Why I turned down $5,000 to write a post on LinkedIn

A few months ago, I woke up to an DM from a popular creator software/tool.

Said something like:

“Hey, Lara we’ve been loving what you’ve been up to on LinkedIn - would love to chat and discuss a sponsorship opportunity.”

I ran to call my parents after I agreed on a time and date for a call with the company.

Had a BIG dopamine hit, being acknowledged by tools like these is HUGE.

Look, I’d heard about the creator economy, and it’s BIG boy payouts for sponsored posts. Specifically this company. Almost everyone I know uses it…

But I don’t :(!! Not to the extent to which I’d promote it at least.

I hopped on the call anyway, I’m curious ok!

So…How much were they willing to pay for ONE post? $5,000 to start.

I’m still wrapping my head around it lols.

I didn’t take the deal… I can’t promote something I don’t love using.

But it made me realize something…

A personal brand is the most powerful asset you can own in 2024.

Ok look at this:

2020:

No personal brand, no clients, no business

2023:

• 176K combined followers across socials

• Built an agency and consulting biz from it

• Get to write newsletters and get sponsored too

• About to launch two more businesses in 2024 too

• Closed 5-figure deals through my DMS (i hate sales)

I built my business in public and now my personal brand which means I have to do literally no sales…

No cold pitching. No cold Dms. No cold calls. Just CONTENT.

100% of the agency is inbound; I only promoted my cohort launch.

The craziest part? businesses want to pay me magic internet money to post about them. That’s it. No strings attached.

Just because I invested the last 18 months of my life building my personal brand on LinkedIn…

There is truly so much magic in being able to get paid to be yourself on the internet, and build a community of like minded people.

I get to grow daily and learn from people all around the world.

It all started with committing to writing every single day online. Simple.

I’m not going to tell you to “just start posting” because you know I hate that advice, but I’m going to leave you with the simple framework that’s gotten me to where I am today… (besides your inbox which is also very cool).

The 6-figure Personal Branding Framework

1. Talk about your transformation: Make people feel like they know you

2. Share your personality often: Want people to stay? Be interesting

3. Polarise by sharing your opinions: Stand for something, build a 'cult' following

4. Back them up with education: Give valuable and unique insights always

5. Use storytelling to inspire: Leverage attention, trust and emotion

6. Give actionable advice: Use immediately applicable content

7. Talk to your community: Build fans not followers; talk to them

It really is “that” simple, yet most people’s content is missing 99% of this framework… the bar has never been lower.

So, If you wanna stand out… You know what to do.

That’s literally it!

Love, Lara