James Creech

Your content strategy will never work if it's unsustainable. So I design my approach based on what I know I can realistically accomplish. For example, I write about topics and trends that I find interesting for my LinkedIn posts. If I'm intrigued or learning something new, that's a good proxy for whether my audience will also find the content interesting. The same is true for my publishing schedule. I aim to post at least 3x a week, but sometimes it's once a week and other times it's 5x a week. It just depends what's going on that week and if I feel creatively inspired to write and share. Bottom line: I control my creative process; it doesn't control me.

I'm definitely guilty of this! I get excited by new ideas and opportunities, so I'll say yes too often and overcommit myself. My solution is to create a "Stop Doing List." I write out everything I'm working on at that moment and evaluate which projects give me energy and which ones take it away. Often, this means evaluating projects not just based on their income but also their potential for impact. From there, I decide what I want to continue to pursue and what legitimately should qualify for the Stop Doing List.

To succeed long term, you have to think long term: 1. Invest in relationships. Be an honest and reliable partner to people you can repeatedly work with. 2. Your reputation is your most valuable asset. Don't sacrifice who you are for short-term gain. 3. Constantly test and learn. By experimenting with new ideas and opportunities, you'll have more chances to create potential breakthroughs.

Here's my playbook to help people optimize their LinkedIn profiles: 1. Photo: Include a professional headshot. 2. Banner: Upload an image that promotes your company or highlights your personality, ideally with a clear value prop and custom CTA. 3. Headline: Provide a short, punchy summary of what you do. 4. Custom Action: Add a CTA link to the top of your profile (e.g. "Visit my website" or "Book a 1:1 call"). 5. About: Summarize who you are and what you offer. Use bullet points and paragraph breaks for easy-to-read formatting. 6. Experience: Share your professional accomplishments. Emphasize what YOU uniquely achieved in the role. 7. Skills: Highlight your unique capabilities and optimize for search discovery via SEO keywords.

Giving creators equity or launching their own brands has become increasingly popular. This cultivates a long-term relationship with the influencer as a brand ambassador and comes across as more authentic than a series of one-off promotional posts. Here are a few iconic examples: 💄 Kylie Cosmetics: Kylie Jenner 📱 Boost Mobile: Ryan Reynolds 🥤 Prime: Logan Paul x KSI 🍫 Feastables: MrBeast Every D2C company will be a creator brand 20 years from now. It's time to start thinking about long-term creator partnerships to leverage the power of their online brand and distribution.

Want to network with top LinkedIn creators? It's simple: follow their content and add insightful comments on their posts. You can start getting to know them through their content and add value to their audience. Once you've established your presence, ask a mutual friend for a warm intro (ideal) or reach out with a short and sweet, highly personalized message. Explain why you'd like to connect and how you can be a resource either to them or their community. Remember: It's about what you can do for them, not the other way around. Always give before you get!