Hey Reader

My clients are typically really good at building relationships.
That's how they've built successful businesses.

Their struggle isn't relationship-building.
It's figuring out how to do that on LinkedIn.

The disconnect

In real life, you know how to:

→ Strike up conversations at networking events
→ Offer help before asking for anything
→ Follow up without being pushy
→ Build trust over time
→ Read the room

But on LinkedIn? You freeze.
Because it FEELS different.
Forced, contrived.

Except it's not.

What is the digital version of building relationships IRL?

That's the question I'm always asking.

And once you see it, it's so obvious you'll wonder why you ever struggled.

IRL: You wouldn't walk up to someone at a networking event and immediately hand them your brochure.

LinkedIn: Don't send your newsletter or offer without asking first.

When someone checks out my profile, I don't blast them with a pitch slap.

I say: "Hey, thanks for checking out my profile. Anything particular stand out or just LinkedIn doing its usual magic?"

We have a conversation. If they mention wanting to do more on LinkedIn, THEN I ask: "I've got a great newsletter - want me to send it to you?"

I wait for the yes. That's earning permission.

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I was on a call recently with a client. Super smart woman.

She said: "You must think I'm a moron. I can't believe I didn't think of that."

Not at all - it isn’t obvious at all!

We are the first generation to build relationships in a virtual setting this way.
The playbook is being written right now.

But I will say:

You don't need new relationship-building skills.
You need to translate the ones you already have.

Why this matters more than ever

With AI, everyone can write "great" content now.
The differentiator isn't your expertise posts anymore.

It's how you make people FEEL.
And that comes from actual human connection.
The kind you're already great at IRL.

Now…I know there are other ways

I was trained in the other ways.

The probing questions. The urgency tactics. The "close on the call" pressure.

I intentionally unlearned it because it didn't work for me.

So this isn't for everyone.

If that type of sales works for you, great. Do that.

I'm just sharing the way I do it.

And why I never feel like I'm "doing sales."
Because I'm not. I'm building relationships.

Is this woo woo? Maybe.
But it feels good to my soul.
(And it also fills my bank.)

OK, Your turn:

Think about your last great business relationship.

How did it start? How did you build trust? What did you do that made them want to work with you?

Now ask yourself: What could be the digital equivalent of that on LinkedIn?

That's your strategy.

You already know how to do this.

You just need to trust that what works IRL works online too.

Until next time,
Natasha

P.S. If you want help translating your IRL relationship skills to LinkedIn, that's exactly what we work on in the REALationship Growth Method (hence the name;). I’ve got one spot left for February! And booking 1:1 clients now for March.
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DM me “No pitch slaps!” for deets.

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