ilovegarden
Member
There have been a few threads here lately about the LinkedIn messages Influential Women sends out, the media company that profiles women business owners and leaders. Most of the talk has been about whether to reply. I wanted to flip it around and talk about what to do if you decide to say yes, because preparing a little can make the finished piece a lot more useful to you.
The big thing to remember is that a profile is only as good as the story you bring to it. Interviewers can shape and polish, but they can't invent the details that make a business stand out. If you show up with clear answers and a few specific examples, you'll end up with something you're proud to share.
Here's how I'd prepare:
1. Know your origin story. Be ready to explain in two or three minutes why you started, what you were doing before, and the moment you decided to go for it. Specific details stick with readers more than general statements do.
2. Pick one or two wins. Think of a project, a client you helped, or a milestone you hit. Something concrete shows what you do better than a list of services.
3. Be honest about challenges. Readers relate to the hard parts, like slow seasons, hiring trouble, or learning the business side. A feature that only talks about success can read like an ad.
4. Know what makes you different. Is it your quality, your customer service, your eco-friendly approach, or how you treat your team? Have one clear answer ready.
5. Gather your assets. Have a good headshot, your logo, your website link, and the social profiles you want included, so nothing holds up publishing.
6. Ask the practical questions. Before the interview, confirm the format, where it will be published, the timeline, whether there's any cost, and whether you can review it for accuracy before it goes live.
Once it's published, the work isn't really done. Share it on LinkedIn and your other social channels, add it to your website's About or Press page, and mention it in your email signature for a while. Send it to a few loyal customers too, since they're often happy to see a business they support getting recognized. A feature that gets shared does a lot more than one that sits on a single page.
It's also worth keeping expectations reasonable. A profile is a credibility piece first. It helps people trust you when they're already looking you up, but it isn't the same as an ad campaign. Treated that way, it can be a nice addition to your marketing.
If you've done one of these interviews, I'd love to hear what you'd add. What questions did they ask? Was there anything you wish you'd prepared for? Any tips, good or bad, will help the next person who gets that message.
The big thing to remember is that a profile is only as good as the story you bring to it. Interviewers can shape and polish, but they can't invent the details that make a business stand out. If you show up with clear answers and a few specific examples, you'll end up with something you're proud to share.
Here's how I'd prepare:
1. Know your origin story. Be ready to explain in two or three minutes why you started, what you were doing before, and the moment you decided to go for it. Specific details stick with readers more than general statements do.
2. Pick one or two wins. Think of a project, a client you helped, or a milestone you hit. Something concrete shows what you do better than a list of services.
3. Be honest about challenges. Readers relate to the hard parts, like slow seasons, hiring trouble, or learning the business side. A feature that only talks about success can read like an ad.
4. Know what makes you different. Is it your quality, your customer service, your eco-friendly approach, or how you treat your team? Have one clear answer ready.
5. Gather your assets. Have a good headshot, your logo, your website link, and the social profiles you want included, so nothing holds up publishing.
6. Ask the practical questions. Before the interview, confirm the format, where it will be published, the timeline, whether there's any cost, and whether you can review it for accuracy before it goes live.
Once it's published, the work isn't really done. Share it on LinkedIn and your other social channels, add it to your website's About or Press page, and mention it in your email signature for a while. Send it to a few loyal customers too, since they're often happy to see a business they support getting recognized. A feature that gets shared does a lot more than one that sits on a single page.
It's also worth keeping expectations reasonable. A profile is a credibility piece first. It helps people trust you when they're already looking you up, but it isn't the same as an ad campaign. Treated that way, it can be a nice addition to your marketing.
If you've done one of these interviews, I'd love to hear what you'd add. What questions did they ask? Was there anything you wish you'd prepared for? Any tips, good or bad, will help the next person who gets that message.