those doors can lead, if you don't show up. Curious to find out? It's time we talked! __ P.S. Some of my clients are starting from the beginning, but many have been going at it for a while now, just not seeing the results they're looking for. What's great about my program is that it's 100% custom to you and your needs. I meet you where YOU are. Currently booking for mid July start date! 💜

"If content is king, then conversation is the kingdom." Had so much fun chatting with Tamara Smith on Sales as Service Podcast. (Which LOVE the name, as you can imagine.) Sales is all about providing service and building relationships! In this episode we dive into how LinkedIn aligns so well with that idea. 1. Your headline isn't your job title. It's your positioning statement. Who do you help? How do you help them? Say that instead. 2. Your banner isn't decoration. It's prime real estate. Use it to communicate your core message visually. 3. Comments > Content. Everyone's obsessing over posts. But relationships? They happen in the comment section. That's where real conversations start. 4. LinkedIn = Virtual networking event. Not a digital resume. Not a sales pitch platform. Think of it like walking into a room full of people you want to meet. 5. Quality beats quantity every time. Five meaningful interactions will always outperform 50 generic "great post!" comments. And the biggest shift mindset shift you need to have? Stop thinking about LinkedIn as a place to broadcast. Start thinking about it as a place to connect. When you show up authentically and consistently, people notice. They remember. They refer. That's how introverts like me built six-figure businesses without a single cold call. Want the full conversation?  Check out on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eHtH6d2E

LinkedIn isn't a networking event. It's your office. This mindset shift changed everything for one of my clients. She was hesitating to engage on LinkedIn because it felt "salesy" and inauthentic. I told her: "Think of these people as your colleagues, not prospects." You're not at a networking event trying to collect business cards. You're in the office hallway having genuine conversations with people in your field, adjacent field, or totally different department. → Comment because you're interested in what they say → Connect because you'd enjoy working together → Engage because you care about their success → Share insights because you want to help The beauty of this approach? These colleagues become your advocates. When someone in their network needs your services, they think of you. Not because you pitched them, but because you showed up as a helpful, knowledgeable peer. Yes, of course it's important to have your own outreach strategy! But it's amazing to have "office colleagues" doing the referring 24/7. They've seen your work. They trust your expertise. They know you deliver value. When opportunity meets their network, your name comes up naturally. LinkedIn becomes less about "networking" and more about building genuine professional relationships. Just like you would in any office. ___ PS: Don't get me wrong - depending on referrals alone isn't smart. You need your own outreach strategy. But when you serve instead of sell, everything changes. People are exhausted by constant pitching. Be the advisor they trust, not another person trying to sell them something.

Busy week! 😎 Tomorrow I've got another LinkedIn workshop with Founders Bay! "Personal Branding Meets Profit - Optimizing Your LinkedIn for Growth" What makes this different: → LIVE profile reviews and spot coaching → Real Q&A with actionable takeaways → The exact strategies I used to build a 6-figure business through LinkedIn Whether you're struggling to get LinkedIn traction or ready to turn connections into revenue - this is for you. Founders Bay has an incredible community of 45,000+ founders, and I love their approach to inclusive entrepreneurship. Spots filling up fast! Link: https://lu.ma/0ptzrceo

TOMORROW: Live conversation with Kim! After just minutes on a call with Kim Fredrich, we knew we HAD to collaborate. I mean, who doesn't love geeking out about the current state of sales?! 🤓 We're going live tomorrow to dive into: → How to make LinkedIn actually work for you → What's working (and what's not) in sales today → Real strategies you can implement immediately Join us tomorrow (Thursday) at 11:30 AM ET! See you there! PS: Got questions about LinkedIn or sales? Drop them in the comments and we'll tackle them live!

Thank you to everyone who made my day so special with your messages, calls, and birthday wishes. ✨ One of the things that worried me about going out on my own was that I'd actually BE on my own. When you work in an office, holidays and birthdays automatically feel more festive - someone brings cake, people gather around your desk, there's this built-in celebration. Well, turns out you don't need an office. When you do it right, LinkedIn becomes your office and your network becomes your colleagues. Yesterday I got: → Emails flooding my inbox with birthday wishes → Calls booked with excited "Happy Birthday!" messages → Clients literally singing "Happy Birthday" to me on Zoom calls It was brilliant. Here I am, sitting alone in my home office in Mt. Pleasant, SC. But I've never felt less alone in my business. That's the power of building genuine relationships. The relationships you build today become the community that celebrates with you tomorrow. 💜

"LinkedIn engagement feels so forced." A client said this to me last week. I get it. Initially? Yes, it's going to feel weird. This isn't something we're naturally wired to do. But, it's like trying anything for the first time. (𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 - 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘚𝘖 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘴𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨! 🍼) Here's what helped her: Think about how you build relationships IRL: — You offer genuine support — You ask thoughtful questions — You share relevant experiences — You remember what matters to people LinkedIn is just the digital version of that. This reframe that changes everything: Instead of "I'm commenting on a stranger's post" Think: "I'm joining a conversation I'd want to have anyway" Instead of "This feels fake" Think: "I'm learning to communicate in a new format" It becomes second nature. I promise! With that said, if you don't have something interesting or genuine to say, don't say anything. "Great post!" doesn't build relationships. It just adds noise.🙊 Better to comment meaningfully on 2 posts than leave generic responses on 10. The awkwardness fades. The relationships you build don't. ___ PS. If you're stuck in the overthinking trap, not sure how to begin, OR have been going at it for some time but not seeing the results you're looking for, let's talk. I created a program that helps solve all of that. Part Done-4-U (personal branding + content, because you don't have to do it all) part Done-W-U (social selling...because I can't build relationships for you;) Swing by my DMs to learn more! 😎

I hit a nerve with the LinkedIn Company Page topic. Last week, in my newsletter, I shared a high-level strategy. In a video post after, I broke down how that exact strategy led to a signed client - all from 10 minutes of prospecting! Then the comments rolled in! And my inbox flooded with questions like: "Should I keep my company page updated even if most engagement happens on my personal page?" "Since I'm the only employee, should I share my personal posts to my company page?" "I've been tagging my company name in posts. Does that even make a difference?" Amanda perfectly summed it up: "LinkedIn treats the company page like the ugly stepchild, so it's easy to forget about them!" Part of the strategy is to grow and connect with your followers. The other part is about your company page CONTENT strategy. The traditional approach (an average approach): ❌ Company posts content → Employee reposts Today's approach (authority-building approach): ✅ YOU post content → Company reposts it This isn't just a minor tweak. It's a complete flip that changes everything. Tomorrow's newsletter breaks it down: → Why this strategy works (5 key reasons) → How to implement it (3 simple steps) → Answers to the most common questions I've received Subscribe to get in "the know" first thing tomorrow! https://lnkd.in/eCvYRQdJ ___ PS: Memorial Day - a day to remember those who gave everything for our country. It's more than barbecues and long weekends. It's about honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Grateful for them and thinking of their families today. I'm also honored to work with veterans (including 2 amazing clients currently) who continue serving their communities through their businesses and leadership. Thank you to all who have served and continue to serve. 🙌

Want to be average? (𝘕𝘰!) Then stop copying directly from your AI chat.🙊 AI produces the average of what's already on the internet. When you copy AI output without adding your perspective? You're literally being average. What used to be "good enough" is now just "average" because everyone has access to the same tools. The bar has moved. Don't get me wrong... I use AI every single day. The difference? I always include MY original thought. MY perspective. MY experiences. AI is my enhancer, not my replacement. The most valuable thing you bring to the table isn't your ability to sound like everyone else. It's your unique lens. Your specific stories. Your particular expertise. Those can't be replicated by ChatGPT or any other tool. People are obsessing over "does this sound like AI?" when they should be asking "does this sound like ME?" When someone reads your content, they should hear YOUR voice, not the internet's average voice. → Use AI to polish structure → Use AI to check grammar → Use AI to generate ideas → Use AI to save time But don't use AI to replace your originality Or worse — you're humanity. The goal isn't to hide that you use AI. The goal is to use AI in a way that amplifies what makes you unique. Average is now easy. Exceptional still requires YOU. ___ PS: And yes, I'm going to keep using em dashes despite the haters — I've been using them in my posts long before AI took over, and I'll continue using them because it's how I write. Full stop. Obsessing over whether someone used an em dash to detect AI is missing the forest for the trees, IMO. Who cares about punctuation when the real question is: does the content offer a unique perspective that adds value?

The LinkedIn "game" just changed again. Before: You had to prove you actually do what you say you do. (With all the "experts" flocking to LinkedIn) Now: You have to prove your content isn't AI-generated. (Don't get me wrong - I use AI daily. But I start with my original thought and use AI to refine it.) The solution for both challenges? Adding video to your strategy. → People can see you're real → They can hear your expertise in your own voice → Your authentic perspective can't be replicated As y'all know, video is absolutely not my jam. Yet here I am, forcing myself to do it anyway. Because blending in with everyone else is way worse than being uncomfortable on camera. ____ PS: Although I'm new at doing video like this - speaking directly to the camera, it's not my first time sharing video content. I found a loophole after doing podcasts and getting clips from those. I realized I could do the same thing - just imitate podcast-style interviews to create a bunch of clips. Which is what I offer to my clients. Last week with a client, we pulled 22 clips from one 45-minute session (yes, there was an outfit change in between 💃). So if you want to get into video but are struggling with it like I am in this one... I have a solution that's a really great starting point for your video journey. And I'm 99% sure you'll enjoy it even!

Most visibility advice makes me want to hide. But I've built a 6-figure business by showing up authentically on LinkedIn, so clearly how you're visible matters. Which is why this event caught my attention. The Entrepreneur's Visibility Summit is the breath of fresh air I know many of you have been craving. I've never been part of an event that's so meticulously put together and thoughtful. Tiffany Armstrong, the organizer, is genuinely authentic and cares deeply about the impact of this summit. When the leader of an event walks the talk, you know you're in for the real deal. Here's why I'm excited about it: → It's not another "just be visible" pitch → It's focused on alignment (how you're MEANT to show up) → It's packed with practical strategies, not fluffy concepts This free virtual event is designed for mission-driven entrepreneurs who want their presence, message, and strategy to finally work together. Whether you're: — Terrified of video (like me!) — Unsure how to position your expertise — Ready to refine your speaking presence — Looking to build your personal brand from scratch — Wanting to turn your content into client conversations The summit covers exactly what you need: ✓ Messaging, copywriting, and storytelling ✓ Branding, personal style, and visual presence ✓ Speaking, vocal training, and body language ✓ Video creation, podcasting, and content strategy ✓ Marketing, positioning, and business visibility It kicks off May 26th with 2 expert interviews released daily. My session: How to Use LinkedIn to Build Relationships That Lead to Real ROI Grab your free spot here: https://lnkd.in/ehUyxaQx ___ PS: Your voice matters. Your message matters. And when you share them authentically (without the icky self-promotion), the right people take notice. This is exactly how I built my business and it really does work.

I woke up this morning with tapping toes! You know, the kind that bounce with excitement? My clients are absolutely CRUSHING it, and I have 4 incredible case studies I'll be sharing over the coming weeks: → One client 3x'd his following and hosts industry events → Another just signed a huge partnership deal → Someone else closed a multiple 6-figure, 3-year contract → (And one more I'm saving for last because it's 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘧'𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴) Seeing my clients succeed like this makes my heart so full! These wins aren't accidents - they're the result of showing up authentically on LinkedIn, building real relationships, and turning those connections into business opportunities. I can't wait to dive into the details of each story (especially since they'll be featured on my new website launching soon! 🥳) Nothing beats watching someone transform from "I hate LinkedIn" to "LinkedIn changed my business." That's the good stuff right there. _____ PS: What's got YOU excited this morning? Drop it below - let's celebrate wins, big and small!

How I signed 1 client from 10 minutes of prospecting. (plus 3 simple steps to do the same) I booked 4 calls and signed 1 client (yesterday!) from just 10 minutes of prospecting. Spent where? → On my company LinkedIn page that I've been ignoring for months.🙊 Most people have no idea what to do with their company page. Honestly? I've been doing the same. But a few weeks ago, I decided to check who was following NearPoint Strategies. 82 followers. Not impressive, right? But I reached out to 5 people. The results? — 4 scheduled calls — 3 turned into real opportunities — 1 signed with me yesterday What's funny is one of them was literally tasked with growing LinkedIn activity for his business and was struggling... Yet he never would have reached out to me had I not made the first move! 🤯 You never know who's wait for YOU to reach out to THEM. So many opportunities are hiding in plain sight. Opportunities that require almost no effort to uncover. Check out the video to learn the 3 simple steps to incorporate into your LinkedIn routine. 🤓 ___ PS: Progress > perfection! I'm sticking with video despite the discomfort. It's still painful, and I wish it was easier on the first try, but it's getting less awkward each time. I'll take that as a win! For those of you struggling with video: I am living proof it does get easier.🙋‍♀️ IF you want to do video but: → Still can't get yourself to do it on your own, or → Don't have time to create content this way I have a system that creates ~20 clips from one 45-minute session (yes, I have clients who change outfits partway through to make it look like different days!). Reach out if you'd like to hear more about turning one conversation into weeks of content.

Vanity metrics tell one story. Reality tells the complete opposite. According to my LinkedIn last week? I had a below average week. I only posted 2x and got "OK" engagement (low in comparison to LinkedIn "influencers"). What you didn't see: → 2 workshops that led to 9 strategy calls → 2 new clients signed (now booking for July!) → 2 new clients onboarded → 1 fresh video testimonial & case study locked in Oh! And my new website officially launched (which, btw, you should definitely check out! www.nearpointstrategies. com - real post on this soon!) But according to LinkedIn metrics, I'm not "crushing it" because I only posted twice. The thing though: if I was getting hundreds of likes and hundreds of comments, that would mean I'm spending all day on LinkedIn. (Or using pods or bots, which... definitely never.) I know I've built my entire business around LinkedIn, but the point of being ON LinkedIn is to get OFF LinkedIn and build real relationships. Vanity metrics matter to an extent. But revenue metrics matter more. When you implement a strategy focused on genuine connection over engagement theatrics, real magic happens: — Real conversations start — Real relationships form — Real deals close PLUS it makes the whole thing way more enjoyable...seriously.

It worked, y'all. 👀 ↓ 1 awkward video ↓ Comment exchanged ↓ DM sent ↓ Call the next day = Signed client this Tuesday The video didn't go viral. (It got 543 views, nothing crazy) But it did something better. I spoke to a problem my clients have (video anxiety). I shared a solution I have (creating video comfortably and at scale). This sparked a conversation that led to a close win. Would this have happened without video? Maybe. Someday. Who knows. But here's the thing: I 𝘤𝘢𝘯 control making a video. I can't control "someday." If I needed any more proof that video works on LinkedIn, this was it. I've decided to chronicle this journey of building video confidence in public. Because I know I'm not the only one terrified of that tiny little red button. 🔴 Stay tuned! 🤓 ____ PS: Video doesn't need to be perfect or viral to work. It just needs to be real and solve a problem. I'd say 543 views and one meaningful conversation beats 54,000 views and no action.

No 35 lessons from 35 years around the sun. → Today is about gratitude. (𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 37—𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦... 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 🤦‍♀️) 𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴! It's my birthday! 🥳 I'll be honest, for years, my birthdays just made me feel sad and lonely. Then last year, everything changed. May 13, 2024: → Recently engaged to Jon → Newly pregnant (just found out May 5th) → Announced it to my family the day before on Mother's Day → Spent my birthday excited (and nervous) about how much was about to shift This year, I'm celebrating with my new family: my husband and 6-month-old son, and also my parents who flew in from CA. Today, all I feel is pure gratitude. I'm grateful I met my husband. I'm grateful for our surprise bundle of everything. I'm grateful my business has allowed us to build a life that's uniquely ours. I'm grateful to you — YOU are all part of making that happen. This business didn't just give me professional success. It gave me the flexibility to design a life I love. → Working from home with my son → Setting my own schedule around what matters → Building something that serves others while supporting my family → Having the flexibility for my husband to stay home instead of daycare Your support, engagement, and trust in my work have created more than just a business. They've created the foundation for the family life I always dreamed of. Birthdays used to remind me of what I didn't have. Now they remind me of everything I've built—including this incredible community. Thank you for being part of this journey. 💜 ___ PS: My newsletter subscribers got a special birthday gift from me —a free 30-minute workshop session ($200 value). If you want in on that, subscribe to my newsletter before Friday and I'll send it your way! Link to subscribe: https://lnkd.in/eCvYRQdJ PS2: I'll never forget my first Mother's Day 🥰

My true life started when I stopped doing this. (It's not what you think). Alcohol was my "extrovert fairy dust" 🧚‍♀️ For years, I used it as a security blanket to transform my introverted self into someone I thought the world wanted me to be. The result? → Chronic migraines (for 5 years straight) → Relationships that never felt right → Insomnia that wouldn't quit → A career that drained me Then 2 years ago, I took a "break" from drinking. That break turned into weeks, weeks to months... What happened still amazes me: — 3 months after: met my now-husband — 3 months after that: started my business — 3 months after that: got engaged — 2 months later hit my first 6-fig — 1 month after: found out I was pregnant — 3 months after that: doubled my monthly revenue — 3 months later: got married — 2 weeks after that: baby joined us — 6 months later: doubled MRR again. And I'm only at the beginning. 😎 But, this isn't an anti-alcohol post. It's an anti-hiding-who-you-truly-are post. For me, drinking masked my introversion and kept me chasing relationships and environments that weren't aligned with my authentic self. The moment I embraced who I really am? Everything. Changed. Now I have a beautiful baby boy, the love of my life by my side, and a thriving business that energizes me instead of draining me. (Oh, and unsurprisingly, my husband had been on the same journey - he stopped drinking 9 months before we met.) Life doesn't truly begin until you stop forcing yourself into shapes that weren't designed for you. What mask might you be wearing? If you feel stuck, misaligned, or something is holding you back from doing "the thing" you're meant to do... Take a look around. Maybe something isn't serving you the way you thought it was. Maybe it's time to make changes. And once you do? Everything really does fall into place. ____ PS: Being your authentic self isn't just personally fulfilling - it's strategic. When you show up as who you really are, you attract the right people, opportunities, and energy that fuel sustainable success. I've never felt better.🤸‍♀️