Selling Is No Longer the Strategy. Showing Up Is.
Let’s be honest with ourselves, LinkedIn was once a haven for pitch-first behavior. It followed a predictable cycle: connect, pitch, hope for a reply, and repeat. But the world has changed and so has the platform.
People have evolved. They’re more discerning. They crave authenticity, not automation. And LinkedIn? It’s matured into a space where connection matters more than conversion. If you’re still showing up like it’s 2017, treating every post like a billboard, you’re not just behind the curve. You’ve become invisible.
The data tells a compelling story; LinkedIn’s 2025 Engagement Report confirms that salesy content is a no-no for engagement and growth. Sales-driven content doesn’t just underperform; it actively turns people away. Executives scroll faster. Decision-makers tune out. Why? Because the pitch-first approach lacks something essential: humanity.
It’s not that people are against offers. They’re just tired of being sold to by strangers. They want to engage with people who feel real, who stand for something, who show up with purpose. So, if you’re not being seen, it’s not because what you offer lacks value. It’s because your presence lacks connection. That’s not a failure, it’s a signal. A call to realign how you’re showing up in the world.
And that’s exactly where our work begins.
The Visibility Shift
This is no longer about chasing likes or viral one-hit wonders. This is about sustainable visibility, being seen consistently and clearly for who you are, what you believe, and why it matters. Think of visibility as a reputation built in public. Every post, every comment, every shared insight contributes to how others perceive you and more importantly, how they remember you. The question is, are you shaping that perception intentionally, or are you leaving it to chance?
Here’s the formula we use:
Clarity: Can someone understand what you stand for in 10 seconds or less?
Consistency: Are you showing up weekly, or just when inspiration hits?
Credibility: Are you sharing earned insights, not regurgitated fluff?
If any one of those is missing, your message doesn’t land. You don’t need to go viral. You need to be memorable. Most leaders are already online. But they’re not truly present. They share updates, but not insight. Headlines, but not heart. And as a result, they’re invisible in plain sight.
If you’re a business owner looking to attract new clients and opportunities, the same principle applies. LinkedIn is a trust directory.
Visibility That Converts: 3 Things We Do Differently (No Selling Required)
We’ve worked with hundreds of leaders across industries. Here’s what we teach:
1️⃣ The Engagement Engine
Most people confuse engagement with attention. At Standout Authority, we build engines, not hype. We teach our clients to turn passive eyeballs into two-way conversations by leading with gratitude, sharing real insights, and opening doors through micro-engagement. It’s not about gaming the algorithm. It’s about honoring the human behind the screen.
Someone likes your post? That’s an open door. Someone visits your profile? That’s a spark. Most miss these moments. We turn them into relationships.
2️⃣ The Human Algorithm
We teach leaders to show up as themselves, the real version that existed before the job title, the TEDx talk, or the 8-figure exit. Why? Because connection is built through shared experience. If you never show them where you’ve struggled, they’ll never believe you can help them rise. This isn’t about being vulnerable for the sake of it. It’s about being relatable. That’s what builds trust.
3️⃣ The 70/20/10 Content Rhythm
Content isn’t king. Quality content is queen.
✔️ 70% is high-value, actionable insight, what we call “building authority” content.
✔️ 20% is social proof, milestones, wins, credibility builders.
✔️ 10% is personal, family, mindset, moments that make you human.
This ratio is how we help leaders dominate feeds without pitching.
A Lesson to Learn from the CEO Who Stopped Hiding
Microsoft was once a tech giant with zero personality. Cold. Unapproachable. Enter Satya Nadella. He didn’t just change strategy. He changed how he showed up. He started posting insights, not press releases. He talked about fatherhood. Empathy. How he sees AI reshaping society. He opened the curtain and let people see the man behind the CEO badge.
And here’s what happened: Engagement skyrocketed. Trust increased. Culture shifted. Microsoft became relevant again, not because of a product launch, but because of a personal rebrand. His content wasn’t glossy. It was grounded. And that’s what made it powerful. According to Talent-E, Nadella’s personal brand played a huge role in rebuilding Microsoft’s culture and making the company feel relevant again. He didn’t have to be flashy, he just had to be R-E-A-L.
That’s the power of visibility. It doesn’t just boost engagement. It shifts perception. And when a leader makes that shift, it filters through the entire organization.
The Visibility Test
Here’s the test I challenge every leader and founder to take:
🔵 When’s the last time your ideal client shared your post with their team?
🔵 Would they know how to introduce you if someone asked, “What do they actually do?”
🔵 Have you published something lately that made someone DM you, “That hit different”?
These questions measure more than marketing. They measure meaning. 73% of decision-makers say they trust thought leadership more than polished marketing or product decks when it comes to judging what a company’s really capable of. That’s not about volume. That’s about voice.
Authority is built by showing up at the right place at the right time and doing it consistently over time. You don’t need to be the smartest voice in the room. You need to be the clearest. Show up with one core belief. Say it in a way only you can. Then repeat it with conviction.
Stop asking, “How do I sell more?” Start asking, “How do I make them remember me?” In a world where content comes and goes, what stays is who you are and how you show up. Take it from a guy who’s been where you are, stressed about not having a solid online presence, despite being a leader in my field. You don’t need more posts. You need more purpose. You don’t need more tactics. You need more truth.
Let’s normalize clear over clever. The right people will tune in to hear your authentic voice. Keep it real and don’t overcomplicate it. Want to be seen for what you stand for? Show up. Stand out. Serve first.
ICYMI 🎙️🎧
I dropped some serious truth bombs on the latest episode of Marketing Minds about my LinkedIn strategy that generated 20 Million views in 3 months. From building human connection in a digital world to navigating entrepreneurship without losing yourself in the algorithm, I brought the realness (and the receipts).
If you’ve ever:
🔵 questioned your relationship with visibility
🔵 struggled with balancing being seen vs. being strategic
🔵 wondered how to scale without selling your soul
…this one’s for you. Thank you Aleric Heck for having me on and can’t wait to chat again. Go give it a watch, take notes, and maybe rewatch again. 🎧 Listen to the episode here