LinkedIn headlines, or the short line of text beneath your profile name, serve a function for visitors and algorithms alike. As one of the first things clients and collaborators notice on your profile, a strong headline can communicate who you are, what you do, your brand’s value proposition, and improve searchability.
With more than a billion members in over 200 countries, LinkedIn is where potential employers, clients, and collaborators look you up before reaching out. Your headline determines whether you show up in their searches, and whether they scroll down your profile.
Here’s how to write effective LinkedIn headlines, with real-world headline examples showing how successful users are branding themselves.
What is a LinkedIn headline?
A LinkedIn headline is the short line of text that appears directly beneath your name anywhere your LinkedIn profile shows up on the site, including search results and connection requests. That means people often read it before they ever click through to your profile. This makes it one of the first things a stranger learns about you, and your first shot at a strong impression.
LinkedIn caps headlines at around 220 characters on desktop and 240 on mobile—but it truncates them in feeds and search results before that. The first 45 or so characters do the heavy lifting.
Why LinkedIn headlines matter
Laura Lorenzetti, senior director and executive editor at LinkedIn News, has said that headlines matter because they follow you into every feed where your posts appear.
“If people don’t know you, they’ll look at your name and headline, and they’ll match that to what you’re saying,” she says on an episode of the Entrepreneur Media podcast Problem Solvers. “They’re trying to understand your credibility and expertise, so the more thoughtful you are of how that headline reflects that credibility and expertise and what you want to speak to, the better.”
The headline also influences the LinkedIn algorithm. A 2026 paper by a team including Matthew Teoh, who led machine learning for People Search at LinkedIn, found that adding profile text like headlines to its ranking models produced the single largest accuracy gain of any feature the team tested. In other words, your headline is a major factor in whether recruiters, clients, and collaborators find you at all when they search for a given role or skill set, and whether they click through once they do.
All of which is why a headline is worth more than a restated job title. By emphasizing clarity, specialization, and value, a headline can communicate more than what company you work for, what industry you’re in, or where you sit on an org chart.
LinkedIn headline examples
- Leah Marcus, cofounder of Good Girl Snacks
- Jing Gao, founder and CEO of Fly By Jing
- Kevin Chon, cofounder of Coop Home Goods
- Jen Yu, CEO and cofounder of Jaxon Lane
- Ellen Marie Bennett, founder of Hedley & Bennett
- Omer Ozener, CEO and cofounder of Hello Klean
- Curry Hagerty, co-owner and CEO of HART Jewelry
The following LinkedIn headline examples show how influential founders and CEOs reflect their personal brand and shape their presentation on the site:
Leah Marcus, cofounder of Good Girl Snacks
In an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast, Good Girl Snacks cofounder Leah Marcus says aspiring founders should use the social media platform to intentionally grow their network.
“One thing we always tell people is to cold outreach people in the industry through LinkedIn or just get connected with people,” she says.
Her headline opens with her company name and cofounder role, but she names her area of expertise—marketing and growth—rather than stopping at the title. She closes with a credential built to get her noticed: a Forbes 30 Under 30 mention.
Jing Gao, founder and CEO of Fly By Jing
Crisp, clean, and free of embellishment, Jing Gao’s LinkedIn headline gets straight to the point. The all-caps brand name does the heavy lifting, reinforcing how closely Fly By Jing is tied to Jing herself and underscoring her centrality and leadership as the brand’s founder and CEO.
The link to a calendar where people can book one-on-one time serves a purpose too, showing her interest in supporting her community and sharing what she knows.
Kevin Chon, cofounder of Coop Home Goods
Chon’s LinkedIn headline is the perfect example of playful brand-building at work. By holding off on his role at Coop until further down the page, Chon takes a personality-forward approach. It turns casual profile views into opportunities to create interest.
Anyone searching for Chon gets instant insight into his playful approach to professional excellence—as well as his relatable fondness for tacos.
Jen Yu, CEO and cofounder of Jaxon Lane
On an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast, Jen shares how she uses her LinkedIn connections to create more opportunities for her brand. When she’s looking for retail partners, she says, “I’ll go on LinkedIn and see if we have any mutual connections,” leaning on her extended community to find an opening.
Her current headline opens with her role as a CEO and cofounder of Jaxon Lane, then signals a network-first approach by mentioning Google.
Ellen Marie Bennett, founder of Hedley & Bennett
A former cook, Bennett leans into her niche by centering her culinary experience throughout her headline. Every element is chosen to highlight her kitchen credentials and connect her with people who value that expertise.
Her company, Hedley & Bennett, comes first, followed by her book title, a role at media company Tastemade, and her stint at the restaurant Providence. Together, her headline is a clear sign that this is someone who knows kitchen goods from the inside.
Omer Ozener, CEO and cofounder of Hello Klean
Omer Ozener takes a maximalist approach to his LinkedIn bio. Taking up more space allows him to include more data, centering not just his current role as the CEO and cofounder of Hello Klean but also an appearance on Dragons’ Den and a former stint at Zalando.
He makes room for metrics and personality too, describing how he “Bootstapped Hello Klean to 1M+ units sold” and writes on “brand building, hardware manufacturing, and DTC growth.” This bio lets him thoroughly convey who he is and what he offers.
Curry Hagerty, co-owner and CEO of Hart Jewelry
On an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast, Hart Jewelry co-owner Curry Hagerty says she uses LinkedIn to build out her professional bona fides. Her sister and cofounder Hart Hagerty puts her focus on Instagram.
“Hart is the founder and creative director. She has this incredible world that she’s building,” Curry says. “Whereas I’m the dorky sister on LinkedIn. Like that is my social media platform. Like I’m out there sharing white papers and job listings.”
Curry’s profile headline frontloads her professional qualifications, simply listing her role as the co-owner and CEO of HART.
LinkedIn headline examples FAQ
How long can a LinkedIn headline be?
LinkedIn headlines have a limit of 220 characters on desktop and 240 characters on the mobile app. This limit has not been officially documented by LinkedIn itself, so individual capabilities may vary depending on screen size.
How often should you update your LinkedIn headline?
According to LinkedIn, users should “regularly review job titles to ensure they remain relevant” and “update them as needed to align with changes in the role or industry trends.”
Should you include keywords in your LinkedIn headline?
Yes, include keywords, but avoid keyword stuffing. What’s in your headline directly impacts your search discoverability and increases profile appearances. Think of your headline as your searchable résumé title. It should contain keywords and phrases that hiring managers and clients are looking for.
