Success stories / EzwConsult
HR · Solo consultant · Coaching

How Elly from EzwConsult built long-term LinkedIn visibility as a solo consultant.

What five years of consistent coaching changed for Elly Zwerts' personal brand in the HR space — and how she went from hesitation to calm, intentional presence.

EzwConsult · Solo HR coaching practice · Belgium On Willow since Nov 2021
5 years
of consistent showing up.
★ Customer · 2021
Elly Zwerts / Founder · EzwConsult
On Willow since
Nov 2021
Monthly → half-year (Sept '22) → yearly (Mar '24). Commitment only deepens.
Channel focus
LinkedIn
Personal profile leads; company page in support.
Coaching cadence
Quarterly
Deep-dive sessions, plus webinars, office hours and email feedback.
Engagement signature
Real
Dozens of likes & meaningful comments — not viral, but relevant.
IndustryHR coaching & consulting
Team sizeSolo · Elly Zwerts
ChannelLinkedIn personal
CoachJulie De Martelaere
PlanYearly · since Mar 2024

EzwConsult is the solo coaching and consulting practice of Elly Zwerts. She supports professionals and organisations in the HR space through coaching, reflection, and people-focused guidance. Her work is personal by nature. So is her brand. That makes LinkedIn a crucial channel for visibility, trust, and connection.

When your business depends on you being visible

As a solo consultant, Elly doesn't hide behind a logo. She is EzwConsult. Potential clients don't just want to know what she does; they want to know who she is, how she thinks, and whether she's someone they trust. Every new opportunity, every first conversation, starts with people forming an impression of her.

That's why LinkedIn plays such an important role in her marketing mix, alongside her blog. It's the place where people look her up after hearing her name. Where they connect the dots between her expertise and her personality. Where trust starts building long before anyone reaches out.

When that presence isn't consistent, the effect is subtle but real. Conversations start colder. Context gets lost. Elly has to explain more, prove more, push harder to create the same momentum. For a solo business, those small gaps in visibility quickly turn into extra effort elsewhere.

Finding inspiration

Elly didn't lack expertise. Or ideas. Or things to say. What she struggled with was turning all of that into content, again and again.

Finding inspiration took time and energy. Deciding what to post, when to post, and whether it was good enough often led to hesitation. Sometimes things just went quiet. And that was frustrating.

The potential was there. What was missing was structure and support. Someone to give her insights into social media platforms and a sparring partner.

Choosing structure without losing authenticity

Elly started using Willow in November 2021, initially on a monthly plan. What mattered most to her from the start was a central tool to manage her social media efficiently — but she was also a big fan of the social media coaching that came with it.

"My coach knows what she's talking about and she gives me valuable ideas. She has a different character than I have and that helps me make progress."
— Elly Zwerts · EzwConsult

Willow gave her one central place to manage LinkedIn. But more importantly, it gave her a sparring partner — someone to think along, challenge ideas, confirm when something worked and adjust when it didn't.

Over time, her commitment deepened. In September 2022, she switched to a half-year plan. In March 2024, she moved to a yearly plan. Always extending her commitment to Willow and our commitment to her success.

From hesitation to intentional presence

Until the end of 2024, Elly had monthly coaching sessions. When Willow evolved its coaching model, she moved into a structure with quarterly deep-dive sessions, supported by webinars, office hours, and email feedback in between.

What "structure" actually means
Together with her coach, Elly discusses themes, reviews what performs, fine-tunes tone, and lets analytics guide the next decision.
Q
Deep-dive sessions
Office hours & emails
3
Coaching model evolutions
1
Voice. Hers.

The result is calm consistency. LinkedIn no longer feels like something she has to "keep up with." It's more intentional, planned and aligned with who she is.

Engagement that proves authenticity works

Elly's posts regularly generate strong engagement: dozens of likes and meaningful comments.

These aren't viral numbers, but they don't need to be. What matters is relevance. Her audience responds because her content feels real.

It's proof that consistency and authenticity compound over time. When people see her posts regularly, they recognise her voice. They remember her perspective. They talk to her about her social media content in a positive way. And trust starts forming long before the first conversation.

What changed once consistency clicked

Today, LinkedIn supports Elly instead of draining her. She can stay visible without stress. She no longer doubts every post. And she doesn't disappear for weeks at a time (unless she chooses to).

Her LinkedIn presence now strengthens everything else she does. It adds context to outbound conversations. It reinforces her blog. And it helps potential clients get to know her before they ever reach out.

"It was a journey with ups and downs (and sometimes it still is 😊), with moments of knowing and often not knowing. Thanks to the human and technical guidance of your team, I've gained more confidence!"
— Elly Zwerts · EzwConsult

When you're a solo consultant, long-term visibility isn't built overnight. But with the right structure, coaching, and support, it is sustainable. Elly's journey shows that consistency doesn't come from pushing harder — but from making it easier to show up.

Show up consistently — without it draining you.

If you're a solo consultant, your brand is you. We'll pair you with a coach who knows your space and build a calendar around the time you actually have.

“Besides the 1-on-1, my favourite part is the calendar view — that’s my daily dashboard of what’s going on and what’s upcoming.”
JM Jackie McIlroyCOO · United Codes