Want to be seen on LinkedIn? Then start with an absolute “EYE CATCHING” LinkedIn headline. Here we look at how to master a headline and 25 examples to get you started.
Quick Facts
- Your LinkedIn headline is your first impression to the reader
- Use eye-catching phrases that set up apart
- Updating and optimising your LinkedIn headline regularly
- A/B test your headline to see trends in user views
Don’ts
Keyword stuffing in your LinkedIn headline confuses employers in the long run. Avoid vague language that dilutes your message and doesn’t get attention. Grammar mistakes can affect search results and leave a bad impression on employers.
A LinkedIn headline should be about what you offer not what you want. Just mentioning your job title doesn’t make you stand out. Don’t use phrases like ‘Seeking Opportunities’ or ‘Currently Unemployed’.
Common LinkedIn headline mistakes can cost you opportunities. Using too many titles confuses core competencies. Lying may give you short term benefits but can give you long term problems. Don’t use offensive language in your headline.
What is a LinkedIn Headline?
A LinkedIn headline is part of your LinkedIn profile that summarises who you are professionally, your skills and experience. Below your name and profile picture this short summary is one of the first things people see when they visit your profile. A good LinkedIn headline will help you stand out from the crowd, get more visibility in search results and attract employers or clients.
A good LinkedIn headline should be short, specific and impactful. It should include keywords that describe your profession, skills and experience. Instead of just saying “Marketing Professional” a better headline would be “Digital Marketing Expert | SEO Specialist | Content Strategist”. This shows what you specialise in and makes you more searchable.
A great headline should grab attention and make the reader want to know more about you. It should be unique and stand out from the crowd, your personal brand and professional value. And by optimising your headline for search visibility with keywords will make your profile more discoverable.
In this post we will show you how to write a great LinkedIn headline to help you achieve your career goals. Whether you’re a job seeker, a professional or an entrepreneur a good LinkedIn headline is a powerful tool in your career toolkit.
Why is a LinkedIn Headline Important?
Your LinkedIn headline is the first thing recruiters see so it’s crucial to get it right. It appears in multiple places on LinkedIn such as job applications and news feeds so it’s more visible. A good headline is therefore key to search visibility and opportunities.
In a crowded job market a good LinkedIn headline gets you more visibility and leaves a big impression on recruiters. It summarises who you are professionally and attracts job opportunities by grabbing attention and engaging readers.
A good LinkedIn headline gets more visibility, attracts opportunities and leaves a lasting first impression. It’s a short summary of who you are professionally, next to your name in search results. This small but powerful space to show who you are and why you matter.
What to Include in a LinkedIn Headline
Creating a good LinkedIn headline goes beyond just stating your job title; it’s about combining your current role, main skills and unique value proposition into a story. This makes your headline informative and engaging.
Your current job title explains who you are professionally. Showing main skills with keywords makes you more discoverable by recruiters. Highlighting your unique value proposition makes you different and shows what you offer.
Your Current Job Title
Including your current job title in your LinkedIn headline links your profile to your career goals and relevant opportunities. It’s good for job seekers and professionals in their field so you get the right attention and opportunities.
If your job title doesn’t match your career goals a slight tweak can convey your aspirations without being misleading. For example an “Account Manager” looking for a “Sales Leadership” role might change the title to “Account Manager | Aspiring Sales Leader”.
Including relevant achievements and credentials in your LinkedIn headline will help establish your credibility and get attention from potential connections.
Show Your Main Skills
Using keywords in your headline makes you more discoverable by recruiters. Keywords are searchable and visible. Your LinkedIn headline should start with a keyword summary of your roles and responsibilities.
Job titles like “Web Developer”, “Content Writer” and “Business Analyst” should be in your LinkedIn headline as core skills. Showing these skills is key to getting employers attention. In demand skills to show are Web Development, C++ & C Programming, Content Writing and Python.
Check job descriptions or use tools like Jobscan to find the right keywords for your LinkedIn headline. Jobscan’s LinkedIn Optimisation tool can help you create a stronger profile by optimising keywords, increasing searchability and appealing to employers.
Show Your Unique Value Proposition
A unique value proposition in a LinkedIn headline makes you stand out by highlighting your specialisation or experience. It briefly explains what makes you different and valuable to your target audience so you can stand out in the market.
Aanchal’s headline combines professional identity, specialisation and notable achievements, gets engagement. Showing a personal mission along with professional titles makes a headline more engaging. Clear and concise messaging conveys your value.
Personal elements make your LinkedIn headline more human and approachable. Showing soft skills demonstrates problem solving, time management and attention to detail. Rhetorical questions can engage readers and get them to connect with you.
How to Create a Good LinkedIn Headline
Your LinkedIn headline should be a personal ad, summarising who you are and what you offer. Try to create a great LinkedIn headline by combining your professional roles with personal passion to get employers and clients.
If your job title doesn’t match your career goals tweak it slightly to fit your aspirations without being misleading. There’s no formula; try different approaches to see what works.
Use action words to get engagement and show results. Send a survey to your audience to get feedback on your LinkedIn headline.
Industry Benchmarks
Creating a good LinkedIn headline means knowing industry benchmarks to make your profile stand out. In demand skills from job listings will help you choose the right skills to show. Review and analyse feedback to make data driven changes and improvements.
Your LinkedIn headline should cater to job seekers needs while considering industry norms and expectations so it’s relevant and attractive to employers.
Facts and Flair
Show the value you bring in your LinkedIn headline, including numbers and results. Use emojis and hashtags sparingly. A good call to action gets more engagement.
Your specific LinkedIn goals will dictate your headline so tailor your approach accordingly. Adjust the headline formula to fit your personality. Chris uses every character in his headline to get attention.
Facts and flair makes your headline informative and engaging, shows your achievements and your personality and passion.
Job Seeker Headlines
A job seeker’s headline should focus on skills and unique value proposition. Headlines that show skills get more visibility and attract employers. Keywords are key to getting visibility in LinkedIn search.
An HR Manager’s headline might include keywords like HR, Management, Communication and Development. A Teacher transitioning to curriculum development might use keywords like Teacher, Curriculum Development and Classroom Engagement. A lawyer moving to sales should show revenue increase achievements, legal expertise and negotiation skills.
Customer service professionals should use keywords like Customer Service, ZenDesk and Communication in their headline. Executive Assistants should use keywords related to Executive, Leadership and Management to attract employers.
Nurses moving to marketing should show marketing certifications and results from previous campaigns. Unemployed Graphic Designers should focus on current skills, their role and how those skills benefit employers.
Sales Headline Examples
Sales headlines should be short, show what they do and what they offer. To show brand authority include your current job title and the brand you work with.
Sales professionals own headline show achievements and specific sales keywords.
IT Headline Examples
A good LinkedIn headline for IT professionals shows technical expertise to employers. For example a headline for a ‘Data Scientist’ might include keywords like Data Science, Healthcare and Big Data to get relevant job offers.
How to Change Your Headline
Customising your headline can make prospects see your profile in a different light, more appealing and relevant. Your headline should grab attention, show who you are and what you have done and highlight your specialisation.
To change your headline go to your profile, click the edit icon next to your photo, headline section, type in your new headline and save. This simple process keeps your profile up to date and relevant.
After you’ve changed your headline upgrade the rest of your profile to keep it consistent. Get feedback when you’re writing your headline to clarify and improve it. This whole process will give you a cohesive professional brand.
How to Measure Your Headline
Visits to your profile can show how well your headline is working. The number of times your profile appears in search results is a key metric to measure. Changing your headline will change the number of search appearances so it’s a measure of improvement.
Getting comments or feedback from connections on your headline can give you insight into how well it’s working. Using analytics tools specifically for LinkedIn will help you measure how your headline performs.
Measuring your LinkedIn headline is key to make sure it’s working and getting the right opportunities.
A/B Testing Your Headline: Data-Driven Optimisation:
Having a clear objective for A/B testing helps to narrow down the variations to test. When creating variations for A/B tests make sure to change only one element at a time, e.g. wording or tone, so you can see what works with your audience. Using random sampling ensures the audience is split evenly so the A/B test results are reliable.
The length of an A/B test should be long enough to gather enough data to reach statistical significance, not to make conclusions based on chance. To get valid results from A/B testing headlines should be tested long enough to collect enough data to analyse. In A/B testing it’s good to have a primary and a secondary key performance indicator to get a full picture of the headline’s impact.
Try different headlines and you’ll find what works. This process will help you refine your approach and make sure your LinkedIn headline is as powerful as possible.
Debunking Headline Myths
Many professionals underestimate the importance and impact of their headline. People think a simple statement about their job is enough; but that limits visibility and opportunity. To have a unique headline you need to follow the best practice rules.
Using the default headline limits your professional branding as it often misses the keywords. A good LinkedIn headline should be more than just a job title; it should have keywords, showcase your unique value proposition and be targeted to your audience.
By debunking these myths you can have a better and more powerful headline.
Conclusion
Creating the perfect LinkedIn headline is a mix of art and science. It’s about summing up your professional brand, showcasing your skills and highlighting your unique value proposition. A strong headline gets you visibility, attracts opportunities and leaves a lasting impression on recruiters. Follow the tips and examples above and you’ll transform your LinkedIn profile and stand out in a crowded job market.
Remember your headline is more than just a job title; it’s your personal ad. Update and optimise it as your professional journey evolves. With the right approach your headline can be a career accelerator.
