O38: Selling on LinkedIn (Without Being Salesy)—Part 5: Your Idea-Generation Strategy
Want to post on LinkedIn every day without the stress? Try these 3 simple strategies.
Today’s email is for you if you’re experiencing these problems:
You struggle to come up with fresh ideas for your LinkedIn posts.
You lose great content ideas because you don’t have a way to capture them quickly.
You want to post consistently on LinkedIn but lack a reliable system to capture and organize content ideas.
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This is the 11th installment of the 4-Farmland Matrix (4FM) series. In it, we unpack a simple four-part framework that helps you identify and capitalize on your most promising sales opportunities—whether they’re new prospects, current clients, or ones that got away.
So far, we’ve covered these topics:
The 4-Farmland Matrix: Overview
Farmland 1: New (Desirable fields yet to be acquired)
033: Selling on LinkedIn (Without Being Salesy)—Part 1: Your Connections Strategy.
034: Selling on LinkedIn (Without Being Salesy)—Part 2: Your DM Strategy
035: Selling on LinkedIn (Without Being Salesy)—Part 3: Engagement Strategy
036: Selling on LinkedIn (Without Being Salesy)—Part 4: Your Posting Strategy
Preview
In a previous article, I introduced the four ‘components’ of Systematic Prospecting in your sales process:
Systematic Social Selling
Systematic Outreach.
Systematic Referrals.
In the past three articles, we’ve discussed the second component—Systematic Social Selling—with our ‘Selling on LinkedIn’ series:
Today, we break down Part 5: Your Idea-Generation.
Overview
Ever find yourself staring at LinkedIn, cursor blinking, wondering what to post next?
You're not alone. The blank page “choke” hits everyone. But here's what I've learned since posting on LinkedIn every day for 193 days straight (since November 6, 2024).
The secret to consistency on LinkedIn isn't waiting for inspiration to strike or your muse to speak.
It's building a system.
Today, I'm sharing three strategies for generating (and capturing) post ideas that I want to write about…so that I’ll actually write them.
If you’re looking to post more consistently on LinkedIn but keep getting in your own way, try these strategies to make your content creation process less of a chore.
Let's dive in.
1. Set up your idea-capture system.
If you’re anything like me, an idea will come to mind, and you’ll forget it 30 seconds later.
The magic starts with setting up your own idea-capture system. For me, it’s all about small yellow legal pads scattered everywhere—my desk, my car, my nightstand, you name it.
Why the yellow pads?
They’re easy to carry around and tuck into any spot where inspiration might strike.
It’s also psychologically satisfying to jot down a thought, then tear off the sheet once I’ve transferred the good stuff to a permanent home.
I move those keepers into a document in ClickUp, our project management software, where they’re ready to be shaped into posts or articles.
But whatever your method, the important point is to keep a “content bank” for jotting down ideas as they come.
This way, when it’s time to post, you’ll have a ready-made list of ideas to craft into posts that educate, inspire, or start conversations.
2. Brainstorm with topic prompts.
“What do I post about?”
Here are some prompts to spark your next LinkedIn post, organized by category. Start with one and riff on it.
My Problems
What’s the biggest challenge I’m facing right now, and how am I tackling it?
How do I manage stress when things don’t go as planned?
What’s a recurring issue in my life that I’m still trying to solve?
How do I deal with procrastination when it creeps into my routine?
What’s a tough decision I’m wrestling with, and what’s holding me back?
How do I cope when I feel overwhelmed by too many responsibilities?
Client Problems
What’s the most common struggle my clients face, and how do I help them through it?
How do I handle a situation where a client’s expectations don’t align with reality?
What’s a tricky client issue I’ve encountered recently, and what’s my approach to fixing it?
How do I rebuild trust with a client after a misstep?
What’s a time a client pushed back on my advice, and how did I respond?
How do I stay patient when a client’s indecision slows progress?
Customer Wins
What does success look like for my customers, and how do I help them achieve it?
How do I measure customer happiness beyond just numbers or sales?
What’s a standout moment where I turned a customer’s experience from average to amazing?
How do I celebrate a customer’s win, big or small?
What’s a time I went the extra mile to make a customer feel valued?
How do I turn a customer complaint into a positive outcome?
My Wins…and the Challenges I Had to Overcome to Get There
What’s a proud achievement of mine, and what obstacles did I face to earn it?
How did I push through self-doubt to reach a big goal?
What’s a success story of mine that almost didn’t happen—and why?
How did I turn a risky move into a personal victory?
What’s a time I succeeded despite limited resources or support?
How did I overcome fear of failure to achieve something meaningful?
My Failures/Mistakes…and What I’ve Learned from Them
What’s a mistake I made that still stings, and how did it change me?
How did a failure at work teach me something I couldn’t have learned otherwise?
What’s a time I let myself down, and what did I do to bounce back?
How did a poorly timed decision teach me about patience?
What’s a failure I repeated before I finally learned my lesson?
How did I recover from a mistake that affected someone else?
My Family
What’s a quirky tradition my family has that I love (or secretly hate)?
How has my family shaped the person I am today?
What’s a recent family moment that made me laugh or cry?
How do I balance family time with my other priorities?
What’s a lesson my parents or siblings taught me that I still carry?
How do I handle family disagreements without losing my cool?
What I Do When I’m Not Working
What’s my go-to hobby, and why does it recharge me?
How do I spend a perfect day off—start to finish?
What’s something I do for fun that most people wouldn’t expect?
How do I unwind after a tough week?
What’s an adventure I’ve taken outside my comfort zone?
How do I make time for creativity when life gets busy?
Before/After Transformations
How has my life changed in the last five years—what’s the before and after?
What’s a habit I’ve kicked or picked up, and how has it transformed me?
How has my perspective on work or relationships evolved over time?
What’s a physical or mental change I’ve made that I’m proud of?
How has a major life event reshaped my priorities?
What’s a skill I’ve mastered that I never thought I could?
Expanding on Your Vision/Mission/Values…How You/Your Team Applies Them in Day-to-Day Situations
How do I live out my core values when no one’s watching?
What’s a real-life example of my team putting our mission into action?
How do I handle a tough decision that tests my vision or principles?
How do I encourage my team to stay true to our shared goals?
What’s a time I had to say no to protect my values?
How do I inspire others to buy into our mission every day?
Shout-Out…Who to Celebrate or Recognize
Who’s someone on my team that deserves a spotlight—and why?
What’s an unsung hero in my life doing that I want to celebrate?
Who’s inspired me lately, and how can I pay it forward?
Who’s a mentor who’s made a lasting impact on me?
What’s a small act of kindness I’ve seen that deserves recognition?
Who’s a friend or colleague crushing it that I want to cheer on?
What I’m Learning
What’s a skill I’m picking up that’s harder than I expected?
How am I stretching my comfort zone with something new?
What’s a lesson life’s teaching me right now that I didn’t see coming?
How am I working on being a better listener or communicator?
What’s a new perspective I’m exploring that challenges my old views?
How am I learning to adapt to unexpected changes?
Books I’ve Read
What’s a book I couldn’t put down, and how did it change my thinking?
How has a recent read influenced the way I work or live?
What’s a book I recommend to everyone—and why?
What’s a classic I finally read and wish I’d picked up sooner?
How did a book help me solve a problem I was facing?
What’s a hidden gem I’ve read that more people should know about?
3. Mine for gold.
To consistently post valuable LinkedIn content, tap into the wealth of material you already have. Here’s where to uncover “golden” ideas from existing resources so you can turn them into engaging posts:
Meeting Transcripts
Upload Zoom/ Teams/ Google Meet transcripts from client meetings, team brainstorms, or strategy sessions to ChatGPT or Grok to uncover new topics quickly.
Here’s an initial idea-generation prompt I use:
Copy & paste this prompt:
Please review the attached meeting transcript. What are 10 potential topics that might interest my LinkedIn audience, comprised of [describe your audience]?
Long-Form Content: Newsletters and Podcasts
Repurpose your newsletters or podcast episodes into bite-sized LinkedIn posts. Pull out a key statistic, quote, or lesson and frame it as a standalone insight.
Recorded Speaking Engagements
Extract standout moments from speeches, webinars, or panels you’ve spoken at. Share a clip or summarize a key point.
Jobsite Photos (Before-After, etc.)
Visuals are gold, especially for sales reps in the trades. Share before-and-after photos of projects, like a renovated kitchen or a completed HVAC install, to showcase your company’s expertise.
Client Feedback or Testimonials
Dig through emails, reviews, or thank-you notes for client praise. Share an anonymized quote as a humble brag, tying it to a lesson. For example, “A client said our crew’s cleanup was ‘best they’d seen.’ Reminder: Small details like a spotless site build trust.” Ask followers, “What’s one detail you obsess over?”
Industry News or Trends
Scan recent articles, trade journals, or social media posts for hot topics in your field. Share a quick take, like, “New OSHA regs on scaffolding just dropped—here’s what it means for us.” Link to the source and ask, “How are you adapting?”
The Next Step
That’s a wrap.
Start by setting up your idea-capture system—whether it’s yellow pads, a notes app, or a doc in your project management tool.
Then, use the topic prompts to brainstorm posts that educate, inspire, or spark conversation.
Finally, mine your existing resources—meeting transcripts, client feedback, or jobsite photos—for golden content that showcases your expertise.
COMING UP: In Part 6 of this “Selling on LinkedIn” series, coming to the Systematic Selling Newsletter on May 30, we’ll dive into Your Writing Strategy.
I’ll share my 4S Framework to help you write LinkedIn posts faster, with more impact, and without the stress of staring at a blank screen. It’s the perfect follow-up to turn your idea bank into polished posts that build trust, grow your following, and attract new business.
See you then 👊
Sean
Sean M. Lyden is the founder and CEO of Systematic Selling, a sales systems and coaching company for growth-minded SMB founders and owners looking to scale their sales (without the chaos).
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