The Best LinkedIn Headlines for More Sales in 2024

Hi there! If you‘re looking to revamp your LinkedIn profile and create an appealing, click-worthy headline that converts, you‘ve come to the right place.

As a long-time LinkedIn user and online marketing professional, I‘ve experimented with dozens of headline formulas over the years. I‘ve learned what makes readers pause their scrolling and what causes them to keep on moving.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share my proven insider tips to craft the perfect headline to grab attention and generate more sales leads in 2024.

Here‘s what we‘ll cover:

• What makes an effective LinkedIn headline
• Headline formulas that attract your ideal audience
• The #1 key to writing magnetic headlines
• Mistakes to avoid
• The role of keywords
• Examples of creative headlines
• How to test headline variations
• When and how to change your headline
• Professional services to amplify your profile

Let‘s dive in!

What Makes a Good LinkedIn Headline?

Your LinkedIn headline appears directly below your name and photo. It typically includes your current job title and company name.

For example:

John Smith
Digital Marketing Manager at Acme Co.

This default headline is pretty generic. To make a strong first impression, you need a customized headline that communicates:

• Your professional identity
• Key skills and experience
• How you can add value

A compelling headline helps establish your brand and areas of expertise. It shows people what sets you apart at a glance.

LinkedIn Headline Formulas That Work

The most effective headlines follow certain proven formulas. Here are some of my favorites.

Job Title + Company + Specialty

This formula includes your current role, employer, and niche skills.

Digital Marketing Director at HubSpot | Paid Social Media Specialist

Job Title + Personality/Expertise

Add colorful personality descriptors or areas of expertise to your job title.

Enthusiastic Marketing Director | Brand Storyteller

Service + Target Audience

Explain who you serve and what service you provide.

Digital Marketing Solutions for Startups

Value + Target Audience

Highlight the value you offer a specific audience.

Empowering Busy Moms to Start Their Own Businesses

Problem Solved + Target Audience

State the problem you solve for a particular audience.

Guiding Tech Startups on Product Launch Strategy

As you can see, effective headlines follow a simple formula:

Role/Expertise + Audience + Value Offered

Let your headline speak directly to your ideal audience and state clearly how you can help them.

The #1 Key to Writing Magnetic Headlines

As an online marketer, I‘ve analyzed thousands of high-performing headlines. Across industries and niches, the most compelling ones have one thing in common:

They focus on what the reader cares about.

Your headline isn‘t about you. It‘s about your audience. To connect with readers, zero in on their pain points and desires. Offer them value.

Here are proven tips for crafting ultra-magnetic headlines:

Grab attention with power words

Power words like “results-driven”, “proven” or “22 years experience” convey authority and expertise.

Quantify your achievements

“Increased sales 37%” or “Top 5% most endorsed” proves you deliver results. But be honest.

Appeal to their desires

“Be Your Own Boss” or “Unlock Your Potential” tap into what motivates them.

Speak to their pain points

“Slash Your Marketing Costs” or “End Meeting Overload” directly address their struggles.

Use the “you” perspective

“How I Can Help You Generate More Leads” puts their needs first.

Avoid industry jargon

Use simple, clear language your readers actually use.

Add personality

A dash of humor or color communicates approachability. But keep it professional.

The most compelling headlines ignite interest by speaking directly to what your audience cares most about.

Common LinkedIn Headline Mistakes To Avoid

While optimizing my own headlines over the years, I’ve made lots of mistakes. Here are some big pitfalls to avoid so your headline attracts your audience instead of repelling them.

Using meaningless buzzwords

Vague terms like “marketing guru” or “growth hacker” are cliché and come across as bragging.

Making it all about you

Headlines focused on your own goals sound selfish and self-promotional. Keep the focus on the reader.

Using overly clever plays on words

You want readers to instantly get the message. Inside jokes and confusing puns miss the mark.

Making it too long

Rambling headlines with dense blocks of text won’t get read. Keep it tight.

Forgetting relevant keywords

Optimize with keywords your audience actually searches for. But use them naturally.

Exaggerating or lying

Stretching the truth backfires. Be honest about your experience and expertise.

Trying too hard to be “cool”

Forced humor or excessive emojis comes across as unprofessional. Keep it classy.

While a creative headline can capture attention, go too far and it falls flat. Avoid these mistakes to ensure your message resonates.

Why Keywords Matter in Your LinkedIn Headline

Adding strategic keywords naturally to your headline helps people find you when searching LinkedIn.

Relevant keywords also increase your profile’s search engine visibility outside LinkedIn. For example, when someone Googles “sales funnel consultant,” you want your LinkedIn profile to appear.

Here’s how to incorporate keywords to boost visibility:

Put the most important word first. Lead with your most relevant keyword so it catches the eye right away in search results.

Use keywords, not jargon. Include terms your audience naturally uses, not insider lingo only industry folks know.

Be specific. “Sales Funnels” is too broad. “B2B SaaS Sales Funnel Optimization” is much more specific and helpful.

Include critical modifiers. Add terms like your geographic region and industry niche (i.e. “CPA” + “Miami”).

Optimize for long-tail keywords. Target longer, more specific phrases like “conversion rate optimization for online course creators”.

Use search data. Check Google Keyword Planner or relevant hashtags to identify useful search terms.

Refresh regularly. Update keywords as your focus evolves.

With strategic keywords, you ensure the right people can easily find you.

Creative Examples of Strong LinkedIn Headlines

The best way to create effective headlines is to learn from those already working.

Here are some excellent real-world examples that apply key principles:

Quicken Loans

Home Loans Made Easy

This headline speaks directly to the reader’s desire — simplifying the home buying process. It clearly states the core value prop.

Morgan Stanley

Helping Clients Meet Their Financial Goals Since 1935

Good use of history to establish authority. Focuses on serving the client’s interests.

General Electric

Inventing the Next Industrial Era to Build a World That Works

Ambitious mission statement headline that conveys purpose and personality.

Virgin

The World’s Most Irreverent Group of Companies

Short, catchy description with a fun, bold brand voice that stands out.

Burberry

150 Years of British Luxury | Modern Heritage

Highlights longevity and brand positioning with descriptive personality adjectives.

Take inspiration from these examples, then craft a headline tailored to your own audience, voice and offerings.

How to Test Different Headline Variations

To identify which headline variant performs best, you need to test them.

Here’s a simple process to try out different options:

1. Draft 3-5 headlines

Brainstorm a mix of your job title, personality descriptors, value offered, keywords, etc.

2. Rotate headlines weekly

Constantly changing your headline looks indecisive. Try a new one each week.

3. Track reactions

Watch for changes in profile views, connection requests, post reactions, and engagement.

4. Ask connections for feedback

Poll your network on which most effectively communicates what you offer.

5. Monitor search visibility

Google yourself periodically to see if rankings improve.

6. Assess weekly data

At the end of each week, see which headline drove most views, connections and engagement.

7. Double down on what’s working

Stick with 1-2 top performing headlines, continuously refining them.

Test systematically over several weeks to discover which options resonate most with your audience.

When and How to Change Your LinkedIn Headline

How often you change your headline depends on your goals.

Here are best practices:

If you’re job hunting, edit it whenever you start a new job search. Showcase the roles you’re interested in.

If you’re thought leading, update it every 2-3 months with new topics and keywords you’re focusing on.

If you’re business prospecting, try a new variation every 1-2 weeks, consistently testing what brings in more leads.

When you change roles, immediately update it to match your new title and company.

When you want to highlight a new offering, showcase the additional services, skills or achievements.

In general, err on the side of updating your headline regularly to keep it fresh and aligned with what you want viewers to know.

Pro Tip: Save past headlines you‘ve used in a note. You can refer back to them and repurpose effective phrases in future versions.

Professional Services To Boost Your LinkedIn Presence

Optimizing your headline is just the first step. To amplify your LinkedIn presence, consider investing in specialized professional services.

Here are top options to consider:

• Meet Alfred – This AI-powered tool automates outreach to build connections and get introduced to prospects.

• UseViral – Generates leads by promoting your LinkedIn profile and posts. Great for establishing thought leadership.

• Dux-Soup – LinkedIn automation platform for messaging, prospecting and improving search visibility.

While optimizing your own profile is free, tapping professional services can significantly accelerate your results. But nail your headline first before exploring paid tools.

Start Crafting Your Headline Today

Thanks for reading my in-depth guide on writing compelling LinkedIn headlines!

To recap, here are my top tips:

• Use proven headline formulas focused on your audience
• Speak directly to what your ideal clients care about
• Quantify achievements and convey personality
• Avoid common mistakes like buzzwords and exaggeration
• Strategically incorporate keywords
• Test different variations and analyze data
• Update your headline regularly as your focus evolves

I hope these tips help you create a stellar headline optimized for more sales and success in 2024! Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you have any other questions.

To your career growth,

[Your Name]