Writing Effective LinkedIn Headlines

Many people now understand that LinkedIn is an important social media tool for business. There are many different elements that make up your profile. One of those elements that is critical and often disregarded is the headline.

Giving your headline a facelift

If you aren’t sure how effective your LinkedIn headline is, it is definitely time to examine it closely as soon as possible. If you read your headline and you aren’t sure of its potency, it is definitely time to reevaluate. You should never discount how important LinkedIn is for your professional reputation and for your online presence. If all you have is the minimum amount of information that you could possibly have, such as your title and the name of your business, your headline needs a facelift. It is common to see that many people don’t know how to write a really effective  headline. You would be surprised at how many people have headlines that have been there for a long time and have not changed the entire time. The reason for that is because many people don’t realize that you can actually edit your headline. You have the ability to change it any way that you want.

If you don’t edit your headline, LinkedIn will pull your title and business name from your profile. There is absolutely no reason for you to allow LinkedIn to control your headline. It is yours and you should make it whatever you feel it should be. Even though you have a 120- character maximum for your headline, it has the potential to be very powerful and you can really make it sing if you want to. You have a tremendous opportunity to sell yourself with your headline if you choose to do so.

The big question is how to write a headline that really has an impact on anyone who reads it. There are several rules of thumb that you should follow if you want to really make a big splash.

Really highlight your expertise, worth or your uniqueness

If you are aiming to get people to notice your through your LinkedIn headline, whether you want to be noticed because you are searching for a new job, trying to get your business noticed, etc, the action is the same. You must make your headline tell people what makes you stand out among the crowd and you need to do it clearly, concisely and brilliantly. If you can accomplish that, people will reach out to you and you will be one step ahead.

Connect with your target audience

It is critical that you think from the perspective of your target audience. It is very important for you to speak directly to your target audience. They need to understand without a doubt that their needs and wants are very important to you. If you can address the concept of WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?), you will succeed at winning your target audience over and they will become loyal to you.

Never be vague

When it comes to your LinkedIn headline, it is critical that you get noticed above your competition. The less vague you manage to be, the more positively your message will be received. You need to communicate exactly what you can do for other people. With your competition being as stiff as it is, you want to be the person who attracts the attention of your prospective clients and who gets them to give you a second (and perhaps even a third) chance.

Use powerful and effective keywords

Using effective and powerful keywords is an art form that should not be disregarded. If someone is searching for a business that offers what your business offers, you want to be the one chosen for the job. You need to put your best foot forward and leave as little to chance when it comes to getting the person to choose a business that makes them  want to spend their money.

Be as creative as possible at all times

Creativity is generally something that your target audience will remember. If it is interesting to them, it will stay with them for a long time. You need to write headlines that capture the attention of your audience and make them want to continue reading your content, including your headlines.

Conclusion

If, after you have evaluated your LinkedIn headline, you feel that you could use some serious help, click on “Edit Profile: and start editing. Come up with a headline that pops and that gets other people to notice you in a really big way. If you put your mind to it, you can totally be the one who stands out and who is not very easy to forget. Your headline is so important. Make sure that your headline is very catchy and that the language stops people dead in their tracks. Don’t waste an opportunity to really grab people with your creativity.

We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, let’s have coffee.