Have you noticed that right at the top of your LinkedIn profile, next to your headshot, there’s a 120-character headline? No? You’re not alone. If you’re like the majority of LinkedIn users, you will have simply let the site populate your headline with the default information of your current job title and employer.
But it’s time to make a change because you could be missing out on one of the most simple and effective ways to stand out on LinkedIn.
The great news is that your LinkedIn headline is quick and easy to change.
Why your LinkedIn headline matters
If you Google yourself (or if anyone else Googles you), the chances are that your LinkedIn profile will be high up in the search engine results. Your headline could make all the difference as to whether someone clicks through to your profile.
When it comes to sales pieces, eight out of ten people read the headline; only two out of ten read the rest of the copy. Your LinkedIn profile is very much a sales piece in that it markets who you are and what your value proposition is to potential employers or customers. Your headline is a one-time only chance to grab attention, spark curiosity, promote your brand statement, communicate your core marketing message and showcase your expertise. And you have just 120 characters to get it right (no pressure!).
If you leave your LinkedIn headline as your job title and current employer, the chances are that you won’t entice anyone to read beyond it to find out more about you.
Crafting a compelling LinkedIn headline
It’s worth spending some time on your LinkedIn headline to get it right, simply because it’s arguably the most powerful part of the page with its sole purpose of acting as a hook to keep people reading.
Think about the following points before you start writing:
Who is your target audience?
What are they most likely to care about?
What is your speciality?
What is your value proposition? In other words, what do you bring to your employers or clients?
What keywords will people use to find you?
How can you show your creativity?
Ask yourself ‘so what?’ about every word you include in your LinkedIn headline. Why does that word or benefit matter to someone who might be looking for your skillset? If you can’t answer ‘so what?’ with a good reason, then that word needs to go.
What LinkedIn headlines make the best impression?
There are some fabulous examples of well-crafted headlines on LinkedIn. Broadly speaking, effective headlines are those that:
Highlight your expert status, e.g. Web copywriter loved by humans & search engines. Page 1 on Google & 500%+ web traffic increase in past 12 months.
Demonstrate your niche, e.g. Speech & Language Therapist| Specialising in aphasia & swallowing in young stroke survivors
Talk straight to the customer, e.g. Need an interview-winning CV? A professional CV writer securing interviews for professionals of all levels
Showcase your creativity or add a dash of humour, e.g. Award-winning children’s book illustrator who creates unique, quirky characters (& completely unbeatable at Pictionary)
So, hands up, is your LinkedIn headline your job title and current employer or have you grabbed the opportunity to stand out from the crowd with both hands? Why not share your headline in the Comments section below?
Lis McGuire
Latest posts by Lis McGuire (see all)
- Confused about your next steps? - December 18, 2020
- Struggling with listing achievements on your CV? Try this. - June 19, 2019
- Informational Interviews: A ‘How to’ Guide - October 26, 2016
Trackbacks/Pingbacks