Building Credibility on LinkedIn (Without Being Cringe)
26 May, 2025
4 min read
Most technical founders avoid LinkedIn. It can feel awkward, fake, or like it takes too much time. But you don’t need to be an influencer to make LinkedIn work for you. A simple, low-effort presence can build trust with prospects, partners, and even future hires.
Here’s how to show up without selling your soul:
Why it matters
When you email a prospect or investor, they’ll likely check your LinkedIn. If it’s blank or outdated, that’s a red flag. But a solid profile and occasional activity show you’re legit, engaged, and serious.
63% of execs use social media to research vendors.
92% trust companies more when founders are active online.
82% of job candidates look up the CEO before joining.
Start with the basics
Think of your profile like your startup’s landing page:
Photo & Banner: A clear photo (friendly, not fancy). Banner with your company name or what you do.
Headline: Say what you do and who you help. E.g. “Co-founder @ToolX – helping data teams manage pipelines.”
About section: Brief intro, what your startup does, and why you care. Include traction (e.g. “Backed by YC” or “Serving 100+ teams”).
Experience: Describe your company and what it solves. Add any past relevant roles or projects.
Credentials (optional): List open source work, talks, or recognitions that back up your expertise.
Post without pressure
You don’t need to post every week. Just show up sometimes with something real. Some ideas:
Milestones: Hit 50 customers? Launched a new feature? Share it simply: “Excited to onboard our 50th team at [Startup]. Grateful to our early users – learning a ton about [problem space].”
Industry thoughts: Read something interesting? Drop a one-liner with a link. Or comment on someone else’s post.
Team/customer shoutouts: Highlight your team’s work or a customer win (with permission).
Founder reflections: Not “we’re disrupting the space!!” — just real updates. “Debugged a nasty issue today. Shoutout to the team for pushing through.”
Even 1–2 posts a month is enough if they’re helpful and honest.
Stay active without overdoing it
Be consistent: If someone checks your profile, seeing a recent post helps. No need to go daily. One thoughtful post a month is fine.
Engage with others: Comment on relevant posts. Support peers. People notice who’s paying attention.
Don’t stress reach: You don’t need 10K followers. A few right people noticing is enough — buyers, talent, or investors.
Avoid influencer traps: No need for dramatic stories, empty quotes, or “hustle culture” fluff. Be yourself.
Long-term benefits
Buyers feel warmer when they’ve seen your name before.
Talent feels reassured when they see an active, thoughtful founder.
Investors and peers remember you when you post occasionally in your space.
Final takeaway
LinkedIn doesn’t have to be a chore or a performance. A clear profile and a few authentic posts go a long way. Think of it as your quiet professional presence — not for fame, but for trust. And in sales, hiring, and partnerships, trust moves the needle.