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Your LinkedIn Headline Needs a Makeover (Here's Why)

·267 words·2 mins

Let’s be honest—your LinkedIn headline probably reads like a job title from a dusty HR manual. “Marketing Manager at Company X” might be accurate, but it’s about as exciting as unseasoned oatmeal.

Your headline is prime real estate—220 characters that show up EVERYWHERE on LinkedIn. It’s what people see in search results, connection requests, comments, and posts. Yet most people treat it like an afterthought.

I recently came across someone whose headline read: “Turning coffee into code and business problems into elegant solutions | Full-stack developer specializing in user-centric design | Making tech human again”

Now THAT makes me want to learn more! It’s memorable, value-focused, and gives a sense of personality.

Here’s a formula that works wonders:

[What you do] + [Who you help] + [How you create value] + [Unique differentiator]

Some real-world examples I love:

  • “Helping startups tell stories that sell | Converting boring B2B content into revenue-generating assets | Ex-Google, 3X founder”

  • “Financial freedom architect for creative entrepreneurs | Teaching artists to build wealth without selling their souls | Author of ‘Money for Makers’”

  • “LinkedIn wizard making professionals stand out in crowded feeds | 15K+ profiles optimized | Featured in Forbes & Inc.”

Don’t be afraid to use emojis strategically (they catch the eye in a text-heavy feed), but please—no more than 2-3, unless you want to look like a 13-year-old’s Instagram bio.

Your headline isn’t just what you do—it’s the promise you make to anyone who might engage with you. What’s yours promising right now?

Update it, then come back and let me know—I’d love to see what you come up with!