A professional headline on LinkedIn is more than just the text below your name. It's your online first impression, an introduction to who you are, and a hook that creates curiosity and interest in your profile. Here are five tips to help you craft a memorable LinkedIn headline that will captivate your audience's attention and encourage them to connect with you.
1. Use Keywords
Including the right keywords in your LinkedIn headline increases the chances of your profile showing up higher in search results. Think about the words your ideal client might use when searching for your services. Speak your client’s language and include these keywords in your headline.
Remember, you’re not writing a headline for yourself, but for your CLIENTS. So, avoid trying to be funny or creative if it’s not what your clients are looking for. Instead, help them understand that you are the solution to their problems!
2. Choose the Right LinkedIn Headline Style
Depending on your expertise, industry, and target clients, you might consider one of the following headline styles:
A. Person-centric: This style is great if you have an established personal brand or career. It highlights your accomplishments and establishes trust with future clients.
Examples:
Helped build over 100 professional brands | Best Selling Author |
Award-Winning Coach | Top Legal Voice | Best Legal Podcaster 2020 |
I’m sure you can see how these headlines are focused on the person and not on the client, yet they captivate attention as they are quite impressive.
B. Client-centric: If your goal is to attract more clients, focus on what you offer and to whom. Make it clear that you’re someone who can solve their problems.
Examples:
I help financial advisors ditch cold calls for warm calls and leverage LinkedIn and social selling to fill their pipeline.
I help solicitors, accountants, and financial advisors in using effective social selling techniques.
C. Keyword-centric: This style is ideal if you have a skill that people often search for on LinkedIn. Use keywords your clients use to find people with your skills.
Examples:
LinkedIn Training | Social Selling Expert | TEDx Speaker |
Website design | WordPress Expert | WooCommerce Integration |
D. Mission-centric: This is for those who are building a company brand or have a mission bigger than themselves. State your company’s mission as you would on your website.
Examples:
Empowering Youth Through Education | Striving for an Enlightened Tomorrow
Driving Sustainable Innovation | Committed to a Carbon-Neutral Future
3. Maximize Character Count
LinkedIn allows you to use up to 220 characters in your headline. Make use of this allowance to maximize the potential of being found by your prospective clients. Remember, you can mix and match headline styles.
4. Stand Out!
You want your headline to be attention-grabbing and invite people to visit your profile. So, make sure it stands out. Add an intriguing statement that encourages viewers to click on your profile.
5. Craft a Captivating Headline
Ensure your ideal client can immediately identify that you’re what they’re looking for. Use LinkedIn Advanced Search to check if your chosen keywords actually show up in the search. Monitor your profile visits, tweak your headline, and see what works best.
Now that you know how to write a captivating LinkedIn headline, don’t hesitate to start working on the best headline you can muster. Remember, your headline is your chance to make a great first impression and grab the attention of potential clients or connections. Make it count!
