Chances are, writing your LinkedIn “About” section (also known as a bio or summary) isn’t really at the top of your to-do list. Perhaps you’re not sure what to write, and the open-ended text box with a 2,000 character limit may seem daunting at first. But whether you’re using LinkedIn to find new job opportunities, market your business, perform social selling or build your professional brand, writing a strong, compelling, and optimized bio is a very powerful (and often under-utilized) way to set yourself apart from millions of other LinkedIn users.
Why Do You Need a LinkedIn Summary, Anyway?
As you may already know, first impressions count in the business world, and your Linkedin summary can strengthen your impression in a way no other section can. It’s an opportunity to put your best self out there, highlight your biggest achievements, and give readers a taste of your personality. Think of it like a digital handshake with your readers, where you can introduce yourself and create a bond between you and your audience.
LinkedIn Summary Tips & Best Practices
A great LinkedIn bio has great substance (what you say) and great style (how you say it). Start by introducing yourself – tell the reader who you are, along with your motivations and personal achievements. Follow this with your current role and company, and end it off with a call to action, leaving it open for your network to respond to you.
Here are a few more things to keep in mind…
Start strong
By default, LinkedIn shows only the first three lines (around 300 characters) before readers have to click to read more. This means the first few lines have to make a big enough impact and intrigue the reader enough to want to learn more about you.
Inject your personality
Passion is the heart of some of the best summaries. Describe what makes you tick, and don’t be afraid to bring some of your personality into your writing. This will make you more relatable, personable, and likable, which can all lead to creating a lasting impression on the reader.
Make it keyword rich
Use your LinkedIn bio to include terms that a user might enter into a search bar — hard skills, job titles, or industry keywords — to increase your visibility and reveal opportunities.
Write it in first person
Write your LinkedIn “About” section in the first person, rather than the third person. This helps create the sentiment of a face-to-face introduction, making it more personal and easy for the reader to understand.
More is more
You have a maximum of 2000 characters, so try to utilize as many characters as possible. However, don’t waffle on with long sentences; keep it readable with short paragraphs and bullet points.
LinkedIn Bio/Summary Example
Sometimes a great example is all one needs to be inspired to get started! But remember, authenticity is key and it’s vital to write your own bio in your own words. Never plagiarise or copy another user’s bio.
Eric Haar
Our coach Eric’s profile immediately hooks you with short, intriguing sentences that give you a strong, clear, and succinct opening and states what he does and why. One of the first things you might notice when visiting his profile is that he makes use of an introductory video, which personalizes the interaction from the very start. It’s clear he loves what he does, and is very good at it. We also like how he includes a clear call to action at the end, asking for connections.
Write Your Summary Today!
We hope you found these LinkedIn bio tips useful and helpful. Writing a LinkedIn summary can take a bit of time and effort, but by including one in your profile, you are guaranteed to reap the rewards of this strategic piece of content.
If you are interested in this topic and want to learn our best tips on how to create your personal brand and build your online presence, read this article!
