Value-Focused vs Role-Focused LinkedIn Headline Strategies

Is having “Ex-SAP, Ex-Google, Ex-Microsoft” in your headline a good strategy? Here’s what the data shows👇 1️⃣ Engagement: Profiles with specific, value-driven headlines—like “Helping SaaS companies scale to $10M ARR”—get significantly more views and messages than those focused on past employers. Recruiters are searching for skills and impact, not just logos. 2️⃣ Recruiter Behavior: Recruiters spend 90% of their time looking at your headline, title, and summary. A headline that highlights what you bring now is more likely to show up in searches and spark interest. 3️⃣ Credibility: Yes, big names add credibility. But relying solely on them in your headline may come across as clinging to past prestige. Instead, let those names shine in your experience section and use your headline to tell people why they should reach out to you today. 4️⃣ Focus on Outcomes: A LinkedIn study found profiles highlighting results and impact (e.g., “Driving $100M in enterprise sales”) get 6x more profile views than vague headlines. So, what’s the better approach? Blend your past credibility with a clear value proposition: • “Ex-Google | Driving AI adoption for Fortune 500 companies” • “Ex-SAP | Building scalable cloud solutions for mid-sized businesses” Your headline is the first thing people see—make it count. Highlight who you are today and the impact you’re creating. What does your headline say about you? Let me know your thoughts below! Image by Karsten Kotter

🔴 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀! Your LinkedIn profile isn’t a digital resume, it’s your personal brand’s web presence. And if it looks like everyone else’s, you’re leaving money, connections, and opportunities on the table. Here’s the hard truth: Nobody cares about your job titles or generic motivational quotes. What they care about? -> Proof of work. Results. The tangible value you bring to the table. 1. Your Profile = Your Mini Website Think of LinkedIn as your 24/7 salesperson. Headline: Ditch “Founder” or “Coach.” Use a value-packed statement like “Helping CEOs Scale Their Teams Without Burnout” or “Transforming Leaders Through Mindset Shifts.” Banner: Showcase your brand’s personality. Use visuals that reflect your mission or client success stories. About Section: This isn’t your life story. It’s your why. What problems do you solve? Who do you help? Make it crystal clear. Pro Tip: If someone searches for “Leadership Coach” or “Startup Growth Expert” and your profile doesn’t pop up, you’re invisible. Optimize for keywords. 2. Data is Your Secret Weapon LinkedIn tells you exactly who’s viewing your profile and how they found you. Use that intel to refine your strategy. Are your ideal clients searching for you? Tailor your content to their pain points. Pro Tip: Post content that answers the questions your ideal clients are asking. Share quick wins, frameworks, or lessons from your coaching calls. 3. Engage Like a Pro, Not a Robot Generic DMs like “Let’s connect!” are a waste of time. Instead: Comment on posts with thoughtful insights. Share actionable tips that showcase your expertise. Follow up with value, not just a sales pitch. Remember: If they don’t respond, pivot. Don’t chase, attract. 4. Show, Don’t Tell Here’s the golden rule: Your results speak louder than your resume. Share client wins (with permission). Post case studies that highlight your impact. Reveal lessons learned from scaling your own business. Example: Instead of saying, “I’m a great coach,” post: “Just helped a client land a $500K deal after 3 months of mindset coaching. Here’s the framework we used.” 5. Billionaires Are Watching Yes, you read that right. 80% of billionaires are on LinkedIn. They’re scrolling, scouting, and searching for talent, collaborations, and investments. If your profile doesn’t stand out, you’re missing out on life-changing opportunities. 🔥 The Bottom Line: LinkedIn isn’t just a platform, it’s your gateway to clients, investors, and partnerships. Optimize your profile, engage authentically, and let your results do the talking. 👉 CTA: What’s your biggest LinkedIn challenge? Drop it in the comments, and I’ll help you turn it into your biggest opportunity. P.S. Ready to transform your LinkedIn presence? DM me “LinkedIn Strategy” for a free audit of your profile. #PersonalBranding #LinkedInTips #Coaches #Founders #Leadership

Your resume says you "led a $20M program". But your LinkedIn headline says “Passionate collaborator.” That mismatch is costing you interviews. When I compare LinkedIn profiles and resumes of women aiming at $250K–$500K roles, I often see this: Their resume says: → Led $20M digital transformation → Managed global delivery across 4 product lines → Partnered with C-suite on multi-region rollout Their LinkedIn headline says: → “Results-driven leader | Passionate collaborator | Cross-functional PM” You can easily see the gap.  One looks like a business case. But other looks like a people-pleaser. And if you're not positioning yourself as a strategic leader in every touchpoint, you’re leaving opportunity on the table. Here’s what women inside The Fearless Hire do differently to land more interviews for the right roles. 1. They translate their title to match market-level scope. Internal titles like “Program Manager III” don’t mean much outside the org. They update their titles to reflect real responsibility and impact: → Staff TPM | Platform Strategy | Org-wide GTM Enablement 2. They turn the headline into a search-optimized pitch. Recruiters don’t search for “people-focused collaborator.” They search for: → Director of Product → B2B GTM Lead → Cloud Infra Director Your headline should reflect the role you’re targeting, not just your current one. 3. They write the summary like a business case, not a biography. Instead of “I love solving problems and learning every day,” They lead with clarity: → “I lead $30M+ AI/ML platform programs, aligning GTM, infra, and product delivery across 100+ engineers in NA and EU.” Because at the senior level, LinkedIn isn’t a profile. It’s a positioning tool. And the women inside The Fearless Hire don’t sit around waiting for referrals. They make recruiters come to them. → Anita landed interviews at Meta, IBM, and a double promotion in under 3 weeks. → Denise got 8 interviews without a single referral. → Rakhi stopped applying altogether because her inbox was full. Everyone says visibility is luck. But the women inside TFH prove it is a strategy. Share this with someone waiting for their next-level opportunity. P.S. If you are a mid-career woman who is ready to land her $300K+ next-level role, register for my upcoming masterclass "Recession Proof Your Career". I'll teach the exact strategies that have helped 5000+ ambitious women build thriving careers. Link to register in comments. (Limited slots, and registrations will close soon) Date: 07-November-2025 Time: 01:00 PM CDT

I'm seeing a surge of people ditching job titles from LinkedIn headlines. Think twice before joining that bandwagon. Here's why 👇 Lately, I've noticed a trend where individuals swap out their job titles for a mashup of skills and keywords. Sure, showcasing your expertise can clue in recruiters about your skill set. But it leaves too much unsaid. Consider this: Without a clear job title, how can someone gauge the scope of your responsibilities, the level of your experience, or the specific outcomes you drive? For instance, take a headline like this: Customer Success Leader | Sales & Technical Leader l Cloud Solutions l Modern Work Technologies | Strategic Industry Thought Leader | Cross-Functional Collaborator | Solution Seeker So...many...questions: • What exact role does this person fit? • What achievements have they earned? • Who benefits from their expertise? • What industries have they impacted? • What company size are they familiar with? The truth? It's all a bit murky. So, how should you craft your headline? 1. Showcase relevant skills and results? Absolutely. Why? It frames your capabilities for recruiters, giving them a snapshot of what you bring to the table. 2. Incorporate keywords from desired roles and titles? Definitely Why? It enhances your visibility in search results, increasing your chances for more opportunities. 3. Include your target job title? Yes, do it. Why? It immediately informs hiring managers and recruiters about potential roles for you, saving them from digging through your profile. 4. Just use your job title? Not advisable. Why? It risks making you just another name in the crowd. Remember, standing out is key in the job search. Your LinkedIn headline should make the following clear: • Who are you? • What do you do? • Who do you do it for? • What results do you drive? • Who do you drive them for? I like Austin Belcak's Formula: [Job Title] | [Skill 1], [Skill 2], [Skill 3] | I Help [Company Type] [Insert Unique Value Proposition With Measurable Metrics] For Example: Data Analyst | R, Tableau, Power BI | I Help eCommerce Companies Leverage Big Data To Drive A 500% Increase In Customer Retention Big difference from the headline above! Have a question about your LinkedIn profile? I'll answer them below. -- Like this? Follow Kyle Thomas for startup job search tips. #startups #jobsearch #startupjobs #LinkedInTips

Your LinkedIn headline is killing outbound results. (Most reps make this simple mistake.) No one wakes up excited to talk to another "SDR at Tech Co." They wake up thinking about their problems. I know because I made this mistake for years. Here's the framework I use to coach sales teams: Your headline needs 3 key elements: ↳ Value Statement (What you help people do) ↳ Current Role (Build credibility) ↳ Career Journey (Show progression) Example transformation: ❌ "SDR at TechCo" ✅ "Making Influencer Marketing Simple for B2B Companies | Marketing Specialist | Learning All Things Marketing" The key? ➠ Lead with value, not title. You can still add your job title, especially if you're a CEO. Or you can call it a specialist like I did in my example. Just don't make it the main focus. Why this works: ↳ Shows how you help buyers ↳ Proves you know your stuff ↳ Builds trust with your story I've tested this across thousands of profiles. The results? ↳ More profile views ↳ 20% higher acceptance rates ↳ Way more qualified conversations Your headline is often the first thing prospects see. Make it about them, not you. ------ P.S. ♻️ this and I will do a headline makeover for you.

📊 Last week, I conducted a poll about LinkedIn headlines. Thank you to everyone who interacted. 🫶🏾 These are the results from 166 votes! 🚀 🔍 58% of respondents believe that stating the services you offer and their value is crucial. Only 1% say awards and recognition are important. Here's a snapshot of some of the insightful comments: 🗣️ "Job titles don't always convey true capabilities. Focus on what you can do and the impact you can make." Simon Pittman 🗣️ "Striving for awards may sacrifice other activities. Clients often seek services and a proven track record for maximum impact." G Gordon Cowan 🗣️ "Consider the purpose on LinkedIn. Who do you want to attract or inspire, and how do you want to serve or be served?" Karin Ovari 🗣️ "It's a balance – some use LinkedIn for B2B connections, while others seek skilled individuals and like-minded connections." Louise Wood 🗣️ "Value offered is key. People want to know how you can help them in the future. Less is more – focus on a few key points." Bruce Scharlau 🗣️ “Personalise your headline to attract your target audience, keeping it concise and enticing. A mix of recognition, expertise, role, and personality works well.” Suz Bird 📌 Useful Tips: Edit on the mobile app for a slightly longer character limit. Align your profile with different campaigns for additional messaging. Caroline Laurenson 🌟I've updated my headline since last week, with inspiration from these five types of headlines: 1. [Value Proposition] [Profession] [Call-to-action] 2. [Job title] [Social proof] [Call-to-action] 3. [Value Proposition] [Expertise] [Promise] 4. [Social Proof] [Promise] [Call-to-action] 5. [Promise] [Expertise] Next week, I will share how I used AI to identify the most effective headline for my profile. PS. Repost if you found this useful♻️ #LinkedInTips #Business #YOstories

Your LinkedIn headline is more than a label; it's your digital handshake. Gone are the days of just job titles. Today, it's about making a statement: → Past Approach: Job titles that confine you to a role. → Modern Strategy: Positioning statements like "I do X for Y" that define your unique value and audience. → Why It Matters: First impression to make it clear what you do and for who (and even why). Remember: confused buyers don't buy. In comments (where conversations start), only the first 5-8 words of your headline are visible, crucial for grabbing attention and inviting clicks to your profile. It's a shift from being just another name to becoming a memorable presence: 👉 Craft a headline that acts as your value proposition, clear and compelling. 👉 Engage effectively, ensuring those first few words make people curious. 👉 Be the standout, transforming every comment into a pathway to your profile. This isn't just about visibility; it's about making connections that count. Your headline should not only reflect who you are but also the impact you're here to make. Let's move beyond traditional titles to headlines that intrigue, engage, and set new standards. Are you ready to redefine your digital handshake? Let's talk 😎

A CFO came to me with one question: “Why isn’t LinkedIn bringing me opportunities?” I didn’t need more than 10 seconds to see why. Their profile read like a basic career chronology: past-focused, dense, full of jargon. It didn’t give anyone a reason to reach out today. Don’t approach LinkedIn as just a ‘resume-like’ database. Look at it more like a giant search engine. If you want it to bring you opportunities, your profile must be built for search, connection, and positioning. Start with these 4 checks: 1.     Headline: Does it project your next move, not just your current job title? Most executives leave their headline as “CFO at XYZ Corp.”, which doesn’t help them in searches. Instead, use a value-driven headline with appropriate keywords: Chief Financial Officer | Fortune 100 | $50B P&L Oversight | Drove 18% EBITDA Growth and $4B Free Cash Flow | Global M&A, Capital Markets, Digital Finance Transformation This makes you keyword-rich for search and gives readers a reason to click. 2.     About Section: Does it read like a compelling conversation starter, or like a dull corporate bio? The best About sections: * Lead with a hook that makes people want to read more. * Share the kind of leadership problems you solve. * Spotlight strong impacts and results. * Close with a clear invitation to connect. 3.     Top 5 Skills: These should never be random; instead, they should be strategically selected and aligned with the skills that your future employers are looking for. Choose keywords that match your target roles (e.g., “Mergers & Acquisitions,” “Financial Strategy,” “Organizational Transformation”). 4.     Experience Section: Are your results front and center? Are you providing enough context to appease and interest a reader? Replace generic “responsible for” statements with quantified impact: “Delivered $120M in cost savings through operational restructuring”. People scan profiles, and numbers and specifics stop the scroll. When you treat your LinkedIn profile as an active marketing asset, it begins generating warm leads even when you’re not online. A strong profile isn’t just a biography. It’s your 24/7 business development tool. 🔁 Share this to help someone who is due for a LinkedIn refresh. #LinkedIn #Jobsearch #ExecutiveSearch

We audited 150 IT Channel founder LinkedIn profiles. 50% looked filled, but didn't say anything. 22% did not have a banner 5% did not even have a profile (100 cr. business and above). Warning: this is a long post. Before you read about the system for creating better profiles, know this. Your current profiles don’t show: - Who you help - Why you matter - Why clients should trust you Vague banner: “Helping clients with world-class endpoint security solutions.” or "Helping CIOs in their digital transformation journey." Vague Headline: Designation of founder or same content as the banner. Confused about section: About the company, how old the company is, how they provide the best services. Maybe a paragraph listing servers, storage, backup and a throwaway line about cybersecurity. Empty featured section: Or maybe a certificate or award photo. There's nothing about: - The problem you address - Who you address - Why clients should trust you This is called "being filled and not saying anything". It is now as critical for someone contributing here on LinkedIn as it is for someone not writing here but meeting clients daily. The first thing a CXO level person would do is go visit your profile. 𝗦𝗼 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀. Banner: Use this formula - [Who you help] + [Problem you solve] + [Outcome]. Example: “Securing mid-market & owner-led businesses with managed detection & response. Turning cyber risk into business confidence.” Headline: Use this formula - [Specific service/outcome] + [Target clientele] +[Proof/credibility]. Example: “Smooth MDR adoption for mid-market businesses | Founder at a 30+ year IT services company.” About section: Use this formula - [Problem] + [Agitate] + [Solution]. Example: State the client’s pain that you can solve. Show the risk of ignoring it. Show how your company solves it. Featured section: Add one link to your website + Add a post of yours that gave real value to your audience. Your profile must position you. Don't treat it like a placeholder or a catalogue. It should tell prospects: “This is the problem we solve, for people like you, in a way that matters.” That’s how you make viewers remember you. And yes, LinkedIn is the current best tool to build your authority. And founders need it. Every Sunday, I share content that founders can use for their building authority via LinkedIn. ---- Rajeev Mamidanna Fixing what most tech founders miss out - Brand Strategy, Marketing Systems & Unified Messaging in 90 days & helping you with continuous Marketing

If your LinkedIn headline screams: 'SDR'/'AE'/'Account Manager'/'Sales Leader' And you're NOT selling to other salespeople... You're shooting yourself in the foot. Why? The moment prospects see 'sales' in your title, barriers go up: → "Another pitch coming my way?" → "Is this person only interested in my wallet?" Your headline ≠ just a title. It's your FIRST impression. It's your BRAND promise. Position yourself as: → Industry Insider → Trusted Advisor → Solution Provider → Peer & Collaborator Why does this matter? → No one wants to be 'sold to.' → But EVERYONE appreciates valuable insights. → And EVERYONE seeks genuine connections. Stop identifying so bluntly as a 'salesperson'. Start standing out as a trustworthy peer. Your LinkedIn success doesn't hinge on your title. It thrives on your perceived VALUE.