How LinkedIn Works and Why Entrepreneurs Should Be On It

LinkedIn has been a massive part of my work for over ten years, but here’s the deal—it wasn’t love at first sight.

Real talk? It took me forever to warm up to LinkedIn. I’m a millennial, and back when LinkedIn first started popping up, the vibe was very much “professional Facebook for your parents.” It felt old-school and kind of, well, boring. The general consensus was, “It’s a place to get a job and that’s it.”

Fast forward a few years, and I finally gave it a solid try. What happened? Game changer. Not just for me, but for my clients too. The amount of success I’ve seen using LinkedIn blew me away, and now I want to pass the torch and help you conquer this platform too. Whether you’re a new entrepreneur or already established, here’s why LinkedIn is your secret weapon.

1. LinkedIn Is Still a Hidden Gem

Sure, over 1 billion people are on LinkedIn, but hear me out—less than 1% of them actually share original content. Yep, it’s basically got “early Instagram vibes” written all over it. This means it’s still relatively easy to stand out and get noticed. The bar isn’t sky-high like on some other platforms.

When you share thoughtful posts, updates, or even just take the time to engage with others’ content, you’ll start to get on the radar of future clients, collaborators, and industry peers. You don’t have to spam people or try to be someone you’re not—just show up.

2. It’s Where Real Business Conversations Happen

Unlike other social platforms, LinkedIn is designed for professional connections. Nobody’s side-eyeing you for sliding into their DMs about work. Actually, they expect it! People are there for business, which makes your life as an entrepreneur easier.

You can also get LinkedIn to do some of the work for you by sharing your offer. How? LinkedIn lets you automate an out-of-office message, and I highly recommend turning it on all the time (not just when you’re away). Use it to share a quick intro about what you do or drop links to your services and lead magnets. That way, when someone connects with you, they immediately know what you’re all about.

3. Build Credibility and Get Found

You know how thorough people are when researching online these days, right? They don’t just look at your website (if you have one)—chances are, they’re Googling your name or heading straight to LinkedIn to dig around.

LinkedIn profiles rank high on Google, so if a potential client looks up your name, your profile is likely one of the first things they’ll see. If you’re not on LinkedIn, or worse, if your profile is incomplete, you risk losing trust before you even get a chance to talk to them.

But when your profile is optimized and looks professional, it instantly builds credibility. People trust what they see, and a great LinkedIn profile shows you’re legit, open for business, and ready to help.

4. It’s Like Having a Mini Website

Not ready to drop money or time into a professional website yet? No worries—LinkedIn’s got you covered. You can use your profile as a stand-in website or portfolio.

• Add links to your services, bookings, or freebies in the Featured Section.

• Use the About Section to tell people who you are, who you help, and why your work matters to them.

• List your services in the Services Section, so people can search for and even invite you to bid on projects.

• Collect recommendations (testimonials) from past clients for some added credibility and social proof.

• And more… (Feel free to check out mine, here)

Basically, LinkedIn gives you so many ways to showcase what you do without needing to set up a whole website infrastructure. It’s a win-win.

The Key to Winning on LinkedIn

Okay, so how does LinkedIn “work” behind the scenes? It’s basically one giant professional search engine. People type in job titles, skills, or specific keywords when they’re looking for someone to work with.

That means keywords are everything. If your profile is missing the right ones, you’ll have a harder time showing up in searches. Add industry-specific terms, tools, and phrases your clients are likely to use when looking for someone in your field.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick hack I love—use a prompt like this in an AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT):
"Act as a LinkedIn optimizer. Using the business focus or job title I provide ([insert here]), generate a list of industry-specific terms, tools, jargon, and keywords that potential clients might use to find someone like me."

And if AI isn’t your thing, stalk—err, research—your competitors. Pay attention to the words and skills they emphasize in their profiles, and think about how you can adapt that for your own business.

The Bottom Line

LinkedIn is more than just a social platform—it’s your chance to show up, stand out, and start conversations with the kind of people who can help your business grow. From acting as your website to making networking feel easier, LinkedIn does it all.

If you feel stuck and need help getting started, connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn or Instagram—I’d love to hear from you.

Also, I’ve put together the LinkedIn Glow-Up Course to take all the guesswork out of creating a killer profile. Think of it like a step-by-step guide with straightforward lessons, cheat sheets, and templates to help you shine. And the cherry on top? When you’re done, send me your LinkedIn profile link, and I’ll personally review it and give you tips to make it even better.

Don’t sleep on LinkedIn—put it at the top of your 2025 priorities. It’s time to invest in connections, visibility, and opportunities that will take your business to the next level.

Until next time,