The Morgan Snyder Show

You’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show, the podcast for C-Suiters and Senior Leaders looking to get a competitive edge through executive visibility.Before I get going, a quick word from today’s sponsor, Taelor.You’ve got a big meeting, a speaking gig, maybe a client dinner, and the last thing on your mind is figuring out what to wear. That’s exactly what Taelor handles. A real stylist learns your lifestyle, picks your outfits, and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back. They take care of everything else. No shopping, no laundry, none of it. Head to taelor.style and use code MORGAN25 for $25 off your first month. Link’s in the description.learn more here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show, the podcast for C-Suiters and Senior Leaders looking to get a competitive edge through executive visibility.Before I get going, a quick word from today’s sponsor, Taelor.You’ve got a big meeting, a speaking gig, maybe a client dinner, and the last thing on your mind is figuring out what to wear. That’s exactly what Taelor handles. A real stylist learns your lifestyle, picks your outfits, and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back. They take care of everything else. No shopping, no laundry, none of it. Head to taelor.style and use code MORGAN25 for $25 off your first month. Link’s in the description. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show, the podcast for C-Suiters and Senior Leaders looking to get a competitive edge through executive visibility.Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter. Somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back. No shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it! Use code MORGAN25 at taelor.style for $25 off your first month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show, the podcast for C-Suiters and Senior Leaders looking to get a competitive edge through executive visibility.Today’s episode is sponsored by thoughtleadertoday.com, making invisible leaders the obvious choice. Schedule time and get a free social media audit for your founder or CEO.You can easily schedule a call with me here. :) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show, the podcast for C-Suiters and Senior Leaders looking to get a competitive edge through executive visibility.Today’s episode is sponsored by thoughtleadertoday.com, making invisible leaders the obvious choice. Schedule time and get a free social media audit for your founder or CEO.Want to get in touch? You can send me an email at [email protected], or if it’s easier, say hi on LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show, the podcast for C-Suiters and Senior Leaders looking to get a competitive edge through executive visibility.Today’s episode is sponsored by thoughtleadertoday.com, making invisible leaders the obvious choice. Schedule time and get a free social media audit for your founder or CEO. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show, the podcast for C-Suiters and Senior Leaders looking to get a competitive edge through executive visibility.Today’s episode is sponsored by thoughtleadertoday.com, making invisible leaders the obvious choice. Schedule time and get a free social media audit for your founder or CEO. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show, the podcast for C-Suiters and Senior Leaders looking to get a competitive edge through compelling content.Today’s episode is sponsored by thoughtleadertoday.com: You're closing deals and building a category. But are you known for it? We turn a 30 minute interview into posts and articles that attract talent, close deals, and open doors. Trusted by leaders from ASE, TIFIN and Y Combinator. That’s thoughtleadertoday.com. Get your free social media audit today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

When I started my business, I told people I could help them with, “websites, social media, and copywriting.” The most vague positioning in the world. And the result was predictable:I attracted a little bit of everyone, which means I attracted no one in a steady fashion.So I got more specific. I pivoted to: “I help busy CEOs who don’t have time to post.” One of my favorite LinkedIn headlines was, “I write posts for CEOs.”Better, right? CEOs are busy. They don’t have time. I solve that.Except here’s what actually happened: I attracted founders who didn’t have time, and didn’t have budget either.Then I read about a concept called elevated framing. And it changed everything. Not my service or my pricing—how I described the problem I solve.Today I’m going to teach you what I learned. And no matter what you’re selling or who you’re selling to, his will rewire how you think about your positioning...As always, come and say hi on LinkedIn. :) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I look at some of my favorite nonfiction writers and think, “What’s the whole point of all this writing stuff? I write 24/7 for other people, but I don’t even have a book to prove I’M A REAL WRITER. The irony…”Because as we know, every great nonfiction writer has a breakout book:Daniel Pink wrote Drive, Seth Godin had Purple Cow, Heath Brothers blew people’s minds with Made to Stick.Enough was enough. This had to stop. I asked myself over the weekend:What have I been doing the last five years more than anything else? Helping CEOs get visible.And what have I been observing that I could write a book about? The cost of staying invisible.Eureka! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

“This doesn’t read as cheeky or kind. There’s still time to pull it down.”That was a comment from a recent post. It racked up twenty-seven reactions. A thread of replies debating whether I’d crossed a line.I kept asking the person questions, they kept coming back and bopping me over the head with their moral compass.More people jumped into the fray. The post stayed up and performed beautifully.The person telling me to delete it did more for my reach that week than any social strategy ever could.Here’s a little secret about building a presence online:The people demanding you tone it down are the same people making sure your content spreads. ..This was one of my favorite episodes in a while. I think you'll see why. :) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Tyler Denk noticed it first. The beehiiv founder, scrolling job boards with the pattern recognition of someone who spots market shifts before they announce themselves, saw something emerging. He called it “storymaxxing”, corporate America’s sudden scramble for narrative control.What can you do in this gold rush for storytelling supremacy? The answer might surprise you...-Come and say hi at www.thoughtleadertoday.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I talked with Anya Cheng, CEO of Taelor.ai: an AI-powered styling service that’s revolutionizing how busy professionals look good without thinking about fashion.Before Taelor, Anya spent 15 years at companies like Meta, eBay, and McDonald’s launching new products and entire departments. And her career almost didn’t happen at all.She graduated from Northwestern in 2008, right in the middle of the recession.Her story is one of the coolest I’ve ever heard. Watch out! She’s inspiring!No transcript or things to read this week. You’ll just have to listen. Sorry not sorry. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

My client had sent over his LinkedIn analytics from the past 30 days, and I couldn’t stop looking at it.* Five hundred new followers* 181,000 impressions* Eight posts* One monthI leaned back in my chair, let out a satisfied sigh and thought: “Another day playing the game…”You're going to want to read this case study. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Nine behavioral economics principles from Rory Sutherland that explain why CEO visibility and thought leadership actually work—beyond the fluffy "personal brand" stuff.About Rory SutherlandVice-Chairman of Ogilvy UKAuthor of Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make SenseTED speaker with millions of viewsSpectator columnistCore insight: Most business problems are problems of perception, not realityRecommended: Watch Sutherland debate Scott Galloway on the Uncensored CMO podcastThe Nine Principles1. The Flower and the Weed"A flower is simply a weed with an advertising budget." Being good is useless if you're not noticed.2. The Barber's ParadoxYou can't cut the back of your own hair. The Curse of Knowledge makes experts terrible at explaining their own expertise.3. The Red Bull ParadoxThe opposite of a good idea can also be a good idea. Red Bull won by being smaller, pricier, and worse-tasting. Counterintuitive positioning breaks through.4. The Peacock's Tail (Costly Signaling Theory)Wasteful signals are credible signals. Consistent, substantive thought leadership demonstrates you're on top of your game.5. The Frederick the Great Potato StrategyPersuasion beats compulsion. The best thought leadership doesn't feel like marketing—it feels like thinking.6. The Rogue Bee StrategyIncrease your surface area for luck. Every piece of content is a signal into the unknown.The Luck Formula: L = C × R × D^TL = Luck (opportunities that find you)C = Content (ideas you put out)R = Reach (who sees them)D = Differentiation (how memorable you are)T = Time (the compounding exponent)7. The Uber Map InsightMost problems are problems of perception, not reality. Thought leadership changes how people perceive what you do.8. The Diamond Shreddies PrincipleReframe existing value. The best content helps people see what they hadn't noticed before.9. The Doorman FallacyYou are the human signal that makes everything else feel more valuable. Investors buy people, not companies.Key TakeawayThe value of thought leadership cannot be measured in conventional terms—and that's why it's valuable. If it were easy to measure, everyone would do it."Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." — Sign in Einstein's office This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Today we're tackling cringe on LinkedIn. Let's jump into it! 👇You have the War Room stories. You have the access. But you might not know how to package them.You might be sitting there thinking: “Morgan, I know what happened in the board meeting, but I don’t know how to turn that into a 300-word post that stops the scroll.”You have the gold buried in your head. You just need a miner to get it out.That is what I do at Thought Leader Today. I don’t make things up for you. I turn your notes into magnetic content. I interview you for 30 minutes, I extract the stories, and I package them without any cringe.So, if you are one of the 10 CEOs who DM’d me last week... Or if you are listening to this and nodding your head...You don’t have to choose between Fame and Dignity. You can have both.Send me a DM. Let’s get you those views. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Many people think it's not important to be well-known on LinkedIn. You know what I think? That's a bunch of phooey. This episode will hopefully bring you over to my side...Come and say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/ 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Let’s start with a confession—a safe space, just between us.You probably hate LinkedIn. Honestly? I don’t blame you.If you are a serious executive—someone running a Series B startup, a Private Equity firm, or a Fortune 500 division—opening the app probably feels like walking into a cafeteria where everyone is screaming for attention.So, let's not be cringe. I've outlined 3 things in this episode you should think about heading into 2026. They are really, really good. I'm not biased.Come say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/. 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I'm talking about playing the game of social media in 2026.The basic philosophy:Goals make us play 'not to lose.' We become risk-averse. Games make us play to win. We take big swings because the cost of missing is low.Which is what I want you to do with your social content...Come say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/ 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

What we're covering today...Why You’re Hearing Crickets: Why writing like a brochure is killing your engagement (and why 22-year-old life coaches are beating you).The Tyson Williamson Case Study: A post-by-post deconstruction of the 5-post formula that hit 100+ reactions right out of the gate.Tactics: How to use Ugly Numbers, real dialogue, and internal monologues to build an economic moat around your brand.The 2026 Checklist: A playbook for leaders who want their social content to CRUSH in the next year. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Whenever I post content, the comments section inevitably becomes a melting pot of hot and cold opinions. But last week? One came in especially caliente.Let's see what we can learn....Come and say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/ 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Should you care so much about what others think when you post?Wharton researchers in 2017 found that successfully using humor in a professional setting increases status. It signals confidence (because it’s risky) and competence (because it requires intelligence to execute).Seems like a good idea to me...:come and say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I struggle with networking events.More than anything, most of the conversations feel transactional and often one sided.There is absolutely NO VIBE.So my friends Jacob, Tyson, and I decided to fix it. :) ..I will write three free posts for you. No pitch or “hey, I think you would be a really great fit for what I do.” Scouts honor. All you have to do is reply to this email or jump over to thoughtleadertoday.com/learnmore and submit your info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I got an email recently from a reader, which was similar to others I’ve had in the past.This was the gist:“Morgan. I love your newsletter and laugh at your Linkedin content. It’s actually pretty helpful and gets me motivated to post more. I really need to.The problem is I can’t afford to work with you at the moment. Maybe sometime in the future we could? I’ll keep reading until then and support you from a distance.”For whatever reason, it hit me hard.I’ve got a startup CEO who reads most of my stuff, would appreciate having a writer support him with his content, but it doesn’t make sense right now. This newsletter / podcast is great, but would there be something I could do to help this person?These are some thoughts...Come and say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Today is Tuesday, November 11th, and you’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show.We are officially in the holiday spirit here in the Snyder home and it has me reminiscing.I’ve been thinking about all the Turkey Bowl games, the Christmas Eves, and other events with my family growing up in Ohio.Julie has told me I’m getting more emotional as I get older. I don’t think much has changed. The other night I was driving my daughter back from her ballet rehearsal for The Nutcracker and had tears welling up as she told me how excited she was to perform. Ok, ok, maybe I am a little more sensitive. Anyway, with all of this swirling around in my head, I thought back to those Snyder get togethers in the fall. The colder weather. The Ohio State football. Going to my grandma’s house and eating apple pie.So many good memories.If I could go back in time and relive those moments again, I would go back just for the laughs.We’d play Perudo, and there would be a lot jokes. We’re at the dinner table and my grandpa is telling stories and making everyone laugh. My uncle Josh is doing his best Chris Farley during our white elephant.As Snyders, we have a hard time being serious, no matter the occasion. I guess that’s the mask we wear to deal with life’s ups and downs.And it’s not like I’m in a family where you say, “Oh, you know so and so, always being a clown!”Everyone in my family is funny. My dad and my four uncles are funny. My cousins are funny. My brothers are funny. You’d probably say I was exaggerating, but I’m 100% serious. I can’t think of many people in my immediate or extended family where I could honestly say they don’t make me laugh or aren’t fun to be around.Explains a lot who I am. I’d like to think that I have a decent sense of humor and how to get people smiling and having a good time.The other side of that coin is If I’m not able to crack jokes, (forced to be serious) I get really uncomfortable. It’s hard for me to go through a conversation and not try to come up with a stupid joke.I’m sure people have judged me for that. But I mean, come on. If you were surrounded by the people I’m related to, it would be extremely hard for you not to come out of that experience very sarcastic and over the top.Maybe that’s why this whole idea of being funny and rejecting the normal definition of professionalism has been such an interesting idea to chew on for the last six months.I’m able to be more Snyder with people and they’re actually responding well to it. It’s amazing.Similar to what I’ve been writing about here and elsewhere, humor really is the fastest way to build an in-group. No one was safe in my family. It didn’t matter who you were. You were susceptible to a nice roast. It was good natured and no one aimed to really harm anyone’s ego. (Well, maybe they did, but I didn’t feel like a target)I guess this a good time to segue into one thing I wanted to talk about:Anyone can be funny....and this is where I get pushback.“Morgan, this is all great for you. You’re a writer.’You’re a creative. I’m a 50-year-old CEO of a logistics company. I’m not funny. I like spreadsheets, EBITDA and golf. This isn’t for me.”I don’t think I can mold you into a stand-up comic. My clients and I aren’t writing jokes as Linkedin or X content. If we did, it would probably sound inauthentic. It’d be cringey. I think one really practical piece of advice for any senior leader is your job is not to find your funny. Your job is to find your perspective.We’re not looking for jokes. Funny isn’t “ha-ha.” Funny on social media really is,“huh... that’s true.”I think we’ve established the point over many episodes that funny is just a vehicle for smart. It’s an observation. And you, the CEO, are smart. You have observations. You have a perspective. You’re some of the sharpest people on planet earth.What I’m getting at is humor is really just...truth.So, how do you find it?This may sound completely wrong, but I think it would be helpful to run a gripe session with yourself.(And if you’re in the mood I can help you with this 👇…)This produces an EXCELLENT content-mining interview. Sit down and type out your answers to these questions.* “What’s the dumbest trend in my industry right now?”* “What’s a piece of corporate jargon I absolutely hate?”* “What’s a rule’everyone in my field follows that I think is secretly stupid?”* “What’s an email I got this week that made me angry?”* “What’s the worst business advice I’m hearing everyone repeat?”Anger is the root of all great satire. A gripe is a passionate opinion in disguise. A gripe is a perspective.That’s where the gold is.When you think, “These 25-year-old gurus telling me to wake up at 5 AM are idiots. I wake up at 5 AM to let the dog out, not to build an empire before breakfast”...BOOM. That’s a post.I also add that’s where you can find yourv oice. You’re not making up jokes. You’re just...telling the truth.In that way, it’s easy to find your comedic edge.Wit falls into a few key personas. Find yours.* First we have the Dry Observer: You’re not angry. You’re amused. You stand back and just point out the absurdity of it all. The voice is witty, dry, and often understated.* Example: “Our Q3 was strong. I’d love to say it was all genius strategy, but honestly, my main skill was just approving spreadsheets.”* Then we have the Self-Deprecator: You build trust by punching yourself. You disarm the audience by making fun of your own (relatable) flaws.* Example: “I’m a tech CEO, of course I have no idea why the Zoom audio isn’t working.”* We also have the Contrarian: This is the “girl dad” voice. You see the herd running one way and you deliberately run the other. The voice is strong, declarative, and built on the word “Wrong.”* Example: “Everyone says ‘culture is everything.’ They’re wrong. Your product is everything. A great culture with a bad product is just a fun-run to bankruptcy.”* Finally, the Absurdist: This is the most “advanced” move. You take a common idea (like ‘hustle’) and stretch it to its logical, absurd conclusion.* Example: “My 5 AM routine is so optimized, the sun now texts me when it wakes up.” (I had to go with some Chuck Norris joke)You just have to be you. Whatever that looks like.So, “I’m not funny” is just an excuse. It’s lazy.You have a perspective. You have gripes. You have a ‘funny strategy’ that can work for you...My free book Keep It Light is on Amazon Unlimited. It’s a year’s worth of content starters for the busy executive. If you read it and love it, please give it 5 stars (along with this podcast). Reviews make a big difference in people finding my work.You also go over to thoughtleadertoday.com and find time with me if you need a creative partner for your Linkedin and X content.My friends: keep writing, keep pushing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I went deep this weekend.I came to the conclusion that only a sugar cookie can bring on:I need to help you write the perfect post.This is the way...Come and say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/. 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Man, oh man. I got roasted for my post about Linkedin headlines.I reflect before I try to do it all over again...Come and say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/ 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

For the last decade, every marketing guru, every thought leader, every consultant with a book deal has been telling us the exact same thing:You need to be a STORYTELLER.I'm not so sure about that...👇Come and say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/ 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

This week, I made a post about 'girl dads'.People lost their minds in the comments.What happened?I break it all down in this episode...Come and say hi at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Alright. It happened.You wrote something, you hit publish, and you walked away.But then your phone started buzzing. And it didn’t stop. It’s become an angry hornet nest of notifications.The dopamine is flowing. The metrics are going bananas. You keep refreshing the page, watching the numbers climb like the stock ticker for a company that just cured aging.You did it. You went viral. And now...what exactly? This episode explains it all. ..Come and visit me at https://www.thoughtleadertoday.com/. 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No music, no intro, you’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show.Last week, I shared my CEO Content Masterclass. Hopefully you’ve already started building your idea vault, you’re using the voice-to-text hack, you’re actually publishing your thoughts…spreading the good news about what you’re doing. You are doing it, right? Of course you are!It’s simply impossible not to be provoked into action by this podcast.To start out today, I want to share a quick story…I recently saw a CEO post something good. Actually, it was great. Had all the right elements, and I thought they did a really good job of formatting and pacing.I mean, I’m camping out on LinkedIn and see hundreds of things on a given day and it pulled me in.The comments section? It was on fire. VPs from major companies asking questions, from the looks of it, potential clients raising their hands with problems…..seemed like a goldmine. I looked at the replies. Where was that gosh darn CEO? He was a ghost. Not a single reply. He just dropped a content firecracker and ran.It’s like a chef who creates a beautiful, Michelin-star dish, places it on the table, and then runs into the walk-in freezer to hide from the customer feedback.I felt a little sad for the CEO, then for the VP of marketing, then the social media manager, then the people going nuts in the comments.What a miss!Wish I could say it doesn’t happen that much but so many people post and ghost.There’s just not enough time in the busy schedule of an executive.The post is just the starting line.The real race (the part where you actually win sometimes) is in conversation that follows. So today, we’re talking about the after-party. The Comment is the New HandshakeCommenting is the new handshake.Proactively commenting is just as valuable than posting your own. Spending 10 minutes a day leaving three to five thoughtful, strategic comments will generate more opportunities than spending two hours crafting one “perfect” post.Most people think “engagement” is just scrolling through their feed, doling out likes like they’re the prom queen waving from a parade float. A little thumbs-up here, a “Celebrate” there…this is not engagement. A “like” is a polite nod in a crowded hallway. A thoughtful comment is sitting down at someone’s table for a five-minute conversation. Which one do you think actually builds a relationship?You’re not just commenting for the sake of being “visible.” Shift your perspective.You’re commenting to learn. Think of yourself as a digital anthropologist. The comment section is a free market research report. What are your peers struggling with? What jargon are your customers using? What are the dumb ideas getting traction?Hey! I heard you from here.I know that some of my post ideas are…special. So are my comments. But! It’s still one of the best intelligence-gathering tools. And it’s free.How to Write a Comment That Isn’t SpammyYou may have heard people say that you need to be ‘thoughtful.’Eh, what does that mean?Let’s start with what it doesn’t mean. It does not mean, “Great post!” “So true!” or “Thanks for sharing!” This is the equivalent of a caveman grunt.You are adding zero value.If you want to write a comment that actually starts a conversation, remember these steps. Don’t have to use each every time, but it will definitely ensure your comments are solid.* Acknowledge. Prove you actually read the post. Quote a specific line that made you think. “I love that point you made about transparency being a recruiting tool...” This immediately separates you from the 99% of grunters.* Value. Add your own two cents. A tiny personal anecdote, a supporting data point, or a slightly different perspective. “It reminds me of a time we lost a deal and our honesty about it actually won us two other clients.” You’ve just added a new layer.* Question. This is the secret weapon. End with an open-ended question that invites them to continue the rally. “How do you see that playing out in an industry like finance?”Acknowledge, Value, Question. Ok. Cool.Now, for the advanced move: Productive Disagreement. Agreeing with everyone makes you invisible. A respectful, well-argued counterpoint makes you a peer. It looks like this: “That’s a fascinating take. I see it a bit differently. While I agree that [Point A] is crucial, my experience has shown that [Counterpoint B] can often be the bigger lever. Have you found that to be the case?” Obviously don’t be a jerk. You’re starting a high-level debate. That’s how you get noticed.Or you can take a page out of my playbook and be a goofball. Funny comments can work even better to get you attention.For example, a website designer / agency owner posted this a few days ago:“I’m looking for an exceptional copywriter to write website copy for my clients.…What I want is someone with experience who doesn’t just type out whatever the client says. It’s gotta be someone who actually uses their brain, does research, nails TOV, and helps with positioning so the copy makes people take action (obvs).Not the brochure-style typa drivel that reads nice and does nothing.”He attached a picture of himself laying down, pulling down his shirt so you could see his shirt.Intro the Morg. I went ahead and commented:Haven’t landed him as a client, but he did connect, a few people tagged me in the post and said they loved me. We’ll see what happens.Navigating the Commenter ZooBefore we get to the DM, you need to know who you’re dealing with. The comment section is a zoo. You’ll meet a few common species.* First, The Sycophant. Their comments are always, “100% agree, John! Another game-changing post from a true visionary!” It’s nice, but it’s empty calories. Thank them, be gracious, and move on.* Next, The Pedant. This is the “Well, actually...” guy. “Actually, according to a 1987 study you failed to cite...” Never wrestle with a pedant. You can’t win. A simple, “Thanks for the perspective!” is your only move.* Then, The Hijacker. This person uses your post as a stage for their own 12-paragraph manifesto about their startup. Don’t reward them with a detailed reply. A quick “Thanks for sharing” is all they get.* Finally, The New Friend. Wading through all the nonsense, there will be people you actually want to engage with. They leave a thoughtful comment, and you have a fun sidebar in the thread. This is what you’re looking for. The Non-Sleazy DM SlideYou’ve had a great back-and-forth in the comments. How do you take it private without being weird? A bad DM slide is the business equivalent of a guy at a party interrupting your fun conversation to ask if you want to see a bad picture of their dog.The goal of the DM is not to sell. It’s to collaborate. Here’s your script.Start by referencing the context. “Hey [Name], I’m really enjoying our back-and-forth in the comments on [Topic].”Next, state the reason for the DM. “Your point about [Specific Detail] is actually something I’ve been wrestling with for a project I’m working on.”Finally, ask for a low-effort opinion. “If you have a spare moment, I’d love to get your unvarnished take. No sales pitch, I promise. Just genuinely curious about your perspective as an expert in this.”You’ve made them the expert. You’ve made it low-pressure. If they don’t reply, let it go. Don’t be the person who follows up 9 times. “Just wanted to make sure this was on your radar!” It’s gross.The best follow-up is to just show up in their comments again next week with another great comment. Stay on their public radar, not in their inbox.Engage Your AudienceThis all leads to the final, simplest rule of all. Your comment section is a party you are hosting in your own house. If a guest comes up to you and says something interesting, you don’t just stare at them blankly and walk away. You answer them!Engage with every single person who took the time to write something.This is what sparks the algorithm, and more importantly, it shows you actually care.You’ve done the hard work of creating the content. Now, do the smart work of building the community.To wrap up, I can’t stress enough that there is money in the comments.Sometimes it’s hard to find. There’s gold in the responses and reactions.Your LinkedIn feed and profile can become your relationship engine.Dedicate a small amount of time for ‘maintenance.’ 10 minutes. Get out. It’s worth it!..Before you go, I’ve got two things.First: I’m happy to show anyone who reads my newsletter or listens to my podcast exactly how I set up founders, CEOs and other leaders for content success.Find me on LinkedIn and grab some time with me. I will interview you for a few minutes and if nothing else, you’ll walk away with some LinkedIn posts for free.Second: My book, Keep It Light, is available read on Amazon Unlimited. It’s a year’s worth of content starters. If you like it, please give it 5 stars, along with this podcast. It really helps.My friends: Keep writing, keep pushing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I decided to dedicate an episode to walking you through a quick and easy process to create and publish your content.In a few minutes, you’ll have a really easy workflow and you can keep coming back to it when you get stuck.By the end of this episode, you will have a clear, repeatable system to get your best ideas out into the world.Let's roll!..Come say hi at thoughtleadertoday.com. 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

**Stepping away from the regular, let-me-help-you-with-content kind of episode. Please step away from the internet this weekend and hug your family.**No music, no intro, you’re listening to The Morgan Snyder Show.I’ve tried to record this episode a couple times this week.I get to this screen. I stare at it. I write a few sentences. I delete them.I close my laptop. I don’t have the words. They’re not coming.Now it’s Friday, and my chances of people listening to this are pretty small, but I’m putting it out anyway.I’m just going for it. Maybe this will help sort out my feelings.I wasn’t at Charlie Kirk’s assasination. But my neighbor’s kid was.He watched him get shot from 10 feet away, and crawled around on the ground hoping that he and his friend were going to make it out alive.I can’t even imagine how he’s dealing with that right now.Of all the places, it had to be Utah.On campus, in broad daylight, as he tried to have conversations about big ideas.Doesn’t feel real.My friend texted me today, he works about a mile from UVU campus, and his daughter was there during the shooting.“I’m numb and overwhelmed. Saw the police and motorcade go by. I had tons of friends there.”I was reading in a couple of different places that after Kirk was shot, the protesters were cheering his death and taunting his supporters about it. It's a level of evil that's hard to imagine.Then you zoom out to the rest of the nation, and senseless violence is happening to normal people riding on busses or sitting in classrooms, or praying in church.I can hardly read a handful of articles on my news app. It’s so depressing.In the last 48 hours, while all of this was going on, the only thing I could really do is distract myself by writing posts for my clients.I wrote a lot of posts.I shut myself in my room and typed away for hours, avoiding the dread sitting in my chest, a cloud over my head making it difficult to concentrate.And then when I went to bed, I had this wave of anxiousness come over me about the future, about my kids, about all the pain that we’re collectively feeling about the state of the country and its people.What are we going to do about it? What am I going to do about it?There are two voices in my head.One comes from a dark, damp cave, somewhere deep in my mind that I don’t often explore. It whispers, “Better get used to it. This is the new normal. You’re going to watch more and more of it happen.”Don’t like that voice very much.Then the other one comes from a recording studio with cool posters of early 2000’s bands. It assures me, “You’re going to be the leader that people will look to. You have to stand tall and walk the walk.”That voice has high standards for me.My dad was in town yesterday and stopped by. He and my mom took a trip to England, Scotland, and Ireland and had gifts for the kids.There were kilts, Liverpool jerseys, and a family crest refrigerator magnet.It was from the Morgan family.Yes, Morgan is my first name, but funny enough, I have Morgan family ancestors.The name comes from the early Celtic 'sea-bright', and also exists in Old British, Cornish and Welsh.The Motto: "Manu forti" is Latin for "With a strong hand".The Crest: The symbol is a dagger, representing strength and readiness.While my daughters danced around, and the boys took pictures with their new soccer kits, I held the magnet.I suddenly got emotional.Hey, it happens to me. I’m an artist. I feel things.I don’t have to face obstacles like my ancestors did, nor do I have to grapple with dangerous situations.But I still need to be brave. I still need to be steady.I need to provide a home of safety and security for the 7 other Snyders who live with me.I need to be a man of character, someone who can be relied on to do the right thing.I need to make sure that the world I’m leaving behind is better because I was here.That’s my calling.Manu forti. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I’m interviewing Kevin Baker—the man who broke LinkedIn with his post about Costco coworking.Kevin explains his creative process and how he comes up with ideas for viral content on LinkedIn.Thanks for listening and see you next week! ..say hi at thoughtleadertoday.com 📱 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Last week, I talked about the head of CEO content position at PayPal: their quarter-million-dollar budget for their CEO’s brand.It was if I could hear your thoughts in the Substack ether. Many of you were thinking something like, “Well, that's nice for them. But we could never do something like that.”You’re absolutely right. You can’t. You aren’t PayPal.But I can assure you that it’s not a strategy reserved for the Fortune 500.Today, I want to talk about a real person, a CEO who is an absolute master of this.Her name is Wes Kao...Come and say hi at thoughtleadertoday.com. 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No music, no intro, this is The Morgan Snyder Show.I see a lot of things social media. After all, I live there.I spend the majority of my waking hours managing my client’s accounts, and trying to stay active with my own.A lot of what you read makes you roll your eyes. One can only take so much cringe…But every once in a while, you see something that makes you stop scrolling and say, “Okay. This is cool.”That kind of a post, for me, came in the form of a job ad in my LinkedIn feed.PayPal is hiring a Head of CEO Content for Alex Chriss. Up to $236,500 a year.Granted, it’s a huge range, and I’m guessing there will be VERY FEW who can ask for the top, but still, this post is big news for executive writers.My feed blew up with people talking about this. I’m not surprised. In fact, I think it’s one of the biggest content leadership moves I’ve ever seen. It’s a sign of what’s to come. (fingers crossed)In light of this big annoucement, I thought it’d be fun to break down why a 31-billion-dollar company is investing a quarter-million dollars into their CEO's personal brand.Why is Paypal Doing This?So, why now for PayPal? Let's look at the situation. The new CEO, Alex Chriss, took over in September 2023. He inherited a company under immense pressure. The stock was down over 75% from its peak. The market was skeptical.Then in January, he made these “world-shocking” innovation announcements. The market’s reaction? A collective shrug. The announcements were seen as small improvements, not as big everyone was hoping for.Seemed like there was a massive gap between the internal strategy at PayPal and the public's perception of it. A bridge had to be built. And who is the best person to build that bridge? The most visible, most influential person in the entire company: the CEO.This isn’t a one-off. The 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer confirms what we all feel in our gut: trust in institutions, in the media, in government, is in the toilet. But you know who people do trust more and more? The leaders of companies.CEOs are becoming the most reliable sources of information. PayPal knows this. They know that in a world where viral tweets can affect your stock price, you cannot afford to be reactive. You have to own the narrative.This isn't just a defensive move against negative press. It’s about proactively shaping investor confidence. Just look at Adobe. Last month, their stock took a hit after a vague corporate announcement about their AI strategy. It was full of jargon, and the market got nervous. But then CEO Shantanu Narayen got on his personal LinkedIn and started posting specific examples of creators using their new AI tools, making the strategy tangible and real. He told a human story that the press release couldn't. That’s narrative control. That's the job PayPal is hiring for.Being on the OffensiveThis is about offense, too—building a competitive advantage, especially when it comes to the war for talent.A few years ago, the idea of a CEO having a personality was a liability. Today, it’s a talent magnet. When a leader shares behind-the-scenes struggles and values, he humanizes the brand. The best people want to belong to something bigger. They want to work for a person they believe in.And this scales down, too. It’s not just for the billionaires. Just look at what John Hu is doing at Stan, the creator store platform. They just made the Forbes' Billion Dollar Startup list. Is the product good? Yes. But a huge part of their growth is John’s own brand. He is relentlessly authentic online, sharing his wins, his doubts, the lessons he’s learning. He’s the CEO AND the company’s most compelling case study. Top engineers and marketers see that and they want to work for him.Now, contrast that with the ghostCEOs. Think about any of the big, legacy companies. Can you name their CEO? Do you know what they stand for, what their vision is? Probably not. Their narrative isn’t out in the open. And when a crisis hits—layoffs, a bad quarter—that vacuum gets filled by angry employees and skeptical journalists. There’s no pre-existing well of trust to draw from. In 2025, being invisible is the same as being vulnerable.This is exactly what PayPal is trying to solve. They’re in a multi-front war against Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe, Block...you name it. They can't win by just being another faceless corporation. They need to reposition themselves, and putting Alex Chriss front and center makes that shift more relatable, more memorable, and more human than any corporate messaging ever could.This Writer Better Be Freaking AwesomeSo, they’re hiring a master storyteller for a quarter of a million dollars a year to shape the CEO's voice. To tell his story. To make him a visible, credible leader. Will other companies follow suit?I did find a similar, quieter role pop up for a general manager in Microsoft’s AI division. The title was different, but the job was the same: make the leader the voice of the strategy.And I know what some of you are thinking. “Great, Morg. But that's PayPal. That's Microsoft. I don't have a quarter-million-dollar budget for my personal brand.”I know. I don’t either. I think it’s interesting to look at is a shift in priority.Really it’s a shift in how business is done. We are entering an era where the CEO isn't just a leader of a company, they are a content channel. A media empire in their own right. You are either a signal, or you are noise.If you’re a regular listener of the show, you know that you don't need a huge budget to do it. Like I mentioned earlier this week, my most successful 100-day run on social media ever came from posting less, and just being more interesting. From using humor. From having a personality. It led to more conversations, more relationships, and more clients.PayPal is placing a massive bet that the voice of their leader is one of their most valuable assets. If a 31.8 billion-dollar company has decided it’s essential to invest in their CEO's personal brand to stay competitive, it’s probably something that most companies should look at.Final NoteBefore you go, a reminder: my book, Keep It Light, is free to read on Amazon Unlimited. It’s a year’s worth of content starters for the busy executive. Take an idea, steal a line—it’s yours. If you like it, please give it 5 stars, along with this podcast. It tells other people that this is worth listening to.My friends: Keep writing, keep pushing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No music, no intro, this is The Morgan Snyder Show.“The algorithm has changed! My numbers have never been soooo low!”This has been the most common complaint I have seen on LinkedIn lately.I wish I could say it was only happening with the newer content crowd. Even some of the OG LinkedIn creators have had their gripes.“New algorithm. It’s unpredictable. Can’t say what it is. Have to keep rollin’ with it.”I laugh when I read posts and comments like this.Not because I have the secret to beat the algorithm. I’m not even a LinkedIn top voice like my friends who get WAY LESS engagement than me. 😏 I’m chuckling because I have committed to a bit for 100 days and it’s been working better than anything I’ve written before.Yes, better than ‘how to write’ content or ‘storytelling’ nonsense. I’m not Simon Sinek. I can’t draw circles on some paper and become an internationally known ‘business genius.’All I’ve done is mock the self-righteous, gloating, pompous characters that we see on social media and pretended to be one of them.My highest performing post? Let me read it to you.👇Saw a homeless man outside Starbucks this morning.Most people walked by and stared. A few gave him cash with a forced smile. I did something different. I knew I could do more, potentially something that would change his life.I sat down on the curb with my MacBook Pro and helped him create a LinkedIn profile. Even wrote a few thought leadership posts for him.When you really think about it, he doesn’t need another $5.He needs visibility and personal branding. He needs a platform. He needs followers.We talk a lot about “equity” in business. Sometimes it just means getting on their level, listening, and giving someone the tools to be seen.You should have seen his face when I created his headline and featured section.And then when I showed him our shared folder with his new posts, he wept.This is what real change looks like.Not charity. Empowerment.462 reactions. 329 comments. 5 reposts.People spoke their minds. Most of it was good.John Linford said:Even the great boastwriter himself, Stephen Watson showed up. Don’t worry. I won’t try an English accent.If you need a laugh today and you’d like to view the comments section, please feel free to click here. On and on I wrote, each post building off the narcissistic persona I was creating....the persona I was making fun of.Those who have been following along, know that I was inspired by some friends who had basically been having fun with their content for months, and I decided to run an experiment.What would happen if I joined the fray and posted satire, memes, and other ridiculous things?Would I ‘damage my brand’? Would I be written off as unprofessional, forever lost on the island of misfit toys, never to get another client again?So I wrote 20 posts in 100 days, which comes out to a post every 5 days.If you averaged out all the posts, it comes out to about 25 k views each, with 505 k total views.On a per post basis, this is by far and away the best that my content has performed....and that goes without all the views and likes I racked up by applying the same principles to my commenting. If I had to guess, I would add a few hundred thousand more views on top.I posted less. I just had fun. So what happened?More conversations, new relationships, more exploratory calls, and more clients landed.What’s so crazy is that my post from this morning has added 2 k more views since I started writing the script for this episode about 20 minutes ago.One of the comments alone has 2 k views. It’s a zoom background with the Tiger King. Not surprised it’s racking up the engagement.By taking my time and being very selective with what I put out into the world, making sure each line was building up the funny and tugging on something that would get a reaction, my content was much, much better.The numbers don’t lie.This 100 day period is my most successful run on social EVER. It’s not even close.Happy to report it’s led in a sharp increase in friends made (and people sending ME video messages…we’ll cover what’s been going on there in another episode) and it definitely makes it easier to sell LinkedIn / social copywriting when you are putting up numbers consistently.The experiment is complete. The results are conclusive. You can’t convince me otherwise.👇Humor works. Comedy doesn’t hurt your brand. Jokes make friends. You don’t have to be Conan O’Brien to do it.You can just be yourself, say mildly funny things, and win on LinkedIn.The bar of boring is easy to clear and there’s really no excuse why you as the executive or your brand shouldn’t try to amp up the personality of your content.It’s working extremely well. You’ve got to do it!Please don’t listen to the naysayers or the algorithm complainers.If you’re interesting and funny, you can make even the most milk toast of all social media platforms a place where you can develop awesome relationships and get new business.I’m no PhD researcher, but even I can see what’s happening here.I have a new social strategy for the next 1,000 days.I can’t wait to see what happens next...Before you go, a couple of reminders:I am still on the hunt for a couple people to record a podcast episode with me. It will be a little longer than the usual 6-8 minutes, but not much.We can cover your story, talk shop on all things marketing, or even about some creative habit you have that is helping you run your business. (or stay sane)Thanks to the few that reached out already. I’ll be getting something scheduled very soon.Also, on Amazon Unlimited, you can read my book, Keep It Light, for free.It’s a year’s worth of content starters for the busy executive. These are posts that have got me millions of views over the last 5 years, and you can take the idea behind it and take it for yourself.Build off one of my ideas, steal a line—whatever you want to do. It’s yours for the taking.If you do read it and like it, please give it 5 stars. (along with this podcast)My friends: Keep writing, keep pushing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No music, no intro, this is The Morgan Snyder Show.I spent the last week in the panhandle of Florida.If you’ve never been, this is what you’re missing out on:Beautifully clear water, fishes swimming all around you, the whitest, softest sand that you’ll ever walk upon, and 100% humidity.You can’t get away from it.When you’re away from the ocean, you’ll still be breathing water. You can’t forget about the seafood. There is something very special about fried grouper, mango salsa, and eating tacos while looking over the bright blues and greens of the sea.For a moment, you forget the world you left behind and in my case, lost in my own thoughts.I start to think, “what if I lived here? What would life be like? Would I still love boogie boarding or plopping a chair down to read a book?”When I was snorkeling and diving, watching schools of fish avoid my passing hands and jutting under cresting waves, I went even more existential. “I write social media posts. What’s the point? Is that really what I’m supposed to do?”Then I thought about paying taxes next year, the car troubles of my 2011 Honda CRV, and how inadequate I feel when I’m around people who talk about all the Bitcoin they have or the Range Rover they drive.I am what I am: not too long ago, a humble Spanish teacher who now write words on a screen for a living, and who still, from time to time, feels like he’s not going to make it.Bills, bills, bills, dance studio fees, premier soccer payments, a healthy mortgage....a weight in my chest while I’m weightless underwater spotting cobia and Spanish mackeral.I’m not sharing this for your pity, nor exaggerating for a good story.These are the real things I thought about with a scuba mask on and my 5 y/o son yelling from the sandbar, “Dad! Take me out again! I want to boogie board!”By the time we were coming home, delayed in Dallas for 3 hours before boarding a flight that didn’t take off until 10:30 pm, I had a different perspective.Exhausted and wanting to finish The Amateur, I looked at my family of 8 in the row beside me and behind me, and thought, “Yes, it’s true that we have to make sure all these happen, and it sucks sometimes. But it’s worth it.” Julie had Lewis laying down in her lap, Maggie on her shoulder, and she squinted in the darkness with a slight smile that let me know she agreed.We have a short amount of time with these little people, and we’re making the best of it. Far from perfect parents, but also recognizing we’re not too shabby, we’re giving them a life where they feel loved and supported, and they have a mom and dad they can depend on to do the right thing.We’re not here for very long, some us don’t get hardly any time to live out dreams or create that ideal life we imagine in our heads, and the best we do is try to push forward and do the right thing.Be good to people. Remember to be kind. Listen more than we speak. Keep sharing our stories. Lift up our neighbors. Give where we can.Chances are, even after decades of writing social media posts and books, producing podcast episodes, and helping hundreds of clients over the course of my “career”, I’ll be in my 70s and be relatively obscure.I won’t have a Hollywood star. I mean, most people in Utah county who are active on LinkedIn probably won’t have any clue what I had been doing for 40 years.“Oh, you’re that old satire guy from LinkedIn? That’s…cool.”I can’t guarantee stardom, money or fame, no matter how hard I work. I have to be ok with that.It can’t stop me from writing the social media posts, from trying to break through all the noise of other copywriters, agencies, consultants, and quacks.I am just me. I accept that. And hey, while I’m swimming along in life, I get to be around people I love, eat tacos, and feel good about making it this far.I guess that is the whole point of it...Before you go, a couple of reminders:I am still on the hunt for a couple people to record a podcast episode with me. It will be a little longer than the usual 6-8 minutes, but not that much longer.We can cover your story, talk shop on all things marketing, or even about some creative habit you have that is helping you run your business. (or stay sane)Thanks to the few that reached out already. I’ll be getting back to you shortly.Also, on Amazon Unlimited, you can read my book, Keep It Light, for free.It’s a year’s worth of content starters for the busy executive. These are posts that have got me millions of views over the last 5 years, and you can take the idea behind it and take it for yourself.Build off one of my ideas, steal a line—whatever you want to do. It’s yours for the taking.If you do read it and like it, please give it 5 stars. (along with this podcast)My friends: Keep writing, keep pushing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No music, no intro, this is The Morgan Snyder Show.I have a weird relationship with networking.I simultaneously love it and hate it.As an introvert who has an extrovert switch, networking for me can at times be as enjoyable as a root canal, but at other moments, so rewarding when you meet someone and you think, “Hey! I could be this person’s friend…outside of this room!”These events are weird places.You’ve got spinning blue lights and the heavy bass of electronic dance music beating into your head.Then, the impenetrable conversation circles. There are three people, their backs forming this perfect defensive wall. You can't get in. You do the hover. The slow, casual orbit, hoping a gap opens up.“Did he just nod at me? Can I come into your little circle?”Then you have the conversations where you feel like a trapped animal. They’re explaining the entire history of vinyl siding. You can't just leave. There are rules. You have to fake an excuse. You do the slow pivot...the eyes start scanning the room...you give a little point. “Oh... is that... Bill? I have to go say hi to Bill.” There is no Bill. You're pointing at a potted plant.My personal favorite is the name tags.They give you this sticky label…where does it go, exactly? Is it a left-shoulder thing? A right-pocket thing? Do you put it in the center of your chest letting everyone in the room know you need serious help?Steve the VP has it on his lapel, but Sarah from marketing is a high performer and she’s decided to put it on her right shoulder pad of her jacket so when she goes to shake your hand with an iron grip her name is right here. She’s Sarah.So, I get to a table with a small plate of teriyaki chicken in my hand, and there are three other networking hopefuls sitting with me.The conversation is great. I make new friends. A brief reprieve from the EDM…or at least, a few minutes when I’m not annoyed by it.I stand up and start making the rounds again, but this time, I’m facing a new challenge.I’m fielding ALL the questions about writing, like I’m the representative for all writers everywhere on the planet:“How does someone get into writing? Do you identify as a writer or a business owner or as something else? Do writers make a good living? Are writers afraid of AI? What do you do for your clients with all the posts that you write? I hate social media…Thoughts?”After doing the QR code thing on LinkedIn and having people take my phone to put in their information, I’m tapped.I’m imaging the work I could be doing instead of this weird business dance for adults.Plus, I just talked to several INNOVATORS, FOUNDERS, and…DISRUPTORS! I’m tired.By the way, what does DISRUPTOR mean? Are you breaking things? Are you running into important meetings yelling, Booooo!? “I'm sorry, is this your quarterly planning session? Well, it's been...DISRUPTED!” And then the room claps for you like a bunch of seals in the pirate show at Sea World.These days, everyone is a disruptor, a synergizer, a master connector. Nobody just works anymore. You can't just be 'a guy who sells paper.' No, you're a Lead Evangelist for Cellulose-Based Communication Platforms. Ohhhh yeah.That’s probably why people aren’t intimidated by me.Writer of Posts for Leaders on LinkedIn isn’t cool enough. I need something better like:The Greatest Thought Leader of Human History—even better than Gandhi or Aristotle.After the event, you get a follow-up email or text. Of course there is. That’s standard networking protocol. You have to be polite to the people you’ll never talk to ever again.The line is always, 'Great Connecting!' Was it a great connection? You were telling me about vinyl siding, remember? I was trying not to drop teriyaki on my shoe. Is that connection? The message always ends with the ultimate empty promise: “We should talk sometime!”It's the business world's, “I'll call you.” It means nothing! “Sometime” is not a day of the week.There's no “Sometime” on my calendar. As far as gestures go, it’s one of the most hollow and empty, right next to the head nod as you pass someone you’ve already talked to at the networking event.It's a hypothetical chat that will never, ever happen...Ok, I have to ask:Did any of these jokes make you laugh? You probably smiled at a few.After all, you’re probably listening to this at lunch or in your car. You’re not going to belly laugh.It’s not cold enough in the room and you probably haven’t been drinking.Plus, my delivery is not as good as Seinfeld’s.I’m working on my comedy writing.My posts on LinkedIn have generated hundreds of thousands of views over the last 90 days.They’ve all been satire, written in a self-righteous style mocking the ridiculous leadership posts we sometimes see.I had to laugh when a friend texted me the other days and said, “You’re really building a funny brand.”Engagment has been high, conversations keep happening, I’ve landed a few new clients, I’m having a ton of fun, and I’m just beginning to understand what ‘funny’ can do for my business.So, I want to open it up these conversations to more people.Since February, I’ve done these short episodes.What I’d really like to do in the next couple of months is get some of you on here with me, talking about everything under the marketing umbrella, and what’s working with your own strategies.Obviously we can talk about how you’re writing and developing your content, either for your personal or business brand, but it doesn’t have to be that.I’m fine to talk about anything.If that sounds interesting and you’d want to be on the show, come and find me on LinkedIn and send me a message or drop me a line at [email protected]. Either one...Thank you for listening to The Morgan Snyder Show. Don’t forget to give it five stars and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. It tells people that this is worth listening to.Need help with your social media presence? You can find time with me at thoughtleadertoday.com.Also, I published a book called, Keep It Light. It’s a year’s worth of content starters and posts that you can use to build your personal brand. Read it for free on Amazon Unlimited.My friends: Keep writing, keep publishing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored some awesome topics.We've talked about the upside of fame, as well as dove into Rory Sutherland’s ideas around the non-linear, unpredictable magic of building influence.But, then comes the quiet, almost embarrassed follow-up question.The one that arrives in the DMs after you listen to the episode. And it sounds something like, "I love this idea, Morgan, but..."What if I look foolish? What if my boss doesn't get it? What if I post something... and hear nothing but crickets?That "but" is the wall between theory and action. It's the voice of fear.And today, we’re going to tear that wall down...Come say hi at thoughtleadertoday.com 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Last week, we talked about the ‘upside of being famous.’The focus wasn’t necessarily on becoming a celebrity, (although that would probably help your chances of building a business, just ask Ryan Reynolds) but, as a known, trusted leader in your space.I touched on the ideas of Scott Galloway and others last week, and I enjoyed putting the episode together so much, that I wanted to dedicate another to understanding the non-linear process of building reputation and influence...Come and say hi at thoughtleadertoday.com 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I want you to think about the word famous.What comes to mind?Celebrities, red carpets, social media influencers with millions of followers?It’s a word that can feel a little…weird to the everday entrepreneur trying to build a successful business.Most of us have been taught since a very young age to value the work, not the notoriety. I’ve heard several execs say over the years, “I don’t want to be famous. I just want to make a difference.”Seems reasonable enough.But what if we reframe it? What if, for a leader, fame isn't about celebrity at all?..Come and say hi at thoughtleadertoday.com. 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve shown you data from my clients and from my own content and how that has translated into more conversations.Write funny, make money—the new slogan every founder should put up above their desk when they go to make content on LinkedIn and X.I mean, I even took an entire episode to promote thoughtleadertoday.com, spelling out all the reasons that listeners should partner with content writers and tell better stories.To be honest, I feel like I’ve covered it enough and I need a break. You probably do too. :)BTW…If you want to see satire that went big this week, just go to my LinkedIn and see my latest post. It’s currently sitting at 130 k views.You’ll never look at Starbucks the same...come and say hi at thoughtleadertoday.com 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

Once upon a time, there was a leader. Her name was Claire. This is her story. 👀 🍿 ..Come and say hi at thoughtleadertoday.com 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No music. No intro. This is the Morgan Snyder Show.Over the last 30 days, I have written 7 posts on LinkedIn.For me, that’s serious restraint.In the past, I’ve posted every day, for weeks on end. I’ve had the mentality that, “all visibility is good visibility.”The more people see me in their feed, the better. After all, I’m a writer that helps leaders, athletes, and celebs with social.I should practically live on LinkedIn, lawnchair out with a raspberry lemonade in hand, commenting on every post.Well, I was wrong. I’m not afraid to admit it. My “passing bar” so to speak for posts wasn’t high enough. My perspectives weren’t sharp enough. Meaning, I would just create posts and get them out there because if they didn’t work, hardly anyone would see them. “Oh well! I have tomorrow to get out another post.”What was my engagement like? Decent. But was I getting the volume of messages, the website views, the exploratory calls that I wanted and needed? No.I think for a long time, my audience had Morgan fatigue. So, what has happened over the last 30 days? What has made me pull back?Without spending too much time on it, it’s really because of the work I’m doing alongside Napa.Their content does so well on LinkedIn. The strategy is to be funny, to make fun of startups, to basically laugh at where social media, sales, and technology mix together.I’ll include their profiles in the show notes so you can see for yourself.I watched them for a couple of months absolutely crush it, and wanted to see if I could crack the code....or at least try.So I tried. What happened?Over the course of 30 days, my 7 posts were seen by 250 k people.More than any other time writing online, it’s generated more conversations than ever before.And that has translated into calls and new client work.I’m so surprised. Never would have imagined this would happen.I’m sure you’re thinking, “Good for you, Morgan. Gold star.”(I love gold stars and I’ll take any I can get.)I share this because something extraordinary is happening with business leaders and their content.The whole idea of thought leadership and professionalism is changing in significant ways.Like normal, great things happen when executives and their teams start talking on the internet, and saying interesting things. That hasn’t changed.And like we’ve talked about here on the podcast recently, my goal (and anyone who is on social media platforms) is to win the internet. Every day.The thing that I’m seeing changing is the use of parody, satire, memes, and jokes as a crucial part of social media strategy and how you draw people into your story.Brands have been doing this forever - Surreal, Old Spice, Progressive, Wendy’s, Duolingo, and so on.But it hasn’t been until fairly recently that I’ve seen this transition into the world of executives at a larger scale.Sure, there’s always been humor. Not at this level. My friend Kevin Baker, who I work with to create content for a few founders, posted a funny bit about coworking out of a Costco. In a few hours it had a million views and real estate people were reaching out to him to talk about office space. Major brands like Zapier dropped comments. It has over 10 k reactions. It could end up being one of the most viewed posts of the entire year on LinkedIn.There’s a chance you’ve seen it already.That single post got him 10 + new appointments to talk shop on content. Who knows what else is going to happen on Day 2.For a site that many would say is, “just for professional conversations and job hunting” this is a major shift that few people are aware of.They don’t realize how to harness humor. They don’t feel comfortable injecting their personality into much of anything because of outside perception and not living up to their title in the c-suite or upper management. They might be afraid of what investors and partners might think. I don’t know, it could be anything.The point is, weird is winning. Funny is winning. Being boring never was winning.My content is…not great. What do I do about it?You might wince when I say this, but I’ll just say it. Because love and friendship is about honesty. Better to be told by a friend you have a piece of spinach wedged between your front teeth at the networking event then for you to go around looking like a goober.Here’s the truth:Chances are, your content is no bueno.It doesn’t do anything to convince the masses that you’re the right company or person for the job. It doesn’t warm anyone up to how you see the world. It’s not doing you any favors or making you any friends.It doesn’t entertain. It doesn’t educate.It’s not working.The good news (if you can call it that) is most people are in the same boat.Between the company announcements and the latest marketing trend being parroted, there are very, very few people putting out original content, and original thought.Or saying anything of value, for that matter.Social media feeds from leaders are full of the most trite and overdone ideas known to mankind.It’s a cesspool of cliches, to put it lightly.So it stands to argue that the VERY BEST THING YOU CAN DO for your personal social accounts is to stand out.I don’t care what it looks like. The bar is really low.You can funny, you can stir the pot. You can call someone out, you can be mysterious.Just don’t do what 99% of everyone else is doing.Now, I got a comment yesterday from a copywriter over in the UK who gets huge engagement on her content. She’s spunky, she’s fun, and I’ve followed her for a couple years.Haven’t ever talked to her, but I was really grateful she left a note for me on my post yesterday, because it speaks to what I’m covering here.Let me read it to you:A final note:If you can lay down your pride, your ego, and some of your past experiences with writing online, you get to a place where you can meaningfully connect with people.Who knows what magical moments will transpire if you can do that...If you enjoyed the show today, give it five stars and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. It shows people that this is worth listening to.Want to talk shop on all things writing online? You can find time with me at thoughtleadertoday.com or send me a DM on LinkedIn.My friends: keep writing, keep publishing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No Music. No Intro. This is The Morgan Snyder Show.Last week, we covered how to loosen up and inject personality into what you’re creating and writing on the internet.This week, we will dive into another way to accomplish that, plus, pointers on how to have fun with language and continue to get people interested in you.But first, a story.I was a “bad” studentDuring middle and high school, I was terrible at playing the public education game.Which, upon further review, was a missed opportunity. I’ve always been pretty decent at both playing, and games. So, you would think if I followed the rules (turn in your worksheets and study random facts and formulas) I would have been a fantastic student.I’m very competitive, high energy, and will try to dominate UNO as much as I would street hockey, wrestling, or who-can-do-the-best-trick? on a trampoline. At school? I couldn’t have cared less. I didn’t treat it as a game.I was bored. Teachers and counselors told my parents I had ADD, and to put me on medication pronto. I would definitely struggle in college, if I could even make it into one.Now, I knew, even as a 14 year old kid, there wasn’t anything wrong with me. The one class I could play in, Show Choir, I got straight A’s. I aced all my sight reading evaluations. I auditioned for solo performances every year and sang at all the major shows for the school. I was section leader for years. I wasn’t blind. I could see the difference.So, grades aside, what was Morgan like in Show Choir vs. the rest of his classes?In every class that didn’t include singing and dancing, Morgan was kind of an emo kid that didn’t even want to raise his hand. He didn’t act like a leader. He watched the clock and waited to make his escape from Math, Science, and History prison.But as soon as he stepped into the Show Choir room, a new person emerged: magnetic, charismatic, and ready to sing Luck Be a Lady Tonight. The transformation (and my ability to be liked by both teachers and students) came about because of play. I was loose, free, and didn’t have a worry in the world. I didn’t care what people thought about me in Show Choir. In fact, I felt most like “myself.”I was there to have fun. I was there to play.You can be professional AND play!Speaking of school, we’ve all learned the forms and structures for “proper communication”, and many of those teachings are hard-wired into our brains, making it difficult to play as a professional.We know how to set up a thesis. We know how to support it with main points. We especially know how to summarize correctly so we can hit word counts. Booyah.That’s all nice and good, but how we communicate online is a world away from 9th grade English class. We’ve evolved. We absorb information in entirely new ways. You can be non-linear online. Tangents are expected. “And” can start a sentence and no one cares. Flow and style are equally important as organization of thoughts and ideas. People want to be entertained as they read.The Grammar Police have been disbanded! No more red pens! Huzzah!I would say it’s the most exciting time in our earth’s history to be a creator, a writer, or a thought leader.Language is becoming more flexible and a lot of people are sick and tired of the status quo (and AI…sorry, robots). Like we discussed in the last episode, it’s ok to be funny. We can redefine what professional even means when it comes to content and sharing our story.You can write in short sentences. You can abbreviate. You can use punctuation to change meaning. English is evolving. You don’t have to do what your teachers told you to do.You. Are. In. Control. See?The Curmudgeon, Mr. TroutFrom time to time, I’ll get an email or message that says something like this,“You’re a copywriter, and I caught a few errors in your last email. Does that matter to you? How much time do you REALLY spend editing? Does it keep you up at night?”Look, I’m all about being correct and finding the most interesting phrase to use or the best word choice.And if this was official client work, you can bet I would go through it with a fine tooth comb and catch all the issues.But no, I don’t sweat mistakes. Especially not here or on social media.For example, the classic rule you’ll hear some writers use is to, “write like you talk.”Well, that means you can’t play with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, double meanings, layout, and structure. Kinda sucks.Also, do you really write LinkedIn posts, tweets, emails, texts, IM’s, captions and scribble little notes like you talk? If so, weird.Most of us write more in a given day than we talk.That’s how we communicate. That’s how people read and learn. So the, “whole write like you talk” adage is pretty irrelevant. We can all have a little fun with our content and writing.Like me in Show Choir, you come off a lot better, and make a better first impression, when you give yourself permission to play, when you allow yourself the space to imagine fun possibilities.Think about what a tragedy it would have been if the Got Milk? campaign couldn’t get through the grammar police and was…Do you have any milk?Ugggggh. That would have been AWFUL.The signs in the cafeteria telling us to drink more milk wouldn’t have been nearly as cool.Seeing as a major point of differentiation for leaders is having a personality and being interesting, I would venture to say we should all be in play mode when we’re sharing our story…..or at least play before getting all serious and professional.That’s how some of our best ideas come to be.That’s how you can get people interested in what you’re doing.So here’s my challenge for this week.I want you to go to your own personal show choir room—whatever it takes to get into that headspace where you’re most comfortable—and play with ideas and let yourself laugh and have fun as your creating.See what happens.Then, come back here next week and tell me about it.I’ll be warming up my pipes to sing, “The Music of the Night.” ; )..If you enjoyed the show today, give it five stars and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. It shows people that this is worth listening to.Want to talk shop on all things writing online? You can find time with me at thoughtleadertoday.com or send me a DM on LinkedIn.My friends: keep writing, keep publishing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No music. No intro. This is The Morgan Snyder Show.Last weekend, I was in Orlando.I was there for a summit with leaders around the country.Many were uber succesful executives who will forget more than I’ll ever know about business.It was intimidating at times. But I forged ahead. I put on my winning smile and kept shaking hands.“Oh, you’re a writer?” they said. “That must be fun. What is it that you do exactly?”Like it was a pastime or hobby that you mess around with after the real work was done.Using storytelling techniques that I’ve learned recently, I returned fire with a question of my own.“Do you know how people go viral on LinkedIn or X and get thousands of views on their content? Or you see a website that really captures your attention? That’s what I do for my clients.”That pulled them in much quicker than, “I work in social media and help leaders…blah, blah, boring intro.”Suddenly, I had CEOs and people flying on private jets interested in me. Blame it on the good desserts or my abilities as a conversationalist, it occurred to me that EVERYONE, the mega success stories and the up-and-comers, want to bring people in to their story.They want to captivate a listener, draw someone in with something they wrote, and make new relationships to fuel their opportunities in life and business.In short, we all want to learn how to be interesting and appealing. This got me thinking.How do you increase your likeability? And how can we do this to greater effectiveness with our content?This may call for a longer episode, (or several) but here is one note I’ve been thinking about.The Guide to Being Interesting OnlineIf you’re a frequent listener to The Morgan Snyder Show, you’ll remember that I’ve been experimenting with my LinkedIn content.Due to the founders I’m working with having viral posts that are mainly memes, satire, and parody, I gave it a spin for myself.In the last 3 weeks, I’ve posted 5 times. Each one is my attempt at at being funny. Can you guess what my results have been?Over 150 thousand people have seen my picture, headline and posts.Never in the last 5 years that I’ve been creating content on various platforms have I witnessed such a response to what many would consider “stupid” content.I’m shocked. Why is there such an outpouring of comments and views over this?Why is it when I’m “bringing so much value” by talking about storytelling and online writing is it complete silence, but when I make up my connection acceptance criteria it’s fireworks?I think it’s in the injection of personality.So much of the content we see everywhere is empty. It was written by AI, quickly looked over by a marketing team, and published haphazardly to the masses.Along with emptiness, we have repetitive platitudes and in a lot of scenarios, we exist in echo chambers where leaders have parroted the same things over and over again.If I have to read another post about how AI is “changing the game”, I’m going to lose my mind.I realize that not everyone feels comfortable with this.Being funny or telling jokes may not be the kind of brand you want to be associated with.That’s why I leave it at personality.Readers and listeners have to feel like it’s something different, a unique voice that’s talking to them through the void.When I think about accomplishing that, my head goes to creating a voice, which is obviously something I’m thinking about a lot as I’m writing for executives.Is the voice of the whitepaper, the ad, the social media post, sound something like Mr. Rogers? Brad Pitt? Plato? My grandma?The voice comes with the perspective.I imagine where the message is coming from and where it’s going. Yes, know your target. But your voice is just as important.Otherwise, everything you say starts to sound like it’s coming from this unknowable, bland brand to the anonymous crowd.You can ask yourself: Is there a person / character out there who is my kindred spirit? Then, as a follow up, you ask: What are the hand or facial gestures? How does this ‘voice’ walk around? It feels weird at first, but you let your imagination take you places and you’ll be surprised how easy and quickly you can land on a personality that feels really close to who you are.I’m not as clever or funny as any of the people I feel like I’m match with, but in my head as I’m writing most things for myself, it’s a mash-up of The Colbert Report, Eeyore, and Conan O’Brien arguing with Jordan Schlansky.You might also throw in the feeling of carving on a longboard or drinking a refreshing vitamin water…but we’ll stop there…Because I’m comitted to the voice, and I know what my personality is and how it shines, that comes through in ALL of my writing—even down to the LinkedIn DMs.For example, Morgan Snyder does not say something like, “Great to connect. How are you?” when making a new friend on LinkedIn.He says something like, “Come here often?”Or when someone asks me how I’m doing I say, “Typing my life away. Please send help.”That personality makes all the difference in the world.Here’s an example from Thomas Kemeny:No voice: The new no-glare tablet. Take work out of the office and into the sun.Ugh. Yaaaaawn.Here’s one with voice: The new tablet. Embrace the light my office brethren.I have a few more notes but I’m going to save them.Looks like this is turning into a two-fer. Maybe even a three...If you enjoyed the show today, give it five stars and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. It shows people that this is worth listening to.Want to talk shop on all things writing online? You can find time with me at thoughtleadertoday.com or send me a DM on LinkedIn.My friends: keep writing, keep publishing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve noticed something about posts that are performing really well on LinkedIn.They’re funny. They’re weird. They’re off-the-wall.It’s storytelling on steroids, and getting a lot of attention.So...let’s talk about it...Come say hi at morgansnydercopywriter.com 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

No music. No intro. This is the The Morgan Snyder Show.Last week, I talked about how one of my posts went viral.77 k people watched it show up in their LinkedIn feed.Some appropriately laughed at the ridiculous situation, while others were outraged and felt the need to give their relationship advice.If you’d like a good chuckle, please go to my LinkedIn page or listen to the last episode. You’ll get to see a whole spectrum of humanity. As I watched it happen, I couldn’t help myself from wanting to do it again.Because dopamine—people seeing me, sending me connection requests, getting DMs from friends and strangers telling me I’m CRUSHING IT on LinkedIn.When a post hits like that, it feels good. So what did I do?I had an idea for triggering people in Utah. Cause that’s the goal, of course!I would mix nonfiction (our family buying a new home) with fiction (The Y on the curb was from Yale instead of BYU).I would pretend that I was a Yalie, and that in moving to our new neighborhood, my primary goal was to establish my superiority because I “went” to an Ivy League school.I started writing the post in my mind. I let it sit for a few days. I manifested to the universe that it would go viral. I got this intense feeling that it would perform well, like I was able to look out into the ocean of potential viewers and see their reaction. I was very confident. Because to me, it was just math:joke + everyone’s favorite college + bragging + Utah =a great LinkedIn post.I could see it happening. Viewers wouldn’t be able to resist. They would feel obligated to comment on this post. They would correct me, they would belittle me, they would make fun of me.Turns out, I was right.My post from yesterday is just over 33 k views, and like last week, random people are coming out of their LinkedIn stalker caves, keyboards ready to comment.Now, having two posts in one week break the 100 k view ceiling IS NOT the norm for me.I’m not in the 1% of the 1%, and I don’t think I’m doing anything novel or revolutionary.Like I mentioned last week in quoting the creative director from Duolingo:I’m trying to win the internet.What are you willing to sacrifice?I recently attended a marketing summit here in Utah.Naturally, new and old friends talked to me about content and writing.I got the usual responses, ranging from “I just don’t have any time to write” to “what’s the point of writing online because it doesn’t produce the results I want.”I pushed back. I asked them what they’ve tried, how they’ve experimented—is there something irresistible that they could talk about?Many were self-deprecating. “I’m just not that person.”What? What does that mean?I spent the day translating these types of answers. When you peel back what they’re communicating, what are they really trying to say?I could be wrong, (I’m not a psychologist) but I think in the majority of cases, people are deathly afraid of being judged.They don’t want to get outside of that comfort zone of simply scrolling instead of speaking. They are afraid of what a few people might think.They have a very negative framing for what writing online can accomplish.They don’t want to win the internet, because of all the real and imagined consequences of putting yourself out there.It’s the unknown. So, like anything else that we’re afraid of, it’s better to NOT try. Stay the same. Don’t tell the story. Push the post to another day. I was in a seminar a few weeks ago where the question was asked,“What are you willing to sacrifice to become the person you know you should be?”Pretty profound, right? Gets you all tingly.I think the same thing should be asked of leaders and executives who are hesitant to hit publish.Are you willing to sacrifice your comfort or your ego?Are you okay with voicing a real opinion or exploring satire?Because that’s what it takes.You have to say something that grabs their attention and pulls them into the special thing that you’re building.Remember:You’re not just fighting against other people in the social media feed.The real competition, the stuff that’s pulling the eyes and ears of your potential customers, it’s Netflix, email notifications, and…certain kinds of websites…if you get my drift.There is no time for celebratory milestone posts, unless you just raised money from the biggest and baddest VCs in the world and you’re flexing on everyone.You have seconds to snatch them. And if you don’t, they’re moving on.The Costs of Losing the InternetI can hear a few of you right now:“Easy for you to say, Morgan! This is your job! You get paid to write people’s posts! Of course you’re going to lecture us about sacrificing our pride because you want us to be your next customer!”You caught me. 😏 But that’s only part of the picture.I’m so adamant about this because it has transformed my life.A few years ago I was struggling to survive, and taking my little family down with me. I was a Spanish teacher, wrestling coach, curriculum writer, odd job guy, and barely making enough to cover our bills.I’m not getting into all that nonsense today. I only bring it up to remind you that this is very personal to me.So what are the costs? What are you missing out on?I think everyone knows the basics:* brand awareness* missed opportunities for sales and leads* reputation control* connections and relationshipsAnd then there’s silence.No one is talking about you and your business. There’s no energy circulating about what you’re doing. There’s no leadership directing a movement.It’s a static website that hasn’t been touched. It’s a LinkedIn profile that posted 9 months ago about a conference they were at.It’s like a giant billboard has been constructed that reads, “Welcome to Boringsville, USA!”Plus, silence is a signal of stagnation. Oooo gotta love that alliteration!Think about when you ask a friend how they’re doing and they say, “Ok.”Then you have another friend who says, “Oh my gosh, you’re not going to believe what happened to me today.”Who do you want to spend time with? The one with the interesting story.Similarly, if you want people to spend time with you, you’ve got to have a good story to tell.Social media is basically free, and you have the chance to experiment and test constantly.Every day you’re on X, LinkedIn, Substack, wherever you post your content, it’s another chance to get eyeballs on what you’re up to.Take advantage of it!To close, I’ll ask you the question that I ask all the reluctant execs I come across, the ones who have no desire to write and get themselves out there:Would you rather have a million views per year or zero?All it takes is a few posts per week.Beautiful things will happen as you try and win the internet...If you enjoyed the show today, give it five stars and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. It shows people that this is worth listening to.Want to talk shop on all things writing online? You can find time with me at morgansnydercopywriter.com or send me a DM on LinkedIn.My friends: keep writing, keep publishing, and I’ll see you next time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe

I went unexpectedly viral this week. This episode is the analysis.Here's the post.Come and say hi at morgansnydercopywriter.com or on LinkedIn. 👋 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit morgansnyder.substack.com/subscribe