How can you craft a unique and standout LinkedIn headline that not only boosts your personal brand and visibility but also sets you apart in a distinctive way? What will make your headline stand out and leave a lasting impression that’s uniquely yours?
Your LinkedIn headline is your digital handshake—aside from your banner, it’s the first thing people notice and what can set you apart in a crowded professional space. But how do you create a memorable, attention-grabbing standout LinkedIn headline that leaves a lasting impression?
Think Future-Forward: Your Career Trajectory Matters
Before crafting your headline, consider your career direction:
- Are you making a Career Pivot, shifting within your industry or field?
- Are you undergoing a Career Reinvention, transitioning into an entirely new industry?
Check out this helpful guide: Tips to Make Career Pivot or Reinvention on LinkedIn
Other scenarios to consider:
- Moving from 1099 (contractor) to W-2 (employee) or vice versa
- Shifting from corporate to nonprofit or higher education
- Transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce
- Simply refreshing your personal brand to attract new opportunities
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but I’ll walk you through a proven step-by-step process to help you craft a compelling LinkedIn headline.
Step 1: Start with a Strong Job Title (Keyword-Optimized)
Your first word should be a key job title. Use LinkedIn’s search bar to verify whether it appears as a Market Value Filter word in LinkedIn’s database.
Example for Job Seekers & Employed Professionals:
- Project Management (more commonly searched than “Project Manager”)
- Pro Tip: Use Google Trends to compare job titles and select the one with a higher search volume.
Example for Entrepreneurs & Business Owners:
- Business Coach (instead of self-proclaimed titles like “CEO” or “President”)
- Ask yourself: What would potential clients search for on Google or LinkedIn to find someone like you?
Step 2: Add Relevant Skills & Expertise (Keyword Optimization for LinkedIn Search)
After your job title, include keywords related to your expertise.
Example for Job Seekers & Professionals:
- Project Management | Leadership | Strategic Planning | Stakeholder Management | Risk Assessment (96/220 characters used)
Example for Entrepreneurs & Business Owners:
- Business Coach | Leadership Development | Goal Setting | Strategic Planning | Performance Optimization (102/220 characters used)
- Pro Tip: Use pipes ( | ) instead of commas to make your headline cleaner and easier to read.
Step 3: Craft a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) with ChatGPT for Impact
A compelling USP differentiates you from others in your industry. Here’s how to generate ideas:
Example ChatGPT Prompt for Job Seekers:
“Write a unique selling proposition of under 15 words for a LinkedIn headline using these keywords: Project Management | Leadership | Strategic Planning | Stakeholder Management | Risk Assessment. Include ‘agile methodologies’ and ‘team leadership’ in the USP.”
ChatGPT suggestions:
- Driving success with agile methodologies, team leadership, and strategic planning for seamless project execution.
- Driving success with agile methodologies, strategic planning, and team leadership to achieve project goals.
- Driving success through agile methodologies, strategic planning, and team leadership excellence.
Example ChatGPT Prompt for Entrepreneurs:
“Write a unique selling proposition (under 15 words) for a LinkedIn headline using these keywords: Business Coach | Leadership Development | Goal Setting | Strategic Planning | Performance Optimization. Include ‘growth mindset’ and ‘scaling the business’ in the USP.”
ChatGPT suggestions:
- Empowering leaders with a growth mindset to scale businesses and achieve strategic success.
- Empowering leaders with a growth mindset to scale businesses through strategic planning.
- Empowering leaders with a growth mindset to scale businesses through strategic planning and optimization.
Pro Tip: Generate multiple versions, then refine them with your personal style.
Step 4: Final Standout LinkedIn Headline Examples Tweaked with My Creativity and Thought Leadership (plus Emojis for Personality & Engagement)
Adding emojis can make your headline visually engaging. Use Emojipedia to find relevant ones!
Final Headline for Job Seekers & Professionals:
- Project Management | Leadership | Strategic Planning | Stakeholder Management | Risk Assessment | 📈 Driving success using agile methodologies and team collaboration for magical seamless project execution 🪄 (these words and emoji total 207 out of 220 characters, and I added a few of my own words to the USP)
Final Headline for Entrepreneurs & Business Owners:
- Business Coach | Leadership Development | Goal Setting | Strategic Planning | Performance Optimization | Empowering leaders with a growth mindset to scale businesses through strategic planning and hit the bullseye 🎯 (these words and emoji total 216 out of 220 characters, and I added a few of my own words to the USP)
Pro Tip: Use an ampersand (&) instead of ‘and’ to save space!
Step 5: Make Your Headline Memorable with a “Memory Dart”
A vivid image or metaphor can help your headline stand out. Steve Woodruff calls this a “Memory Dart”—something that sticks in people’s minds.
Examples:
Better than a triple-dip ice cream🍦
🐽 Huff & puff and blow that old website down to make your brand oink! 🐽 (Tom Knoble of Pig Art Graphics)
🍿 Conversions & engagement better than hot buttery popcorn at the movies. 🎥 Read about How to Boost Your Headline Score.
Pro Tip: Search for unique, industry-relevant words on LinkedIn to see if they appear in profiles!
Final Thoughts: Your LinkedIn Headline is Your First Impression—Make It Count!
A powerful standout LinkedIn headline should be:
- Keyword-optimized for LinkedIn search
- Clear & compelling, highlighting your expertise
- Memorable, using vivid imagery & unique messaging
- Engaging with personality-driven elements like emojis (optional)
By following this step-by-step approach, you’re not just optimizing your standout LinkedIn headline, you’re paving the way for increased profile visibility, standing out to recruiters and potential clients, and building a strong personal brand on LinkedIn. Your potential for success is limitless.
NEXT STEPS
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BIO
Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Network, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career development and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management.
Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn profiles, Lynne is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love, along with the late Dick Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, and is also a speaker on career topics.
