What happened When One Copywriter Decided To Go All in Instead of Giving Up?

Episode Highlights

Watch the Full Video Here

▶ 02:05 The LinkedIn struggle that almost made her quit

▶ 12:40 The strategy shift that changed everything

▶ 19:55 Turning engagement into paying clients

▶ 28:30 Mindset & “why” behind showing up consistently

THE INTERVIEW

Welcome to the Third episode of Creator IRL.

From the Behind the Scenes Podcast with Sapna Sinha

I mean, seriously... I've been watching for months now.

Every day, hundreds of creators post the same recycled advice:

• "Be consistent"

• "Engage authentically"

• "Add value"

Yet 90% of them are still stuck at square one. But then I met Fareedah Oladeji.

She was different.

• Not because she had millions of followers (she doesn't).

• Not because she went viral overnight (she didn't).

• But because she's getting what she wants from the platform - LEADS. Real paying clients sliding into her DMs. Opportunities flowing in consistently.

A Thriving Business Built Entirely Through LinkedIn.

When I asked her about her journey, she said something that stopped me:

"LinkedIn was playing me. It wasn't just frustrating... it was crazy." (Doesn't this happen to all of us?)

For a moment, I forgot about all the "LinkedIn gurus."

Because that honesty, that rawness, that real talk... it made everything click.

And that's when it hit me, LinkedIn success isn't built on perfect posts or engagement pods. It's built on people like her who crack the real code.

So yes, LinkedIn creators, I have only one complaint- Really, what's wrong with most of you???

How can you keep giving the same surface-level advice when people like Fareedah are out here sharing the actual blueprint that took her from zero to a thriving business?

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The "Trust-Building Content" Formula That Actually Converts

Here's the exact framework Fareedah uses to turn attention into leads:

The 70-20-10 rule:

• 70% Educational content - Solve problems your ideal clients face daily

• 20% Social proof - Client wins, testimonials, case studies

• 10% Personal stories - But only if they connect to a business lesson

Content that converts follows this pattern:

• Hook: Address a specific pain point

• Value: Give them the solution (not just a teaser)

• Proof: Show it works with examples

• CTA: Soft invitation to continue the conversation

Example:

• Had an amazing client call today! So grateful!

• My client just increased their email open rates by 47%. Here's the exact subject line formula we used...

Your 7-Day LinkedIn Lead Generation Reality Check

The "Strategy vs. Effort" Revelation That Changes Everything

Here's what Fareedah told me that no one else is talking about:

You can show up consistently all you want, but without strategy, you're just moving in circles.

Think about it like this:

• Most creators: Running on a treadmill (lots of effort, zero progress)

• Smart creators: Running with a GPS (effort + direction = destination)

• She broke it down so simply: "Strategy is the map. Effort is the energy. You need both, but strategy comes first.

Mind. Blown.

The 3 LinkedIn Lies Keeping You Stuck (Even the "Experts" Get These Wrong)

Lie #1: Just Be Consistent and You'll Win

The Truth: Consistent garbage is still garbage. You need consistent VALUE with a conversion strategy.

Fareedah spent months posting consistently with nothing to show for it. What changed? She stopped creating "attention-grabbing content" and started creating "trust-building content.

Lie #2: Your Content Should Appeal to Everyone

The Truth: When you speak to everyone, you connect with no one.

You can't keep trying to reach every single person and expect to get results. Get clear on who really needs your offer.

Lie #3: Copy What Successful Creators Do

The Truth: Authenticity beats imitation every time.

People can always sense when you're being fake. LinkedIn wants to see the authentic version of you.

The Mindset Shift That Saved Her Career

When the burnout hit hard (and it did), Fareedah had a moment of clarity:

"I remind myself of the reason why I began showing up in the first place. Why did I start this journey?"

Here's her game-changing advice: Don't just set goals. Set reasons behind those goals.

Because when you're ready to quit (and you will be), followers won't save you. Revenue targets won't save you.

But knowing your "why"? That will bring you back every time.

The Invisible Success Story No One Talks About

Want to know how Fareedah landed her first client?

• Not from a viral post.

• Not from having thousands of followers.

• Not from some perfect funnel.

A connection she'd been quietly helping recommended her to someone who needed her services.

Plot twist: People were watching all along, even when she felt completely invisible.

No matter how stuck you feel, people are seeing your efforts. As long as you keep doing the right things consistently, opportunities will start reaching out to you.

The Hidden LinkedIn Lead Generation Signals You're Missing

Most creators obsess over likes and comments. Smart creators track these metrics instead:

Warm Lead Indicators:

• Profile views within 24 hours of posting

• Comments that ask follow-up questions

• DMs that reference your specific content

• Connection requests with personalized messages

• Saves and shares (people keeping your content for later)

Hot Lead Indicators:

• Multiple post engagements from the same person

• Profile visits from your target industry/role

• Comments like "We should chat about this"

• Direct questions about your services

• Requests for more information

Fareedah's Tracking Method

She screenshots every meaningful interaction and reviews them weekly to spot patterns.

Your 7-Day LinkedIn Action Plan: From Invisible to In-Demand

1. Day 1: Audit your last 10 posts - Count how many actually teach something vs. just tell a story

   Fareedah's insight: "You need to share value based on your field that your audience can learn from"

2. Day 2: Write your ideal client avatar in ONE sentence (if you need more, you're too broad)

   Example: "Marketing managers at SaaS companies struggling with lead generation"

3. Day 3: Document your "why" story and put it somewhere you'll see daily

   This becomes your comeback fuel when motivation dies
   

4. Day 4: Find 5 posts from your ideal clients (not competitors) and add genuine value in comments

   Pro tip: Lead with insight, not compliments
   

5. Day 5: Create one "how-to" post that solves a specific problem your ideal client faces

   Template: Problem + Solution + Your unique angle
   

6. Day 6: Send 3 personalized connection requests to people you genuinely want to learn from

   Skip the pitch. Build the relationship first.
   

7. Day 7: Track your results - Comments, DMs, profile views, connection accepts

   What worked? What flopped? Double down on what worked.

BONUS: Set up a simple system to capture leads who engage with your content

The Bottom Line That Changes Everything

LinkedIn isn't broken. Your approach might be. The algorithm doesn’t reward the loudest voice or the prettiest posts. It rewards value. Consistency. Authenticity.

As Fareedah discovered: the right strategy + consistent effort + your authentic voice = LinkedIn transformation.

But here's the kicker… most people will read this, nod along, and change absolutely nothing. They’ll keep posting the same content, following the same advice, getting the same results. The question is: Which person are you going to be?

This newsletter is inspired by a raw, honest conversation between Sapna Sinha and LinkedIn strategist Fareedah Oladeji. Sometimes the best insights come from the people brave enough to share their real struggles, not just their highlights.

Ready to stop playing LinkedIn's game and start winning on your own? The blueprint is right here, the only question is whether you’ll use it.

Ready to take action? Apply this 7-day LinkedIn plan this week and DM me your wins—I want to celebrate your progress!

Want to hear the full conversation?

Listen to the Behind the Scenes podcast on Spotify or YouTube, where Fareedah and I dive deep into the right LinkedIn Strategy.

If you also have an awesome journey and wants to share with the world

Connect with me on LinkedIn or Substack

And hey, if you’re wondering what type of content you should be writing for your niche, I might be able to help with expert tips. Shoot me a message, and let’s figure it out together.

Until next time,

Sapna

P.S. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s tired of posting into the void on LinkedIn. Sometimes, the smallest shift in strategy can be the difference between feeling invisible and finally being seen.

What's Next for Creator IRL

This is just the beginning. Creator IRL exists to celebrate the builders, the problem-solvers, the dedicated creators who are shaping our world one person at a time.

We're not interested in the highlight reels. We want the real stories. The messy beginnings. The moment of doubt. The simple message that changed everything.

If you know someone building something meaningful — not for the gram or the algorithm, but because it matters-we want to hear from them.

Help us keep sharing real stories