📈 Likes Actually Are Cash

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Read time: 4 minutes

"Likes ain't cash." "Ignore the vanity metrics."

I'm so tired of hearing this.

Not because it's completely wrong.

But because it makes most people jump to the wrong conclusion.

They think going viral is bad.

Here's the actual problem:

Most people go viral with content their customers don't care about.

But when you go viral IN your niche? Those likes/followers ARE valuable. You just need a system to capture them.

The Content Trap Everyone Falls Into

People make one of two mistakes:

• Chase viral moments with random motivational quotes

• Go so niche they're writing for 12 people

But in my opinion, neither are ideal.

Why? Because they ignore going viral in your niche (which is really valuable)

Here are a couple of recent interesting examples from Saywhat users:

• Wil in cybersecurity (2,966 likes)

• Sara in pharma sales (>800 likes)

But to make the most of these moments, you need a full content funnel.

That's how you turn attention into leads.

Now, let me show you how to build one.

The 3 Part Content Funnel That Converts

1. Educational Content (4x per week)

Goal: Get views and the right new followers

These posts solve specific problems for your audience. They're your traffic drivers.

• 10 Things NOT To Say In A Job Interview (72,544 likes)

• How To Understand AI Agents (1,478 likes)

• We Analysed 200,000+ LinkedIn Posts In 3 Months (1,010 likes)

Tip: Use unique and consistent visual branding. I use my green hoodie avatar everywhere.

2. Trust Building Stories & Videos (2x per week)

Purpose: Make you relatable and memorable

Share failures, lessons, behind-the-scenes moments. People want to see themselves in your journey.

• Age 18: Couldn’t Speak In Public. Had a stutter (3,553 likes)

• 2023: My First Co-Founder Leaves Me (1,942 likes)

• I Built An 8 Figure Business (1,008 likes)

Best visuals: Photos of you or ones with text overlay. Videos build trust fastest.

3. Case Studies (1x per week)

Goal: Show your approach works

Real transformations with before/after metrics. These get fewer views but drive most leads - I’ve driven a tonne of Saywhat sign ups with case study posts!

• 3k → 365k LinkedIn Followers in 16 Months (20+ free trial sign ups)

• How To 10x Your LinkedIn Growth (30+ free trial sign ups)

• $400k OTE Offer In 5 Weeks (15-20 leads)

Your 5-Step Action Plan

1. Create your content calendar

Here’s mine:

• Sun-Thu: Educational "How to" posts

• Fri-Sat: Personal stories

• Tue/Thu: Double-post videos/case studies with educational content

2. Create your content bank

• List 20 problems your dream clients face

• Write down 10 stories from your journey

• Write up 5 client transformations with metrics using the PROOF framework - use screenshots / whatsapps

3. End every post with a next step

• Lead magnet download

• Newsletter signup

• Simple: "Want my framework for [goal]? Get it here: [link]"

4. Track what matters

• Comments from ideal prospects (not AI generated rubbish)

• Profile views from dream clients

• DMs asking about services

• Email signups

5. Create the flywheel

• Deliver great results

• Turn wins into case studies

• Attract new leads with educational content

• Repeat

This creates a cycle that attracts more leads, builds trust, and closes more deals.

So no, likes aren't cash.

But engagement from the right audience?

That can definitely be turned into cash.

See you next time,

Will

P.S. I write all my posts from different parts of my content funnel in Saywhat Collab - give it a try for free today.

Will McTighe

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