How to write a winning LinkedIn summary

The unforgettable year that was 2020 changed everything. Almost overnight, a network that had for so long been the domain of not-so-humble bragging, celebrating professional successes and digital back-patting suddenly became more…real.

Sure, the new job milestones, client win boasting, and big campaign announcements were all still there – but as our world temporarily locked down, the platform swiftly became flooded with words of support, open dialogue around personal mental health struggles, and people helping people through very difficult times.

Fast forward three years – and while Twitter and Threads battle it out fiercely for microblogging supremacy, LinkedIn remains a go-to destination for creative professionals globally.

But with over 930 million members of the LinkedIn community right now, what do you need to do to stand out in a very, very big crowd? It all begins with writing a great LinkedIn summary. Here are five simple tips for doing just that.

Focus on what matters most

The LinkedIn summary serves as the starting point for your profile – especially for first-time visitors and new connections who don't yet know you from Adam (or Sarah, or Brad, or Yvonne).

It's your first opportunity to sell yourself, and LinkedIn gives you plenty of scope to do just that. Two thousand six hundred characters of scope, to be precise.

But don't be too hasty and rush to fill up the space just because it's available to you: when it comes to LinkedIn, less is more.

Much like the skill of crafting a great 'About' page for your website, think first: what matters most? Who am I trying to reach and connect with on LinkedIn, and what do they need to know? What's unique about me?

The best LinkedIn summaries instantly engage and tell the full story within the first sentence or two. And that's absolutely vital, as only the first three lines are immediately visible to visitors before they have to click to 'See More' – something that will only happen if you've hooked interest upfront.

Be authentic

The number one, absolutely brilliant thing about LinkedIn is that it's yours. Sure, you may be an employee for a big company and appreciate that your social media activity could be closely monitored and seen as a reflection of the business that pays your wages. But LinkedIn, ultimately, is an online snapshot of your personal education and professional employment history – it's your life story. So far.

And as it's your story, have some fun with it. Be you. Celebrate your you-ness. Bring your unique personality to the platform, and you'll quickly reap the rewards.

When writing your summary, look for creative ways to make it personal and inviting. Whether you're looking to attract new clients, recruiters or appeal to your next potential employer, your LinkedIn summary is your opportunity to tell the world who you truly are.

LinkedIn is your story, have some fun with it. Be you. Celebrate your you-ness. Bring your unique personality to the platform, and you'll quickly reap the rewards.

Explore your personal motivations

Don't be afraid to talk about the 'why' behind what you do for a living. Why are you on this career path? What are you most passionate about? How does what you do day-to-day bring you joy – and what do you hope for more of?

LinkedIn is the perfect place to actively look to attract work projects and clients that will get your creative juices flowing plentifully. And that journey begins with proudly sharing your strengths and personal drivers.

Don't be shy: showcase your skills

At heart, LinkedIn is all about talent exchanges: unlike many other social media channels, it has one driving raison d'être – to connect talented people with one another professionally.

That said, it is the perfect place to confidently share your strengths and areas of expertise. And luckily, the platform makes this super easy to do: as part of your LinkedIn summary, you can select up to five top skills you want to be known and searched for.

These professional strengths appear prominently within the 'Skills' section of your LinkedIn page – perfectly complementing your summary and making it simple for visitors to see exactly what sets you apart.

Encourage connection

Hopefully, your LinkedIn summary is just the first chapter in many exciting and fulfilling professional stories yet to be written.

It is an introduction. And as such, you should do anything you can to move the story forward.

LinkedIn gives you more than enough opportunity to sell yourself in your summary – so why not use some of that space to encourage connection and further conversation? Add a call to action to contact you via your email address. Share your social media handles. Encourage new connections to message you directly.

A social media platform unlike any other today, with LinkedIn you definitely 'have to be in it to win it'. So take the time to be in it fully, bringing your whole self to LinkedIn and taking your career to the next level. It's time to put your best foot forward digitally.