10 Ways to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile as an LGBTQ+ Speaker to Attract Clients
Your LinkedIn profile is how you can stand out to as an LGBTQ+ speaker.
It’s more than just another social profile — it’s your chance to be discovered, make connections, and land paying clients. If your profile is barely filled out, you’re missing out on potential gigs. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for showing your value.
Here’s how to turn your LinkedIn profile into a client magnet.
1. Headline: Speak to the Pain Points of Your Audience
Your headline isn’t just your job title.
It’s your billboard and SEO tool. Instead of just writing “LGBTQ+ Speaker,” clearly communicate what you do and why someone should care. Focus on how you help your target audience.
For example: “Helping Organizations Create Inclusive Workplaces | LGBTQ+ Speaker on Authentic Leadership and Diversity”
This tells potential clients exactly what you offer and how you solve a specific problem. Don’t be vague. If you specialize in corporate talks or diversity workshops, say so. The more precise you are, the better.
2. About Section: Tell a Story That Sells
Your About section is where you get to shine.
This isn’t the place to list your achievements. It’s where you connect with potential clients on a personal level. Start with a hook — a sentence or two that grabs attention. Then, tell your story.
Highlight your journey as an LGBTQ+ speaker, but tie it back to how you can help organizations or individuals.
For example: “I help startups create inclusive cultures through impactful storytelling and powerful presentations.”
Then, briefly outline your expertise. Keep it conversational, and don’t be afraid to show personality.
3. Custom URL: Make It Easy to Find You
If your LinkedIn profile URL is a random string of letters and numbers, it’s time to clean it up.
A custom URL not only looks professional but also makes you easier to find. Change it to your name or your business name for consistency across platforms. You don’t need to get fancy here.
Here’s how to do it: Go to your LinkedIn Profile and to the right you will see ‘Edit Public Profile & URL,’ select the option to create a custom URL. Ideally, it should look like this: linkedin.com/in/YourName.
4. Profile Photo and Banner: Visuals That Reinforce Your Brand
First impressions matter, and your profile photo is a huge part of that.
Choose a professional, high-quality headshot where you look approachable yet confident. Make sure your face is clear and the background is not busy. You want potential clients to see you as someone they can trust to speak at their event.
But don’t stop at the photo.
Your LinkedIn banner is prime real estate for reinforcing your brand. Use this space to showcase your niche as an LGBTQ+ speaker. For example, you could create a banner that features your tagline or a photo of you speaking at an event. Add in a Call-To-Action to drive traffic where you want it to go.
5. Featured Section: Show Off Your Work
If you’re not using the Featured section, you’re leaving money on the table.
This section lets you showcase the content that speaks for itself — videos of your talks, client testimonials, published articles, or interviews. As an LGBTQ+ speaker, your featured section is where potential clients can see you in action.
Upload a video clip of you speaking at an event or your highlight reel.
Nothing is more convincing than seeing you do what you do best. If you don’t have a video, start with articles or blog posts that showcase your knowledge on diversity, inclusion, or leadership. This is alway where I recommend creating an Educational Email Course to add here so you can build your email list.
6. Experience Section: Results, Not Responsibilities
Your Experience section should not read like a traditional resume.
Clients don’t care about the day-to-day tasks of your previous jobs — they care about results. Focus on what you achieved as a speaker and how it impacted the companies or organizations you worked with.
Instead of saying, “Delivered workshops on inclusive leadership,” be more specific: “Led 10 workshops on inclusive leadership, helping over 500 managers create more diverse and psychologically safe teams.”
Numbers matter. Quantify your results wherever possible to show the real impact of your work.
7. Skills & Endorsements: Stack the Deck in Your Favor
Your Skills section is another opportunity to optimize for the clients you want to attract.
Think about the skills that matter most to the people who hire you. If you’re an LGBTQ+ speaker, focus on skills like public speaking, diversity and inclusion, and leadership. Add industry specific skills where relevant.
Here’s how to take it a step further: Get endorsements for these skills. Reach out to past clients, colleagues, or fellow speakers and ask them to endorse you for these specific skills. The more endorsements you have, the stronger your profile looks.
8. Recommendations: Let Others Do the Talking
Nothing is more persuasive than social proof.
The Recommendations section of your profile is where you let others sing your praises. Ask past clients or colleagues to write a recommendation that speaks directly to the results you delivered.
Here’s what to do: Reach out to 3–5 people you’ve worked with and ask for a recommendation.
Make it easy for them by mentioning the specific project you worked on together or the result you helped them achieve. The key here is quality over quantity — strong, detailed recommendations are more powerful than generic ones.
9. Content Strategy: Stay Active and Engaged
If your LinkedIn profile is a ghost town, it won’t matter how optimized it is.
To attract clients, you need to stay visible and relevant. Post content regularly — whether it’s your thoughts on the latest trends in your industry or personal posts of where you’re speaking at next. Don’t forget to comment on other people’s posts too.
This is where many speakers will hire a ghostwriter to help with posting and staying on top of the latest viral trends.
Here’s how to get started: Share a post once a week. This could be a condensed version of an article you’ve written, a short video with a speaking tip, or a personal story that ties into your work as an LGBTQ+ speaker. The goal is to keep showing up in the feed so potential clients discover and remember you.
10. Call to Action: Tell Them What to Do Next
Finally, don’t leave potential clients guessing.
Your profile needs a clear call to action. Make it easy to schedule a call, sign up for email, or learn more. Create 1–3 CTA templates to include on all of your posts.
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile isn’t just about looking good — it’s about attracting the right clients who are ready to pay you for your expertise. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to turning your LinkedIn profile into a client-generating machine.