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LinkedIn Bio Examples: How to Write a Headline and Summary That Get Noticed

8 min read

Your LinkedIn bio — your headline and About section — is the first thing people read when they visit your profile. It determines whether they connect, follow, or click away. Yet most professionals default to a generic job title and leave the About section blank.

This guide shows you exactly what makes a great LinkedIn bio, with real examples by role, and the common mistakes that hold people back.

What Makes a Great LinkedIn Headline

Your headline gets 220 characters and appears everywhere — search results, connection requests, comments, and messages. It’s the single most visible line of text on your profile.

A great headline does three things:

  1. Communicates who you help — your target audience should see themselves in your headline
  2. Explains how you help — what value do you deliver?
  3. Includes relevant keywords — so you get found in LinkedIn search

LinkedIn Headline Examples by Role

For Founders and CEOs

  • “Building [Product] to help [audience] achieve [outcome] | CEO at [Company]”
  • “Founder at [Company] | Helping [industry] companies [specific benefit]”
  • “Serial entrepreneur | Building the future of [industry] | Previously [notable company]”

For Marketers

  • “Helping B2B companies generate pipeline through content marketing | Head of Marketing at [Company]”
  • “Growth marketer | Scaled [Company] from $0 to $5M ARR | Writing about what actually works”
  • “Content strategist for SaaS brands | Building audiences that convert”

For Sales Professionals

  • “Helping [industry] teams close more deals with [approach] | Account Executive at [Company]”
  • “Enterprise sales | Connecting [audience] with solutions for [problem]”
  • “Sales leader | Built $10M+ pipeline | Sharing lessons on consultative selling”

For Engineers and Technical Roles

  • “Senior Software Engineer | Building scalable systems at [Company] | Writing about [topic]”
  • “Full-stack developer | Passionate about [technology] and developer experience”
  • “Engineering Manager | Growing high-performance teams | Previously [notable company]”

The LinkedIn About Section: Your Story

The About section gives you 2,600 characters to make your case. Think of it as a cover letter, elevator pitch, and sales page combined. Here’s a proven structure:

The Hook (First 2–3 Lines)

Only the first 2–3 lines are visible before the “See more” fold. These lines must compel people to click:

  • Bold statement: “Most companies waste 80% of their content budget. I help them stop.”
  • Provocative question: “What if your LinkedIn profile could generate leads while you sleep?”
  • Result-driven: “I’ve helped 50+ SaaS companies generate $20M+ in pipeline through content marketing.”

The Body

After the hook, cover:

  • Who you serve: Be specific about your audience and their pain points
  • What you do: Describe your approach, expertise, or product
  • Why you’re credible: Key results, clients, credentials, or experience
  • What makes you different: Your unique perspective or methodology

The Call to Action

End with a clear next step. Don’t leave visitors wondering what to do:

  • “DM me to chat about [topic]”
  • “Visit [website] to learn more”
  • “Connect with me — I accept all requests”
  • “Book a free consultation at [link]”

About Section Examples

Founder Example

“Most founders know they should be posting on LinkedIn. Few actually do — because it takes time they don’t have.

I built [Company] to solve this. We use AI to learn your voice, analyze what resonates with your audience, and help you create content that builds authority without eating your calendar.

Before founding [Company], I spent 8 years in B2B marketing, helping companies from seed stage to IPO build their content engines. I’ve seen firsthand how the right content strategy transforms a business.

Let’s connect — I love talking about content, AI, and growing on LinkedIn.”

Sales Professional Example

“I help enterprise teams cut their sales cycle in half by actually understanding their buyers.

In 6 years of enterprise sales, I’ve closed $25M+ in deals and learned one thing: the best salespeople don’t sell — they diagnose.

I write about consultative selling, deal strategy, and the mindset shifts that separate top performers from the rest.

DM me to chat about sales strategy — always happy to help.”

Common LinkedIn Bio Mistakes

  • Using only a job title as your headline: “Marketing Manager at Acme Corp” tells people nothing about what you actually do or why they should care
  • Writing in third person: “John is a seasoned professional…” feels cold and corporate. First person is more engaging and authentic.
  • Leaving the About section blank: You’re missing 2,600 characters of prime real estate for profile optimization
  • Being too vague: “I help companies grow” could describe anyone. Be specific about who you help, how you help, and with what results.
  • Listing responsibilities instead of results: Nobody cares that you “managed a team of 10.” They care that you “grew revenue by 200% in 18 months.”
  • No call to action: If someone reads your entire About section and doesn’t know what to do next, you’ve lost them.

Quick Bio Writing Formula

If you’re stuck, use this formula for a quick but effective bio:

  1. Headline: [What you do] for [who you serve] | [Role] at [Company]
  2. About — Line 1: Bold claim or question that makes them click “See more”
  3. About — Body: 2–3 paragraphs covering who, what, why, and proof
  4. About — Close: Clear CTA with a specific next step

Key Takeaways

  • Your headline should answer “Who do you help and how?” — not just state your job title
  • The first 2–3 lines of your About section are the most important — they determine whether people click “See more”
  • Write in first person, be specific about results, and always end with a call to action
  • Include relevant keywords naturally to improve your LinkedIn SEO
  • Your bio should evolve as your career and goals change — revisit it quarterly

Craft your perfect bio

Pollen analyzes your background, audience, and goals to help you write a LinkedIn headline and summary that sound authentically you — and actually convert.

Try Pollen for Free