Our Spotlight Recommendation
“I networked with Damien at his in-person monthly alignable meetups in Santa Monica. After speaking with him several times, I decided to take the leap and join his LinkedIn bootcamp. The care he...”
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“I networked with Damien at his in-person monthly alignable meetups in Santa Monica. After speaking with him several times, I decided to take the leap and join his LinkedIn bootcamp. The care he took with every meeting, the step by step instructions and continuing support have been all top notch! I have people booking on my calendar every week! Thanks, Damien!”
–
Lauren Rockett
Certified Liability Advisor
About Us
LinkedIn Strategy Specialist | Community-Driven Brand Builder
Our key focus is to turn your LinkedIn account into a profit generating machine by acting as your personal virtual LinkedIn Networker.
What is a personal virtual Link(Ed)In Net(Work)ER?
Let’s break it down:
Link(Ed)In = education, connection, access
Net(Work)ER = doing the work, increasing your net, becoming the responder who moves relationships forward.
It’s a philosophy, a strategy, and the title of my upcoming book. (A free course is in the works too — stay tuned 📚👀.)
I started as a personal trainer with no marketing budget and no visibility. Before I even named my company Iron Dog Fitness, I had a harsh realization: no one knew who I was. That sparked a journey of self-education and strategic experimentation.
I learned that Facebook creates awareness, LinkedIn builds trust, and newsletters keep you top of mind. I built my brand around these pillars, eventually growing from unknown to in-demand, and along the way, I helped others achieve the same success.
As I volunteered with chambers of commerce and nonprofits, I utilized my newsletter and outreach efforts to revive participation and drive genuine engagement. One council member even asked for my help on his mayoral campaign, based on the transformation I had sparked in his local chamber. That’s when I knew I wasn’t just promoting myself — I was building a repeatable system.
Today, I run Xocial Gong LLC, a LinkedIn-focused marketing agency for small business owners, startups, and freelancers — people like me, who wear too many hats and have too little time or budget.
Most of my clients don’t need to advertise on LinkedIn. They simply need to optimize their profile, apply the right etiquette, and utilize proven outreach methods to gain in the door with decision-makers.
That’s where we come in.
Xocial Gong is the “Link” and “Ed” educator who helps you get “In” with your ideal customers. We increase your “Net” profits by doing the “Work” for you on LinkedIn — using “ER” (Effective, Responsive) strategies to fill your calendar with quality leads who are already interested in what you offer.
Let’s connect if you’re ready to turn LinkedIn into your #1 relationship-building tool.
📲 Text me directly: 323-690-1659
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (145)
"I highly recommend Damien.
Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to get to know him..."
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"I highly recommend Damien.
Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to get to know him professionally while staying connected throughout the growth and evolution of Xocial Gong.
Through our ongoing conversations, I have seen firsthand the drive, discipline, and persistence he has brought to building his company and refining its focus.
Damien leads with integrity and professionalism. He is thoughtful, reliable, and genuinely invested in helping businesses succeed.
What stands out most to me is his commitment to growth. He continues to learn, adapt, and strengthen his expertise while remaining focused on delivering real value.
I have watched him channel that determination into a distinctive approach to LinkedIn strategy and lead generation, which he has coined “Link(Ed)In Net(Work)Er.”
I confidently recommend Damien to businesses looking for a dedicated, innovative, and results-driven professional.
"
""I highly recommend Damien Orozco of Xocial Gong LLC for helping small-business.""
Networking Events
Wednesday Oct 28th 11:30am-1pm PDT
The Alignable Alliance of Commerce & the Alliance of Multicultural Entrepreneurs invite you to an in-person networking event, hosted by Dirt Dog in...
Products & Services
Is your business showing up when customers ask ChatGPT or Google AI to recommend a service/product like yours? Most small business owners don't kno...
Did you know you don't have to advertise on LinkedIn or anywhere to get new business?
Do you know the ins and outs of LinkedIn etiquette?
Besid...
Suppose you want to stand out as the go-to person in your industry. In that case, one of the best ways of doing so is by having an SEO-optimized we...
Recommendations Given (96)
""I wish I had known about Bold Within sooner. And I hope sharing my story helps someone else find..."
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""I wish I had known about Bold Within sooner. And I hope sharing my story helps someone else find the help they deserve."
I am a survivor of a violent crime. I was shot seven times and lived to tell the story. In the aftermath, I faced permanent physical disabilities that most people would never notice just by looking at me, and scars, both visible and invisible, that I carry every single day.
At the time, I didn't seek professional help. I didn't have the time, the money, or even the awareness that resources like Bold Within existed. I found a way to cope on my own, but not everyone can, and no one should have to.
When I eventually connected with Dora Ramirez at one of my Alignable of Commerce events, what struck me immediately was her compassion and her deep understanding of trauma.
She reminded me that it's never too late to seek support, that even years after a traumatic experience, lingering effects are real, valid, and treatable. That conversation meant more to me than I can express.
If you or someone you love has experienced trauma, whether recent or years ago, please don't wait the way I did.
Don't assume you have to handle it alone, or that the window for healing has passed.
Dora and the team at Bold Within offer exactly the kind of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, compassionate care that can make the difference between surviving and truly thriving.
You deserve that support. Don't wait to find it."
"David is kind and thoughtful."
Recent Activity
This one hit big for me: "Your local market changes constantly, and almost none of it gets posted anywhere." When I reached out to Alignable to become an Ambassador, it was because what I have learned about the conversations happening, even on LinkedIn, rarely addresses the SMB in the local...
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This one hit big for me: "Your local market changes constantly, and almost none of it gets posted anywhere." When I reached out to Alignable to become an Ambassador, it was because what I have learned about the conversations happening, even on LinkedIn, rarely addresses the SMB in the local community.
Despite the many local chambers of commerce organizations in LA, the ones closest to me never seemed to recover from the 2008 economic crisis. Add the post-COVID-19 pandemic to the formula, and what I have seen is these organizations, along with other networking groups, struggling to put together events with the number of attendees I had seen previously. They eventually turned to collaborative events, but even then, there was little progress, with each chamber bringing only 10–15 members.
Alignable became my avenue to try to turn the tide. I've had some success, but not the success I was hoping for, and I haven't given up on bringing local business owners and professionals together. I've met a lot of business owners through this process, and that is where I have met the businesses no one talks about on these online platforms and other media channels.
A lot of talk circulates online about 'buyer signals.' Still, these small businesses' buyer signals don't show up online because many lack a strong enough online footprint, if any, to be discoverable by their ideal customers. Many of them are hanging by a thread, just trying to keep their doors open.
Some small business owners can't even afford to attend networking events. Leaving the business operation means closing the doors during operating hours to make time to network. I met one today. She has business cards, a great product, but no online presence. She's in a great spot because traffic passes by her location every day, but otherwise no one will find her business online.
Business owners like her may need a service or product, but if you aren't walking into their door and having a simple, casual conversation (no sales pitch), you have no clue she has a need that needs to be addressed to bring her more business.
As business owners and professionals, it's up to us to help them get found and support them as a small business owner, the same way we all want to be supported. It's up to us to be leaders and builders of our community by supporting local SMBs. We also have SMB's who don't have a brick and mortar so they create a unique challenge in being discoverable if they lack an online presence and that is where Alignable plays a role as the hero of our communities, because Ambassadors like myself can create online and in person events that create the opportunity for them to say, "Hey, I'm an SMB or professional open for business".
Alignable is a great platform for getting discovered, but we must never forget that we also need a strong online presence. The best marketing strategy for any business is a combination of inbound and outbound strategies where we actively seek out new clients and referral partners, while potential clients can also find us when they are looking for the product or service we offer.
Don, this recap is gold, and it validates something I've been saying to fellow small business owners for a while now: AI isn't coming for your business (or job, so don't panic), it's coming for your busywork.
What resonated most with me was Eric's advice to 'start where the work is dreadful.'...
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Don, this recap is gold, and it validates something I've been saying to fellow small business owners for a while now: AI isn't coming for your business (or job, so don't panic), it's coming for your busywork.
What resonated most with me was Eric's advice to 'start where the work is dreadful.' That's not just practical, it's brilliant. Because that's exactly where most of us lose hours we'll never get back. The follow-up email we keep postponing. The bio we've been meaning to rewrite for two years. The proposal template we rebuild from scratch every single time. That's where AI earns its keep fastest.
Lina's framing of AI as a 'brilliant new hire' also hit home. And this falls right in place when I have a conversation with small business owners about adding AI to their business, but I call them an AI workforce (AI new hire). I tell them that the AI has to be trained like a new employee, so teach it everything it needs to know. It will never call in sick, request a day off, go on vacation, or have a slip-and-fall incident, get in a car accident, or find itself stuck in traffic, among other things. The best part? It works tirelessly for you 24/7/365.
I've found that the more you treat AI like a team member, giving it background, examples, and clear direction, the better the output. It's not magic. It's management. And as small business owners, we already know how to manage.
Here's what I'd add to the conversation: the biggest barrier for most SMB owners isn't the technology. It's permission. Permission to stop doing everything manually. Permission to let go of the idea that doing it yourself means doing it better. AI gives us that permission, backed by results.
The fact that both sessions were filled to capacity tells you everything. Small business owners are ready. They just needed someone to meet them where they are, and it sounds like Alignable did exactly that this week.
💬 For anyone who attended, what's the ONE workflow you're handing off to AI first? I'd love to hear what's at the top of your list!
2 Replies
This makes total sense. I have a very large network, but only a few are key players in my network. We stay in touch, refer business to each other, but one key thing that has been true about this inner circle is that we’ve never asked each other for referrals. We simply update each other on what...
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This makes total sense. I have a very large network, but only a few are key players in my network. We stay in touch, refer business to each other, but one key thing that has been true about this inner circle is that we’ve never asked each other for referrals. We simply update each other on what we got going on. Those conversations are what lead to referrals or one of us becoming a customer. 😃 The ones that never become a part of my circle are the ones that say, “I’d love to see how we can collaborate so we can work together to help your clients”. They are basically asking me to hand over my book of business, have made zero effort to build a relationship first and have made it all about what’s in it for them, and not what’s in it for us.
This has always been an ongoing practice for me but I tend to launch my reflection stage (or what some call New Year’s resolutions) on the day of my birthday. I see it as a new year of life I have been blessed with. Every day to me is a day of reflection. Most people begin with a ‘New Year, New...
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This has always been an ongoing practice for me but I tend to launch my reflection stage (or what some call New Year’s resolutions) on the day of my birthday. I see it as a new year of life I have been blessed with. Every day to me is a day of reflection. Most people begin with a ‘New Year, New Me’ or ‘This is the Year’ annual resolution or proclamation and by February most find themselves a year later in the same place. My mentality is today is the day every day I am blessed to wake up to pursue my passions.
I’ve practiced Step 1 since forever. Specifically’Is this person is a customer, referral partner, collaborator, or connector and why’. I’ve had a process in place for Step 2 as well. Step 3 is a given. Step 4 has been a process in place just as long as the previous steps. I add tags and place...
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I’ve practiced Step 1 since forever. Specifically’Is this person is a customer, referral partner, collaborator, or connector and why’. I’ve had a process in place for Step 2 as well. Step 3 is a given. Step 4 has been a process in place just as long as the previous steps. I add tags and place people in groups inside my own CRM. A practice I’ve has ever since the days of the roll-a-Dex. In the past I would put all the business cards I collected in a 3 ring binder with plastic sheets that had sleeves similar to what sports cards collectors use. I still have those 3 ring binders with those business cards. Most of them do not work in the same place and some have passed away. Since I’ve had these practices in place Step 5 is done on a regular basis. As such, some of those in my network have become long term friends and some are like family. I started creating my follow strategies as far back as 2008 after quitting my last job 😂
Most marketers out there call themselves a digital marketer, a marketing specialist, but I call myself your Virtual Link(Ed)In Net(Work)ER or LinkedIn specialist who helps you "Hook'm, Book'm, so all you have to do is Close'm."
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Most marketers out there call themselves a digital marketer, a marketing specialist, but I call myself your Virtual Link(Ed)In Net(Work)ER or LinkedIn specialist who helps you "Hook'm, Book'm, so all you have to do is Close'm."
I’m with you on this, Don. This breakdown captures the essence of why recommendations matter on Alignable, and I’d add that they also serve as a form of social proof that compounds over time.
When multiple people consistently highlight someone’s strengths with context and specificity, it...
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I’m with you on this, Don. This breakdown captures the essence of why recommendations matter on Alignable, and I’d add that they also serve as a form of social proof that compounds over time.
When multiple people consistently highlight someone’s strengths with context and specificity, it creates a narrative of credibility that’s far more persuasive than any self-promotion.
In fact, strong recommendations can function like mini case studies: they showcase not only what someone delivered but also how they operate in real-world conditions, which is invaluable for future connections evaluating fit.
Treating recommendations as strategic storytelling rather than quick endorsements, you’re not just building trust, you’re actively shaping your professional reputation and expanding your influence across the network.
And for those giving recommendations, they need to understand it's about the person they are recommending and not about themselves. I've seen some members here on Alignable use it as a self-promotional strategy, talking about what they do and adding some form of contact info to them. I block people who use recommendations to self-promote, because they have already demonstrated they lack professionalism, practice unethical behavior, and lack moral character. I would never recommend someone who uses the opportunity to recommend someone as a way actually to recommend themselves.
I think it’s a superpower to connect people with their ideal clients here on Alignable. My two biggest concerns are:
#1, someone sends me a connection request. I immediately thank them for connecting, and I often invite them to join me at a SmartConnect or in-person networking event. I get no...
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I think it’s a superpower to connect people with their ideal clients here on Alignable. My two biggest concerns are:
#1, someone sends me a connection request. I immediately thank them for connecting, and I often invite them to join me at a SmartConnect or in-person networking event. I get no response. I follow up yet again, but no response. Some start trying to sell me something or similar. Some are obvious scammers. Issue
#2 Someone new is asking me to introduce them to someone in my network. I respect that the other person may not be willing to accept the request, so I respectfully ask for their permission first. Because many members here connect but don’t engage, when they ask for a referral, it’s often someone I’ve never spoken to.
I look for content to engage with, but most of the time it’s pure sales-based gibberish, so I end up not commenting most of the time.
I’m generally very good at being proactive and offering to help (no sales pitch).
1 Reply
Thanks for sharing. A lot of great priceless gems of wisdom. If every member on Alignable implemented these strategies, just imagine how much more new referrals and business would happen every day 😊
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Thanks for sharing. A lot of great priceless gems of wisdom. If every member on Alignable implemented these strategies, just imagine how much more new referrals and business would happen every day 😊
This is such a smart and refreshingly doable approach to networking. The idea that consistency trumps intensity really resonates with me—especially in the whirlwind of small business life, where spare hours are rare and fleeting. I appreciate how you simplify the process into tangible steps...
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This is such a smart and refreshingly doable approach to networking. The idea that consistency trumps intensity really resonates with me—especially in the whirlwind of small business life, where spare hours are rare and fleeting. I appreciate how you simplify the process into tangible steps without feeling robotic or salesy. It encourages genuine connection while keeping things efficient, which is exactly what most of us need.
The comparison to brushing your teeth is spot on. It’s one of those small habits that’s easy to overlook but compounds over time. I’m definitely intrigued by the potential of this five-minute routine, and I’m keen to see how staying consistently engaged can organically grow my network. Simple, strategic, and sustainable. Love it.
I’ve made similar suggestions on applying a strategy like this on LinkedIn. People get so caught up on creating viral content while forgetting that engaging with other member's content is equally if not more important.
1 Reply
