How to Write a Great LinkedIn Summary for Professionals
Introduction
Greetings great people, welcome to this article that teaches you how to write a great LinkedIn summary. LinkedIn is a professional social media platform that is widely known for its effectiveness in career opportunities and professional networking. One of the vital aspects of LinkedIn is the summary section and, therefore, crafting it properly is crucial for a successful LinkedIn profile. To stand out from the crowd, you need to create an engaging, informative, and personalized LinkedIn summary that effectively showcases your skills, experiences, and personality. Following the tips in this article can help you create a LinkedIn summary that boosts your chances of acquiring your dream job, growing your business, or attracting valuable connections.
Before we dive into the steps of creating an excellent LinkedIn summary, let us establish a common ground by exploring the advantages and potential drawbacks of having a LinkedIn summary.
Advantages of Having a LinkedIn Summary
1️⃣ Spotlight on Professionalism: LinkedIn provides you with a platform to communicate your professionalism, skills, and expertise to potential employers and clients.
2️⃣ Showcases Your Personality: A well-crafted LinkedIn summary gives you an opportunity to express your personality beyond your resume. It helps you showcase your values, interests, and unique selling points.
3️⃣ Increases your Visibility: LinkedIn profiles are searchable on the internet. Therefore, a well-written LinkedIn summary can increase your chances of being found by recruiters, headhunters, and potential clients.
4️⃣ Establishing Thought Leadership: Writing a great LinkedIn summary can position you as a thought leader in your industry. It can also attract relevant connections, opportunities, and collaborations.
5️⃣ Better Networking Opportunities: LinkedIn is the best platform for professional networking. By writing a great LinkedIn summary, you can achieve better networking opportunities, which can lead to more career and business opportunities.
6️⃣ Better Personal Branding: A great LinkedIn summary is a vital ingredient in personal branding. It helps you establish and communicate your personal brand, giving you more control over your online reputation.
7️⃣ Helps Recruiters and Hiring Managers: A well-crafted LinkedIn summary can help recruiters and hiring managers quickly understand your skills, experience, and suitability for a job opening, making their job easier.
Potential Drawbacks of Having a LinkedIn Summary
1️⃣ Oversharing: Writing too much personal information or sharing controversial views can negatively impact your professional image and harm your chances of attracting opportunities.
2️⃣ Poor Grammar and Spelling: Poor spelling and grammar can create a negative first impression that you may not recover from. It can also undermine your credibility and attention to detail.
3️⃣ Mediocre Writing: Many people struggle with writing, and creating a mediocre LinkedIn summary can harm your chances of attracting opportunities, and you may miss out on potential opportunities.
4️⃣ Lack of Personalization: A generic LinkedIn summary that does not showcase your personality, skills, and experience can reduce your chances of standing out from the crowd.
5️⃣ Lack of Relevance: A LinkedIn summary that does not speak to a specific audience or industry may not lead to any relevant opportunities.
6️⃣ Lengthy Summary: A LinkedIn summary should be succinct, informative and engaging. A summary that is too long can be off-putting and overwhelming.
7️⃣ Lack of Call-to-Action: A LinkedIn summary that does not ask the reader to take action can reduce the chances of acquiring opportunities such as job interviews, business collaborations, and networking connections.
The Steps to Craft a LinkedIn Summary that Stands Out
A great LinkedIn summary usually consists of four essential elements: introduction, skills and experiences, personal brand attributes, and call-to-action.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Introduction | A brief introduction that captures the reader's attention and establishes your expertise and industry. |
| Skills and Experiences | A bullet-pointed list of your skills and experiences that align with your industry and target audience. |
| Personal Brand Attributes | An expression of your unique personal brand's values, attributes, and personality. It gives people a glimpse of who you are beyond your skills and experiences. |
| Call-to-Action | An invitation to the reader to connect, collaborate, or request your services. It is an excellent way to create networking opportunities that can lead to more significant career and business prospects. |
Element One: Introduction
Your introduction should quickly capture the reader's attention and motivate them to read further. It should highlight your expertise, industry, and experience that will interest your target audience. The goal of this section is to build trust, credibility, and familiarity with the reader. Here are some tips to consider when writing your introduction:
1️⃣ Start with a hook – a statistic, an intriguing question, a bold statement, or a powerful quote that relates to your industry.
2️⃣ Make it personal by using the first person pronoun and bringing in elements of your personality. This helps establish a connection with the reader.
3️⃣ Keep it brief. Focus on the most relevant parts of your expertise and experience that align with your target audience's needs.
4️⃣ Do not use generic language or buzzwords. Use industry-specific language that demonstrates your knowledge and skills.
For example:
Self-starter marketing specialist with over ten years of experience boosting sales and brand awareness by using data-driven strategies. My work with global brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Adidas has delivered significant results, increasing revenue by over 200%. Passionate about customer acquisition, brand positioning, and process optimization.
Element Two: Skills and Experiences
The skills and experiences section is the backbone of your LinkedIn summary. Your target audience will use the information in this section to determine if you are the right fit for their needs. Therefore, it would be best to present this information in a clear, concise, and relevant manner. Here are some tips to consider:
1️⃣ Use bullet points to make it easy for the reader to scan and understand your skills and experiences.
2️⃣ Focus on the critical skills and experiences that relate to your target audience's needs and requirements. Avoid listing everything you have ever done.
3️⃣ Use specific language and figures where possible to demonstrate your achievements and impact. For example, increased revenue by 30%, delivered a project under budget, or acquired over 50 new clients.
4️⃣ Make it easy for the reader to understand how your skills and experiences relate to their needs. Use the same language they use in their job descriptions or business offer.
For example:
Skills:
- Social media management
- Content creation
- Brand positioning
- Email marketing
- Competitor research
Experiences:
- Managed social media platforms for a start-up company, increasing their followers by 50% and resulting in five major media features for the business.
- Created and implemented a successful email marketing campaign for a fashion brand, resulting in a 30% increase in revenue within two months.
- Conducted research on competitor market strategies for a beverage company, leading to a shift in product positioning and sales increase of over 10% within a year.
Element Three: Personal Brand Attributes
Personal brand attributes are the human elements that help to differentiate you from your competitors and make you memorable to your target audience. These attributes should reflect who you are and what you stand for beyond your skills and experiences. Here are some tips to consider:
1️⃣ Keep it authentic. Personal brand attributes should be a genuine representation of your personality and values.
2️⃣ Use storytelling to bring your attributes to life and make them relatable to the reader.
3️⃣ Use adjectives and language that resonates with your industry, values, and target audience.
4️⃣ Be concise. Choose 2-3 attributes that best align with your brand and industry.
For example:
As a marketing specialist who values creativity, innovation, and team collaboration, I enjoy working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and helping businesses grow by creating engaging, relevant, and transformative marketing experiences that resonate with their target audience.
Element Four: Call-to-Action
Your LinkedIn summary should end with a call-to-action that invites the reader to take action. The actions could range from connecting with you, messaging you, or requesting your services. Here are some tips to consider:
1️⃣ Choose a call-to-action that aligns with your career or business objectives.
2️⃣ Use action-oriented language that prompts the reader to take action. For example, "Connect with me today to discuss how we can collaborate," or "Message me now to learn more about my services."
3️⃣ Keep it brief and straightforward. Avoid lengthy sentences or complex language.
For example:
Do you need a creative and results-driven marketing specialist to help boost your brand? Connect with me today to discuss how we can drive sales and increase brand awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Writing a LinkedIn Summary
1. How long should a LinkedIn summary be?
A great LinkedIn summary should be between 200 to 300 words, or three to four short paragraphs.
2. Can I use the same LinkedIn summary for different industries?
A LinkedIn summary should be personalized and tailored to a specific audience or industry. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the same summary for different industries or target audiences.
3. Can I add links to my LinkedIn summary?
Yes, you can add links to your LinkedIn summary, such as your website, portfolio, or blog, to give your reader an opportunity to learn more about your work.
4. Should I use the first person or third person when writing my LinkedIn summary?
It is best to use the first person when writing your LinkedIn summary because it gives a personal touch and makes it easier to connect with the reader.
5. What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a LinkedIn summary?
Some common mistakes to avoid when writing a LinkedIn summary include poor grammar and spelling, oversharing personal information, using buzzwords, and lack of personalization.
6. Do I need to update my LinkedIn summary regularly?
Yes, you should update your LinkedIn summary regularly to reflect changes in your career goals, achievements, and industry trends. This will ensure that your profile is relevant and up-to-date.
7. Can I include my contact information in my LinkedIn summary?
Yes, you can include your contact information in your LinkedIn summary so that potential employers, clients, or collaborators can reach out to you.
Conclusion
To write a great LinkedIn summary, you need to focus on crafting an introduction that creates a connection, skills and experiences that resonate with your target audience, personal brand attributes that differentiate you from your competitors, and a call-to-action that prompts the reader to take action. The advantages of a great LinkedIn summary include increased visibility, networking opportunities, better personal branding, and establishing thought leadership. The potential drawbacks of a poor LinkedIn summary include oversharing, poor grammar, and spelling, lack of personalization, and lack of Call-to-Action. By following the tips and examples in this article, you can create a LinkedIn summary that increases your chances of acquiring your dream job, growing your business, or attracting valuable connections.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented is accurate, the author and publisher make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the article or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the article for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.