Your LinkedIn headline is one of the first things people see when they view your profile. It appears right below your name and photo and serves as a quick introduction of who you are and what you do. Formatting your LinkedIn headline effectively can help grab attention and communicate key information about your professional brand.
LinkedIn Headline Character Limit
LinkedIn allows for 120 characters in your headline, including spaces and punctuation. This is equivalent to approximately 20-25 words. With this limited space, it’s important to choose your words carefully to maximize impact.
Formatting Considerations
Here are some formatting tips to optimize your LinkedIn headline:
- Lead with your current job title and company. Putting this information first establishes credibility and context.
- Use abbreviated versions of long job titles or company names to conserve characters if needed. For example, “Dir. of Marketing” instead of “Director of Marketing.”
- Add keywords relevant to your industry and role. Include terms that prospective clients or recruiters may search to find someone like you.
- Separate phrases with hyphens, vertical bars, or bullet points for readability.
- Use numerals instead of spelling out numbers to save space, such as 10X instead of ten years’ experience.
- Capitalize words appropriately for proper nouns but use sentence case otherwise for better flow.
- Prioritize essential information at the beginning since the available preview space is limited on small screens.
Headline Formulas
These are some commonly used headline formulas you can model for structuring your own:
- [Job Title] @ [Current Company] | [1-2 Key Skills/Areas of Expertise]
- [Job Title] | [Industry/Field] Professional | [Location]
- [Number] Years’ Experience in [Industry/Field] | [Job Title] | [Key Skills]
- [Job Title] – [Core Competencies] – [Industry]
Some examples using these models:
- Marketing Director @ Acme Co. | Digital Marketing | Brand Strategy
- Software Engineer | Machine Learning & AI Expert | San Francisco
- 10+ Years in Finance | Portfolio Manager | Investments & Risk Analysis
- Product Designer – User Research – Consumer Goods
Keywords to Include
Here are some examples of powerful keywords and phrases to incorporate into your LinkedIn headline when applicable:
- Industry/field (marketing, software engineering, healthcare, etc.)
- Areas of expertise and specialization (content strategy, project management, etc.)
- Certifications and credentials (PMP, CPA, etc.)
- Key skills (communication, leadership, etc.)
- Tools/systems you have experience with
- Type and level of role (manager, director, coordinator, engineer, analyst, etc.)
- Company name or type of companies worked for
- Years of experience
- Location/region
Power Verbs
In addition to keywords, using power verbs can help catch attention and communicate impact. Here are some examples:
- Led
- Managed
- Spearheaded
- Launched
- Grew
- Transformed
- Overhauled
- Championed
- Streamlined
- Revitalized
Some power verb examples:
- Led marketing team through website redesign
- Spearheaded 20% sales growth in one year
- Launched and managed new product line
Headline Variations
It can be helpful to create a few different versions of your headline that you can A/B test to see which resonates most with your target audience. You can also tailor your headline for specific positions you’re interested in.
For example, a marketer may have these options:
- Marketing Manager | Digital Marketing & Branding | San Francisco
- Director of Marketing @ Acme Inc. | Growth-Focused Strategist
- B2B Marketing Leader | 8+ Years Experience | SF Bay Area
The second headline puts more emphasis on being growth-oriented, which may appeal to startups looking for a marketing leader. The third headline stresses experience and location, which might be preferable for regional corporate roles.
Tips for Standing Out
Keep these tips in mind to help your LinkedIn headline grab attention:
- Emphasize unique attributes like awards won, thought leadership, multilingual skills, or prestigious affiliations.
- Quantify achievements or results when possible to demonstrate impact.
- Use creative phrasing like “passionate about” or “obsessed with” to show enthusiasm.
- Mention niche skills that set you apart from 99% of other applicants.
- Spotlight relevant hobbies or volunteer work that show desirable soft skills.
Some examples:
- Awarded “Top Performer” 3 Years in a Row | Director of Sales Leadership
- Passionate About Delivering 5-Star Customer Experiences | Hospitality Professional
- Teacher & Volunteer Youth Mentor | Elementary Education Leadership
Review and Refresh
LinkedIn allows you to edit your headline at any time, so periodically review and update it to reflect your current focus and goals. For example, you may tweak it when changing jobs or aiming for a promotion.
A fresh, compelling headline helps you stand out, showcases your value, and makes it easier for the right people to find and connect with you on LinkedIn.
By optimizing your 120 available characters with targeted keywords, achievement-focused messaging, and appropriate formatting, you can maximize your LinkedIn headline’s impact.