Your first 10 conversations

Your link
is ready.
Let's use it.

You've done the hard part — your link is configured, the AI knows how to sound like you, and the probe questions are set up to find out what you actually need to know. Now it's time to get some real conversations through it. This guide walks you through exactly how to do that, what to look for when the first briefs land, and how to keep things moving from there.

5 chapters 15 min read Actionable today
What's inside
01
Why some links never get going — and how to make sure yours does
02
Where to share it and what to say when you do
03
How to read a brief and what to do next
04
What your first 10 conversations will tell you
05
Simple habits that keep conversations coming in

Once it's
shared, it
runs itself.

"The best thing about a well-placed link is that you stop thinking about it — and it keeps working."

From the moment someone clicks your link, Thayne takes over. It has the conversation, asks your questions, and writes you a brief — all without you being involved at any point.

The only thing you need to do is get it in front of the right people. That doesn't have to be complicated. It's mostly about finding one good place to put it and leaving it there.

Most people who share their link thoughtfully start seeing conversations within a day or two. This guide will help you get there.

3×
More conversations, on average, when a link lives in an email signature versus being shared one message at a time. Put it somewhere permanent and let it do the work.
72hrs
The window where most new subscribers either get their first conversation or go quiet. Getting something live in the first few days really does make a difference.
1 place
Usually all it takes to get things moving. One good placement in the right channel is worth far more than scattering the link across ten different places. Pick the right one and start there.
01
Getting started

Why some links never get going —
and how to make sure yours does.

Most links that don't produce conversations aren't broken — they just weren't given a real chance. A few small things trip people up early on, and once you know what they are, they're easy to avoid.

Thing to avoid
Sharing it once and waiting
Sending your link to one person or posting it once and then watching to see what happens rarely works. Your link needs to be somewhere people will find it naturally — somewhere you don't have to keep thinking about it. The goal is a placement that works in the background without any effort from you.
Thing to avoid
Over-explaining it before they click
The framing matters more than the explanation. You don't need to hide that it's AI — and you shouldn't. What you want to avoid is a cold, mechanical introduction that makes it feel like a process to get through. A warm, human framing that explains what's in it for them works far better than a technical description. "Tell me what's going on and I'll come back to you properly" lands better than "click here to talk to my AI intake assistant."
Thing to avoid
Testing it with people who aren't real prospects
It's tempting to share it with a friend or colleague to see how it feels — but the briefs you get from people who aren't genuinely enquiring won't tell you much. The most useful feedback comes from real conversations with people who actually have a reason to reach out.
Thing to avoid
Waiting until the link feels perfect
Your link will get better after real conversations — not before them. The things you notice after your first ten briefs will tell you more about what's working and what isn't than any amount of tweaking in the editor. Share it now and improve it as you go. That's how it's meant to work.
Thing to avoid
Not being ready when a brief lands
When a good conversation comes in, the person is still thinking about it. Following up quickly — within a day or so — makes a real difference. The brief gives you everything you need to send something genuinely useful. Don't let it sit.
The approach that works
Find one good home for it
You don't need to be everywhere. You need one place where the right people will naturally come across your link — and put it there properly. The next chapter covers the four placements that tend to work best.
02
Where to share it

The placements that
actually work.

There are countless places you could share your link, but a handful that consistently bring in good conversations. Here are the four worth starting with — along with real example messages you can adapt straight away.

Start here
Your email signature
Every email you send reaches someone who already knows you exist. Adding your link to your signature turns your normal day-to-day communication into something that quietly does intake work for you — permanently, without any extra thought.

Set it up once and it works from then on. The framing matters though — don't say "talk to my AI." Say something that feels natural and gives people a clear reason to click.
Worth doing
Your LinkedIn bio
When someone decides they want to know more about what you do, your LinkedIn bio is usually what they read first. Most bios end with a vague "get in touch" that leads nowhere. Your link gives that moment an actual next step.

One clear line explaining what happens when they click is all you need. Keep it short and don't overthink it.
Useful for outreach
Direct messages and warm introductions
When you're reaching out to someone — or following up on an introduction — your link removes the awkward "let's book a call before either of us knows if it's worth it" step. Send the link instead and let them engage at their own pace. You'll know far more about their situation before you've spent a minute on them.

This works especially well for anyone who does a lot of outreach.
High intent audience
Your website contact page
Anyone who lands on your contact page is already motivated — they're actively looking for a way to reach you. A Thayne link gives them a much more useful experience than a standard form, and gives you a real picture of who they are before you ever speak to them.

You can swap out the form entirely or add the link alongside it.
Example messages — use these as a starting point
Email signature All outgoing email
Thinking about working together? Tell me a bit about what you're working on — I'll come back to you within 24 hours.
→ thayne.app/c?s=yourlink
LinkedIn bio Profile CTA
If you're thinking about working with me, this is the best place to start — tell me what's going on and I'll come back to you with something useful.
→ thayne.app/c?s=yourlink
Direct outreach — warm intro LinkedIn message or email
Hi [Name] — [mutual contact] mentioned you might be thinking about [relevant topic]. Rather than jumping straight to a call, I use a short intake conversation to make sure I actually understand your situation before we speak. It takes about five minutes and I'll come back to you with something genuinely useful once I've read it.

→ thayne.app/c?s=yourlink
Website contact page Replace or sit alongside your contact form
The quickest way to get in touch is to tell me directly what you're working on. It takes about five minutes and I'll have a proper response back to you within 24 hours.
→ thayne.app/c?s=yourlink
03
Reading the brief

What to do when the
first brief lands.

The brief is what all of this is working towards. Once you know how to read one properly, following up well becomes straightforward — you'll have everything you need before you've written a single word.

Read this first
The tier verdict
The tier tells you how well this person fits what you're looking for, based on everything that came up in the conversation. It's Thayne's read of the situation against the criteria you set. Use it as your starting point, not your final answer. You'll get a feel for how to interpret it as more conversations come in.
Read this second
The flag
The flag is the one thing you most need to know before you follow up — the specific detail that changes how you approach this person. It might be something they said, something they avoided, or something that affects the timing. It's there because it matters, so read it before you do anything else.
Read this third
The full brief
The brief is a genuine read of the conversation — who this person is, what their situation looks like, and what's worth addressing when you follow up. It's written fresh each time, not from a template. Most briefs take about two minutes to read and give you everything you need to respond well.
Thayne.
Intelligence brief
Sarah R.
Strong fit Today · 9 exchanges · 7 min
Who this person is
Independent consultant, 12 years in her sector, mostly referral-driven. Reached out after a referral from a previous client. She knows what she wants — she's not exploring options, she has a specific problem and is looking for the right person to help with it.
What she needs
She's spending too much time on first calls with people who don't qualify — her current process has no real filter. She's looking for a proper system, not just another tool to try.
She's tried two other tools in the last six months and both let her down. Lead with the outcome, not the features — let her experience it working rather than hearing about it.
What to do next — by tier
T1
Strong fit — follow up within a day
Read the flag first, then use the Follow Up draft as your starting point. Edit it so it sounds like you wrote it, and send it within 24 hours. The brief has everything you need to make it feel personal. Speed matters more than perfection here.
T2
Possible fit — respond with one question
Worth following up, but don't commit to a call just yet. Send something short that acknowledges what came up and asks one specific question — the one thing that would clarify whether this is actually worth pursuing. The brief will usually make it obvious what that is.
T3/4
Not the right fit — close warmly
A brief, warm message that acknowledges what they're looking for and explains honestly why it's not a fit right now is always worth sending. It takes two minutes and leaves a genuinely good impression. People remember how they were treated when the answer was no.
04
Learning from conversations

What your first 10 conversations
will tell you.

Ten conversations gives you something real to work with. You'll start to see patterns — what's working, what isn't, and where small adjustments could make a meaningful difference. Here's what to look for.

What you're seeing What it probably means Worth trying
Most conversations are landing in the lower tiers The link itself is probably working fine — the issue is more likely who's finding it and where. Your fit criteria might also be worth reviewing to make sure they're realistic. Look at where the link is shared and whether the people finding it are genuinely the right audience. Tighten the placement if needed.
Conversations are short — 3 exchanges or fewer People are dropping off before the conversation has built a real picture. The opening message or first question is often the reason — if it doesn't feel engaging, people don't stick around. Revisit your opening message. Make it feel warmer and more specific to the person's situation. Try a more direct or curious first question.
Briefs feel thin — not much to go on The probe questions probably aren't pulling out enough detail, or the conversation is wrapping up before it's gathered what it needs. Look at your probe questions and add some guidance on what a complete answer looks like versus a surface-level one.
Good conversations coming in but you're not following up The link is working well. The gap is on the follow-up side — usually a case of not being notified quickly enough or not having a clear next step ready. Turn on email notifications in your account settings and aim to follow up within 24 hours on anything in your top tier.
Conversations feel right but the tiers seem off Your tier labels or descriptions might not be specific enough for the AI to assess against accurately. Vague criteria produce inconsistent results. Go into the link editor and sharpen your tier descriptions. Think about what a top-tier conversation actually looks like — what does the person say or reveal?
Good conversations coming in regularly The link is calibrated well and you've found a placement that's working. Consider adding a second placement or creating a second link for a different context. Build on what's working.
The most useful question to ask yourself
Are the briefs telling you things you didn't already know?
If every brief feels like a summary of things you could have guessed, the conversation isn't going deep enough. A good brief surfaces something specific — a detail, a concern, a situation you wouldn't have known about otherwise. If that's not happening, the probe questions are worth looking at.
A helpful number to track
How many of your first 10 land in your top tier
If fewer than 1 in 10 conversations are landing in your top tier, the link is probably reaching the wrong people or the criteria are too strict. If it's more than 4 in 10, either the criteria are too broad or you've found a really well-qualified channel. Somewhere in the 15 to 30% range is usually a healthy starting point.
05
Keeping it going

Simple habits that keep
conversations coming in.

Getting your first ten conversations is a real milestone. Keeping them coming consistently is mostly about a few small habits that compound over time — none of them complicated, all of them worth doing.

Habit one
Leave your link somewhere permanent
Your email signature, LinkedIn bio, and website contact page aren't places to share things temporarily. Put your link there and leave it. Every email you send for the next few years becomes a potential conversation — that adds up more than you'd think.
Habit two
Review and improve every so often
Every ten conversations or so, spend twenty minutes going back through the briefs. What's thin? What keeps coming up? Which probe question isn't pulling out anything useful? Small, steady improvements make a real difference over time. Your link after 100 conversations should be noticeably better than when you started.
Habit three
Follow up quickly on your best conversations
When a strong brief lands, the person has just had a real conversation about their situation — it's fresh in their mind. The brief tells you what to say and the Follow Up draft has a head start already written. There's no good reason to leave it more than a day. Quick follow-ups convert far better than delayed ones.
Habit four
Use it wherever you'd normally say "tell me more"
Any time you'd send a message asking someone to tell you more about what they're looking for — send your link instead. It will find out more than a back-and-forth exchange would, and you'll get a proper brief instead of a vague reply that tells you very little.
Habit five
Think about where else a link could help
Once your first link is producing good conversations, it's worth asking where else in your work the same thing could be useful. A different audience, a different context, a different purpose. Most people who get a lot from Thayne end up with two or three links, each doing a specific job in a specific place.
The shift worth making
Think of it as part of how you work, not a tool you use occasionally
Your link is there every day, whether you're thinking about it or not. It doesn't have off days, it doesn't give people a worse experience when you're busy, and it's ready whenever someone reaches out. The people who get the most from Thayne treat it as a permanent part of how they handle first contact — not something they remember to use now and then.
Ask anything

Still got a question?
Ask here.

The playbook covers the main things — but your situation might be specific. Ask anything about getting your first conversations, what to do when briefs land, or how to get more from your link.

Thayne.
Playbook assistant
Thayne
Good to have you here. The playbook covers the main things, but everyone's situation is a bit different - tell me what you're working with and I'll help you figure out the right next step.
Thayne
Answered by Thayne AI · Based on the playbook above Prefer to ask us directly →
You've got everything you need.

Go get your
first conversation.

Your link is ready. You know where to share it, how to introduce it, and what to do when the first brief lands. The best place to start is your email signature — it takes about three minutes to set up and works quietly in the background from that day on.

Open my dashboard

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