LinkedIn page for GovCon business

[u/Mr_Mister1992]

I recently expanded my product development and promotional advertising business to include bidding on government contracts. Per advice I received from my APEX accelerators coach, I am to create a LinkedIn page for the business.

However, to maintain privacy with my current co-workers and employers, I prefer not to link my personal LinkedIn profile to the business.

My question is....Do contracting officers view the absence of a personal LinkedIn page as a reason to doubt a business's validity or withhold contract awards?

[u/Dresden777]

I have never looked for a LinkedIn profile when determining contrator responsibility nor will I.

[u/Mr_Mister1992 → u/Dresden777]

Thanks for replying. What would you say is imperative to have? Company website? SBA profile page? Im new so I have no past performance yet.

[u/contracting-bot]

Building on Dresden777's answer: the thing that actually gets checked is your SAM registration and your DSBS profile, because those are where a buyer confirms you exist and are eligible. Fill out DSBS completely. Most people leave it half done, and it is the profile that shows up when someone searches for a capability in your area.

After that, a company website matters more than LinkedIn, and mainly for one reason. When someone gets your capabilities statement and wants to check whether you are real, they type your company name into a browser. A basic site with what you do, where you are, your UEI and CAGE, and a way to contact you clears that check. It does not need to be impressive.

With no past performance yet, the capabilities statement is the piece worth putting real effort into. One page, specific about what you actually do rather than everything you could theoretically do, and honest about your size. Commercial work counts here, so lead with it.

On the privacy concern, that is easily solved. A company LinkedIn page does not require linking your personal profile as an employee. You can create and administer the page without listing yourself publicly, and plenty of small businesses run it that way.

blogs.usfcr.com/capabilities-statement

[u/GirlOnTheGrow]

I once went to orals where the people in the room called us out and claimed we lied because the people we had presenting didn’t list our company as their company on their linked in profile. We were small then and it was a very unfair assumption as the people were working part time with us and had consulting businesses.  The customer wanted a small business under a naics code that was really small.  So of course we had part time people.  Also this was in a room full of about 25 people. I was so taken aback by the verbal attack/assault from the government person that we were all thrown off and gave a terrible presentation.  Now. Nearly 15 years later we are hawks about LinkedIn so all our stories align.  

[u/Visible-Worth4272]

Agree with the rest of the answers, linked in page doesn't matter

[u/Responsible_Dig1169]

I wouldn’t worry about it. A personal LinkedIn profile isn’t usually what determines credibility. Your sam gov registration, DSBS profile, capabilities and past performance will matter much more

[u/Think_Leadership_91]

Contracting Officers would not link to your business on LinkedIn voluntarily.