Are you jumping into 2026 planning without evaluating what actually worked this year?

In this episode, I'm doing something most business owners avoid: getting brutally honest about 2025. The wins that surprised me, the strategies that flopped hard, and the market shifts nobody saw coming.

This isn't reflection for nostalgia's sake. It's strategic. The businesses that scale aren't doing the same thing harder, they're stopping to assess and optimize based on real results.

I'm revealing my one word for 2026 (OPTIMIZATION) and sharing the Red, Yellow, Green framework I use every December to decide what stays, what needs work, and what gets cut entirely.

Key takeaways:

• Why Expert Content Society members are crushing it on LinkedIn and what content actually works (spoiler: video, newsletters, and consistency win)

• The partnership move that hit 250+ members when we weren't even trying

• Honest failures: evergreen funnels that didn't convert, features nobody wanted, and process gaps that killed our scalability

• Critical market shifts: buying patterns changed, trust became everything, and clients now expect personalized solutions with zero friction

• The simple framework for evaluating your year and planning strategically

If you're ready to stop doing more and start doing what matters, this is your starting point.

Learn more about Expert Content Society: The Time To Grow

Most people hit “publish” on their LinkedIn Newsletter…and then wonder why it barely gets seen.

It’s usually not the content. It’s the visibility strategy behind it.
LinkedIn gives you powerful tools to boost your reach, but most creators skip them entirely.

If you want your newsletter to get noticed, shared, and subscribed to, here are three upgrades that change everything:

Add the LinkedIn Video Cover Feature:

• This grabs attention the moment someone lands on your newsletter page.
• A quick 10–20 second intro can double the chances someone subscribes.

Optimize your SEO title and description:

• LinkedIn (and Google) use these fields to decide whether your content appears in search.
• When you skip them, you skip discoverability.

Use images throughout your editions:

• Visuals create connection, break up long text, and guide your reader through the story.
• Engagement always increases when your editions feel more interactive.

If you’ve been publishing but not seeing the traction you expected, or you’re just getting started and want to do it right, this episode will help you finally get seen.

Take our LinkedIn Business Assessment here: https://www.magpaiassessments.com/4043/0

Feeling like your business runs you instead of the other way around? In this episode, we share the four workflow systems that separate thriving service businesses from those stuck in reactive mode.

We break down the exact framework our clients use to reclaim hours every week, eliminate the constant "what did I forget?" anxiety, and finally build a business that doesn't require them to be on call 24/7. No fancy tools or huge team needed, just smart structure that actually sticks.

Key takeaways:

• The four workflow types every growing business needs (and which one to start with)

• How recurring workflows eliminate the "Did I do that?" mental drain

• Why your projects keep ending in chaos (and the phase-by-phase structure that fixes it)

• The event workflow that makes you look professional while staying focused on connection

• How to create a content rhythm that builds trust without last-minute stress

• Simple steps to document, automate, and delegate your workflows effectively

• Real transformation stories from coaches who implemented these systems

With your workflows running smoothly, the next step is filling your pipeline consistently. Join our free two-day workshop, The Expert's Edge: LinkedIn Content That Closes Deals (Nov 24–25, 12–1 PM EST) and master the content approach that keeps your calendar booked with ideal clients.

Reserve your spot now: The Expert's Edge Workshop: LinkedIn Content That Closes Deals

Are you stuck in the January scramble, wondering what to promote while everyone else seems prepared? In this episode, we reveal why waiting until January to plan your business year is keeping you behind... and what to do about it. We share the exact 12 sheet planning method they use with multi-million dollar business owners and brand new entrepreneurs alike. This simple two hour system maps out your entire year strategically, ending the revenue rollercoaster for good. You'll discover why reactive planning keeps you stuck, how to leverage Q4 for competitive advantage, and the monthly marketing focus framework that creates consistent income. Whether you're a coach, consultant, or service provider earning $50K to $150K inconsistently, this episode will transform how you approach business planning.

Key takeaways:

• The game changing power of starting your planning in October or November

• Why launching four times per year beats constant promotion

• How to map your calendar anchors and quarterly launches strategically

• The biggest planning mistakes that keep coaches overwhelmed

• Real framework for choosing your monthly marketing focus

• How to enjoy the holidays guilt free with Q1 already planned

If you'd like to learn how to create LinkedIn content that drives measurable results, reserve your free spot: The Expert's Edge Workshop: LinkedIn Content That Closes Deals

Posting consistently on LinkedIn but your DMs are crickets? In this episode, Scott pulls back the curtain on why so many coaches, consultants, and service providers are stuck in the content hamster wheel, and what actually moves the needle from visibility to paying clients.

After guiding thousands through their LinkedIn transformation, we're sharing the framework that separates content that converts from content that just collects dust. You'll discover why your posts might be getting engagement but not generating revenue, and the exact approach that builds the kind of trust that leads to booked calendars.

If you're tired of showing up without seeing results, this episode delivers the strategy you've been missing.

Key takeaways:

• The real reason connection trumps consistency (and how to create it)

• What separates scroll-stopping content from deal-closing content

• The reflection-style post formula that positions you as the obvious choice

• How to stay visible without the burnout or creative drought

Ready to stop guessing and start converting? Join our free two-day workshop, The Expert's Edge (November 24-25, 2025): The Expert's Edge Workshop: LinkedIn Content That Closes Deals

Are you getting likes and comments on LinkedIn but struggling to convert that engagement into actual paying clients? In this episode, we reveal why visibility alone doesn't equal revenue and what's really missing from most LinkedIn content strategies.

We break down the exact shift from posting for attention to posting for conversions, plus share how one consultant closed a $10,000 deal by changing her content approach.

Key takeaways:

• Why the "post consistently and clients will come" advice keeps you stuck in the Engagement Trap

• The revenue mindset: how to post with a clear path from content to booked client

• The Authority, Story, CTA Framework that actually converts

• How to create CTAs that spark real client inquiries instead of just more likes

If you'd like to join our FREE 2-day live workshop, The Expert's Edge: LinkedIn Content That Closes Deals (November 24-25, 2025), visit: Register for The Expert's Edge Workshop Here

Here's what most coaches and consultants get wrong about LinkedIn in 2025: they think everything changed. Spoiler alert... it didn't. In this episode, we're breaking down why the strategies that actually build trust and generate leads haven't changed, they've just become more critical.

After working with hundreds of service professionals inside our Expert Content Society, we've seen what separates those getting real results from those spinning their wheels. We're sharing the eight proven strategies still delivering consistent leads this year, plus why so many waste time on approaches that look good but don't convert.

If you've been posting without seeing engagement or client conversations, this episode gives you the framework to make your content actually work.

Key takeaways:

• Why leading with value creates sales conversations naturally

• How to use personal stories to build trust AI cannot replicate

• Our approach to using AI tools while keeping your unique voice

• Why showing up consistently beats waiting for perfect

• Visual strategies that stop the scroll in 2025

• How asking questions and building community converts better than broadcasting

• The CTA element most people forget that tanks conversion rates

Ready to master LinkedIn content that connects with your ideal clients? Join our Expert Content Society waitlist for early access to our proprietary AI prompts, Canva templates, and exclusive workshops: Join the ECS Waitlist Here

Think connecting with bestselling authors, industry experts, and thought leaders on LinkedIn is out of reach? We're here to tell you it's not only possible, it's something we do regularly.

In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on the exact strategy we use to connect with influencers and micro-influencers in our space, including people like Andy Crestodina (author of Content Chemistry), Travis Bradberry (author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0), and Lee Salz (author of Sell Different).

Here's the truth most people miss: when you send a connection request to someone with a significant following, they're not just clicking "accept." They're vetting you. And if your profile doesn't pass the five-second test, your request gets ignored just like everyone else's.

We break down exactly what influencers look for before accepting a connection request, and more importantly, how you can position yourself as someone worth connecting with.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

The reality check about how influencers vet connection requests before accepting

Why your LinkedIn profile is doing the heavy lifting (before you even say hello)

The four key elements every profile needs to establish instant credibility

Real examples of how we've connected with industry leaders and turned those connections into podcast collaborations

How to make your outreach genuine without coming across as salesy

The long game of building follower count, newsletter subscribers, and recommendations (and why these numbers actually matter)

What You Can Do Right Now:

Stop sending generic connection requests to people who matter. Start by fixing your LinkedIn profile so it does the work for you. Your background banner, headline, featured content, and social proof all play a role in whether someone accepts your request or scrolls right past it.

Consistency wins. You're not going to go from where you are now to 35,000 followers overnight, but showing up with valuable content, building your network, and growing your credibility will open doors you didn't think were possible.

Free Resource Mentioned in This Episode: LinkedIn Post Templates to Boost Engagement Want to start posting content that builds your credibility and attracts the right connections? Grab our free LinkedIn Post Templates here: 3 High-Impact LinkedIn Post Templates

👥 ABOUT THE TIME TO GROW: We help coaches, consultants, and service-based professionals build sustainable businesses through foundational strategies, personal branding, and LinkedIn lead generation. Our programs include Expert Foundations, Expert Content Society, and Expert Authority.

🔗 CONNECT WITH US: LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyevans1/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottaaroncoach/

Website: The Time To Grow

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Content Chemistry by Andy Crestodina

• Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry

Love what you heard? Subscribe to the podcast, leave us a review, and share this episode with a coach, consultant, or service provider who's ready to level up their LinkedIn game.