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Welcome to Part II of our two-part series, How to Dial Up Your Linked In Presence. Part I covers setting up and optimizing your profile pages. Part II focuses on lead generation and networking, visuals and media, creating posts, and best practices. Idaho Mediation Association is grateful for the opportunity to share with our community this step-by-step guidance from expert Paige Wiscombe, Idaho Women's Business Center Program Director at Business Impact NW. USING LINKEDIN FOR LEAD GENERATION & NETWORKING
Why: LinkedIn helps you proactively connect, nurture relationships, and convert contacts into clients. Lead generation checklist
Daily engagement: Spend 10-15 minutes engaging with relevant posts, sharing valuable comments, and networking.
Content creation: Share posts or articles at least 2-3 times weekly to establish expertise.
Showcase expertise: Offer value-driven insights relevant to your target audience.
Connection strategy: Regularly invite relevant prospects and industry peers to connect with you and include personalized messages.
Open LinkedIn and go to the search bar located at the top-left of your LinkedIn homepage.
Enter relevant keywords. Type specific terms related to your target market or industry, i.e. "small business owner.” "graphic designer," "mental health counselor,"
Use the 'People' filter. After hitting Enter, click the "People" button to focus results only on profiles.
Refine with additional filters. Click "All Filters" to narrow down results by:
Example message: "Hi [Name], I noticed we both have been engaging with Women’s Networking events, I’d like to connect" OR Hi! We both attended X recent event and I wanted to meet you. Let’s connect!
6. Follow-up & engage. Once connected, periodically engage with their posts, comment thoughtfully, and nurture the relationship organically.
Using these steps will help you strategically build a valuable network and connect authentically with ideal prospects or partners.
7. Use messaging: Use LinkedIn messaging for genuine interactions. Avoid immediate and automated sales pitches. DO NOT SPAM people.
Practice: Search for a company you WANT to do business with. Find a “2nd” level connection. Send a connection invite. Who did you choose and why? ENHANCING YOUR LINKEDIN PRESENCE WITH VISUALS & MEDIA Why: Visuals significantly increase engagement and make your content memorable. Media checklist
Videos: Short introduction or explainer videos, client testimonials, or behind-the-scenes glimpses.
Portfolio links: Share examples of your best work (websites, graphic design portfolios, success stories).
Documents & PDFs: Upload resources or lead magnets that position you as an expert.
Relevant links: Add your website, booking pages, social media links, or online stores.
Share articles: If you already post blogs, make sure to also add them to the LinkedIn Article Sections
Best practices
It’s important to include your “take” on why you posted something. Resharing your comments about “why” you’re resharing helps connections know you and what you stand for.
When you comment, use 7-11 words in your comment to help drive visibility and keep your comment at the top of their comments section.
Practice: Spend one minute scrolling to find something you think stands out on your feed. Reflect on what works and how you can apply it to your own feed. SAMPLE AI PROMPTS FOR CREATING LINKEDIN POSTS
ALWAYS edit your results from AI to make sure they are YOUR voice and remove things like the long dash, overused emojis, etc.
Practice: Choose a prompt suggestion. Which suggestion appealed most to you and how you can apply that to your own business? ONGOING LINKEDIN BEST PRACTICES
Consistency is key. Set a calendar reminder to regularly update and engage.
Balance professionalism with authenticity.
Track engagement to learn what resonates with your audience.
Include your WHY as to the purpose of your post. I am sharing this article because.... I loved this event because.... I recently did X and am sharing because... Your why helps people know you and understand how you might work well together.
Practice: What did you learn today that will be most beneficial to your business?
Now you're ready to optimize your LinkedIn presence and amplify your business reach!
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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.
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:
Build credibility and professional authority.
Generate leads and attract the right clients. LinkedIn is the number one platform for B2B marketers.
Grow professional connections and partnerships.
Gain market insights and competitive intelligence.
Support recruiting and talent attraction.
Drive visibility on search engines (SEO), making your business easier to find.
Did you know?
Two-thirds of LinkedIn users engage with business pages weekly.
Four out of five LinkedIn users drive business decisions and LinkedIn’s audience has 2x the buying power of the average web user.
97% of B2B marketers use LinkedIn for content marketing.
LinkedIn’s cost per lead is 28% lower than Google AdWords
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
Professional headshot: Friendly, clear, approachable. Avoid being too casual.
Banner image: Branded or visually appealing. Reflect your industry or brand.
About section: Conversational, friendly, showcasing your passion, experience, and unique value.
-Include keywords related to your services for search visibility.
-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]”
Experience section: Concisely highlight your roles and the value you bring to clients.
Skills & Endorsements: List key skills relevant to your services and encourage endorsements.
-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
Recommendations: Request testimonials from satisfied clients.
-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
Company logo: Clear and professional.
Banner image: Branded, informative, engaging visuals.
Company tagline: Briefly state your value proposition.
About section: Clearly describe what your business does, your unique selling points, and include relevant keywords.
Specialties section: Highlight core services for better discoverability.
Custom button: Direct visitors to your website, booking page, or lead magnet.
Content strategy: Regularly share updates, industry tips, client successes, and insights.
Click here to link to How to Dial Up Your LinkedIn Presence Part II: Lead Generation, Posts & Best Practices.
By Julie Black-Henry, CPM Idaho Mediation, LLC
As a certified professional mediator and paralegal with nearly 21 years of experience in the Idaho Family Law Sector, I know working with the Court can be intimidating. Court-ordered mediation processes and procedures differ from non-court-ordered mediation, and understanding the unique steps of each is vital to productive mediation.
The following guide offers recommended processes and procedures of court-ordered and non-court-ordered mediation, as well as best-practice dos and don’ts. They are taken from my IMA 2025 Annual Conference last September titled, “Dos and Don’ts of Mediation.” I hope you find them helpful.
Process and procedures of court-ordered mediation
Process and procedures of non-court-ordered mediation
1. Check for any conflicts of interest with the parties. 2. Provide each party with an Intake form(s), if applicable, to complete and return to you. 3. Schedule the initial mediation session(s). 4. At the onset of your Mediation session, have each party sign an Agreement to Mediate (also known as an Informed Consent to Mediate) and/or review the Agreement to Mediate with the parties. This must be signed and consented to, to continue with your mediation session. 5. If an agreement is reached, draft an MOU and review it with the parties. Then email it to the parties to review with their individual legal counsel. 6. Once approved, provide the final MOU to the parties for signature or email it to their attorneys for execution with the Court, if applicable.
Best practices dos of mediation
1. Set up mediation with positive expectations from the beginning. 2. Explain your Agreement to Mediate, your process during mediation, and the expectations you have during your mediation session. 3. Acknowledge emotions, values, and positions. 4. During the mediation session, identify:
Costly don’ts of mediation
IMA President Nancy Haug stated in the August newsletter, “Being a student of mediation means commitment to growth through ongoing training, skill development, practical experience and networking.”
With that in mind, you may find the IMA’s most recent member survey results of interest. In July, we posed the following questions to IMA members:
1) Please select the number one reason you joined the Idaho Mediation Association.
The vast majority, 77.5 percent of IMA members who participated in the survey, joined IMA for Certification or education. This is no surprise considering it is the initial reason I joined this organization in 2020. You can read more information about IMA certification and education on the IMA website.
2) What are your number two and three reasons?
Most survey participants (65 percent) chose Community as the number two reason for joining the IMA and Seal of approval or perceived influence (42.5 percent).
The IMA Community is invaluable to me and to so many other mediators and legal professionals. Community feedback is also invaluable, which is why the IMA Board of Directors continues to seek and incorporate community input into our planning. In late 2024, the IMA board and staff, along with the support of WRG Corporate Services, an independent third-party consultant, developed and adopted the three-to-five-year IMA Strategic Plan.
As students of mediation, the IMA board committees have been tasked with prioritizing and implementing the organization's strategic goals and objectives. To provide the IMA community with the IMA experience that best meets your needs, we will continue to seek and implement your feedback. Thank you to all who take the time to participate in helping us strengthen the IMA experience. See you online September 25 and 26 at the IMA 2025 Annual Conference!
By David Pelligrinelli
I'll bet that you can think of a conflict or dispute in your life that you wish you could make go away. And you are not alone, it is likely that everyone you know, from family, friends, colleagues, and co-workers, each has some type of friction with another person that is ongoing. It could be a minor squabble over an expense all the way up to a major row regarding a large life issue.
Any type of dispute, left unresolved, can and will create further problems for all the parties. It will occupy attention in your mind, displacing other productive thoughts and ideas. The problem will escalate between the parties, collecting other unrelated issues, dragging them into the conflict. It will also ensnare those around you, forcing them to be counselors to hear your frustrations, or to take a side.
Thankfully, there are steps that any person can take to dissolve a festering disagreement and free the distraction. Even as professional mediators, we each have pending squabbles that we all wish to improve.
The first and most important step is to create emotional distance from the personal insult you feel about the conflict. Even if there is legitimate disrespect from the other party, dwelling in that hurt will interfere with any resolution. Put that aside, the best that you can, before doing anything else. In a formal high level conflict resolution, such as a mediated litigation, that is the primary role of the mediator or arbitrator, to be an emotional buffer between the disputants, a neutral third party without a "dog in the hunt." So if you are working on a personal conflict, be your own mediator first, and go into "don't take it personal" mode. This is much easier for me to say, than for you to actually do.
Second, look at all the facets of the conflict, and identify which ones are already in agreement, or functionally close. Then isolate the remaining items which have a larger delta.
Third, begin a dialog with the other party, and ask them to describe their point of view on the matter. Let them talk, filibuster, and run off from the mouth for longer than you are comfortable with. Certainly, do not accept verbal abuse or insults, but the more that you can diplomatically let the other side be heard, you will find that many of the disputed points will magically melt on their own.
Last, address the remaining items with "what if" suggestions. "I am not sure if I could make this work, but what if I was willing to (state your offering), would that be a good place to make this work for us?" Throughout the process, introduce intermittent examples of very firm direction, and even glimpses of dominance, to let the other party that you are being responsible for leading the conversation.
If you combine the patience of a saint, the insight of a teacher, and step out of your own defensiveness, you will be able to perform the magic trick of conflict resolution.
If you are a professional mediator reading this, share these ideas along with your own elevated knowledge of conflicts to those in your personal circle. Everyone has a need to extract themself with honor from a dispute. If you are a person who is interested in the field of conflict resolution and mediation, follow our association and consider joining for regular skill building and networking information.
If you are a general human being, use these tips to try and de-escalate the disputes in your life, or consider involving a professional mediator to take the pressure off of yourself.
Welcome to IMA Member Spotlight, where we take a closer look at individual IMA members and why they became mediators.
Meet IMA board member Julie Black-Henry, a certified professional mediator (CPM), senior paralegal and owner of Idaho Mediation, LLC. Her 20 years of experience as a paralegal and work as a court-approved instructor inform her mediation practice.
Here are a few questions IMA posed to Julie and her responses: Q: When and why did you become a mediator?
A: I became a CPM in October 2022 because I have always enjoyed helping clients come to a resolution as a paralegal in their cases. I decided since I assisted clients for years in doing so, that I would make it official and become a CPM.
Q: When and why did you join the IMA?
A: I joined IMA four years ago to become a "Certified Professional Mediator" and be added to the Idaho Supreme Court List of Child Custody Mediators.
Q: What types of mediation do you practice?
A: Primarily Family law cases; however, I have experience in all civil cases, including evictions, workplace mediation, and church conflicts.
Q: Are you a CPM in any other states?
A: I am a CPM in Idaho only, and have provided mediations in Oregon, Washington and California.
Q: When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?
A: I love spending time with my children and grandchildren, going to sporting events and concerts. I spend as much time as I can outdoors and enjoy what Idaho has to offer.
Q: What is one tip or piece of advice you would like to share with other mediators?
A: Being a mediator is like learning a new job every day. Each mediation session is different, and each person's situation is a little different. Understanding that every scenario does not fit in one box will make you a successful mediator. Q: Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
A: I have been a paralegal for almost 20 years and teach a course called Bridging Two Homes for all counties in the State of Idaho that is ordered by the courts. I am co-owner of Idaho Mediation and Resolution Center, Inc, a local Non-Profit 501c3 Organization assisting the community with mediation services, restorative justice practices, and training needs.
Q: Please share with us one fun fact about yourself.
A: I am a ride-or-die DODGERS FAN.
Thank you, Julie, for participating in our IMA Member Spotlight!
As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I understand that divorce presents difficult decisions—especially when it comes to the family home. My approach is to keep things simple yet strategic with the K.I.S.S. principle—Knowledge, Insight, Strategies, and Solutions. I’ll help you navigate the complexities of divorce mortgage planning, ensuring that the choices you make today support both your immediate needs and long-term financial well-being. Whether you’re looking to keep, sell, or refinance your property, I’m here to provide clear guidance and a solid plan for the future.
Let’s work together to take the stress out of your real estate decisions: https://divorcebriefings.com/KISS
#DivorceMortgagePlanning #RealEstateInDivorce #CDLP #FinancialFuture #DivorceSupport
Meet mediator Leigh Barer, current Secretary on the IMA Board of directors and Chair of the Communications and Fundraising Committee. Leigh is a Certified Professional Mediator who passionate about helping people resolve conflict. She focuses on family law mediations and is listed on the Idaho Supreme Court roster of child custody mediators. Leigh has a deep communications background and extensive experience solving complex communication challenges. Here are a few questions IMA posed to Leigh with her responses:
Q: When and why did you become a mediator?
A: I earned my professional mediator certification in 2021 because I enjoy helping people resolve conflict.
A: I have been a member of IMA for 4 years (I think). I joined IMA to be at the forefront of mediation in Idaho, become a certified professional mediator, and connect with the mediation community.
A: I focus on family law, such as divorce, parenting time, elder care as well as landlord-tenant, small claims, and restorative justice.
A: I enjoy long walks, hiking, travel, and time with family and friends.
A: Don’t be afraid to reach out to other mediators for feedback, and be a mediator who is willing to share your insights. I am fortunate to have had mediators share their expertise with me.
Q: Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
A: I was a communications executive for many years prior to working in mediation.
A: Chocolate is my therapy!
Thank you, Leigh, for participating in our IMA Member Spotlight!
The annual election of officers and directors of the Idaho Mediation Association will be held via online vote from October 6-12, 2024. The following positions will be elected to serve for two-year terms:
President Secretary 3 Directors
President
Secretary
3 Directors
President and Secretary candidates must be CPM members who have either served on a committee for two years or previously served on the board of directors. Director candidates must be CPM or general members in good standing.
If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else, please complete the attached form and submit it to admin@idahomediationassociation.org by September 15, 2024.
IMA Officer and Director Nomination Form
Welcome to IMA Member Spotlight, where we take a closer look at individual IMA Members and what inspired their career in mediation.
Meet mediator David Pelligrinelli, an IMA board member and owner of Eagle, Idaho-based Telemediator.com. An individual of many talents, David is a licensed private investigator, a certified real estate title examiner, a licensed commercial insurance producer, a licensed building general contractor, and a certified commercial surety bond producer. He brings his diverse background and creative thinking to his work on the IMA Board.
Here are a few questions IMA posed to David with her responses:
A: In 2022, I became a mediator to facilitate the resolution of conflicts in business contracts.
A: Topromote a more widely adopted understanding of mediation among the general public.
A: Corporate conflicts and financial disputes.
A: I enjoy off-road driving.
A: Look for the existing common ground and build upon that commonality.
A: Almost everyone has something they could use a mediator for, almost always.
A: I've climbed to 10,000 feet above sea level and enjoy diving to 300 feet below sea level.
Thank you, David, for participating in our IMA Member Spotlight!
For more about Telemediator.com, visit https://telemediator.com/.
To learn more about becoming a certified professional mediator, click here.
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