10 Tips on How to Write a LinkedIn Summary That Stands Out
Are you looking for ways to give your career a boost? If so, you’re not alone.
After all, the job market is more competitive than ever before. That’s why you need to take advantage of every tool available. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for help.
It’s no secret that social media is a great way to generate professional exposure. Especially platforms like LinkedIn.
This article takes a look at how to write a LinkedIn summary that can help take your career to the next level. Keep reading to get the inside scoop.
1. Start With a Clear Structure
First of all, you need to start by creating a clear structure for your summary. This means that it should simply look like an essay about your life or career. And you should avoid long and rambling paragraphs that would quickly bore the reader.
Instead, you should start with a strong hood, followed by your professional mission statement, a list of skills and specialties, data that shows proof of those skills and talents, and then wrap things up with a solid CTA.
Let’s take a closer look at the individual pieces of this structure below.
2. The Importance of a Strong Opener
Let’s face it, the purpose of a good opening for your summary is to hook the reader. After all, there are plenty of other professionals on LinkedIn happy to capture the attention of your target audience if you fail to do so. You could also view this as your professional elevator pitch.
Creating a strong hook is easier said than done, and it’s a bit of an art form. This is your chance to be bold by giving them just enough to make them want to keep reading.
Your opener should tell a story. The trick is to find a way of telling that compelling story in the limited space of two or three sentences.
3. Include a Mission Statement
Now, let’s talk about your professional mission statement. The key is to offer the reader a glimpse into your values as an individual.
This is the perfect place to mention something about your place of birth, the circumstances of your childhood, and how you developed your outlook on life. Don’t be afraid to hook your reader with a splash of emotion so that they will be able to view you as more than just a name on LinkedIn.
Keep in mind that while most people are interested in “what” you do, they are even more interested in “why” you do what you do.
If you’re interested in examples of professional bios, read more now.
4. Display Your Industry Expertise
Next, it’s important to shine a light on your expertise in your specific industry. This is your chance to really impress your readers by referencing specific knowledge in your field of specialty.
The key is to describe your back in your industry in no more than two or three sentences. for example, you could state that you have 8-plus years of management experience in renewable energy, as well as degrees in economics and accounting. This is information that says a lot about your education and what you have to offer
5. Focus On Your Specific Skills and Specialties
Everyone has specific skills that could be of interest to employers. Again, this is a great opportunity to make a big impression.
Regardless of your goals for your LinkedIn summary, readers want to know what makes you special as an individual. Thus the more you can offer then in respect to skills in specific areas, both personally and professionally, the greater impact your summary will have.
6. Offer Data That Backs Up Your Results
Keep in mind that it’s not enough to simply boast about your skills and accomplishments. After all, anyone can claim anything, but that doesn’t necessarily make those claims factual.
That’s why you need to provide some data that actually backs up the results you’ve listed in your summary.
And don’t be vague. Because never take for granted the fact that readers, including potential employers or business partners, want to see a little meat on the bone. This essentially means that they want to see actual data that reinforces the claims you’ve made about yourself.
While it’s not typically necessary to go into great detail or provide vast amounts of information, you’d be wise to provide compressed examples of concrete data that offers them a solid glimpse into your education and professional history.
7. Remember to Highlight Your Professional Interests
Your LinkedIn summary should also offer a glimpse into your professional interests. After all, where you are now might not be where you ultimately want to end up.
Providing a summary of your goals and where you hope to be in five to ten years will enable readers to see if you might be the right fit for their organization.
8. Break Up Any Large Blocks of Text
Another tip for LinkedIn summary writing is to make it as readable as possible. When it comes to readability, it’s crucial to avoid using large blocks of text. Every section of your summary should appear neat and be composed of no more than four to five sentences in each paragraph.
9. Make Your Summary Keyword Rich
Never underestimate the power of search. This is likely how most people will discover your LinkedIn profile. Thus it’s crucial to make sure that your summary is loaded with great keywords.
10. Don’t Forget to Include Your Contact Information
This one might sound a bit obvious, and yet many people make the simple mistake of not including their contact information. Always include any type of contact information that will help a reader find you. For example, you should include your full name, email address, phone number, and physical address if you feel comfortable sharing that information on your LinkedIn profile.
A Guide to the Best Tips for How to Write a LinkedIn Summary That Will Stand Out
Social media is a powerful tool for getting ahead in your career. Fortunately, these tips for how to write a LinkedIn summary will help you get a competitive edge.
Keep scrolling to discover more great career and lifestyle advice on this blog.
Ben Stern wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.
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