While many professionals know that LinkedIn is a powerful platform for lead generation, networking, and brand visibility, they don’t have a playbook for exactly how to harness that power. This is where expert Paige Wiscombe, Idaho Women's Business Center Program Director at Business Impact NW, comes in with an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide.
Idaho Mediation Association is grateful for the opportunity to share Wiscombe’s excellent LinkedIn “how-to” with our community.
First, why LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 1 billion members worldwide across more than 200 countries and territories, and over 252 million members in the U.S. alone. It offers multiple benefits, including the opportunity to:
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Build credibility and professional authority.
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Generate leads and attract the right clients. LinkedIn is the number one platform for B2B marketers.
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Grow professional connections and partnerships.
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Gain market insights and competitive intelligence.
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Support recruiting and talent attraction.
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Drive visibility on search engines (SEO), making your business easier to find.
Did you know?
SETTING UP YOUR PROFILE
a) Optimizing your personal profile
Why: Your personal profile is often the first impression prospects or partners have of you. Make it count! Plus, complete page information drives 30% more weekly views.
Personal profile checklist
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Professional headshot: Friendly, clear, approachable. Avoid being too casual.
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Banner image: Branded or visually appealing. Reflect your industry or brand.
-Headline: Clearly state what you do, who you serve, and how you help. Example: "Graphic Designer | Helping Brands Shine with Impactful Visual Storytelling"
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About section: Conversational, friendly, showcasing your passion, experience, and unique value.
-Include keywords related to your services for search visibility.
-Do not use 3rd person
-Add a clear call-to-action (CTA).
Example: “Hi there! I’m [Your Name], a professional graphic designer passionate about helping small businesses and entrepreneurs elevate their brand through impactful visual storytelling. With over 10 years of experience working closely with service-based businesses, from bookkeepers to therapists, I specialize in creating visuals that not only look great but effectively communicate your unique value to your audience. My approach blends creativity with strategy, ensuring every design aligns seamlessly with your goals.
When I'm not at my desk designing, you’ll find me exploring the outdoors, volunteering in my local community, or networking at events across the Northwest.
Let’s connect! I'm always excited to meet fellow entrepreneurs and discuss how we can collaborate to bring your vision to life.
Specialties: Branding, Logo Design, Web Graphics, Social Media Assets, Print Materials (choose three to five). Interested in collaborating or learning more? Feel free to send me a message or visit my portfolio: [Your website]”
-Add visuals, PDFs, blogs, presentations, or videos showcasing your work.
-Do not include any skills you do not want to be found for.
-Try to keep skills specific to what you do now
-Try to fill up as many as you can; this is part of how the search engines work
-Custom LinkedIn URL:Easy to share and remember (e.g., linkedin.com/in/yourname).
-To create or update your custom LinkedIn URL, navigate to your profile page, click 'Edit public profile & URL' on the right-hand side, then click the pencil icon under 'Edit your custom URL.' Enter a short, professional, and memorable version of your name or business, then click 'Save.'
b) Optimizing your business page
Why: A business page establishes credibility, amplifies brand visibility, and attracts potential leads.
Business page checklist
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Company logo: Clear and professional.
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Banner image: Branded, informative, engaging visuals.
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Company tagline: Briefly state your value proposition.
-Example: "Bookkeeping Made Simple for Growing Businesses"
-If you have a phone number, location, etc. fill it out to the fullest of your ability- you don’t want it to look like it's not a real business or not active.
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Specialties section: Highlight core services for better discoverability.
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Custom button: Direct visitors to your website, booking page, or lead magnet.
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Content strategy: Regularly share updates, industry tips, client successes, and insights.
-Mix text, visuals, links, articles, and videos.
Click here to link to How to Dial Up Your LinkedIn Presence Part II: Lead Generation, Posts & Best Practices.
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A heartfelt thank you to Paige Wiscombe, the Idaho Women's Business Center Program Director at Business Impact NW. For more information or to connect with Paige, contact: paigew@businessimpactnw.org or visit www.businessimpactnw.org
The Idaho Women’s Business Center (IWBC), hosted by Business Impact NW, provides entrepreneurs and small business owners across Idaho with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to start, grow, and sustain successful businesses. Through one-on-one business coaching, practical workshops and classes, cohort programs, and connections to valuable resources and partners, we support entrepreneurs at every stage—from exploring a business idea to navigating growth and expansion. Our services are available statewide and are offered free or at low cost, helping ensure that high-quality business education and support are accessible to entrepreneurs regardless of where they are in their business journey.
Learn more about the Idaho Mediation Association here and about becoming a certified professional mediator here.
