ilovegarden
Member
I keep seeing people mention LinkedIn messages from Influential Women, the media company that profiles women business owners and leaders. Since a few threads here have touched on it, I wanted to start one aimed at smaller businesses, because I think the value looks a bit different when you're a solo owner or running a small crew.
For a bigger company, a media feature is one more logo on the press page. For a small business, it can be one of the few third-party pieces that actually tells your story. That's where I see the upside. A well-written profile gives you something credible to link from your website, your Google Business Profile, your LinkedIn, and your email signature. When a new customer is comparing you with two other local companies, having an outside source describe how you started and what you stand for can tip things in your favor.
There's also the personal side. A lot of small business owners never get asked to talk about their journey. An interview makes you put into words why you started, what you've learned, and what makes your work different. Even apart from the published piece, that exercise can sharpen how you describe your business on your own site and in sales conversations.
That said, I think it's worth going in with clear expectations. A feature on its own probably won't flood you with leads overnight. Its real value is usually in how you use it afterward: sharing it, pinning it, linking it, and mentioning it when people ask about you. If you publish it once and forget about it, the impact will be smaller.
So here's what I'd suggest anyone think through before replying to one of their messages:
1. Your goal. Are you after credibility, visibility, or a piece of content you can reuse? Knowing that helps you judge whether it's a fit.
2. The format. Ask whether it's an interview, a written profile, or both, and where it will be published.
3. Cost and terms. Find out up front whether it's free or part of a paid package, so there are no surprises on the call.
4. Reuse rights. Make sure you can share it on your own channels and quote it on your site.
5. Past features. Look at a few recent profiles and see whether those owners are still proudly sharing them. That's a good sign the pieces are worth having.
I'd love to hear from small business owners who've been through it, especially in trades and local services like ours. Did it help with credibility or customer trust? Did you get any calls or messages from it? And if it didn't make much difference, that's useful to know too.
Honest experiences of any kind will help the next person who gets that LinkedIn message and isn't sure what to do with it.
For a bigger company, a media feature is one more logo on the press page. For a small business, it can be one of the few third-party pieces that actually tells your story. That's where I see the upside. A well-written profile gives you something credible to link from your website, your Google Business Profile, your LinkedIn, and your email signature. When a new customer is comparing you with two other local companies, having an outside source describe how you started and what you stand for can tip things in your favor.
There's also the personal side. A lot of small business owners never get asked to talk about their journey. An interview makes you put into words why you started, what you've learned, and what makes your work different. Even apart from the published piece, that exercise can sharpen how you describe your business on your own site and in sales conversations.
That said, I think it's worth going in with clear expectations. A feature on its own probably won't flood you with leads overnight. Its real value is usually in how you use it afterward: sharing it, pinning it, linking it, and mentioning it when people ask about you. If you publish it once and forget about it, the impact will be smaller.
So here's what I'd suggest anyone think through before replying to one of their messages:
1. Your goal. Are you after credibility, visibility, or a piece of content you can reuse? Knowing that helps you judge whether it's a fit.
2. The format. Ask whether it's an interview, a written profile, or both, and where it will be published.
3. Cost and terms. Find out up front whether it's free or part of a paid package, so there are no surprises on the call.
4. Reuse rights. Make sure you can share it on your own channels and quote it on your site.
5. Past features. Look at a few recent profiles and see whether those owners are still proudly sharing them. That's a good sign the pieces are worth having.
I'd love to hear from small business owners who've been through it, especially in trades and local services like ours. Did it help with credibility or customer trust? Did you get any calls or messages from it? And if it didn't make much difference, that's useful to know too.
Honest experiences of any kind will help the next person who gets that LinkedIn message and isn't sure what to do with it.