LinkedIn Profile Checklist for Founders: 10 Fixes Before You Post

LinkedIn profile checklist for founders: 10 fixes before you start posting

Every post you publish and every connection request you send leads people back to one place: your profile. If it is vague, out of date or all about your job title, good content gets wasted. Before you start posting, spend an afternoon on these 10 fixes.

Start with your ICP

A good profile is written for someone. Before you change a word, be clear on your core offer and your ideal customer profile (ICP): the kind of company and person you want to work with. Every fix below gets easier once you know who is reading.

The 10 fixes

1. Profile photo → Use a recent, clear photo where your face is easy to see. LinkedIn says a profile photo makes your profile more credible because people can see who you are when you send them an invitation.
   
   

2. Cover image/Banner → The space behind your photo is free advertising. Use it for one clear line about who you help and how, not a stock city skyline.
   
   

3. Headline → Your headline shows in search results and does not have to be your job title. "Founder at [Company]" tells people nothing. "Helping [your ICP] [get a result]" tells them why to connect.
   
   

4. Custom URL → LinkedIn lets you set a custom public profile URL, first come, first served. Use your name, so it looks clean on your website, email signature and slides.
   
   

5. About section → LinkedIn describes this as the place for your mission, motivation and skills. Write it to your ICP: the problem you solve, how you solve it, why you do it, and what to do next.
   
   

6. Featured section → Pin your best proof here: posts you have written, articles, links to your website or a booking page, and media like a short deck or video.
   
   

7. Services or a custom button → You can add services to your profile through a Service Page, so people see what you offer. Some Premium subscribers can add a custom button such as "Book an appointment" instead. You can have one or the other, not both.
   
   

8. Experience → Describe your current role in terms of who you help and the results you create, not a list of duties. Make sure your company is linked to its Company Page.
   
   

9. Recommendations → Ask a few happy clients or partners to write one. A short, specific recommendation from a real client says more than anything you write about yourself.
   
   

10. Contact info and next step → Add your website and make it obvious how to work with you. A person who likes what they see should not have to hunt for the next step.

Why this matters before you post or prospect

When you post, new people visit your profile to decide if they should follow you. When you send connection requests, people check your profile before they accept.

A clear profile turns both into an easy yes. A weak one quietly costs you connections and conversations you never see.

A quick self-check

Open your profile on your phone and look at it as a stranger in your ICP would:

• In 5 seconds → Can they tell who you help and how?

• In 30 seconds → Can they find proof that you are good at it?

• In 1 minute → Do they know what to do next?

If any answer is no, start there.

How The Better Post helps

Personal Profile Management starts with a kick-off call where we narrow down your core offer and your ICP, and we build the whole strategy around them. Your profile is the first thing prospects see when we send connection requests for you every day, so it has to speak to them. That is why profile setup is part of Personal Profile Management: we get your profile ready for your ICP before the first connection request goes out.

Personal Profile Management starts at $1,500 a month with a 3-month minimum. If you would rather do it yourself, Private Coaching is $250 per 2-hour session, and we build your plan together. Not sure where your profile stands? Book a discovery call and we will tell you where to start.