How to create the perfect LinkedIn headline

Your personal headline is your hook, your opening line.

It should catch people's attention and communicate right away what you do. In one impression a visitor wants to see what you’re about. Their subconscious goes: “Why should I care to follow this person?” or “How can this person help me solve a problem I have?”

A general rule of thumb: you want to make your headline more than just a job title.

You want to be as clear and succinct as possible. Even though it’s your profile and headline, it should be about your potential audience.

You want to display how your brand can potentially serve them.

A quick checklist to craft a strong headline:

• Clearly communicates who are

• Communicates who you help and how

• Easy to tell what problem you solve

• Is mobile-friendly

• Is short and catchy

A couple of great examples:

1 - Justin Welsh

Reading Justin Welsh’s headline instantly clarifies what he does.

His headline is a great example of how to frame both the problem you're solving and the journey you're on. Consider this approach when crafting your own headline.

2 - Amelia Sordell

Amelia cleverly uses a playful yet direct statement in her headline: “We brand people, not businesses.”

This immediately makes clear the specific type of audience she serves. It’s a smart way to position her expertise in personal branding.

3 - Ash Rathod

Ash Rathod emphasizes his expertise in storytelling with his headline, “Storytelling that Solves Business Problems.”

He adds further credibility by offering to speak at events or training workshops, making his expertise both clear and actionable.

4 - Andreas Jonsson

Andreas keeps his headline straightforward with “CEO @Shield: LinkedIn analytics made easy,” highlighting the problem his company solves.

This simple yet effective headline invites curiosity and encourages his audience to learn more about what he does.