By Wildfire PR
LinkedIn gets a bad rap these days-–and, well, fair enough. It’s become a blend of business advice, baby photos, and “I almost didn’t post this…” confessionals. Somewhere between the hustle memes and life lessons from airport delays, it’s easy to forget:
This platform is mighty powerful.
With over 1 billion users and 67 million companies, LinkedIn is still the place to be for startups that want to tell their story, attract investors, hire top talent, or catch a journalist’s eye.
And the best part? It won’t cost you a penny. Just a bit of strategy. And maybe some tolerance for inspirational hashtags.
In the latest edition of our PR for Startups blog series, we’re sharing four easy actions you can take today to turn your LinkedIn presence into a PR engine. No copywriters, content calendars or cringe posts necessary.
1. Optimise your profile
A strong founder profile = instant credibility.
Start with a clear, confident headline like: “Founder @ [Startup] | Solving [Problem] in [Industry]”
This makes it immediately clear what you do and why it matters.
Next, write a concise but compelling summary. Focus on what your company does, the problem you’re solving, and what stage you’re at. Avoid jargon where possible.
Then, add links to anything that builds credibility: pitch decks, press coverage, launch posts, award wins, or even an open job listing. This gives profile visitors an easy way to explore your momentum.
And yes, your photo matters––data shows that LinkedIn profiles with a photo can get 21x more views and 36x more messages. You don’t need a professional headshot and these days you can use AI to generate a corporate profile picture (so no need to use that blurry group pic from Glastonbury 2018.)
2. Publish some content
You don’t need a Series A announcement to post. Share early wins, product updates, founder reflections, or that “why now” story you keep telling investors.
Imagine you’re a pre-seed healthtech founder sharing weekly product updates. You’re building in public, and one day, a niche newsletter editor or early-stage VC stumbles on your post. That’s traction you didn’t pay for.
Carousels are great for storytelling. Polls spark engagement. Short videos? Perfect for behind-the-scenes glimpses.
And don’t forget to tag your team, investors, or partners. Posts that @ collaborators get 56% more engagement, and more eyeballs from people outside your immediate network.
3. Comment on someone else’s post
This is one of the most underrated LinkedIn tactics. The algorithm rewards engagement, and commenting thoughtfully is the fastest way to get noticed by the right people without posting anything yourself.
Don’t just hit “👏.” Instead:
- Ask a smart question
- Add a unique perspective
- Share a quick personal anecdote related to the post
The goal: be visible. You never know, a smart take on an investor’s post about AI ethics could land you a DM that could lead to a real-world intro or pitch conversation.
4. Follow a journalist
Start by following two to three journalists who cover your sector. Like their posts. Comment when you have something to add. Signal you actually read their work.
Many journalists use LinkedIn to:
- Source early-stage startup stories
- Track industry momentum
- Find quotable experts for trend pieces
So, make sure your own feed reflects progress. Post about launches, team growth, first customers, community impact, basically anything that says; “There’s something interesting happening here.”
You can even tag journalists if you’re commenting on a topic they regularly cover.
Ready to take the plunge and post?
Your LinkedIn presence is often the first impression you make as a founder. Startups that use it well build trust, attract talent, and open doors to media coverage.
You don’t need to be a thought leader. You just need to start. If you haven’t already, update your profile, post something real, and join the conversation. You never know who might be watching.
About Wildfire
They’re an award-winning PR agency partnering with technology companies worldwide to transform ambition into action. Their ‘Think Bold’ approach blends boundary-pushing creativity with data-driven insights, empowering clients to launch meaningful campaigns that deliver standout results.
If you would like to get in touch with Wildfire PR and claim a free consultation or PR audit, get in touch today or email ec@wildfirepr.com.