Creating a LinkedIn summary can be very difficult - especially without examples to reference. Should you recount your prior roles? List your accomplishments? Should it be written in first person? Or in third?
Or, should you forge ahead using the cookie-cutter bio LinkedIn wrote for you? (The answer to that question is no, but not to worry: You’ll soon have a LinkedIn summary you’ll be proud to publish.)
Here are some tips for making your LinkedIn about section stand out, along with some examples for inspiration. Let's begin.
LinkedIn Summary
The LinkedIn summary, also known as the LinkedIn bio or LinkedIn about section, is a few paragraphs of text displayed right before a LinkedIn user's list of current and past positions. There is a limit of 2,000 words on LinkedIn, but only the first three lines are visible before visitors click 'See More'.
Salespeople, marketers, and other professionals whose work relies on networking often find it difficult to write LinkedIn summaries. Potential buyers and clients are your target audience, not recruiters and hiring managers.
Also, you should come across as a subject matter expert in addition to finding an interesting and genuine way to describe your professional background.
Your LinkedIn summary should reflect your skills, experience, and professional interests, whether you are a job seeker or a tenured professional - A digital elevator pitch, if you will.
6 Tips to Help YOUR LinkedIn Get Maximum Exposure
Why a Good LinkedIn Summary is Important
If you keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date, writing a summary may seem unnecessary. It might also seem unnecessary if you don't spend much time on the platform or aren't looking for work.
However, a good LinkedIn summary is crucial to career success. Salespeople can use it for social selling; other professionals can use it as a starting point for a new career.
Here are some reasons why you should definitely write a LinkedIn summary.
1. You get to introduce yourself in your own words
Despite the fact that your previous roles may be notable, they aren't the only things you should share with people. By creating a LinkedIn summary, you can make a personable first impression and highlight your accomplishments and expertise.
2. You get to show your personality
Keep it professional or add a little flair and humor. Either way, your LinkedIn summary will give recruiters and other users an idea of what to expect if they contact you. Prospects and potential clients can also use it to gauge culture fit and gauge whether they'd like to work with you.
3. You can rank higher in LinkedIn search results
As well as your LinkedIn headline, current title, and other factors, LinkedIn uses the about section in its algorithm. You can make your LinkedIn profile more visible to potential prospects and recruiters by writing a keyword-rich summary. Your bio may attract more views if you include keywords such as "content," "management," and "analysis."
Are you ready to start writing your LinkedIn summary?
How to Write a LinkedIn Summary
1. Create a quick outline prior to writing your About section
The LinkedIn profile isn't an academic essay, but you should still outline what you want to say and in what order.
There is nothing worse than a long, rambling paragraph that lacks a clear progression from sentence to sentence.
By following a predetermined structure, you will be able to communicate clearly and concisely.
Consider following a format similar to this:
- Hook: A sentence that makes the reader want to keep reading. Remember: only the first 3 lines are visible when a user enters your profile. With a hook, you ensure they click ‘See more.’
- Mission: Tell the reader why you do what you do.
- Expertise and Skills: Tell the reader what you’re good at.
- Accomplishments: Show the reader how your expertise delivered results in the past.
- Call to Action: Tell the reader what you want them to do after they’re done reading your summary.
Use our free professional bio templates to write your LinkedIn bio if you don't know where to begin.
2. Hook readers with a strong opener
In your LinkedIn summary, your first sentence should encourage your audience to keep reading. The key is to pique their interest early and keep them reading.
This tactic is called a hook.
You can hook readers with your LinkedIn summary by opening a loop that can only be closed with further explanation or making an outlandish claim that requires further justification.
Hook Example
"It took me X sales demos to discover Y's secret, but since then, something unexpected has happened."
3. Tell the reader why you do what you do
The "what" is important, but don't forget to include the "why." Stories and values have a greater impact on people than the straightforward "what you do."
Get to know what attracted you to your profession and what your mission is in your role. You can use these to make your LinkedIn profile more emotionally compelling.
Mission Example
"I grew up on the Mississippi River and watched it get clearer over time as manufacturing standards improved. Since then, I knew I wanted to spread the word about sustainability in business environments."
4. Speak to your industry expertise
It's time to leverage your industry expertise to strengthen your mission. In two to three sentences, explain your background and qualifications.
Are you a salesperson who uses LinkedIn to connect with prospects? It should reflect your expertise in your industry and your interest in helping people achieve their goals. Your job may be to connect with customers via LinkedIn if you're a customer success manager. You should emphasize your expertise in your industry and your availability for consulting in your summary.
Industry Expertise Example
"I have 7+ years of sales experience in both SDR and account manager roles."
5. Call out your specialties and skills
In 1-2 sentences, tell us what you focus on after highlighting your expertise. What is your main focus as a digital marketer? Are you primarily focused on SEO or social media?
Did you study anything specific within your field when you graduated from college?
The importance of calling out your specialties in sales cannot be overstated. It is possible to find sales jobs in an infinite number of industries with an infinite number of buyer personas. Whether your goal is to attract employers or prospects, make sure you highlight the things you do well to attract opportunities that align best with your goals.
Specialties and Skills Example
"I’m a mid-market sales executive with experience in direct sales and SAAS product demonstrations."
6. Provide data to back up your results and prove your expertise
Now is the time to prove that you're an expert by sharing important data points. It isn't necessary to give prospective employers a laundry list of your accomplishments - that's what the section below is for - but weaving a few of your most impressive data points into your summary paragraph can enhance its impact.
Proof Example
"Over the past five years, I've made it into the President's Club three times and my closed-won business has seen less than 10% churn during the first 12 months."
7. Mention if your team is currently hiring and invite people to apply
There are a number of benefits to this, but it is optional. As a team player, it will demonstrate your commitment to both your professional growth and the growth of your company.
This can be an excellent recruiting tool if you're in the recruiting business. What is the effectiveness of LinkedIn as a recruiting tool for you as a team manager? You should highlight that you have openings, what you do, and why a candidate would want to work for you in your summary.
Team is Hiring Example
"We're currently hiring account managers for our Pacific Northwest territory. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of sales experience and a demonstrated familiarity with the region. We're a fast-growing team with no cap on commission. Click here to learn more and apply."
8. Highlight your professional interests
The next step is to highlight your professional interests. Is there anything you help others with? What are you hoping to accomplish with this? The difference between this and your skills is that it is not necessarily quantifiable or fact-based. It is not necessary for you to provide proof of these interests because they are yours.
Be sure to sound passionate about them and show commitment to pursuing them.
Professional Interests Example
“I'm a sales coach that’s interested in assisting small teams (five-10 people) optimize their time and workflows so businesses can grow without adding more headcount and reps can advance their careers.”
9. Include a call-to-action with your contact information
Lastly, include a call-to-action and your contact information. LinkedIn may be the place where you can find more work if you're a freelancer or contract worker? You should end your summary with your contact information. Include a list of your most impressive clients if you want to seal the deal.
CTA Example
"Reach me at email@address.com or book time on my calendar here: [Calendar link]. Previous clients include [Your most impressive client], [Your second most impressive client], and [Your third most impressive client]."
If you’re not looking for more work, you can also simply end with, “Feel free to message me — I’d love to chat.”
10. Tip: Break up large blocks of text
You can break up large blocks of text to make your summary easier to read if it's on the longer side (as long as it's compelling). People scan profiles for high-level context when viewing them for the first time. Long paragraphs can obscure some of your noteworthy highlights.
Make your summary easier to read and digest by keeping your text blocks to two or three sentences max.
What to Put in a LinkedIn Summary
Depending on the goal of your LinkedIn profile, your LinkedIn summary should include 3-5 sentences that describe: your years of experience in your industry, your area of expertise, the kinds of organizations you've worked with, your skills, and what you are most known for.
In just a few sentences, your LinkedIn summary should explain who you are, what sets you apart, and what you're looking for.
As an example:
In my role as a sales rep, I help local service companies grow their customer base and reduce customer churn. I have six years of experience in local sales, and I have consistently met and exceeded my quotas. In the last year, I've topped our leaderboard six out of ten months. On average, I close business 10% quicker than my peers."
Here are some things you should avoid when writing your LinkedIn summary.
What (Not) to Put in a LinkedIn Summary
Cheesy or Cliché Terminology
"Master" and "guru" are highly subjective terms that don't reflect your actual abilities or skills. Showcase your expertise by describing a specific initiative where your work led to business results, rather than trying to be a self-proclaimed "guru".
Your Resume
Don't copy and paste points from your resume into your LinkedIn summary. Recruiters and potential connections are looking for a brief introduction to who you are, not a rehashed resume, which is redundant because your work history should be up-to-date on your profile.
Spelling or Grammatical Errors
It's human nature to make spelling mistakes. If there are any misspellings or grammatical errors in your profile, make sure you review it several times before publishing. A typo on your profile can undermine your credibility and distract from your positive qualities.
Your Full Life Story
I don't think LinkedIn summaries are a good place to share your autobiography (although I'm sure it's lovely). When users scan your profile for relevant information about a role or opportunity, you want those points to be prominent.
Be sure to include information relevant to the jobs and opportunities you're open to when updating your LinkedIn summary.
LinkedIn Summary Examples
If you need some inspiration, good news. You can find the right words to use in these LinkedIn summary examples.
1. This salesperson effectively demonstrates his passions and top competencies in the field
In this sales representative's pitch, he describes his passion for "building thriving organizations in the education ecosystem" - a goal he clearly values strongly.
Next, he tells prospects he's interested in learning their needs, not just selling them. After that, he establishes his expertise.
Why This Summary Works
Using a personal experience, this LinkedIn user effectively and succinctly explains why he supports others who are going through the challenges he has faced. By explaining why his product is needed in the industry, he also illustrates the breadth of his expertise and research.
2. This digital marketing expert speaks to his prospect's pain and showcases his strong copywriting skills
Make sure to speak directly to prospects on LinkedIn with your LinkedIn profile, but in a way that shows you understand their struggles.
Rather than selling products, position yourself as a solution provider.
In his marketing agency, this digital marketing and sales expert does this well by calling out the problem. This is done before he introduces himself or his solution.
Why This Summary Works
In this summary, the writer effectively hooks readers, explains who owns the LinkedIn profile, and explains how they can contact the owner. By showcasing his copywriting skills, the writer effectively illustrates the ROI of working with his firm.
3. This HubSpot employee uses humor to show his fun personality
In his summary, this HubSpot inbound marketing specialist shows his personality. In addition to the details about his previous life as a standup comedian, the line about "realizing his children didn't like starving" is funny.
In the second section, Sally highlights HubSpot's impressive track record.
Why This Summary Works
The writer's personality and top accomplishments are highlighted in this short but funny summary. With the minimum amount of words, it demonstrates what a LinkedIn bio should accomplish.
4. This career consultant indicates to prospects that they’re in the right place
You can get your target audience to self-identify with your message by calling them out. The audience knows where they are if you specify who you are talking to.
This sales consultant and career coach does this in her first sentence when she says, "[I] love being an early stage employee at fast growing and innovative companies where I can make an impact." If readers relate, they'll continue reading until she calls for action at the end.
Why This Summary Works
Through this summary, we learn about the various roles the consultant has held, including her current career coaching position. The most noteworthy part is that she includes a link right at the end to book time on her calendar.
5. This salesperson uses his hobbies to look more personable and approachable
It might be untraditional to mention your personal hobbies on your LinkedIn profile, but it's a good way to stand out. Prospects reading this summary might think, "Oh, I love to travel as well." They'll feel more connected to you right away.
Why This Summary Works
It incorporates the key elements of a bio: the writer's personality, professional experience, and most desirable qualities.
LinkedIn Summary Template
Here is a LinkedIn summary template you can customize with your own details. To make it memorable for readers, add personal details:
LinkedIn Summary Sample Templates
Stand Out with an Exceptional LinkedIn Summary
For your own LinkedIn description, you can draw inspiration from these LinkedIn summaries. Your prospects and potential employers will feel like they already know you if you make it personal, unique, and engaging.