Your LinkedIn Summary is your ‘Wonkavator’ Pitch, so take it through the roof!
How many times have you put off writing your LinkedIn summary? For many professionals, the task never seems to reach the top of their to-do list. The more times you push it to the back of the to-do list, the easier it becomes to avoid writing a LinkedIn summary altogether.
Unfortunately, many professionals are missing out on a great opportunity by ignoring their LinkedIn summary. This is one of the most underutilised section of a profile, yet the perfect place to share the highlights about you and your professional experience in order to better market brand Y.O.U. Leaving it blank or throwing in a short sentence or two is simply not enough to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile.
There’s no room for vague modesty, ambiguity or insincerity.
What is a LinkedIn summary?
Your LinkedIn summary is at the top of your profile, underneath your name, photo, and headline. LinkedIn allows for 2,000 characters, giving you a pretty good word count to work with. Your summary is meant to provide an overview of your career and professional life in a few sentences or paragraphs. It’s your elevator pitch.
LinkedIn refers to your summary as a place to “define yourself in your own words.” While the rest of your profile is broken down into specific boxes with start and end dates, your summary allows for the flexibility to narrate your own professional story. You can highlight your career choices, achievements, and personality in a short space.
Why is your LinkedIn summary SO important?
It’s no cliche that first impressions matter and your LinkedIn summary is an opportunity to create a great first impression. When potential customers visit your LinkedIn profile, they can get a sense of who you are as a person and a professional. While you certainly can and should include information on your business or current position, this is a space to show a more human side.
With circa 600 million members on LinkedIn and growing, chances are high that there are multiple people out there who do what you do. By writing a powerful LinkedIn summary, you can set yourself apart from the crowd. This is your opportunity to tell visitors what makes you different. Why should they hire you? Why should they work with you? What makes you better than the other guys?
Finally, your LinkedIn summary adds personality to what could otherwise be a generic or frankly boring profile. While potential customers or partners may be interested in your work history or accolades, they also want to get to know you. You, as a person, are so much more than what you have done in the past, it’s not about what is, it’s about what can be.
It’s important to remain professional on LinkedIn because it is a platform meant for businesses and professional connections. However, you can infuse some of your personality and good humour into your summary and let people know who you are and what you are passionate about.
What should be included in your LinkedIn summary?
It’s not easy to write a LinkedIn summary, especially if you don’t see yourself as a creative writer. You’re not aiming to get onto the New York Times Best Seller’s list! Many professionals find themselves paralysed by the thought of writing a LinkedIn summary, torn between trying to condense a wealth of professional experience and trying to get your personality into just a few sentences or short paragraphs.
The good news is that you can follow a formula or a guide for writing your summary. It should still be unique to you as an individual, but certain elements should be included. When writing your LinkedIn summary, keep the following questions in mind, just answer the questions to start and then, weave them into a story.
What do you do? Open with a hook, grab peoples attention! This is literally your “HEY” opportunity.
What does your business or brand do?
Who do you serve? What types of businesses do you work with?
What is your area of expertise? What do you excel at?
Can you provide evidence of your success or abilities?
How can people get in touch with you or find more information?
What could you add that would want to make people hear more?
Read it out loud, do you believe in what you’ve written?
In Conclusion, you need a Great LinkedIn Summary
If you find yourself stuck with a bland LinkedIn summary or no summary at all, it is time to reach out to the professionals. We are experts at IN Business Ninjas and will make your LinkedIn Summary shine. As LinkedIn marketing specialists, we can help you optimise your LinkedIn profile in order to generate leads and encourage engagement.
Take it through the roof!
There is no need to fear your LinkedIn summary or put it off any longer. With IN Business Ninjas on your side, you’ll have an optimised LinkedIn summary that best reflects you, your business, and your personality. Enlist the Ninjas today to write your LinkedIn summary.
