(that nobody looks at twice)

Hi Reader,

The single most important part of your profile is also the one part people stop looking at the second they know you.

→ Your headline.

But it matters more than almost anything else on your profile because it follows you everywhere.

Every time you post, comment, send a connection request. There it is, right under your name.

It’s the first impression you make BEFORE anyone even decides whether to click your profile. It’s what determines if they accept your request or ignore, go check out the rest of your profile/content, or just keep scrolling.

And I’d say most people get it completely wrong. They either have just their title on it (which is what we used to do on there), or maybe there’s something clever but not concise, or just the simple “I help…” with no personality.

Oh and by the way. It matters even more now. The new algorithm is reading your profile and matching you to the right audience. So if your headline isn’t crystal clear about what you do and who you do it for, you’re invisible to the exact people you want to reach.

So let’s fix it.

Your headline has 3 jobs.

1. To be clear.

That’s your positioning statement: “I do X for Y.” What you do and for who. Non-negotiable. The algorithm needs it and so does the human skimming past.

2. To be BOLD

This is the part almost everyone skips. The first 5-8 words of your headline are what actually show up when you post, comment, and send requests. That little preview. Those words need to make someone stop and think, “ooh, I want to know more.”

It’s not about being clever for clever’s sake. It’s about planting your flag, owning your point of view, and refusing to blend in with everyone else in your space.

Will some people disagree with leading bold? Sure. (and GOOD - those aren’t your people anyways!).

But I’m here to start conversations, and I get people reaching out about my headline every single week. Which is the the whole point of being on here.

Here’s how I find that bold line: I think about the things I say/ask to a prospect or client that makes their eyes light up. That one phrase where they go, “yesss, that’s exactly it, you’re my person.” THAT goes at the front of your headline.

3. To get to know you

Whether that’s through next steps, past roles, or personality interests.

Here’s all 3 working together in my own headline:

→ “You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t have to be.” (the bold hook)

→ “LinkedIn personal branding & social selling for founders (not influencers)” (positioning)

→ “Doors open for the August cohort on July 6th, DM ‘LFG’ for deets!” (my next step)

That third slot is flexible. You can use it for credibility (titles, recognizable names, proof) or make it interactive, like I do with my cohort callout. You can also use it for something personal that you know will connect with your audience. I call that ice-breaking content, because it breaks the ice before a conversation even starts. It gives someone an easy, natural reason to reach out.

(Oh and pro tip - include ONE emoji in your headline. That are of your profile is rather, well, beige. Nothing really makes your eyes want to go there. A little POP to highlight a specific part of your profile does a nice job of directing people there.)

So here’s your homework this week: go read your own headline.

Do the first few words make the right person lean in? Is it clear what you do and who you help? Or is it just your job title sitting there doing nothing?

Your headline is working whether you’ve optimized it or not. Might as well make it work for you.

Toodles,
Natasha

P.S. Want help getting yours right? I built a free app that walks you through it and creates 5 different headline options, it’s the Profile Glow Up. Go give your headline the glow up it deserves. 🤓 (and you can ‘unlock’ it for instant access to your banner, about and experience for a FULL glow up!)

New here? Hi - I'm Natasha! I go on lots of LinkedIn tangents (and a few motherhood/entrepreneurial ones, too). My goal is to help make your experience on LinkedIn empowering AND profitable. Seriously. It's totally possible. Subscribe below! See you in your inbox! Subscribe! ​