there<\/em>. So why should I bother now?<\/p>\nWell, sure, if you don\u2019t customize your headline, LinkedIn won\u2019t just leave it blank \u2013 instead, it\u2019ll default to your company and job title. There\u2019s nothing wrong with that, per se; lots of people do it.<\/p>\n
But doing the same as everyone else won\u2019t help you stand out.<\/p>\n
So don\u2019t take the easy option. Customize your headline and give people more of a reason to click your profile.<\/p>\n
Tips for Creating Sales-Friendly LinkedIn Headlines<\/h2>\n
Now that we’ve covered the value of a custom LinkedIn headline, here\u2019s how to do it:<\/p>\n
1. Consider Your Audience<\/h3>\n
As with anything in sales and marketing, you should start by thinking about the people you\u2019re speaking to.<\/p>\n
Who are you hoping to attract? What messaging would compel them to click?<\/p>\n
As a super simple example, you can see that my LinkedIn headline includes the phrase: \u201cWe\u2019re hiring!\u201d Obviously, I’m predominantly speaking to candidates here, because we\u2019re hiring and I want to find exceptional people. But it\u2019s also an added trust factor for companies that might want to buy our product \u2013 they can see we\u2019re hiring, which shows we\u2019re a growing business.<\/p>\n
There are other considerations here, too. Depending on your industry, there might be some specific terminology that would help you stand out \u2013 maybe a certification, or an award, or an accreditation.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, you\u2019ll already have developed some detailed buyer personas, so you should have a good idea who you\u2019re writing for and what they want to see.<\/p>\n
2. Use Language That Resonates<\/h3>\n
As an extension to my last point, you also want to write in a way that truly speaks to your audience.<\/p>\n
Say your product is super techy, but your average buyer isn\u2019t technical at all. Don\u2019t drop in a bunch of tech jargon or complex terminology, because they likely won\u2019t be familiar with it (or even if they are, they may not understand it).<\/p>\n
On the other hand, you should definitely incorporate the sort of words your audience would <\/em>use. Describe yourself and the value you add in terms that resonate with them.<\/p>\n3. Highlight Your USPs\u2026<\/h3>\n
With limited space to stand out, you should focus on the stuff that really sets you and your company apart from the crowd.<\/p>\n
For instance, let\u2019s say you\u2019re a delivery company. Your USP is all about value \u2013 you pledge to deliver the same service as your rivals, but for a smaller fee.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the sort of thing that makes for a compelling LinkedIn headline, especially if you can put some numbers to it. Don\u2019t just say you\u2019re cheaper; say you\u2019ll undercut the competition by 5%.<\/p>\n
4. …But Don\u2019t Be Arrogant<\/h3>\n
Sure, you want to express your value proposition and differentiators with confidence. But you definitely don\u2019t want to come across as arrogant \u2013 no one likes a know-it-all!<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t say anything you can\u2019t support with clear evidence. And if you can\u2019t <\/em>back something up, it definitely shouldn\u2019t be one of your USPs.<\/p>\nLinkedIn has published a list of the most common buzzwords<\/a> used in people\u2019s profiles. Here\u2019s the top ten:<\/p>\n\n- Specialized<\/li>\n
- Experienced<\/li>\n
- Leadership<\/li>\n
- Skilled<\/li>\n
- Passionate<\/li>\n
- Expert<\/li>\n
- Motivated<\/li>\n
- Creative<\/li>\n
- Strategic<\/li>\n
- Successful<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You should generally avoid these words \u2013 not only do they sound arrogant, they\u2019re also pretty meaningless (especially if everyone else is using them too).<\/p>\n
5. Demonstrate the Value You Add<\/h3>\n
What are the things you do that add genuine value for your customers? The traits and behaviors you display that make the biggest difference?<\/p>\n
Again, these characteristics can really set you apart from the competition \u2013 provided they have meaning.<\/p>\n
Consider leaning on your LinkedIn recommendations for inspiration here. For instance, let\u2019s look at a couple of mine:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A few things stand out there, like:<\/p>\n
\n- I\u2019m driven by data<\/li>\n
- I know a lot about content marketing<\/li>\n
- I give insightful advice and recommendations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Those could all be factors to emphasize in my LinkedIn headline. And best of all, I\u2019m not being arrogant, because they\u2019re not even my words!<\/p>\n
6. Keep it Simple<\/h3>\n
Above all, don\u2019t over-complicate your headline.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve only got 120 characters to play with, so you should concentrate on communicating one simple idea. Try to cram in too many angles and you risk confusing everyone.<\/p>\n
A handy tip here is to speak your headline out loud. Does it make sense? Would the average person in your audience derive real meaning from it?<\/p>\n
If not, it\u2019s a bad headline.<\/p>\n
What to Avoid in Your LinkedIn Headline<\/h2>\n
I\u2019ve already given you a few words to avoid in your LinkedIn headline.<\/p>\n
As a more general pointer, bear in mind that whoever your audience is, they\u2019re on LinkedIn, which is ultimately a platform for business networking.<\/p>\n
Standard business writing best practices apply here, just like if you were writing for cold email outreach. That means you should typically keep away from:<\/p>\n
\n- Excessive capitalization: <\/strong>You might think it adds emphasis to your messaging, but in reality it just looks like you\u2019re shouting.<\/li>\n
- Emoji: <\/strong>They\u2019re informal, so unless your audience research tells you that your buyers love <\/em>them, you should steer clear.<\/li>\n
- Jargon: <\/strong>Rather than helping you sound professional, jargon often comes across as lazy or uninformed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2 Templates for Writing a LinkedIn Headline That Drives Sales<\/h2>\n
I\u2019ve given you a bunch of theory-based advice. Now, let\u2019s get more practical.<\/p>\n
Here are a couple templates you can use to structure your headline. Don\u2019t feel you have to stick to them religiously \u2013 you don\u2019t want to restrict yourself unnecessarily. But they can provide helpful inspiration for crafting a compelling message that fits the tight character count.<\/p>\n
1. [Job Title] | Helping X do Y<\/h3>\n
In this template:<\/p>\n