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LinkedIn is a highly effective platform for generating leads and landing sales. So effective, in fact, that an estimated 80% of social media B2B leads are generated on LinkedIn. However, there are many different elements that contribute to an effective profile for lead generation. In separate articles, we’ve covered some of the basics of constructing a profile. In this one, we’re going to take a detailed look at the best LinkedIn headlines for sales – an area that is often overlooked. If you want to make a good first impression, you need to read on.
What is a Headline on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn headlines are the sections at the top of users’ profiles that describe that person. They’re limited to 120 characters or less, and they appear in various different parts of the platform.
Your LinkedIn headline is one of the essential parts of your profile. No matter what type of account you have (whether for sales or personal use), it’s often one of the first things people see. It appears both underneath your picture on your profile page and next to your name in search results.
By default, LinkedIn populates your headline with your current job title and company name. As a result, many people leave it as it is, not even knowing that you can change it. In reality, it’s as simple as clicking on the ‘Edit’ icon on your profile page and updating it.
There are many different approaches to these headlines, and they can be used for a variety of purposes. Most people incorrectly assume that they’re only for your job title, but in reality, it has a much broader scope than that. However, with just 120 characters to play with, you have to really think about what information to include in there.
What Should an Optimized Headline Include?
When thinking about optimized LinkedIn headlines, there are a few elements to consider. First and foremost is your target audience. Who are you hoping will see your headline and be compelled to interact with your profile? For the purpose of this article, we’re looking at sales and lead generation, but it could also be for a personal career profile.
Whoever your audience is, the goal of having an optimized headline is to convey as much information and be as eye-catching as possible, without just spamming keywords.
So, what to put in a LinkedIn headline? Well, there’s no exact answer, but there are a few examples of things you might want to include:
- Use job titles that everyone will recognize. Use industry-specific terms, so readers will instantly know what you’re all about.
- Include relevant keywords to your position. Don’t just use a string of meaningless keywords, but instead use ones that will help you appear in relevant searches.
- A tag line or description of how you can help potential leads. For example, ‘helping professionals in X industry achieve their goals of Y.’
- Factual information without bragging. Avoid words like ‘best,’ ‘expert,’ and other adjectives. Focus on your tangible achievements.
Part of your goal here is to make sure that your entire LinkedIn profile is optimized for search engines. This SEO means that when people search for keywords associated with your industry, your profile is more likely to show higher up the list.
The Importance of Having a Good LinkedIn Headline
There are many reasons you want to craft a good headline for your LinkedIn profile. Many of these reasons apply to both individuals and sales teams, as they often have the same effect. When you’re creating a LinkedIn profile, it can be easy to skip this step. But by taking the time to research the best LinkedIn profiles, you’ll see that many make use of this feature.
Perhaps the biggest draw of a good headline is that it makes you stand out from the crowd. It’s highly likely that there are many salespeople in your niche, most of whom will have the same ‘Job Role at Company’ headline. By creating something unique, you’re immediately recognizable, which can increase conversions.
This recognition can increase the chance that leads will engage with you. You’re not just another face in the crowd, another sales manager in a sea of salespeople. Instead, you’re an authentic and interesting option.
The second reason is that it makes you more visible in searches, whether on LinkedIn or search engines. By including industry-relevant keywords that complement your job title, you will have more visibility to more people. As part of good profile SEO, your headline should help people find you.
Effective LinkedIn Headline Examples for Sales
Now that we’ve looked at how to write a LinkedIn headline, it’s time to examine some examples. By looking at how other professionals have crafted their profile headings, we can deconstruct why they’re effective.
It’s impossible to say exactly what you should put in your headline for a sales profile. However, by looking at what others have done, you can get insight and inspiration into what works. We’ve selected some of the best LinkedIn headlines for sales to give you precisely that:
LinkedIn Headline Example 1
With this profile, we learn three crucial bits of information from the headline. The first is the person’s job role – it’s the default setting for a reason. The second is what this person’s experience and goals are, helping retailers to grow online. The third is the area in which they operate. All of these elements combine to make a highly effective headline.
LinkedIn Headline Example 2
This profile manages to include a lot of information within a short character limit. Not only do we learn about the person’s job role and where it’s at, but we also see some of the keywords that are associated with their role. This brings added value to the profile, as anyone searching for any of those terms are likely to find this person.
LinkedIn Headline Example 3
Although shorter than many other examples, this person manages to include the key information about their role, experience, and sectors. It gives potential leads a clear indication of the kind of work and fields that this person operates in. It’s short enough to quickly scan, and the keywords mean they appear in multiple relevant searches.
LinkedIn Headline Example 4
With this profile, you can once again learn a lot about the person and their experience and motivation. As well as giving their job role and company, the short blurb about their expertise encourages readers to click through to the rest of their profile.
LinkedIn Headline Example 5
With this headline, you once again see a lot of key information, as well as a short blurb about them. We see their position and role, their experience, and their mission statement. There are also some vital keywords included, making this a model of how to write a LinkedIn headline.
Start Writing Your LinkedIn Headline Today
So, we’ve looked at some of the key elements that go into making a good headline for LinkedIn. It’s clear that, although this is a short space, it’s an important and effective tool for salespeople and other professionals. Often, it can be you first and only chance to make an impression.
Spending the time to work out what to put in a LinkedIn headline can be more than worth it. An effective profile can be invaluable when it comes to generating leads on LinkedIn.
As we’ve seen by looking at some of the best LinkedIn headlines for sales, they often have a few things in common. They utilize the space well, expand on more than just their job role, explain how they can help leads, and stand out from the crowd.
Now that you have this knowledge, it’s time to optimize your profile headline. Is it working as hard as it could do? If not, you have to go back to the drawing board and come up with something that’s going to attract attention.
FAQs
Q. How do you write a professional headline?
A. The important thing is to avoid spamming keywords and bragging. Be honest in what your goal is, and fit relevant phrases in. For example, ‘Helping X professionals achieve Y in Z field.’
Q. What is a catchy headline?
A. This depends a little on your niche and your aims. There’s a lot to be said for keeping things simple. Include your role and company, your niches, and what you can bring potential leads.
Q. What should your LinkedIn headline say when unemployed?
A. It’s worth using this as an opportunity to find work. You could update it to say something like, ‘Currently looking for positions in X industry…’. You could also just leave your professional title and what your goal is, leaving out the fact you’re unemployed.
Q. How do I summarize myself on LinkedIn?
A. There’s no cut and dry answer on this, as there are too many variables. However, you should look at similar professionals on the platform and identify the ones that have good headlines. Also, think about the most relevant keywords that you want to appear for and make sure to include them.
