text: June 11, 2013 By Naomi
  Many of us in business would love to make headlines, especially on LinkedIn – the biggest professional network with 200 million+ members.
  The good news is you can today – simply by improving your Linkedin Headline. And doing so could dramatically improve your results from Linkedin, without you spending any more of your precious time haunting the place.
  It's the line of text that appears immediately under your name.
  A "Professional Headline" is the official Linkedin lingo for that text:
  That's my Headline alongside my somewhat cute Social Media avatar. It's a long story how she came to be born.
  When I first heard that this line of text was called a "Headline," I thought it was a silly, over-the-top name for a few insignificant words. After all, most Headlines I saw were boring, incomprehensible titles, things like "Sales Pipeline Manager at Spatula City LLC" or "Roach Extermination Professional at Self Employed."
  But when I finally realized the significance of my Linkedin headline and put some thought into creating a good one, it gave a big boost to my Linkedin impact.
  Your LinkedIn Headline is your elevator pitch at the world's largest networking event. It's your billboard. It's your 15 milliseconds of fame.
  Think I'm going overboard?
  Here are just a few examples that will convince you that your Linkedin Headline is top priority:
  1. Your Headline is in my Inbox
  When you start a discussion in a Linkedin group that I follow, I see your name and Headline in my email inbox.
  2. Your Headline is in my Sidebar
  Linkedin tells me who else viewed a profile that I'm viewing by serving up their name and Headline. For example:
  3. Your Headline is…
  …in my groups, in my "Who Viewed My Profile" Page, my contacts page and more. It is viewed by me and hundreds or thousands of times by your connections, your extended network and beyond.
  You can view your headline as a few insignificant words or you can see it for what it really is: Free Primetime Advertising!
  It's your chance to strike a chord with your target audience and encourage them to click through to your profile.
  And yes, that is the goal of your Headline – to get traffic to your Linkedin profile. On your profile you have ample opportunity to get your message across loud and clear, and deliver a tempting call to action.
  How to do that is another story, but until you are getting traffic to your profile, there's nothing to work with.
  So let's go right ahead and create some click-worthy Linkedin Headlines.
  Naomi's Recipe for an Effective Linkedin Headline
  When writing your Linkedin Headline, it makes sense to consider the basic recipe of good copywriting and to measure out the following ingredients:
  Attention – if you don't get their attention first, nothing else you do will be noticed. NOTE: to grab attention it must be short. Most folks can't be bothered reading a long Headline.
  Relevance – make sure your service is clearly described in language used by regular people, so that they will instantaneously understand that you are relevant to them
  Problem – one of the golden rules of copywriting is to consider what problem you solve for your ideal target audience and always put that first in your messaging
  Many people assume that their Linkedin Headline has to be the same as their job title. Not true! The place for your job title is lower down in your profile. Your Headline is bright, flashing neon-lights billboard where you can make a strong marketing statement.
  Take my Linkedin Headline as an example. Now I don't think it's particularly amazing, but it's good enough and I haven't thought of a better one so far. Maybe you'll have some suggestions for me by the end of this post 🙂
  It is reasonably attention-grabbing because it's short and different. It is clearly relevant to anyone with Web Marketing on their mind – my target audience for my business. The problem it addresses is that many people who need web marketing services feel overwhelmed by this huge, dynamic and complex industry and don't know who to trust.
  This is just one possible recipe for a great Linkedin Headline. Some people prefer different recipes and there are other good ones out there. But from my personal experience I can say that from the time I started using this Headline, traffic to my Linkedin page increased significantly and many people have contacted me via Linkedin to get more info about me and inquire about my services.
  That's not to say that just changing your Headline will turn Linkedin into an overnight cash cow for you, but this one tiny change could amplify your current Linkedin effectiveness, even if you do nothing else different on Linkedin.
  Linkedin Headlines Workshop
  Before writing this post, I asked my email subscribers if any of them wanted to be featured here as a case study. I got about 50 volunteers within 24 hours and so many good juicy examples. Sadly I had to randomly pick only a few who I thought would make interesting case studies. Anyone else that wants me to suggest a headline for your Linkedin profile should leave a comment on this post. That way you can hear my ideas and perhaps some feedback from other readers.
  I also want to apologize to my volunteers if the headlines I suggest here are not accurate, since I don't know your business as well as you do.
  Let's get started with our first brave volunteer:
  Keren, this is your chance to make a statement that speaks to the heart of your target audience. How about:
  Hand-Crafted Silver Jewelry She Will LOVE!
  All of a sudden, I want to know more! Click!
  Adina, there is so much more you could make of this prime marketing real estate. Here's just one suggestion:
  I Help You to Love Parenting Your Kids… Simply
  Moving right along from raising children to raising capital:
  This one is a bit more difficult and I gave it a lot of thought. I'm assuming that Elliot wants to to make a bold statement yet still maintain his professional image of seniority in a conservative industry. So I'll pass over "Ask Me Any Question About Mortgages" (my first thought) and suggest:
  The Expert Behind 240+ NYC Mortgage Deals Since 1994
  Next victim!:
  There is so much room for creativity here. As a motivational speaker, Zalman should brainstorm something inspirational and relevant to his unique service. How About:
  43 Minutes of Pure Transformational Kabbalah
  I want to mention Rivkah because she has the common situation of trying to position herself in a super competitive field. I see a lot of graphic designers on Linkedin and it's an ideal place for them to promote themselves. But how to stand out from the crowd? Obviously Rivkah needs to make much more of her Linkedin page before she will begin to see results, but in the meantime, how about this Headline:
  Don't Go to Print Without Me – Specialist Design for Publishing
  Writing Linkedin Headlines is fun and I could do it all day. However, the time has come for me to step aside and for you to take action. Go to your Linkedin Profile now and check out your own Headline.
  Is it attention-grabbing and relevant to your target market and their problem?
  If not, it's time to go make headlines.
  If you want me to help you out, write your current Headline and a link to your Linkedin profile in a comment below. I'll respond with a quick suggestion.
  Filed Under: Ask the Expert, Branding, Featured, Marketing, Most Popular, Social Media Marketing, Web Business
  Thanks for this very informative and eye-opening article.
  I'm willing to be your next "victim":
  Miriam Deutscher – Hebrew > English translator
  http://www.linkedin.com/in/miriamdeutscher
  Professional Hebrew to English translations for the business and academic worlds
  It's nice and simple. maybe a little long. can we lose the word "professional" or maybe some of the final 4 words
  Great post. I hadn't considered the importance of a headline. This is mine. It's hard to come up with something snappy when what I do,is so diversified.
  Cindy (Kaye-Mizrahi) Richard
  Quilt Artist / Writer / Editor
  Israel. Fine Art
  Just realized I omitted my LinkedIn address. Here it is. http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=43351765&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile&_mSplash=1
  That is a really hard challenge. The problem is that if you don't pick one field, then you attract no one. do you network about quilting on Linkedin? If not, I'd focus on the other area.
  I agree. I have a mish mosh of two careers. I still work both though. Can I have two accounts? Two tag lines? What would you say for each one?
  Fiber artist with a passion for prickly Israeli landscapes
  Not sure about prickly
  As for tech writer, what about
  Tech writing expert
  you can't have two accounts. my advice is to just pick one career to focus on for linkedin.
  you can't dance at two weddings – especially if one's in Jerusalem and the other's in Guatemala!
  if you choose tech writing, it doesn't mean you have to give up on quilting. in any case, you'd probably be better off promoting your quilting business on Facebook and Pinterest
  Zahava Wolstein says
  Co-owner/President at Bodek2go
  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=168689403&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile
  There is MUCH more you could do here. How about:
  Get Pesticide-Free, Kosher Greens in Israel… Finally
  I had no idea about the headline's importance and usefullness – thanks. Happy to hear your suggestion for me…
  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=5148604&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile
  Freelance scientific editor and writer; Research associate at Hebrew University
  Let's Make Your Scientific Research Paper or Proposal World-Class
  Hi Naomi, and thank you for offering to do this. My LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/israelikitchen
  My Headline: Independent journalist; food and travel writer.
  Yummy Travel and Food Writing Fresh from Israel
  I don't know you well, so the word "yummy" might not fit your personality. You can choose a different word that suits you better.
  Thank you, Naomi, I get it. "Yummy" isn't for me, but the idea is excellent!
  Liane Wakabayashi says
  Thank you Naomi! Your suggestions about making a stronger Linkedin headline were very useful. I went in and changed my immediately. I have never before advertised my "Jewishness" as a business asset but since I am writing a memoir about being Jewish in Tokyo and so much of my life is about connecting Jews to each other in Japan, I think it's time.
  Sarah Kramer-Vorst says
  Sarah Kramer-Vorst – creating economy-proof, predictable income
  GREAT ARTICLE, NAOMI! VERY USEFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
  Great article – I'd never considered the headline before
  I just changed mine now as it was terrible before, but I'm still not happy with it –
  http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ann-goldberg/49/669/b62
  Web Content Maven, With a Passion for Israel Travel Writing
  Chanita teitz says
  Help! I'm trying to write a headline. We're a small, heimish, independent real estate company and I want to emphasize that we help our customers and clients giving them personal attention. We're different than the big franchise companies in that way. We're friendlier, honest, professional and we get the job done! Your input would be much appreciated.
  My link is: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/chanita-teitz/26/b96/343/
  your headline is looking pretty good now but you should definitely add the term "real estate" and possibly also "New York" or the exact location of your territory.
  Friendly Advice from an Experienced NYC Real Estate Pro
  Rivka Elisheva bennett says
  I just changed my headline to "Architectural Journalist/Ghostwriter," but am open to suggestions! Here's the link to my profile: il.linkedin.com/pub/barbara-horwitz-bennett/4/1b3/b25/
  Award-Winning Architectural Journalist/Ghostwriter for working with Leading Construction Names
  Hmmm… that still needs work but it's a good start
  Fancy meeting you here on linkedin! Your article certainly piqued my interest!
  I see I'm here on a long list of intrigued people! I have always wondered if my profile on linkedin helps me in any way since my market is Hebrew speakers in Israel.
  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=47366972&locale=en_US&trk=tyah
  And now I'm wondering if changing my headline would matter!
  How nice to see you here, Shoshana!
  Especially since I met and hired you because of your LI headline and profile. So I guess LI is helping you in some way!
  Have you considered creating a Hebrew profile? You can have profiles in more than one language.
  As for your current headline: it attracted me since I was interested specifically in the Neufeld school, but for most people it might be too specialized.
  On the other hand, "attachment" is a buzzword in parenting, so you should have that in there.
  Teaching Attachment Parenting to Build Stronger, Happier Families in Israel
  By the way, this is a great idea for drawing traffic to your site. Cool strategy. We can all learn from your work here. Just wanted to mention that.
  Blogging is good like that! 🙂
  I know you wrote this piece a long time ago but I'm hoping you've had a long enough break from brainstorming headlines for others and can do one more 🙂
  I totally agree with your piece on headlines but for some reason I swing between something overly silly and "creative" to pretty boring which I have now.
  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=17904828&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile
  leah wachsler says
  Headline construction on linkedin is such an important idea. I love it. Can you help me with mine?
  headline: Freelance writer professional
  location and industry: Montreal, Canada Area Writing and Editing
  Leah. Since a while has passed since I wrote this post, I'm taking a break from this right now. I hope you can get some ideas from the other suggestions I made. Wishing you the best of luck! Naomi