Your LinkedIn headline is the first introduction that a user gets to your page. This tells them who you are and what you do, so you want to make a strong impact.
However, you only get 220 characters (or likely less before someone stops reading) to do so. Overwhelming, right?
Throughout this article, we’re going to talk more about what a LinkedIn headline means for your profile, how to write one that makes a splash, plus several LinkedIn headline examples throughout that will help get your wheels turning.
Let’s get started.
What is a LinkedIn Headline?
A LinkedIn headline is a micro description that sits right below your name on your LinkedIn profile. As you can see below, my own LinkedIn headline states that I am a Freelance writer for SaaS & marketing brands.
Your LinkedIn headline can be up to 220 characters in length and is meant to quickly introduce you and what you do to potential connections on the platform.
And because LinkedIn is a professional social media site, those connections likely consist of potential employers, colleagues, and clients. So giving a clear and concise description of what you do is key.
Why Your LinkedIn Headline is Important
Why does your LinkedIn headline matter? Here are a few reasons why you should continue reading so you know how to write a headline that counts.
- Your headline is one of the first things people see when they visit your LinkedIn profile, giving them an immediate impression of who you are, even before they get to your summary and work history.
- Your headline also appears alongside your posts and comments in the LinkedIn feed and search results, letting people see exactly what you do before they even click to your profile.
- It helps provide other users with a first impression of you, which is useful when searching for a new job or clients to work with.
- Immediately showcase your value proposition so others want to work with you.
- Use your headline to set yourself apart from the competition (i.e., others in your role) by sharing your results and experience.
- Including keywords in your headline can help your profile rank higher in search results, allowing even more users to find you.
- An interesting headline increases the chances that someone you’ve sent a connection request to will accept.
How to Write an Impactful LinkedIn Headline
Write a LinkedIn headline that grabs attention, increases your connections, and helps you get the results you’re aiming for with your LinkedIn strategy. Follow these tips and guidelines to create the perfect headline for your profile.
Highlight What You Do
Easy enough, right? Your first step is going to be to share exactly what you do. You have two different options for doing this:
- Listing your job title within your headline
- Writing a sentence that describes what you do
Here’s an example of the first option, where this user chose to include her job title plus a few other roles she has:
And here’s an example of the second, where this user has simply described her job in a single sentence:
It often makes sense for LinkedIn users who are self-employed to use the second one and for users who have a specific role within a company to use the first. Test each option to see which works best for you.
Just make sure it’s easy to understand and clearly states what you do. Calina Ardelean, social media manager at Textmagic, explains, “Too many people use unicorn titles like, ‘Growth Wizard,’ ‘Synergy Ninja,’ or ‘Happiness Alchemist.’ It may sound cool, but does it mean anything? A headline should help people instantly understand what you do.”
Include Your Primary Skills or Expertise
After you’ve included your job title or quick synopsis of what you do, you can add additional keywords that share your primary skills or expertise. What else do you have to bring to the table if a company were to hire you?
Here’s an example of what this might look like. This user first included her main role, which is “UGC Creator,” before then adding a couple of additional skills to her headline:
A few other anecdotes you could include here are:
- The industry/ies you work in
- Secondary job roles
- Specific areas of expertise
Share Professional Achievements
Include major achievements or certifications you’ve received that further boost your expertise and credibility. This is also a great way to highlight your own value proposition or unique experience that you can bring to the table.
This user does a great job with this by sharing that they’re an Emmy award winning journalist right in their LinkedIn headline:
Or, you can simply share how many years you’ve been working in the industry, like this user does below, to further bolster your value:
Keep It Clear and Concise
Yes, you have 220 characters, but you don’t want to be too verbose. Anyone reading your LinkedIn headline should have an immediate understanding of what you offer professionally.
Take a look at this example. Although this user has a full sentence within her headline, she’s written it in such a clear and concise way that we know exactly what she has to offer.
This example takes a different approach. Instead of a sentence, this user has listed out her roles and experience without using additional descriptors, making it very straightforward and to the point.
As Arvind Rongala, CEO at Edstellar, says, “Make your headline clear, precise, and outcome-driven. Steer clear of ambiguous terms and concentrate on the impression you make. Rather than ‘Marketing Expert,’ for instance, consider ‘Helping Brands Drive Engagement Through Data-Backed Strategy.’”
Use Keywords
Your LinkedIn headline also assists with your profile’s SEO, so incorporating relevant keywords from your industry can help others find you in search results.
To find the best keywords, scan job descriptions in your niche or look at other thought leaders within your industry to see what words they’re using. Incorporate some of those same keywords into your own headline.
You can do this by simply listing some keywords that pertain to your expertise, like we see in this example below, where Rosanna has included keywords like “long-form content” and “B2B SaaS:”
Or, you can incorporate them into a sentence that flows a bit more naturally, like in this example where we see keywords like “drive traffic” and “strategic content creation:”
Add a Personal Touch
Inject a bit of your personality into your LinkedIn headline to give connections a quick glimpse into who you are. It doesn’t have to be all formal and professional descriptions. Adding a personal touch humanizes you.
Here’s an example below, where even when using professional keywords, we get a bit of personality with “Events, Content, + Campaigns Are My Jam:”
Or, below, by incorporating tidbits like “Your marketing big sister” or “Real-life Elle Woods,” we get a bit more insight into who this person is, beyond her work in the marketing world:
You can also incorporate emoji into your LinkedIn headline as a way to have even more fun with it. Here’s an example of what this might look like:
Ashot Nanayan, CEO and Founder of DWI, himself explains, “I suggest incorporating symbols or emojis strategically. While LinkedIn is a professional platform, well-placed symbols or emojis can draw the eye to your profile and make it more visually appealing.”
Let Connections Know What to Expect From You
Finally, consider including a bit of what you post on LinkedIn so that your new connections know what they can expect to see from you in their feeds.
This user below includes that she will be “Sharing insights on self-mastery, leadership, and decision-making frameworks” with her LinkedIn content:
And we have another great example below of a user who shares all of the knowledge he gains as he builds a media company and helps eCommerce businesses grow:
Put the Important Part First
Decide what matters most — whether it’s your current role, your value add, your years of experience, etc. — and make sure to put it first. This is because LinkedIn users will only see the first 35-65 or so characters in your feed or in search results, depending on whether they’re viewing on mobile or desktop.
They’ll only see your full headline by clicking to visit your profile, so you want the first several words to really grab their attention and get them to click or connect with you.
How to Change Your LinkedIn Headline
Ready to change your LinkedIn headline to something that will make a splash? Start by heading to your LinkedIn profile.
Then, click the pencil icon in the first section of your profile, like you see highlighted below:
A popup will appear where you can change your personal and contact information. Scroll down to find the “Headline” section.
Use the above tips, or LinkedIn’s AI suggestions, to write a headline that perfectly encompasses what you do in a compelling manner.
Then click Save and refresh your profile to watch your new headline in action.
6 More LinkedIn Headline Examples (& Why They Were Chosen)
Let’s look at a few more LinkedIn headlines, and why the users chose them as their headlines. Use these examples and explanations as inspiration for creating your own impactful LinkedIn headline.
Ilya on his LinkedIn headline:
“I chose this headline because it clearly defines my expertise and the key areas I focus on. In B2B marketing, data-driven strategies are essential, and AI-powered tools have completely transformed how we approach marketing analytics, search, and social listening. This headline helps me stand out to professionals and businesses looking for insights in these areas while also making my profile more discoverable.”
Jase on his LinkedIn headline:
“I believe a good LinkedIn headline should do two things — tell people what you do and make them curious enough to want more. Instead of giving away everything upfront, it makes people want to click, explore, and ask questions.
“The intrigue aside, I also went with this headline because I do more than just one thing. I’m an entrepreneur, and I talk about building websites, scaling businesses, tax residency, structuring investments, and even outdoor and sports industries. If I just said “SEO Consultant,” I’d be putting myself in a box. And that’s not what I do. I don’t want to limit myself and neither do I want to cram 5 different titles in my headline.”
Scott on his LinkedIn headline:
“Your LinkedIn headline should be simple and true to who you are. There’s no need to stuff every skill or job title on there — less is sometimes more. Consider what truly embodies you. For instance, I’m an SEO/SEM expert and I run an agency, but I’m also an entrepreneur, a husband, and a dad. My headline doesn’t read like a long boring list of credentials. It’s professional, but personal, which makes it much more memorable.”
Angie on her LinkedIn headline:
“I want to attract people who have big ideas to share but need help communicating them, so that dictates the first sentence. Your first line needs to communicate what you offer, and who it’s for so that other users can decide if you are relevant to them.
“Then I give a little more shape and form to what that means with the second line, because people like to be able to categorize you. This is especially true for the potential referral partners in your network.
“The last two sentences provide the more tactical things I help with, but they’re more broad. There are a lot of LinkedIn ghostwriters and fractionals out there. But layering these on top of what I previously communicated differentiates me from the other options my audience has.”
Vassilena on her LinkedIn headline:
“My LinkedIn headline follows a strategic formula that combines role clarity (Content Strategist & Brand Messaging Craftswoman) with a clear value proposition (I help brands build meaningful relationships).
“It’s designed to both attract the right audience and create a subtle barrier for those who might not be a great fit. The focus on ‘meaningful relationships’ rather than just metrics or growth intentionally signals my approach to content and brand strategy — and I really want to work with people who follow the same approach.”
Monika on her LinkedIn headline:
“I use LinkedIn as a professional, not a thought leader or influencer of any kind. I prefer it when people know who I am, where I work, my job title, and my main areas of knowledge. I’ve also chosen to share some of my previous workplaces to immediately showcase my experience in both B2C and B2B as well as in data tech, fintech, and health tech industries. This means that people don’t need to scroll down to the bottom of my profile to understand my background.”
Create an Impactful LinkedIn Headline
Your LinkedIn headline is the first impression that users get of who you are and what you do. Make sure to take full advantage of that by highlighting your professional work experience and achievements upfront. Then, use these additional LinkedIn hacks to help you make the most of the platform.
