Nigel Thomas

David to Goliath

Founder

Alpha Inbound

Consultant

We run custom-built FB and TikTok campaigns for Health and Wellness Brands, decreasing their new customer cost by up to 20% in 90 days or less.

Here's how we help:

◼️ Set custom KPIs for the campaigns in line with your brand growth goals.
◼️ Establish a systematic testing approach, with a heavy focus on content.
◼️ Analyze how paid social is contributing to your entire ecosystem.
◼️ Focus on your bottom line revenue, not just ROAS.

Interested in learning more? DM me or book a discovery call using the form below.

Chief Executive Officer

-Built external relationships with key strategic partners
-Built internal infrastructure & operations to enable efficient scaling.
-Advised owner on core business strategies to drive the company forward.

Chief Growth Officer

Service to Millions

CEO | Founder

RealtyACCEL

Chief Operating Officer

AECOM

Quantity Surveyor

Northen Surveying Services Ltd

Junior Quantity surveyor

DECATHLON FRANCE

Department Manager

I nearly ended my life—now I'm rebuilding and documenting my comeback through my newsletter. Follow me as I share stories, frameworks and tools along the way to 100k subscribers.

I’ll never forget my childhood nickname: “Krusty the Clown”...

Yep, eczema earned me that one.

Fast forward to 26 years old—

Stuck at a corporate job, feeling like I was another cog in the machine.

That’s when I decided enough was enough.

To my parents’ dismay, I quit cold turkey to build my first online business.

A digital marketing agency.

Risky? Absolutely. But it changed *everything.*

Along the way, I met someone incredible—

She saw beyond my quirks, encouraging me to lean into them.

Her gift of self-belief turned me from a guy with zero confidence to someone who:

→ Grew a LinkedIn following to 46k
→ Spoke at events in front of hundreds
→ Led 2 marketing agencies to 7-figures

Then came the high point:

Fulfilling a promise I had made 2 years back to take an agency to $100k in monthly revenue.

To the world, I’d made it.

But on the inside… I was battling my darkest demons after losing my biggest supporter.

Giving up wasn’t an option, though.

Inspired by the story where David defeated the mighty Goliath with a slingshot and a few pebbles…

I realized the power of facing life’s giants with relentless action and self-belief.

This epiphany wasn’t just a lifeline—

It became my mission…

…not only to rebuild, but to:

→ Lead with vulnerability, share my recovery, and come back stronger
→ Inspire others to find their “inner David,” conquering obstacles with courage and conviction

From the brink of taking my life, to attempting to build a community of 100k subscribers to my newsletter, “David to Goliath,” in one calendar year…

I’ve seen first-hand what’s possible when you refuse to back down.

…and this is just the beginning for me.

As I sit back in my rocking chair at 80 years old, I want to look back on a life filled with crazy adventures and think,

“F*ck yeah, that was one hell of a story.”

Winston Churchill said it best:

“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”

Life’s battles aren’t just for fighting—

They’re for winning.

Through “David to Goliath,” I share stories, insights, and strategies to:

→ Give you the tools and confidence to tackle life’s challenges head-on
→ Empower you to break free from conformity and write your epic tale

…because you have the power within to change everything.

So, what do you say?

Shall we re-write the history books?

Join me: DavidtoGoliath.com

9 ways to be a leader who leaves positive impact:

1) Listen More: 

We have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason. If you put down your phone, close down your tabs and actively listen, you’ll be able to pick up on the small minute details. Which might be the difference between someone having a breakdown and being there when they need you most.

2) Speak Last: 

As Bezos said in his interview with Lex Fridman as the leader if you speak last in meetings, it allows others to be open without worrying about going against the boss’s view.

3) Highlight Wins: 

With constant deadlines and pressure we often forget to celebrate the small things. Whilst as the leader it may seem small to you, for someone else in your team it could make their entire year. 

4) Set Clear Goals: 

Just because you know where the ship is sailing your team probably doesn’t. If they’re working towards a vision they can’t clearly see, they will become anxious. Give them clear direction and set mini goals that contribute to the overall vision.

5) Own Your Mistakes: 

When you’re moving fast mistakes are inevitable. But as the leader if you own your mistakes, it will not only draw your team towards you because of relatability, it will also encourage others to do the same.

6) Have 1-1 Meetings: 

Introverted people often only open up in a protected environment without fear of judgement. Giving them time to speak 1-1 will make them feel heard.

7) Promote Diversity: 

The internet has created an entirely global marketplace. If as the leader you promote people to bring their culture into the workplace, the learnings across an organization will be extraordinary. Most importantly it will make your team feel proud of their background.

8) Believe In Others: 

Most people have unique skill sets and obsessions but are afraid to share them because of previous traumas. Be that one person who believes in them like noone else. You will be amazed at their transformation.

9) Be Transparent: 

Set the standard for being human. Not having a good day? Be honest. The more you can open up, the more you will create an environment of safety where others feel they belong.

Overall remember: A happy team is a dangerous team.

And it always starts top down.

♻️ Repost to help others in your network

Credit: Tobi Oluwole

Everyone wants CEO in their LinkedIn bio.

But most don’t understand what true leadership is.

Here’s what it is not:

- Micromanagement
- Intimidating people
- Showing off your Lambo
- Being the loudest in the room
- Leaving others to do the dirty work

Here’s what it is:

Being the individual who sacrifices most for their people.

Remember: True leaders don’t care about the credit.

They care about changing lives.


♻️ Re-post if you agree

Image credits: Daniel Abrahams

The true story of how Gary Vaynerchuk escaped the Soviet Union and against all odds conquered The American Dream:

Gary’s story didn't start with silver spoons or trust funds.

It began in 1975 in a world besieged by the shadows of the Soviet Union, where his family faced the unforgiving grip of socialism in Babruysk (now Belarus).

At 3 years old, Gary’s family escaped and emigrated to New York.

But from these humble beginnings, the family’s spirit burned brightly represented by the torch clutched within the hands of Lady Liberty, just a stone’s throw away.

The promise of The American Dream.

His parents worked tirelessly, showing Gary that dreams weren't made of stardust but of sweat and sacrifice.

By 7 he cut flowers in his neighbours’ yard and sold them back for a profit.

Then he started a baseball card collector business, earning himself thousands of dollars in just one weekend.

Getting 95 rejections for every 5 yes’s, he just kept pushing, learning how to deal with rejection head-on.

By 14, he was drawn into his father’s wine business, assigned to bag ice for $2 an hour.

Then he came across a huge untapped opportunity - The Internet.

Gary had visions of turning his family's local liquor store into a national Goliath.

So he launched WineLibrary .com and to get customers a new show on YouTube called Wine Library TV.

He went against the grain and married entertainment with education to connect with customers like never before.

Publishing over 1000 episodes he skyrocketed the show’s viewership over five grueling years and sales went from $3 to $60 million annually.

After understanding the power of monetizing social media, Gary and his brother AJ founded VaynerMedia. A new age marketing agency.

Helping a roster of A-list clients and Fortune 500 companies migrate into the online world.

But Gary was still just getting started building his pioneering personal brand.

To take things to the next level he built a production team and started a daily YouTube show called #AskGaryVee.

He invited the audience behind the scenes of his life, blurring the lines between CEO and an online personality like we’d never seen before.

Whilst people laughed at dancing videos on TikTok, Gary kept spreading his message, urging people to see the power of social media.

But behind all the big stages and successful business ventures, there’s one thing that keeps his fire burning.

The Pursuit.

Knowing that success isn’t the destination, it’s the journey.

Whether he buys the New York Jets or not, he’s winning, pushing forward everyday.

And above all else, Gary Vee is a testament that the American Dream still exists for those who choose execution over excuses.

In his own words: “Doing always beats thinking, the end.”

___

Enjoy this? ♻️Share it with your network.

And read Gary’s full epic story with all the twists and turns here: https://lnkd.in/eiYfPaaS

The True Story of Gary Vaynerchuk:

Cancel your Netflix subscription and order these 10 life-changing books (you’ll thank me later):

1) The Almanack Of Naval Ravikant
by Eric Jorgenson

Lessons:
- Life is all about leverage
- You need assets to become rich
- Figuring out what you actually want from life is the hardest yet most important challenge you’ll overcome


2) Relentless: 12 Rounds to Success
by Eddie Hearn

Lessons:
- Incredible work ethic is underrated
- Play the cards your dealt and don’t complain
- The big leaps come from taking risks where your outcome is not guaranteed


3) Winning: Unforgiving Race to Greatness
by Tim S. Grover

Lessons:
- Obsession should be celebrated
- It’s lonely at the top for good reason
- Winning requires everything so be prepared to sacrifice


4) Ready, Fire, Aim
by Michael Masterson

Lessons:
- Stage 1: Infancy ($0-1M): Focus on selling
- Stage 2: Growth ($1-10M): Backend systems/innovation
- Stage 3: Adolescence ($10-100M): Corporate structure and core exec team


5) Building a Second Brain
by Tiago Forte

Lessons:
- Leverage technology to think faster
- The more ideas webbed together, the more opportunities for creativity/innovation
- Building a digital brain allows more mental bandwidth so you can be present in the moment


6) $100M Leads
by Alex Hormozi

Lessons:
- Create free content that people charge for
- Word of mouth is most powerful form of advertising
- Most people underestimate how much volume is needed to achieve their goals


7) Atomic Habits
by James Clear

Lessons:
- Gamification is best way to make habits fun
- Humans hate change so new habits takes effort
- You’re a product of your environment but most people don’t know you can design it


8) Essentialism
by Greg McKeown

Lessons:
- Focus is required to achieve big things
- Scheduling time to think is a secret weapon
- Being able to say no to everything but your one thing is a huge competitive advantage


9) Never Split the Difference
by Christopher Voss and Tahl Raz

Lessons:
- Listening is so underrated
- Mirroring is the art of similarity, which facilitates bonding
- The person who’s most willing to walk away from a deal has the most control


10) Legacy 
by James Kerr

Lessons:
- Control your ego by practicing humility
- Hire on personality above anything else
- No one person is ever bigger than the team


Read these 10 books.

Take action on the advice.

It will change your life (I know it did mine).

♻️ Share this to help others in your network get ahead
And follow Nigel Thomas for more

Want more life lessons?

Join 19,000 others who receive my 2X weekly Newsletter where I share stories, frameworks, and tools to rewire your identity: https://lnkd.in/eDazKGd4

10 books that changed my life:

Scranton University discovered 92% never hit their goals.

But there’s 1 main reason the 8% do:

They don’t wait for that perfect moment.

They just focus on doing the inputs - today.

Want to build a personal brand on LinkedIn?

Block out 2 hours in your calendar. 

Set a timer.

Write.
Post.
Track.

That’s it.

Because whilst the 92% of people rely on motivation.

The 8% just do what’s required.

Start now, get perfect later.

The end.

♻️ Re-post if you agree.

And join 19,500 that receive my 2X weekly Newsletter where I share stories, frameworks and strategies on how to rewire your identity here: https://lnkd.in/eDazKGd4

Credit to Daniel Abrahams for the image.


2 Brothers, a $100 Million brand, a garden shed, and a meeting with Justin Bieber:

This is the 'overnight success' story of George & Michael Heaton.

It all started 12 years ago when they embarked on an epic adventure, battling against all odds to turn their brand 'Represent' into not just a $100M business but a lifestyle.

Growing up in Horwich, a small town in the North of England, and being dropped to school in their father's Range Rover, they weren’t exactly struggling in life.

But...

They didn't want to be viewed as the guys who lived off their father's success and vowed to make 100 times more than he ever did.

George's passion was fashion and art. It was a strange obsession to have in small-town England, but he loved it. 

So much so in school, he would sit through hours of classes in a trance, just sketching designs he plucked from his imagination.

George knew he had to act on this dream and couldn't do it alone. So he called upon his brother Michael, and together they forged a partnership like no other.

While everyone their age partied and enjoyed their youth, George and Michael retreated to their garden shed and worked tirelessly day and night.

In 2011, the 1st batch of 25 "Represent" T-shirts were created.

News spread like wildfire and they set up a website to fulfil all the orders.

Selling products at Abersoch's Glass Butter Beach Festival, convincing Rizzle Kicks to wear their clothes on stage, they next ventured into footwear and sold 900 pairs of their crepe-soled boot within 1 minute of launching.

Then...

After reaching a turnover of 6 million in 2016, they became complacent and disillusioned with their success.

Chasing fashion trends they forgot their original uniqueness and their business began to suffer. 

In an unexpected turn of events, Justin Bieber approached them at a bar, with pure admiration for their Represent clothes. 

They found themselves standing at the threshold of a new era.

However, with this new success came even tougher challenges. One day they received a letter which spelled out the end of their dreams.

A man in Europe owned the trademark ‘Represent’ and said he was going to take them for everything they had.

But the brothers refused to back down.

Against all odds, they won the naming rights to Represent and transformed their brand into a lifestyle for anyone wanting to become the best version of themselves.

Then their boldest move yet.

Handing over the reins to a former Puma executive to become their new CEO.

Allowing them to focus on what they do best: Creativity, community, and rebellion.

It turned out to be their best decision and they’re now on track to hit 250 Million by 2025.

Just two brothers with big dreams who stuck to their guns and never backed down.

It just shows what’s possible when you dare to be different.


If this post inspired you ♻️ re-share with your network.

And read the entire backstory on David to Goliath here: https://lnkd.in/eiSdrnHf

From Garden Shed to $100M Brand:

Last year I closed $600,000 from LinkedIn - all inbound.

Here’s the exact 9-step sales process I used:


1: Get Attention

Make noise to stand out in a crowded market.

- Send cold emails/LinkedIn DM’s
- Post case studies/processes on LinkedIn
- Build alliances with companies that work with ideal customer

Once a prospect raises their hand it’s time to hunt.


2: CRM

Great salespeople do boring stuff, every day.

Logging notes into the CRM is the real real.

- Enter contact info
- Put in date to follow-up
- Tie to deal size, forecast close date

Then every future step in this process, update.


3: Qualify

As CEO, protecting my team's time was crucial.

Before going further, identify if you can help.

- Jump on 20 min discovery call
- Ask Qs to figure out their biggest problem
- Make sure stage of growth + our service makes sense

If they don’t qualify, give advice. If they do, next step.


4: Audit

Relationships = trust + respect.

Quick way to build trust is value, for free.

- Get access to their accounts
- Break down their entire customer journey
- Identify where it’s leaking and give advice to fix

Advice that increases revenue = deep trust.


5: Pre-Call Video

People are sick and tired of being pitched.

Do something prior to the call to stand out.

- Notify they’ll receive a video breakdown
- Tell them why they need to watch prior to call
- Send a 30min Loom video prior to sales call, breaking down the audit

The video is packed with that much value.
It does most of the selling for you.


6: Sales Call

Demonstrating you’ve listened is a secret weapon.

- Prepare a custom slide deck
- Focus on problems from discovery call
- Lay out life with (your company) on a road map

Then, either close or agree a decision date.


7: Follow-Up

The follow-up is where most deals are lost.

- Check in 2+ times per week
- Provide more value around problems
- Ask direct questions and isolate objections

Don’t stop until they block you or tell you no.
Extreme? Yes. I play to win.


8: Seal The Deal

Only work after you get paid.

- Receive signed contract
- See cash hit the stripe account
- Notify team to start onboarding

Remember: The deal is done only once cash hits the account and contract is signed.

Don’t finish prematurely.


9: Onboard

This is where the real sales process begins, not ends.
First few weeks is where trust is won/lost.

- Get onboarding info out ASAP
- Ensure you’re resourced to fire on all cylinders
- Immediately book a kick-off call to build more trust

Constantly realign expectations to agreed KPIs.

TL;DR:

Step 1: Get Attention
Step 2: Log info in CRM
Step 3: Qualify
Step 4: Audit
Step 5: Pre-Call video
Step 6: Sales call
Step 7: Follow up
Step 8: Seal the deal, get paid
Step 9: Onboard


P.S. Are you an agency owner looking for more sales?

In April I’m mentoring 15 agencies sharing everything I learned scaling from $5,000 to $140,000/mo in revenue.

I still have a couple of spots available. 

DM me ‘mentoring’ if interested.

99% of LinkedIn posts are how to get more followers.

Here's one about how to make more sales:

I started posting on LinkedIn back in Feb 2022, I didn’t have:

- A following
- Any writing experience
- No idea why content was important

As CEO of a marketing agency, I was constantly sending out cold emails, trying to chase that next client.

I needed a different strategy.

A strategy where clients would already see me as the solution way before they had the problem I was solving.

Just imagine for a second having a pipeline full of your ideal clients who already trust and respect you before ever even speaking to them.

That was my goal. So I got to work.

Learning, testing, failing, iterating.

2 years on, I’ve figured it out and brought in over $1M from LinkedIn for my businesses, all inbound.

To save you time, here are the 4 steps how I use LinkedIn to make more sales:


Step 1: Define Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)

If you want LinkedIn to be a sales machine, you need direction.

- Build a profile of your target ICP
- Get on calls with your ICP everyday - ask questions:
- What keeps them up at night? 
- What motivates them? 
- What language do they use?


Step 2: Sphere of Influence

Understand how your ICP makes decisions.
 
If your content influences the people they ask advice from when solving problems, you will naturally become the answer.

- Ask your ICP where they hang out
- Map out who they speak to for buying decisions
- Ask who their most important team members are


Step 3: Plant Seeds

Don’t just write content for your ICP. 

Plant as many seeds as possible.

So when they make decisions, you’re always the answer.

Split your content into 3 categories:

1) Bottom of Funnel (BOFU): Content for your exact ICP. 

Share case studies of how you helped businesses like theirs.

2) Middle of Funnel (MOFU): Content for your ICP’s sphere of influence. 

Get on the radar of all the people in their decision-making tree.

3) Top of Funnel (TOFU): Content to attract the masses. 

Reach as many people as possible.

Here are content ideas:

- BOFU: How-tos and testimonials from clients.
- MOFU: Step-by-step processes to get results.
- TOFU: Leadership, work culture and mindset advice.


Step 4: Action, feedback and Iteration

Now you have a plan. 

But this only gets you to the starting line. 

You need market feedback.

- Start posting 30% TOFU, MOFU, BOFU content
- Monitor DMs - Are they your ICP’s sphere of influence?
- Ask on calls how your ICP found you

Then, it’s a never-ending process.

Constantly updating your ICP profile and their decision-making tree. 

Refining your content so you’re always top of mind.

—

Find this helpful? ♻️ Repost to help others and follow me Nigel Thomas for more like it.

Are you an agency owner looking for more sales?

In April I’m mentoring 15 agencies sharing everything I learned scaling from $5,000 to $140,000/mo in revenue.

I still have a couple of spots available.

DM me ‘mentoring’ if interested.

My favourite ever interview question:

"How weird are you on a scale from 1-10?"

Why?

Because I’m a freaking weirdo! 

I used to see it as a huge weakness.

But in reality, I’m just different.

And in business different is a competitive advantage.

Here's what I've learned about ‘weird’ people:

- They're constantly curious
- They question everything
- They have their own world view

The result?

- Out of the box thinking
- Innovative solutions to solving problems
- Leaders who stand for a cause instead of fitting in

Last but not least they’re really fun to be around! (if I do say so myself)

So next time you do an interview don’t just ask the typical career-oriented questions.

Get weird!

And look out for people who are different.

What do you think?

And what's your weirdness rating?!

Don’t read this out loud if there’s kids in the room…

Or if you're easily offended!

Be honest here…

How many side hustles have you started?

And how many have you NOT finished?

Whenever you see a new ad with some kid standing next to a Lambo under the Burj Khalifa, you throw your previous dream into the trash and start chasing a new one.

Have you ever wondered if it is the side hustle that’s B.S. or the person selling it?

I see grown adults buying eCommerce courses from 18-year-olds on Instagram every day.

We know eCommerce is a proven concept.

Jeff Bezos built his whole empire around an eCommerce business.

But most of you want cheap and easy, so you pay the Dropshipper $599 on IG for a Discord and wonder why you’re giving up 3 months later.

Every industry has a Jeff Bezos and a kid selling a Dropshipping course.

You won’t buy the proven concept because it costs too much, but you’ll buy 10 of the cheap versions and go broke chasing quick money.

Starting a business IS life-changing.

To change your life, you need guidance.

You need guidance from someone who has experienced ups and downs.

It’s not about just making money.

It’s a total mindset and lifestyle shift to build a business from zero.

I’m not talking trash about young people chasing that goal, and I see young people killing it every day.

But, to mentor and guide someone, you need life experience.

You need someone who can knock some sense into you on the days you want to jump into the next “thing” and throw all your progress away.

A course isn’t about the content itself; it’s about the mentor who comes with it.

I would prefer someone who has failed 100 times instead of someone who succeeded the first time.

Be honest in the comments…

How many courses have you bought because you were desperate to make money?

Failure is a choice.

The harsh truth...

Now, that is somewhat of a figure of speech, but it may be a controversial one for some of you.

Look, we've all failed at some point in our lives.

And I'm definitely not one of those "you only fail when you quit" type people. 

I think that quote is complete B.S.

For me, failure is NOT quitting when you should.

Failure is not leaving the relationship that's not working.

Failure is not quitting the job you hate.

Failure is sitting in your sadness, expecting something magical to happen and hoping other people will make the big decisions for you.

And that’s coming from someone who tried it.

I failed to a point where I almost didn't make it.

So I can tell you for certain: most of the negative things in your life right now, you are choosing to prolong them.

Thoughts?

Life lessons I know at 32 that I wish I knew at 22:

1. Career: The easiest way to find out if you’re on the right path is find someone who’s ‘won’ your game.

Ask yourself: “Do I want the life and outcomes they have?”

If not, figure out another path or else you’ll die with regret.


2. Leadership: Take everything you read and hear with a pinch of salt.

Get curious and form your own set of principles to live life by.

The day you stand up for what you believe in is the day you become a true leader.


3. Environment: You are a product and an output of your environment.

The people you’re surrounded by, the food you eat, the information you consume - is your future.

Audit your inputs constantly and don’t be afraid to make changes.


4. Ignorance: Small businesses often stay small because they’re ignorant.

Find others who have walked the path then shut up and listen.

There is a reason they have seen success and you haven’t.


5. Outliers: If you want to be in the top 1% you will stand out in crowds.

You can’t do what everyone else does and get different outcomes. 

Know what you want and embrace being different.


6. Decisions: Your life is often governed by a few key decisions (no pressure!).

Make the small decisions with your head.

And the big decisions with your heart.


7. Habits: You can’t do the extraordinary without doing the basics.

Simple habits such as sleeping, eating clean and exercising offer you a platform to build upon.

Treat them with the respect they deserve and show up as a professional - everyday.


8. Obsession: If you want to create something people will never forget, it will require complete obsession.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise and don’t listen to people who say it’s unhealthy.

Greatness doesn’t take shortcuts.


9. Risks: The people you look up to most still don’t have all the answers.

The difference between you and them is they accepted this truth and took a leap of faith.

Believing in their ability to figure things out along the way.


10. Memories: In the end, all you’ll have left is your memories and the people you met along the way.

Make time to create memories with those you love most.

Never settle for average: do the crazy, the once in a lifetime, the extraordinary - you deserve it.


♻️ Find this helpful? Repost to your network 
Follow Nigel Thomas for more content like this

And join 19,500 that receive my 2X weekly Newsletter where I share stories, frameworks and strategies on how to rewire your identity here: https://lnkd.in/eDazKGd4

41 lessons I wish I knew before starting my marketing agency:

1: Raise your prices, constantly

2: Put all your clients on autobilling

3: Sell VS how much revenue you generate

4: Win business with insanely good free audits

5: Share all your processes through content (LinkedIn)

6: Build partnerships with upcoming SaaS providers

7: Hire people who can proactively problem solve

8: Build your pipeline 90 days in advance

9: Incentivize referrals from your clients

10: Create rolodex of partners for clients

11: Focus on margins, not just revenue

12: Build up cash so you hire A-Players

13: Meet your remote team in person

14: Let go of old clients that no longer serve you

15: Judge your team by their impact on revenue

16: Always, always, research and leverage technology

17: Network with agency owners 1 step ahead

18: See each client leaving as chance to improve

19: Accept quality is always best when in-house

20: Integrate systems into 1 main tool (we use Monday)

21: Make meeting agendas mandatory for all calls

22: Block out deep work for your creative people

23: Pay more for experience as it saves time

24: Redefine your ideal client profile once per month

25: SOP everything and productize your services

26: Move client calls to bi-weekly, focus on strategy

27: Build out reporting to cover everything else

28: Constantly realign expectations with clients

29: Do business forecasting for your clients

30: Never have 1 client more than 30% revenue

31: Specalise in 1/2 services and find great partners

32: Brand your agency as we help X vertical

33: Visit your best clients in-person

34: Map out your perfect customer journey

35: Always build case studies in line with ICP

36: Figure out ways to upsell existing clients

37: Say NO to companies you can’t definitely help

38: Don’t go against your gut when selling

39: Create environment of safety by being transparent

40: Run co-marketing events with partners (webinars)

41: Have long-term plan (exit or cashflow business)


—

Find this helpful? ♻️ Repost to help others and follow me Nigel Thomas for more like it.

Are you an agency owner looking for more sales?

In April I’m mentoring 15 agencies sharing everything I learned scaling from $5,000 to $140,000/mo in revenue.

I still have a couple of spots available.

DM me ‘mentoring’ if interested.

What took 700 LinkedIn posts to learn, I’ll teach you in 5 mins.

How to go from 50 to 50,000 followers by using 6 attention-grabbing techniques (backed by human psychology):


1- Authority and Social Proof

Have you ever bought a product with a 1-star review?

Probably not - and that’s the point.

We go with what looks safe.

So how do you maximize safety with content?

- Use authority sources people trust
- Back up experience with social proof
- Use big numbers as they’re easy to understand

Example: I wrote a post how I’ve spent over $100M on paid advertising that got over 300,000 impressions.


2- Go Against the Grain

We love being nosy.

So how can we tap into people’s curiosity?

- Take a common narrative
- Take the opposing view
- Tell people why it benefits them

Example: Common advice is don’t put all your eggs in one basket. I wrote a post saying I only had 1 egg and one basket.


3- Bridge The Gap:

The only constant in human evolution is change.

We look for progress and to better ourselves.

So how do we help people bridge the gap?

- Speak about their current situation
- Paint a picture of their desired situation
- Give them a bridge through your solution

Example: On this post I related to people starting on LinkedIn (50 followers), spoke desired outcome (50k followers) and this is their solution.


4- Share Step-Step Processes:

People’s biggest asset is time.

If you can save it they will listen.

How?

- Reverse engineer how you get results
- Split it down into a step-step process
- Make it so easy a high schooler could understand

Example: Yesterday I posted the 9-step sales process I used to generate $600,000 from LinkedIn last year.


5- Write Personal Stories:

50,000 years humans have communicated through stories.

Safe to say: It works.

The best way to stand out is to be vulnerable.

People love supporting someone on their hero journey.

- Map out life events through hero journey framework
- Write a separate story about each event
- Focus on sharing the struggles and lessons learnt

Example: I wrote a post sharing how when I was $50,000 in debt obsession became my greatest strength.


6- Write Attention Grabbing Headlines

5X as many people read your headline VS the rest.

So spending 50% of your time on headlines is crucial.

- Use the previous 5 techniques
- Build swipe file of headlines from other creators
- Test different headlines and track the data

Example: 

Bad Headline: “I successfully scaled a marketing agency.”

Attention Gripping Headline: “I scaled a marketing agency from $80,000 to $1.2M in less than 12 months by implementing these 7 key steps:”


TL;DR:

1- Use authority and social proof
2- Take a common narrative and do the opposite
3- Bridge the gap for someone's current - desired situation
4- Share easy to follow step-step processes
5- Write vulnerable stories about your life
6- Focus 50% of your time on headlines

—

Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost to your network and follow Nigel Thomas for more.

From Bronx To Billionaire: How Ralph Lifshitz went from selling $10 ties to a $10 billion empire:

This is the untold rise of a true American Underdog:

Ralph grew up in a single bedroom with his two brothers and wore their hand-me-down clothes.

Living in the Bronx with that surname was never going to be easy, and after years of bullying, he changed his name to what we now recognize today as “Ralph Lauren”.

Growing up in the Golden Age of Hollywood, Ralph spent every Saturday at the movies inspired by the old-time elegance of the outfits on screen.

To fund his passion for style, he began selling handmade ties to fellow students for $10.

Then, he signed up for the military. 

But amidst the drudgery of basic training, he discovered an unexpected solace in the uniform and tirelessly sketched designs in his spare time.

After the Army, Lauren got a sales job, and continued to hone his business skills. 

One morning in 1966, stepping out of a store, he bumped into film star Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

He noticed his European-style, double-breasted suit with a spread-collar shirt, which contrasted with the "cookie-cutter clothes" of mid-60s Manhattan.

With no money to his name, he had to make ties out of old rags in his Empire State showroom and personally force them into stores. 

After 12 months of no financial reward, the ties suddenly broke through. 

Bloomingdale’s wanted a whole rack and case of his ties, the first time they’d ever offered an independent designer their own in-store boutique.

Then, by chance, he attended a polo match at the suggestion of a friend.

Inspired by the silver, the leather, and the horses, he started developing a high-class, elegant men’s clothing brand.

Polo Ralph Lauren was born.

The next three decades saw the brand expand internationally, launching dozens of denim lines and luxury labels.

They went on to dress actors in The Great Gatsby and became the official outfitter of the US Open, the Wimbledon tournament, and the US Olympic team.

From his poverty-stricken beginnings, Ralph Lauren grew to the largest listed clothing company on the New York Stock Exchange in 1997.

Then, at his peak in 1987, when Lauren was just 47, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Fortunately, he received life-changing brain surgery, and he had a completely renewed sense of purpose.

He became focused on philanthropy, dedicating a huge amount of his time to the fight on cancer.

He established the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care in Harlem and developed world-class research facilities in universities worldwide.

He became the first US fashion designer to be named an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Prince Charles.

It is the true essence of a “rags to riches” story and in the words of Ralph Lauren himself…

“The American Dream is worth fighting for!”

To read Ralph Lauren’s full backstory with all the twists and turns, go here: https://lnkd.in/eySK6AWN

From Bronx To Billionaire:

You’ll never make it if you don’t change your mindset.

The truth is…

I’ve seen people come from the most underprivileged areas and backgrounds.

And go on to become huge successes.

I’ve seen people come from “upper-class” backgrounds and achieve nothing.

Wanna know who makes the most excuses?

The people who take the luxuries they have for granted.

“Making it” is not easy, but so many people can access so many dreams at the swipe of a finger that their brains are desensitized to the real world.

- Try something… 
- Realize it will take time…
- Quit and try something else…
- Repeat.

Your problem is not the “thing” you choose… 

It’s you.

Or at least it’s your perception of what “making it” really is.

People think they just master a skill and off they go on the path to $1M a year.

They totally disregard…

- Mindset
- Money management
- Building a real business

And all the other behind-the-scenes drama that running a business entails.

And yes… being a freelancer means you STILL have to build a business and treat it like one.

This is why one of the first things I look for in a guide is to know how many times they failed before they made it.

It’s time people stopped looking for overnight success by buying cheap courses…

And started planning for long-term growth by taking action and finding real mentors.

FYI, I am not against courses, but we can all agree that the market is saturated with bad ones.

Also, if you want to read my in-depth experiences of building real businesses from scratch and how the most successful entrepreneurs “made it”...

Sign up for my free newsletter and join over 22,000 others who read along each week: https://lnkd.in/eDazKGd4

Taplio

Nigel Thomas's Linkedin Analytics

Nigel Thomas

What is Nigel talking about?

Who is engaging with Nigel

Nigel Thomas's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?

Taplio

.css-1jgreyo{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39,43,72,1) 0%, rgba(33,47,183,1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Nigel Thomas's Linkedin Analytics

Nigel Thomas

What is Nigel talking about?

Who is engaging with Nigel

Nigel Thomas's Best Posts .css-qqfgvy{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);}(last 30 days)

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?

Nigel Thomas's Linkedin Analytics

Nigel Thomas's Best Posts (last 30 days)