$51K Closed. From a LinkedIn Comment.

My newest Executive Credibility Engine client just closed a $51,000 deal.

It started with a comment.

Not a viral post. Not a webinar. Not a paid campaign.

A comment.

Here’s what happened.

A Microsoft executive published a thoughtful post about partner growth.

Rob (my client) added a perspective in the comments. Not “Great post.” Not surface-level agreement. He shared a specific insight drawn from his experience helping partners build stronger revenue engines.

Another Microsoft executive reshared the post.

That meant Rob’s comment traveled with it.

A partner Rob had never met saw the reshared post, read Rob’s comment, and clicked his profile.

He scanned Rob’s headline. Looked at how he described his offer. Read a few posts.

Then he sent Rob a connection request asking about his services.

Two calls later, Rob sent a proposal.

On Monday, the prospect signed.

No negotiation. No back-and-forth. A one-week sales cycle.

Why?

Because by the time they spoke, trust had already formed.

He Started Being Visible Before He Was Ready

Here’s the part that makes this even more interesting.

Rob is in the middle of a business model shift.

Until recently, he primarily sold high-level coaching and training engagements. Valuable work. Hands-on. Often centered around improving specific skills or functions inside the business.

Now he’s shifting toward something broader and more structural.

Instead of focusing on improving individual performance, he’s stepping into a more strategic role — helping leadership examine how the entire business operates as a system. Instead of optimizing one function at a time, he’s addressing the deeper structural issues that determine whether the organization runs smoothly or constantly fights hidden friction.

That’s a significant evolution.

We’re in the middle of refining how that shift is articulated. Clarifying the language. Tightening the framing. Elevating the positioning from tactical improvement to executive-level oversight and system design.

It’s not fully dialed in yet.

But Rob didn't let that slow him down.

He didn’t wait until every word was perfect before showing up publicly.

He was clear enough about the problem he solves. He was thoughtful enough in how he contributed. He was visible in the right room.

And when the right buyer encountered him in that context, the signal came through.

Too many founders believe they need a flawless brand, a pristine content library, and a fully mapped funnel before they show up publicly.

They wait.

Meanwhile, the market is having conversations without them.

Why Commenting on LinkedIn Works

Inside the Executive Credibility Engine, I teach founders and executives how to be intentional with their commenting strategy.

That means:

• Identifying whose conversations already attract your ideal buyers

• Entering those threads with perspective, not promotion

• Contributing insight that reflects how you think

• Positioning yourself as a peer, not a vendor

This isn’t about chasing likes.

It’s about proximity.

When you consistently show up in the conversations your buyers already pay attention to, you borrow that audience.

You aren’t interrupting conversations. You’re participating in them.

And then someone reads your comment and thinks, “That’s an interesting way to look at it."

They click your profile.

Your profile explains how you can help them. Your posts and activity demonstrate your authority.

That builds trust. Then they reach out.

That’s exactly what happened here.

Why the Sales Cycle Was So Short

Rob didn’t have to convince this prospect he was credible. His credibility and authority were already established in the prospect's mind before they reached out.

The prospect had seen:

• How Rob thinks

• What problems he notices

• The breadth of his approach

• The ecosystem he operates in

By the time they spoke live, the call wasn’t, “Tell me why you’re qualified.” It was, “How would this work for us?”

That’s a very different conversation. And it’s why there was no negotiation.

When trust precedes the sales conversation, perceived recedes and pricing pressure drops.

Will Every LinkedIn Comment Turn Into $51K?

Of course not.

But the point isn’t the guaranteed outcome.

The point is probability.

If you’re not visible in the right conversations, the probability is zero.

If you are consistently present, thoughtful, and aligned with your ideal audience, the probability increases.

Over time, that compounds.

One comment won’t build a business. But disciplined visibility in the right places absolutely can.

The Bigger Lesson

Rob didn’t wait until everything was polished.

He didn’t wait until every word on his profile felt perfect. He didn’t wait until our branding work was complete.

He participated.

And because he participated in the right conversation, at the right level, with the right audience, the market responded.

$51,000.

From a comment.

Visibility creates opportunity.

Silence doesn’t.

Is your invisibility your biggest competitor?

P.S. If you’ve been thinking about getting serious about your LinkedIn presence, now’s the time. Let’s talk about my new program, the Executive Credibility Engine. I’ll help you turn your expertise into visibility, authority and trust-ability to draw your ideal audience.

About the Author: Candyce Edelen is founder of PropelGrowth. She helps B2B entrepreneurs and CxOs develop the executive credibility that attracts clients and builds TRUST with your target audience. Candyce is passionate about helping professionals build trust and create a reliable, predictable sales pipeline. She's also a firm believer that you can't automate a relationship.