1 billion users. Across 200 countries. That’s how many people currently use LinkedIn.
How are you supposed to stand out in that kinda crowd? 😬
Unless someone searches you out by name, the only way to do it is with persuasion and a solid LinkedIn profile. And the first thing anyone sees on your profile is your LinkedIn headline—this bit:
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Steli doesn’t need an introduction. But, for the hundreds of thousands of salespeople on LinkedIn fighting to generate leads, this headline is prime real estate.
In this guide, we’ll share some tips on how to stand out in the (really big) crowd.
Let’s get started 👇
What Makes a Great LinkedIn Headline?
A LinkedIn headline is the top section of a LinkedIn profile that describes a user's job role or skill set for others to see.
Think of a LinkedIn headline as your written elevator pitch. It will not only appear directly underneath your profile picture, but it’s also the copy other users will see in search results. You’ve got to make every word of the headline count to get folks to sit up and take notice of your profile.
Some quick LinkedIn headline facts:
👀 Visibility. Your LinkedIn headline is the most visible section of your LinkedIn profile.
🏀 Limited space. LinkedIn gives you just 220 characters to shoot your shot and sell yourself in a headline.
✍️ Use it or lose it. If you don't write a headline for your profile, LinkedIn will automatically populate one using your job title/current company. This is a missed opportunity to show off your best skills and personality.
8 of the Best LinkedIn Headline Examples to Get You Started
When a LinkedIn user conducted a poll asking what the most important part of a LinkedIn profile was… the results were clear. Out of 1,100+ users, nearly half said it wasn’t the experience or about me sections—it was the LinkedIn headline.
Here are eight LinkedIn headlines that grabbed our attention 👀
1. Don’t Skimp on the CTAs
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Emil Gondos is a sales veteran. After I clicked on his profile, I found he had over a decade of experience in SaaS sales, SDR leadership, sales enablement and even marketing operations.
With a CV like this, it can be hard to choose what to include in a LinkedIn headline. But I love Emil's choice to say more with less and highlight his seniority with his VP tags. This frees up room for two important areas of his headline: a shout-out to his podcast, and a link to his newsletter:
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This helps position Emil not just as someone in sales—but as someone in sales who knows his shit.
Why this LinkedIn headline works:
- It’s short and sweet. We know right off the bat what Emil does without getting bogged down in details.
- Emil manages to highlight two side hustles (podcast/newsletter) in one headline.
How to use this example for your LinkedIn headline:
- Pick one (or two) skills from your CV to highlight and don't try to cram in a decade's worth of work experience.
- If you have an industry-related side hustle, shout it out in your headline. It shows off your authority and tells others you can help sharpen their skills.
2. Mention Outcomes Before Your Job Title
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Paulina Ramirez is an SDR at Toggl. What I love about her profile is that her position isn’t the first thing you see on her profile. Instead, her headline starts with what she can do in her role. This helps position her as not just an SDR, but an SDR who drives outcomes using time analytics.
What's also interesting about Paulina's headline is her focus on academic skills. Touching on interdisciplinary research and DEI gives her a chance to show up on people's radars rather than just relying on her SDR tag.
Why this LinkedIn headline works:
- Paulina only has one descriptive section in the headline, which leaves room for her to add three highlights: Current role, PhD experience and DEI work. It’s enough to grab attention in LinkedIn search results without saying too much.
How to use this example for your LinkedIn headline:
- Think about describing what you do before you list your role. This shows other users you care about results—not just your job title.
- Weave in any extra skills or training (DEI, management) to show off your diverse experience (if it makes sense to do so).
3. Focus on The Customer—Not Yourself
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Eric Schwartz's LinkedIn headline is a great example of how salespeople can sell by making it about others. Eric's headline doesn't dive straight into sales. It focuses on building relationships and solving problems. This tells potential prospects (and even recruiters) in the industry that Eric is less concerned with pushing sales and more interested in building meaningful connections with clients.
Why this LinkedIn headline works:
- Instead of leaning on sales and quotas, Eric highlights his skills in relationship building, serving customers and solving problems
- This headline is focused on soft skills, but linking his current employer and university education is also a nice touch. 👌
How to use this example for your LinkedIn headline:
- Think outside the box and don’t just focus on quotas. Can you build relationships? Do you have great conversational skills? Include these soft skills, too.
- If you can’t fit your current job or past background/education in, just link it to the side to save space.
4. Use Every Inch Of Space To Make Your Case
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At first glance, Andrew Ruge’s headline says a lot. But on closer inspection, every word of this headline has a purpose. Andrew highlights his experience as a sales manager, the fact that he works at an INC. 5000 company, and how he works with prospects. Not only has he managed to cram all that into 220 characters, but he even had space to include his love of baseball and football.
Why this LinkedIn headline works:
- This headline has a ton of information, but it all helps Andrew stand out. He has included not just his job title, but a brief description of how he works with clients.
- Including fun or personal facts about himself can give people a glimpse at who Andrew is as a real person. After all – people are connecting with people here, not businesses.
How to use this example for your LinkedIn headline:
- Pick out your current CV wins, distill them and separate them with | vertical bars |
- If you work for an INC. company, this can be a “feather in your cap” inclusion to your LinkedIn headline.
5. Put Your Wins Front and Centre
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Imagine Emily Parker’s LinkedIn headline showing up in a search. #1 SDR manager in the UK?! Yeah, I would click on it as well.
Not only does Emily’s headline have this golden nugget at the front, she has also described her role at Insider and highlighted her work with women in SaaS. This headline is the perfect blend of achievements and diversity.
Why this LinkedIn headline works:
- It immediately hooks you in. Emily’s #1 ranking gives her immediate cred.
- It highlights management experience and mentoring work, which shows she has the skills to train others in the sales space.
How to use this example for your LinkedIn headline:
- Put your achievements front and center. Go ahead and flex your wins. 💪
- If you have a project like a podcast or job opportunities, use the CTA links underneath or your banner to advertise them. This leaves your valuable headline real estate free to add copy that will show up in LinkedIn search.
6. Give People a Reason To Connect or Follow
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Until recently, Kyle Ferretti headed up the sales team at Semrush. He now uses his LinkedIn profile to share sales wisdom and tips for others in the industry.
The reason his headline made it onto the list is the persuasion element. Sure, it’s cool that Kyle has sales management and writing chops, but his headline gives folks a reason to connect and follow his posts. Remember, LinkedIn is a networking platform, so creating a community is a great way to cement yourself as an expert in your industry.
Why this LinkedIn headline works:
- Kyle’s headline doesn’t heavily rely on skills or experience. Instead, it tells people what value they will get if they connect with or follow his profile. It’s a win-win, as other users will see Kyle’s valuable posts, and he will grow his network.
How to use this example for your LinkedIn headline:
- Think beyond just listing your job title or skills. What do you post about that other LinkedIn users may also find interesting? Give people a reason to follow you by letting them know what they can expect from your content.
7. Use Emojis to Blend Achievements and Skills
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Some LinkedIn headlines have no emojis. Some LinkedIn headlines have wayyyy too many emojis. But I think the emoji count on Ben Clements’ headline is just right.
Each emoji compliments a win: a trophy highlights his inclusion on Cornwall’s 30 under 30 list, and the headline rounds off with a plug to his agency. It says just enough to keep you reading into Ben’s about me and experience section.
Why this LinkedIn headline works:
- Let’s be honest: emojis are still fun. We’re not too cool for them. Emojis are a perfect way to draw attention to your big wins (just don’t overdo it), and they’re easy to communicate meaning or emphasis for those who are just skimming your profile.
- It’s neat. Each skill is separated by an emoji and a | so it’s easy to read.
How to use this example for your LinkedIn headline:
- Don't take your LinkedIn headline too seriously, especially if your company's tone of voice is more adventurous or irreverent. Clients will be talking to you on LinkedIn, so think about what that first impression will look like!
8. Channel Your Company Mission Statement To Get Results
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Last but not least is our very own Liz Stephany, who heads up the customer success team here at Close.
What I love about Liz’s profile is that it doesn’t mention the word “sales” once. It conveys a vibe of empowering businesses and building connections. This is a true reflection of what Close is all about, so having this communicated through Liz’s profile is a big win for any client who comes across it. 💪
Why this LinkedIn headline works:
- It captures Close’s mission statement of empowering sales organizations to help them reach their goals.
- The messaging ties in with the banner design and Liz’s profile picture for a professional first impression.
How to use this example for your LinkedIn summary:
- Look at your company’s mission statement. Instead of focusing on sales, who is your company targeting, and what are they promising? Try to reflect that mission in your headline.
How to Write a Truly Spectacular LinkedIn Headline
Your LinkedIn headline is your hook.
It needs to stand out in searches and on people’s feeds to get noticed. Here's how to make every one of your 220 characters count 👇
Use Your Headline to Draw Your Target Audience
Think about what you have to offer other users on LinkedIn and what will draw them in.
Highlight your industry and experience and explain how you are different from every other person in your role. If you are an SDR, how can you stand out from the tens of thousands of other SDRs on the platform? 🤔
Instead of leaning on “crushing quotas”, talk about your soft skills and what you can bring to the table to build relationships. Remember, prospects are your main audience on LinkedIn. They care way more about creating strong connections than how many deals you closed last quarter.
Create a Clear Value Proposition
The best LinkedIn headlines are clear, concise, and tell you exactly what the person has to offer without clicking on their profile.
This can be tricky for salespeople to do. This is where you need to think outside the box.
If you sell to people in a target market, mention it alongside any specific experience and wins you’ve had. While terms like “CRM” or “pipeline” won’t mean much to someone in another space, for those in sales, these niche terms are a great way to grab their attention.
Avoid Buzzwords and Vague Statements
I don't know about you… but if I see a profile with skills like "marketing ninja" or "sales wizard," I’m rolling my eyes. 🙄
Not only should your LinkedIn headline avoid phrases like this, but it should also steer clear of using too many emojis, complex abbreviations you need to Google to understand, and trending language. Also, don't forget to run your headline through a spellchecker to pick up any spelling or grammatical errors that come across as unprofessional.
Keep it Short—Don’t List Your Whole Resume
LinkedIn does try to warn you by restricting headlines to just 220 characters. But this isn’t the right space to try and cram in every single dot point from your CV.
The goal of your LinkedIn headline is to get onto someone's radar and show them what you can offer. If you try to say too much, it can be overwhelming for other users. Use a few tricks to keep it short and sweet:
- Separate skills and achievements with emojis 📈or vertical bars |
- Put the important stuff first
- Use abbreviations to save space (but only if your target audience will recognize them)
Create an Eye-Catching Headline in Seconds With Close’s LinkedIn Headline Generator
Not all salespeople are gifted copywriters. And coming up with a way to sell yourself in under 220 characters is… no easy task.
That’s why we created the LinkedIn Headline Generator to do it for you.
All you have to do is type in your current LinkedIn Headline, pick a tone of voice and hit generate:
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The AI-powered generator will pump out a list of ready-made headlines to choose from that are ready to copy and paste straight to your LinkedIn profile:
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That’s all there is to it. The generator is super simple to use and can help you write a better LinkedIn Headline in seconds so you can get back to selling.
Oh, and the best part? 🤔
It’s totally free. Take it for a test run here!
