Do you have a LinkedIn profile? (You should.) Do you list your job title and company on LinkedIn? (You probably should.) Do you have a summary on your LinkedIn profile? (You definitely should.) If you don’t have a summary, or if your summary is lame, read on. I’m going to give you some tips for writing an incredible LinkedIn summary. And even if you already have an excellent LinkedIn summary, these tips will help make it even better!
What Exactly is a LinkedIn Summary?
LinkedIn summaries can be found on the LinkedIn profiles of business professionals, and they are used to give an overview of a person’s experience and skills. Summaries should be well-written, concise, and compelling in order to entice potential clients or employers to learn more about you. They can be up to 2000 characters long, so it’s crucial that you make the most of this valuable real estate on your profile.
Upsides To Having An Optimized Profile And A Great Summary
There are many benefits to having an optimized LinkedIn profile and a great LinkedIn summary. Some of these include:
– Increased visibility: When you have a well-crafted LinkedIn profile that is complete and keyword-rich, it will be easier for people to find you online. This means that more potential clients or employers will be able to learn about your business and what you have to offer.
– Increased credibility: A strong LinkedIn profile is often seen as a sign of credibility and professionalism. When you have all of your information in one place and is well-written, it can help you stand out from the competition.
– More opportunities: A great LinkedIn summary can lead to more job opportunities, business partnerships, and even sales. When you have a strong profile that catches people’s attention, they will be more likely to reach out to you with opportunities.
– Increased traffic: LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking site, and having a great summary can help you drive more traffic to your website or blog. When people click on your profile, they will be able to learn more about what you do and how they can contact you.
LinkedIn Profile Optimization must-haves
We need to talk about a few things that your LinkedIn profile optimization MUST have.
– A professional photo: This is one of the most critical aspects of your profile, and it’s crucial that you have a good headshot. Make sure the picture is up to date and that you look like your best self.
– Your headline: This is what people will see when they first land on your profile, so it’s important to make a good impression. Your headline should be catchy and informative, and it should describe what you do.
– A summary: As we mentioned before, your LinkedIn summary is very important. It’s your opportunity to show off your skills and experience, so make sure it’s well-written and exciting.
– A list of your skills: This is another important part of your profile that can help you stand out from the competition. Make sure to list all of your relevant skills and be specific about what you can do.
– Your education: Listing your education is a great way to show off your credentials. Make sure to include the school’s name, the year you graduated, and your major.
– Your work experience: This is one of the most important sections of your profile, and it’s crucial that you list all of your relevant work experience. Be specific about what you did in each role and highlight your accomplishments.
– Your contact information: Make sure to list your email address and phone number so people can easily get in touch with you.
Common Errors People Make When Writing A LinkedIn Summary
Now that we’ve talked about the important things to include in your LinkedIn profile, let’s look at some of the common mistakes people make when writing their summary.
– Not using keywords: One of the biggest mistakes people make is not using keywords in their summary. Make sure to use relevant keywords that describe your skills and experience.
– Not being specific: Another common mistake is not being specific about what you do. Be sure to list your skills and experience in detail so potential employers can get a good idea of what you’re capable of doing.
– Being too generic: Don’t just write a summary that anyone could use. Make sure to tailor it to your specific industry and job title.
– Not proofreading: This is a very common mistake, and it can be the difference between getting an interview or not. Make sure to proofread your summary for spelling mistakes and grammar errors.
– Being too long or too short: LinkedIn summaries should be around 600-700 words, so make sure to stick to that length. If you write a summary that’s too long, people will lose interest, and if it’s too short, you won’t be able to include all of the important information.
How To Do LinkedIn Summaries The Right Way
It is not a one size fits all thing. You have to take all of the LinkedIn profile optimization must-haves into account. What works for one person might not work for you.
Keep in mind that sales are all about making genuine connections, so humanize your approach from the start. Users can read the first 300 words of your summary at a glance. People will have to be interested enough in what you’re writing to read your full summary at this point, so you’ll have to hook them quickly.
State your name, what you do, and a benefit or two that LinkedIn profile optimization can bring to their business. You want to be clear, concise, and engaging.
After your headline, use the first paragraph to list three or four of your primary skills that LinkedIn profile optimization can help with. You can also list your education and work experience here, but keep the focus on your skills first and foremost.
The next paragraph(s) can be used to expand on your skills and experience. You don’t want it to read like a resume, but you do want to give potential clients or employers a good idea of what you can do for them.
Linkedin Summary Example For Sales That You Should Follow:
“Start earning big! Come With Me On A Journey Towards Success, Marketing, And Business Improvements.
Feel Free To Comment, Connect, and Like!
One of the best strategies to deploy in this era is teamwork. If we work together, we can learn from each other, share tips, market content, and develop opportunities with scale. I am currently helping hundreds of users expand their reach, and you could be one of them.
I firmly believe that every person on LinkedIn is important and that networking is the key to success!
Partner with me to boost your way up to the top!
LinkedIn Strategic Coaching, Business Development Optimization, Digital Scale, and Enterprise Value
Visit the link below to start!
You can also schedule a meeting via the email provided below.”
The author’s expression and bubbly demeanor shine through in this example. You can sense the author’s positive mindset from the get-go. In addition, the author’s desire to help and inspire others is clearly evident in this summary.
The example also showcases the importance of collaborative efforts and building relationships that are trustworthy; this will make the reader feel more connected to the author.
You can also see the presence of a strong hook statement that attracts new readers. The author also added some search-worthy keywords, which is good if you want to get more traffic.
The author also included their accomplishments to build credibility, and several calls to action are added at the ending to make the summary more welcoming.
In summary, the tips we can garner from the example above are:
- Have a hook statement
- Have value to offer
- Incorporate some personality in your message
- Include metrics about your accomplishments
- Include keywords
- Have a call to action and contact details
Your resume may get you through the door, but your LinkedIn profile will seal that deal. With a well-written and concise summary on LinkedIn, you are able to make sure potential clients or employers learn about what makes you unique in their initial viewing window. After all, it’s not enough for them to see your name at the top of a list— they want to know why they should click! The example provided in this article can serve as your mere guide towards having the very best LinkedIn summary out there; it all starts with crafting a compelling headline followed by concisely written content. Get started today by following these helpful tips on creating a great LinkedIn presence!