Your summary on your LinkedIn page is your chance to shine. Unlike Instagram and Twitter bios, you're not short on space, so you can get creative and really tell your story.
Stuck for what to write? In this article, we'll go through how to write a LinkedIn summary that helps you get hired, build a network, and make the connections of your dreams.
Answer questions about yourself
Often, it helps people to answer questions rather than sit staring at an empty page, waiting for their life story to magically appear. If you're on of those people, try answering these questions as a starting point.
What do people need to know about you?
Who are you?
What do you do?
How can you help your ideal customer?
Why are you the right person to do that?
What makes you unique?
What's your brand story?
Where did you get the idea for your business?
What are your unique skills and strengths?
What are the values you want to associate with your business?
How would the people who know you best describe you?
Identify a tone of voice
Your tone of voice is very important in your LinkedIn summary. The most important thing is that it sounds like you. Write as you speak. Although LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, that doesn't mean you can't have some fun with it. My LinkedIn summary, for example, contains emojis and a reference to Kris Jenner.
Examples: expert, approachable, authoritative, fun, empowering, uplifting, humorous, professional
How to optimise your LinkedIn for SEO
SEO Keywords are the keywords in your summary that make it possible for people to land on your profile through a Google search.
What would people be searching to find you? Freelance cake consultant in London? Coach for exhausted mothers? Do your research using free tools for keyword research. Once you've found the keywords relevant to your industry or service, sprinkle them throughout your summary.
Bonus tip: make sure you include a few of those SEO keywords in your LinkedIn headline, too.
Test it out and pivot where necessary
When you’ve written your summary, make sure you test it out on different groups of people to make sure you get your message across loud and clear.
Sometimes we’re too close to our business to know whether or not we’re getting our point across. Show your summary to some people who have no clue what your business does. What do they remember after reading it? If their answer isn’t what you want to hear, keep tweaking until you get it right.