How to Grow Your Followers on LinkedIn: 23K followers in 14 monthsDustin is VP of International Sales by day—and a fast-growing social media strategist by night. In just 14 months, he's built a LinkedIn audience of over 23,000 followers using a repeatable system that blends evergreen content, smart engagement tactics, and AI-powered comment strategies.In this episode, Dustin unpacks his entire content engine. From growing company pages to building a 180-post content bank, he shares exactly how he formats carousels, splits daily posts into two styles, and uses groups and newsletters for reach. He also explains how AI helps him engage with hundreds of comments while keeping his authentic voice. If you're trying to grow on LinkedIn or turn your audience into income, this episode shows you how to get seen, and what to post once you are.Key Takeaways-Dustin grew from 0 to 23.5K+ followers in 14 months-LinkedIn groups boost visibility and post reach (massively)-AI can help write comment replies that sound like you-Reposting high-performing content monthly is smart, not lazy-Carousels with numbered lists and simple CTAs drive massive impressions and engagement on LinkedIn-Company pages offer 250+ invites per month (*use them)-Newsletter growth leads to long-term audience control-He uses two posts daily to his profile: 1 helpful carousel, 1 short quote or truth-Authenticity still wins, even with AI-generated help-Time-saving tools make it easier to show up every dayTimestamps00:00 How Dustin grew 23K followers in just over a year06:39 Dustin’s LinkedIn-first strategy—and why X didn’t work13:42 Building a brand using carousels, checklists, and company pages23:18 Posting in groups: a secret weapon for massive visibility33:09 Which scheduling tools Dustin uses (and which to avoid)39:26 How Dustin trained AI to reply to 100+ comments a day50:54 Evergreen content, repeat posting, and CTA tricks that work01:01:48 How he built a 3-month post bank (and recycles it)01:07:50 Monetization plans, newsletter growth, and CRM tips01:14:05 Dustin’s advice for new writers starting on LinkedIn01:22:12 Balancing growth, audience, and authenticity with AIResourceshttps://buffer.com/

https://www.apollo.io/

https://gemini.google.com/  

/ donnellychris    

/ alicjasmin  

https://www.pinterest.com/Just for viewers and listeners of the It Pays to Write PodcastStart writing online today with my Free AI Writing Roadmap course:

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Vanessa Yepes, a product operations lead at AppSumo with eight years of experience in customer and partner success, transformed her totally unused LinkedIn account into a powerhouse of engagement, authenticity, growth, and connection with other cool people.

She doubled her audience in just 60 days of writing on LinkedIn, by doing back-to-back 30 day writing challenges.

In this episode, Vanessa talks about how an internal 30-day writing challenge at her company got her bit by the writing and posting bug.

And how she’s used multiple, back-to-back writing challenges to:

• Sharpen her social media writing skills
• Figure out how to create community and build an audience on LinkedIn (super fast!)
• Ignite her passion for writing
• Start growing her personal brand online

She shares the nuts and bolts of competing on metrics using Shield Analytics, the evolution of her “text-message-style” writing, and how she’s integrated AI—like voice notes, ChatGPT projects, and AI note-takers like Fathom—to streamline brainstorming, drafting, and meeting notes in her day job and her writing.

Whether you’re a nine-to-fiver or a freelancer, this conversation is packed with writing skills, habits, tools, and software you can use to start writing online today (and make it a lot easier with AI).

Timestamps

00:00:00 - How Vanessa went from support agent, to head of operations, to obsessed with writing on LinkedIn

02:45:00 - How she crushed her company 30-day LinkedIn writing competition

06:02:00 - How she’s finding and developing her signature style (and helping you find yours)

08:55:00 - How she uses AI to brainstorm so you never face a blank page

11:46:00 - Why authenticity wins for everyone

14:56:00 - How she’s building community through storytelling

17:57:00 - Her next big goals to inspire yours

37:31:00 - Organizing her thoughts into content gold

38:52:00 - The AI co-writer she trusts

40:54:00 - How to crush drafts with tight feedback loops

43:23:00 - How she uses writing for self-discovery

45:08:00 - He techniques for mining and creating endless posts

51:13:00 - Managing projects with AI efficiency

54:09:00 - How she puts meeting notes on autopilot with AI

56:06:00 - Recognizing real professional value

01:00:48 - How she taps into LinkedIn’s community power

01:10:09 - Her evolving engagement tactics and how they work

01:15:08 - How she’s embracing a true LinkedIn voice

01:17:16 - Why you need strength in support networks on social media

01:20:37 - Why starting small in comments builds confidence for posting

01:22:59 - How to cultivate LinkedIn post ideas with daily reps

01:24:48 - How you can turn everyday moments into stories

01:28:21 - The neuroscience behind compelling storytelling

01:32:18 - How to build friendships through writing challenges

01:38:29 - How experimentation can fuel growth

01:43:51 - How she sets intentional writing goals

01:46:20 - Her top advice for your writing journey

• Shield Analytics (LinkedIn metrics tracker): https://shieldapp.io/
• ChatGPT (AI writing assistant): https://chat.openai.com/
• Fathom (AI meeting transcription & summary): https://fathom.video/
• AppSumo (SaaS deals & Sumo Day): https://appsumo.com/
• Vanessa’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessayepes/
• Mason’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonjohnston935/

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Apple

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Start writing online today with my Free AI Writing Roadmap course:

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ResourcesFollow and Subscribe to the It Pays to Write Podcast

What does it really take to grow from 1K to 7K+ LinkedIn followers in six months, without turning into another “broetry” meme?

Implementation-manager-by-day and content strategist-by-night Simon Schmitz breaks down the tactics behind his meteoric rise.

Simon explains why carousels still beat every other format on reach, why text-only posts often out-perform image posts, and how LinkedIn’s shifting algorithm is rewarding niche expertise over generic marketing garbage posts.

He shares a realistic workflow (two carousels + one text post per week), complete with tools like Canva, Whisper Flow voice dictation, and ChatGPT to draft hooks fast.

Most importantly, he urges new writers to “embrace the suck,” post on a sustainable schedule, and inject real personality instead of AI-generated fluff. If you’ve been scared to show up and post on LinkedIn—or you’re stuck with low reach and engagement—Simon’s playbook and refreshingly direct take will get you publishing (and enjoying it).

Why You’ll Love This Episode

→ How to set a three-day posting cadence you can actually stick with.

→ The “hook + re-hook” formula that keeps readers tapping Read More.

→ Voice-to-text workflow that turns a ramble into a polished post in 20 min.

→ When to use carousels vs. text vs. video (and why selfies still matter).

→ A starter list of 7 LinkedIn writers worth studying—plus the tools they use.

→ Real talk on AI: leverage without losing your own critical-thinking muscles.

Simon’s Links

→ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-schmitz-tx/

→ Stan Store – https://stan.store/AperolSchmitz

→ Personal Branding Carousels (featured) – see his LinkedIn “Featured” tab

→ Email – DM via LinkedIn for branding inquiries

Software & Tools Mentioned

• Canva
• ChatGPT / GPT-4o
• WhisperFlow (voice-to-text)
• TypeGrow formatter

Follow Simon

→ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-schmitz-tx/

→ Stan Store – https://stan.store/AperolSchmitz

→ Personal Branding Carousels (featured) – see his LinkedIn “Featured” tab

→ Email – DM via LinkedIn for branding inquiries

It Pays to Write

→ Grab your FREE 5-Day AI Writing Roadmap: https://aiwritingroadmap.com

→ Connect with Jack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/your-profile

Jennifer Chou went from blowing up her companies TikTok account, to

→ Growing her own audience to 80K+ people (now it’s well over 100K)

→ Getting laid off from that job

→ Replacing her $6k/month salary with a 24 hour sale of her first course

Jennifer, better known online as Vegan Tech Nomad, turns unhinged data dashboards, her content marketing strategy, poop-tracking, marathon training, and more into viral content gold.

In this candid chat she walks Jack through the exact steps that grew her Instagram to 80K+, replaced a month’s salary in a single launch day, and helped thousands of ADHD creators reclaim their time with life-tracking.

If you want a repeatable framework to post consistently, ditch burnout, and monetize fast, start here.

Why you'll love this episode:

• Learn the 4-week Life Tracking Framework that keeps ADHD brains on track.
• See how Jennifer tests hooks on TikTok before syndicating winning videos.
• Borrow her “vibes-based” creativity rule to kill perfectionism.
• Understand the psychology tweaks (progress bars, tiny wins) that boost course completion.
• How to overcome your fears, challenges, and mindset roadblocks to creating content
• Hear real student wins—from new clients to “first course ever finished.”

• 00:49 – Origin Story: Why a breakup over her username sparked the Vegan Tech Nomad brand.
• 02:26 – Poop-Tracking Pays: Viral video and first life-tracking course idea.
• 04:26 – Five-a-Day Posting: Spam-posting TikToks for her employer and lessons learned.
• 05:28 – $6 K in One Day: Course launch beats former monthly salary.
• 07:28 – Celebrate Tiny Wins: How $300 felt bigger than $6 K—and why mindset matters.
• 12:05 – 100 K Followers in a Year: Reps, hook testing, and volume over polish.
• 17:06 – “Everything Is Vibes”: Fun first, analytics second—results follow.
• 22:25 – Cross-Platform Surface Area: Use TikTok as R&D, Instagram/YouTube for scale.
• 29:38 – New Mission: Pivoting life-tracking toward overwhelmed founders.
• 35:25 – Product Ladder: Templates → Cohort → Course; pricing psychology that converts.
• 37:57 – Cohort → Course Flip: Why she ditched daily Zoom calls and made her ADHD program evergreen.
• 42:18 – Therapy Beats Tactics: Students raved about mindset modules over hook formulas—and what she learned.
• 50:06 – UX That Sells: Progress bars, badges, and “cute sounds” that nudge learners to finish.
• 55:53 – Life-Tracking Stack: Daily wins, weekly reflections, and a North-Star metric anyone can steal.
• 1:02:59 – Coach B Energy: Building self-compassion to calm rejection-sensitive ADHD brains.
• 1:09:55 – Post With Joy: The 7-second routine that turns content creation into pure play.
• 1:15:40 – Community Boost: Discord + comment pods that wipe out imposter syndrome.
• 1:22:31 – Permission to Pivot: Smashing limiting beliefs and making creativity fun again.

Her Resources & Mentions

• Creator Templates – https://chaotic-creator.beehiiv.com/c/creator-templates
• Content Business Tech Stack – https://www.notion.so/Content-business-tech-stack-7112518bd7d5403f8fc78a8af109f374?pvs=21
• Productivity Tools List – https://www.notion.so/Productivity-tools-I-use-005b5acdbba5418ab6b96675587e4465?pvs=21
• Jennifer’s Life-Tracking Course – https://vegantechnomad.lemonsqueezy.com/
• Her Income-Report Playlist – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce929wXuXUI&list=PLVfia6kpvNgtIQv_MnDR1HJTj2zEPdLDb
• Her Testing Video Hooks Example – https://youtu.be/hTBwEkrvwaA
• Her story on “I Got LAID OFF, then SOLD a COURSE for $40,000 (step-by-step guide)”: https://youtu.be/sVgpnGvUtA8?si=sXvmRNWqYFlrmJob
• Stan Store – https://stan.store/vegantechnomad
• Website: https://www.vegantechnomad.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vegantechnomad
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/vegantechnomad
• Newsletters: https://vegantechnomad.beehiiv.com, https://chaotic-creator.beehiiv.com

Free 5-Day Course on How to Write with AI:

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How to Self Publish Your First Book with Derek Siddoway

Derek Siddoway has self-published 18 fantasy novels in the past 12 years.

And he's already working on the next one.

In this conversation, Jack and Derek unpack how Derek turned a passion for writing fiction into income.

We explore his journey of writing, particularly in the fantasy genre, making money as a fantasy novel writer, writing tips for new and seasoned writers, his current transition from fiction to ghostwriting (and even writing and building his own brand on LinkedIn).

Derek shares on balancing writing with a day job and family life, the importance of building a personal brand on LinkedIn, and some ways he uses AI in his writing and marketing workflow.

Chapters & Time Stamps

00:00 Derek's Journey of a Writer

09:01 Turning fiction into income: how to make money as a fantasy writer

16:00 Balancing Writing Books and Content with Life

31:55 How to Build a Personal Brand as a Writer (from scratch)

40:16 The Journey of Commitment and Small Wins in Writing Online

46:54 He Derek has Shifted from Fiction to Impactful, Educational Social Media Writing

52:52 His Advice for Aspiring Writers

01:00:01 How He uses AI in Writing

How to Become a Social Media Strategist (And Get to Six-Figures)

Today on It Pays to Write, I’m stoked to welcome Dorien Morin-van Dam. She says she's s Dutch by birth, American by choice, and she totally reinvented her career at 40 and built a thriving social media + AI consultancy from scratch. If you’ve ever wondered how to become a social media strategist, this episode is your roadmap.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How writing became Dorien’s secret weapon—and why every aspiring strategist needs strong writing skills.

• The step-by-step evolution of social media marketing—from early blogs to LinkedIn gold—and what that means for your career.

• How batching and AI tools can supercharge your content calendar so you can scale without burning out.

• The audience-first tactics that helped Dorien land her first clients within weeks and how you can replicate them.

• Time-management routines for balancing life and work—because becoming a social media strategist doesn’t mean sacrificing your personal life.

• The client-discovery framework she uses in strategy sessions to uncover pain points and craft revenue-driving content.

  
  

Dorien's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moreinmedia/

Her Website: https://www.moreinmedia.com/

Sign up for my free course on how to write with AI: https://aiwritingroadmap.com/

Our guest today is the brilliant Matt Herman.

He’s a content-marketing pro at Aeroseal, an AI warlock, songwriter, and all-around creative.

Matt and Jack dig into practical AI use cases in content marketing, smarter ChatGPT workflows, turning generative AI into a pocket life coach, and keeping the human spark alive in writing and other creative processes.

Then they nerd out on AI: how to write with it (and how not to), how it can double as a pocket therapist, and how it’s reshaping the way we market, create, and solve problems.

They swap real-world stories, share stress-tests, dabble in a bit of doom-and-gloom theory, and break down what separates great AI prompts and projects from mediocre ones.

Free 5-Day AI Writing Email Course: https://aiwritingroadmap.carrd.co/

Matt on LinkedIn:  / mattwherman  

Jack on LinkedIn:  / writeschrute  

Key Takeaways & Topics

• AI tools can enhance creativity and writing efficiency.
• Context is critical when using AI for writing, marketing, and creative tasks.
• AI can support your therapy journey or act as a life coach.
• How to write with AI—the right way and the wrong way.
• Custom GPTs can be tailored to individual needs and preferences.
• AI technology is evolving at a crazy pace.
• The combination of human insight and AI drives personal growth.
• AI can help users navigate complex emotional situations.
• Art and creativity will always retain a human element.
• AI can provide immediate answers and solutions to problems.
• Why speaking to AI is better (and faster) than writing, and how to do it.
• The future of AI remains uncertain (does anyone actually know what the heck will happen)?