Agonizing Over Your LinkedIn Headline? Stop. Do This Instead.

I got this message earlier this week:

"I'm agonizing over my LinkedIn headline. There are 1,000 opinions out there. I’ve changed it 1,000 times. I like the 'I help people…' hook, but I can’t get it to feel right. What am I missing?"

If you've ever wrestled with your headline, you're not alone.

We’ve been told it needs to be clever, keyword-packed, and conversion-optimized. But here’s the truth:

If you try too hard, it shows.

A headline isn’t a test to pass. It's just a way to make people pause and think, “Huh, I want to know more.”

So today, I’m giving you 3 no-fluff way to write a compelling headline without the overthinking.

And just this week, I changed mine. Here it is:

It’s simple. It’s me. And it works.

Here’s how you can do the same:

Forget catchy or clever. Think clear, specific, and human.

Lead with a Contrarian Insight (or a Bold Truth)

LinkedIn is full of people telling you how great they are. So when you start with an unexpected truth, it makes people stop and notice.

For example, I didn’t open with: “Helping students build career portfolios.”

Instead, I wrote: "Not a LinkedIn Top Voice—just showing people how to make their work speak louder than a resume."

It’s real. It’s slightly contrarian. And it sets me apart.

Try this. Start with a surprising insight, like:

• "Job-hopping doesn’t hurt your career—if you do this right."

• "I don’t write content. I write stories that sell."

• "Hiring is emotional. I help companies make the right call."

  
  

Action step: Open a blank doc and write five bold statements about what you do or believe. One of them is probably your headline.

Name the Problem You Solve, Not the Title You Hold

No one hires you because of your job title. They hire you to solve a problem.

So, skip the "Experienced Project Manager" and go straight to the pain point you fix.

Examples:

• “I simplify operations so fast-growing companies stay in control.”

• “I build onboarding that slashes ramp time for new hires.”

• “I help teachers reframe their skills to pivot into corporate careers.”

Notice the pattern? It’s not about you. It’s about what happens when you do what you do.

Action step: Write down the one problem you help solve. Start your headline there.

Stop Worrying About Keywords

Yes, keywords can help with search-ability. But a compelling headline gets more engagement than a keyword-stuffed one.

Hiring managers search for people with standout skills, not SEO hacks. If your headline makes them curious, they'll find the rest in your profile.

So instead of this:

"Marketing Manager | Digital Strategy | SEO Expert."

Try this:

"I create marketing strategies that turn browsers into buyers."

Action step: Stop optimizing for an algorithm and start optimizing for attention.

The Bottom Line

There’s no magic headline formula. But if you try one these formulas, you’ll likely write one that works:

• Start with a bold truth or insight.

• Focus on the problem you solve.

• Forget SEO. Write for humans.

• And when you feel yourself overthinking it—stop.

What’s your current LinkedIn headline? Hit reply and share it with me. I might feature a few in next week’s newsletter.

Talk soon,

Luisa

PS: Don’t write what you think people want to hear. Write what makes someone pause and go, “Wait—I need to learn more.”