How to Write a LinkedIn Headline: 50+ Examples for 2026

Your LinkedIn headline is the most valuable real estate on your profile. It appears everywhere: in search results, connection requests, comments, and the feed. A strong headline makes people click. A weak headline makes them scroll past. In 120 characters, you need to communicate who you are, what you do, and why someone should care.

This guide breaks down how to write a LinkedIn headline that works in 2026, with 50+ examples across different roles and industries you can adapt for yourself.

Why Your LinkedIn Headline Matters

Your headline serves three critical functions:

1. Search Visibility

LinkedIn's search algorithm heavily weights your headline. If someone searches "B2B marketing consultant," profiles with those keywords in their headline rank higher. Your headline is SEO for LinkedIn.

2. First Impression

When you comment on a post, send a connection request, or appear in someone's feed, your headline is the first thing they see after your name. It's your 3-second pitch.

3. Credibility Signal

A clear, specific headline signals expertise. Vague headlines like "Helping businesses grow" signal nothing. Specific headlines like "Helping B2B SaaS companies reduce churn by 40%" signal authority.

The Anatomy of a Great LinkedIn Headline

Strong headlines share common elements:

• Clarity: People understand what you do immediately

• Specificity: Concrete details beat vague claims

• Value proposition: What's in it for the reader?

• Keywords: Terms your target audience searches for

• Personality: A hint of your voice or perspective

LinkedIn Headline Formulas That Work

Formula 1: Role + Who You Help + Result

This is the most reliable formula. It answers: What do you do? For whom? What outcome?

Examples:

• "Sales Coach | Helping SDRs book 3x more meetings"

• "Fractional CMO | Scaling B2B startups from $1M to $10M ARR"

• "Executive Recruiter | Placing C-suite leaders at Fortune 500 companies"

• "Content Strategist | Helping founders build audiences that convert"

• "Product Designer | Creating SaaS interfaces users actually love"

Formula 2: Title at Company + Unique Angle

Works well for employees who want to stand out beyond their job title.

Examples:

• "VP Marketing at TechCorp | Writing about growth experiments that failed"

• "Senior Engineer at Stripe | Making payments boring (in a good way)"

• "Head of Sales at Notion | Building the playbook for PLG sales"

• "Founder at GrowthCo | Sharing everything I learn building in public"

• "Product Manager at Figma | Obsessed with design systems"

Formula 3: Expertise + Credibility Marker

Combine what you do with proof that you're good at it.

Examples:

• "SEO Consultant | Drove $50M+ in organic revenue for clients"

• "Leadership Coach | Former McKinsey Partner | 500+ executives coached"

• "Startup Advisor | 3x founder | $100M+ raised for portfolio companies"

• "Brand Strategist | Built brands for Apple, Nike, and Airbnb"

• "Sales Trainer | Trained 10,000+ reps at companies like Salesforce and HubSpot"

Formula 4: Problem You Solve

Lead with the pain point you address.

Examples:

• "I help founders stop losing deals to cheaper competitors"

• "Fixing broken marketing funnels for B2B companies"

• "I turn engineers into confident public speakers"

• "Helping overwhelmed CEOs get their weekends back"

• "I help companies hire senior talent without paying agency fees"

Formula 5: Mission-Driven Statement

Works for thought leaders and creators building a personal brand.

Examples:

• "Making finance accessible to first-gen professionals"

• "On a mission to help 1M developers land their dream job"

• "Building the future of remote work, one tool at a time"

• "Democratizing access to executive coaching"

• "Helping underrepresented founders raise their first round"

50+ LinkedIn Headline Examples by Role

For Founders and CEOs

• "Founder & CEO at [Company] | Building [product] for [audience]"

• "Serial Entrepreneur | 2 exits | Now building [Company]"

• "CEO at [Company] | Sharing lessons from scaling 0 to $10M ARR"

• "Founder | Helping [audience] solve [problem] | Forbes 30 Under 30"

• "Building [Company] in public | Previously [notable company]"

For Marketers

• "Growth Marketer | Scaling startups through paid + organic"

• "Content Marketing Lead | Turning blogs into revenue engines"

• "Demand Gen Manager | Pipeline obsessed | HubSpot certified"

• "Brand Marketer | Building brands people talk about"

• "Marketing Consultant | Helping B2B SaaS companies 3x their MQLs"

For Sales Professionals

• "Enterprise AE | Closing 7-figure deals at [Company]"

• "Sales Leader | Building high-performing teams from scratch"

• "SDR Manager | Turning cold outreach into warm conversations"

• "Revenue Operations | Making sales teams 40% more efficient"

• "Sales Coach | Helping reps hit quota consistently"

For Consultants and Coaches

• "Executive Coach | Helping leaders navigate high-stakes transitions"

• "Business Consultant | Turning around struggling companies"

• "Career Coach | Helping professionals land $200K+ roles"

• "Strategy Consultant | Ex-BCG | Advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs"

• "Leadership Coach | Helping first-time managers become great leaders"

For Creators and Thought Leaders

• "Writing about [topic] | 100K+ newsletter subscribers"

• "LinkedIn Top Voice | Sharing insights on [topic]"

• "Creator | Helping professionals build their personal brand"

• "Podcaster | Interviewing the world's top [type of person]"

• "Building in public | Documenting my journey to [goal]"

For Engineers and Technical Roles

• "Staff Engineer at [Company] | Writing about system design"

• "Full Stack Developer | React, Node, AWS | Open to freelance"

• "ML Engineer | Building AI products at [Company]"

• "DevOps Lead | Making deployments boring"

• "Engineering Manager | Growing teams and shipping products"

For Job Seekers

• "Marketing Leader | Open to CMO roles at growth-stage startups"

• "Product Manager | Seeking PM roles in fintech | Ex-Stripe"

• "Sales Executive | Looking for my next challenge in SaaS"

• "Recent MBA | Seeking strategy roles in tech"

• "Software Engineer | Open to senior roles at mission-driven companies"

Headlines to Avoid

These patterns hurt more than they help:

• Too vague: "Passionate about helping businesses succeed" — Means nothing

• Buzzword soup: "Thought leader | Innovator | Change agent | Visionary" — Empty words

• Just your title: "Marketing Manager at Company" — Misses opportunity to differentiate

• Trying too hard: "Chief Happiness Officer | Guru | Ninja | Rockstar" — Dated and cringey

• No keywords: "Making the world better" — Won't appear in any relevant searches

How to Choose Your Headline

Step 1: Define Your Goal

What do you want your headline to accomplish?

• Attract clients? Lead with the problem you solve

• Get hired? Include target role and relevant keywords

• Build authority? Highlight credibility markers

• Grow an audience? Lead with your content angle

Step 2: Identify Keywords

What terms does your target audience search for? Include them naturally. If you're a "fractional CFO," that exact phrase should be in your headline.

Step 3: Draft 5 Versions

Write at least 5 variations using different formulas. Test them by reading each one and asking: "Would I click on this profile?"

Step 4: Get Feedback

Share your options with colleagues or your target audience. What resonates? What's confusing?

Step 5: Test and Iterate

Your headline isn't permanent. Change it every few months based on your goals and what you learn about your audience.

Advanced Headline Tactics

Use Numbers

Specific numbers build credibility: "$50M+ in revenue generated" hits harder than "Significant revenue generated."

Create Intrigue

Headlines that spark curiosity get clicks: "The sales rep who only works 4 hours a day" makes people want to learn more.

Match Your Content

If you post about leadership, your headline should signal leadership expertise. Alignment between headline and content builds trust.

Update Seasonally

Refresh your headline when your goals change: launching a course, looking for a job, promoting a new offer.

Your Headline is Just the Start

A great headline gets people to your profile. But to turn profile visits into followers, clients, or opportunities, you need strong content that backs up your headline's promise.

Growth Terminal helps you create consistent, high-quality LinkedIn content that builds on your headline's positioning. AI-powered content creation, scheduling, and analytics work together to help you grow your LinkedIn presence systematically.

Ready to build an audience that matches your headline? Start growing with Growth Terminal.