Create a Great LinkedIn Headline!

Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most visible sections of your LinkedIn profile.

Is it boring or does it tell your audience who you help, and what you can do for them?  Think about it in the concept of your elevator pitch; describe what you do and how you help others in the shortest time as possible.

What is a LinkedIn headline?

A LinkedIn headline is the section at the top of your profile where you can describe what you do in 120 characters or less. This appears next to your name in search results. LinkedIn will automatically choose your headline but if you customise yours, you’ll instantly differentiate yourself, giving prospects an interest in your products and services.

Ask yourself….

1. Which specific prospect do you help, what is their job title and are they based in a specific geographical location?
2. How do you help your prospect achieve their desired result?
3. What is the benefit/s as a result?
4. Add keywords that relate exactly to your industry and areas of expertise.  Using ‘strategic’ keywords will help you appear in more searches.  If you want your LinkedIn account to be a way that people discover you… place an emphasis on keywords¹.

Top tip….

Don’t have enough character space?  If you have an iPhone, edit your headline via your LinkedIn app as it gives you more character space than the normal 120 characters!  As I understand it, this is not available to other android phone users.

Once you have identified the above, it’s time to put that all together to create your perfect LinkedIn headline.

Let me summarise…

• Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most visible sections of your LinkedIn profile so make the most of it. 

• Who are your prospects?  How do you help them to achieve their desired results?

• What are the benefits as a result? 

• By using ‘strategic’ keywords, you’ll appear in more searches.

Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch, whether that’s for a bespoke LinkedIn workshop for you, your team either face to face or remote-based.  We also offer an outsourced social media marketing support service, helping you to get on with what you do best.

By Ann Davies, Director

¹ LinkedIn Help Centre (2017)