The funnel, simply

Most people starting out post either all value and never ask, or ask so often they sound like an ad. The funnel is how you stay in between.

Three jobs a post can do

Pick the mix for your goal

Each goal has a target mix of top, middle and bottom of funnel posts. Growing an audience leans to the top. Getting clients puts about 30% at the bottom. Maria shows your week next to the target, with a suggestion when you're far off.

Give more than you ask

Gary Vaynerchuk's "jab, jab, jab, right hook" means several pieces of value for every ask. Caleb Ralston says to give for years before you ask for anything. Robert Cialdini calls the instinct reciprocity. Maria counts it against a week when offers pass one in five posts.

Make the ask feel earned

A good bottom of funnel post leans on social proof or authority: a real result, a case study, a specific number. Scarcity is the last lever, and only when the limit is real. An offer after three generous posts feels like help. An offer after three offers feels like pressure.

A sample week