Your LinkedIn headline shows up everywhere - search results, comments, connection requests, DMs. Use a one-size-fits-all template and you end up sounding like every other “growth-focused professional”. Below are data-backed, role-specific formulas drawn from LiGo’s 61 000-profile dataset across six industries. Copy a template, tweak the keywords, then track profile views through your own LinkedIn analytics.
Why Generic Formulas Miss the Mark (Data From 61 k LiGo Profiles)
A scrape of 61 215 public profiles showed that 80 % of top‑quartile headlines follow a simple structure: Role | Niche Skill | Impact | Proof. Bottom‑quartile headlines cluster around either:
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“Job title at Company.” Nothing for search or humans to latch on to.
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Buzzword soup. “Visionary • Passionate • Synergistic.” Recruiters skip these.
Theresa Park - a recruiter later hired by Apple - swapped “Recruiter at Agency” for “Tech Recruiter | Product Design & HCI | Placed 300+ Designers” and saw profile views triple in two weeks (Business Insider).
Want more background? See the psychology of headlines.
The 4-Step LiGo Formula
Role | Niche Skill | Impact Metric | Credibility
Example:
SaaS Demand‑Gen Marketer | $8 M ARR added | HubSpot Champion
Why it works:
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Role makes you discoverable.
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Niche skill narrows the field.
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Impact quantifies results.
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Credibility (certs, ex‑company) answers "why you?".
Generate as many headline options as you want with the free LinkedIn Headline Generator and pick your favourite.
Industry Templates & Examples
| Industry | Keyword Pockets | Ideal Length (chars) | Lift vs Generic* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering & Tech | React, DevOps, Cloud | 120-140 | +27 % |
| Marketing & Growth | Demand Gen, ARR, CAC | 110-130 | +22 % |
| Sales & RevOps | Quota, SaaS, Outbound | 100-120 | +19 % |
| Healthcare & Nursing | ICU, RN, Patient Care | 125-145 | +24 % |
| Finance & CFOs | EBITDA, Fundraising | 115-135 | +26 % |
| Students & Early-Career | Seeking Internship, GPA | 90-110 | +18 % |
*Lift = average profile views recorded in LinkedIn analytics for users who adopted the formula versus a control group using “Job title at Company” (90-day span).
Engineering & Tech
Source: ResumeWorded engineering headline benchmarks
Keywords: React, DevOps, AWS, Kubernetes, ML
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Full-Stack Engineer | React & Node.js | Built 2 apps to 1 M MAU
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DevOps Lead | 90 % CI/CD automation | AWS Certified Solutions Architect
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ML Engineer | Edge-AI models cut inference cost 43 % | Ex‑Google
Marketing & Growth
Examples from the LinkedIn Marketing Blog show keywords like “ARR” pulling recruiter searches
Keywords: Demand Gen, PLG, Pipeline, CAC, ARR
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Demand‑Gen Manager | $8 M ARR added | CAC down 30 %
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PLG Strategist | Freemium to Paid at 12 % CVR | Ex‑Segment
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B2B Content Lead | Ranked #1 for “API security” | HubSpot Champion
Sales & RevOps
Close.com’s guide on headlines for sellers highlights outcomes first (Close)
Keywords: Quota Crusher, SaaS, Enterprise
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SaaS AE | 208 % quota | $1.3 M ACV deals | Story-selling pro
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RevOps Analyst | Playbooks lifted win rate 17 %
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Outbound SDR | 450 dials/week to 18 SQLs | Cold-email nerd
Healthcare & Nursing
Headline patterns that work for nurses - see ResumeWorded’s nurse examples
Keywords: RN, ICU, Pediatrics
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ICU RN | Critical-Care Certified | 10 yrs ventilator expertise
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Pediatric Nurse | Family-Centred Care | BLS & PALS Certified
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OR Nurse | Robotic surgery assists 600+ cases
Finance & CFOs
Financial pros lean on metrics - Draftly’s 2025 headline guide backs this up
Keywords: EBITDA, Series B, FP&A
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Fractional CFO | Raised $45 M Series B | EBITDA +18 %
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FP&A Manager | Modelled $120 M M&A deal | Ex‑Morgan Stanley
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Treasury Analyst | Managed $300 M cash | CPA & CFA Level II
Students & Early‑Career
Advice from TIME’s job‑seeker guide still resonates with recruiters
Keywords: Seeking Internship, Dean’s List
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CS Student | Seeking SWE internship | C++ | AWS Certified
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Biomedical Undergrad | 3.9 GPA | CRISPR research assistant
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Marketing Grad 2025 | HubSpot Email Cert | Open to remote roles
Need more inspiration? Browse our full list of headline examples.
How to Test Your New Headline (14‑Day DIY Workflow)
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Generate two or three variants with the Headline Generator.
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Day 1 - set Variant A and note your current Profile Views metric on LinkedIn (Me → Analytics → Profile Views).
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Day 4 - switch to Variant B and record the metric again.
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Day 7 - switch to Variant C (optional) and record the metric.
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Day 14 - compare numbers. The variant with the highest percentage lift in profile views wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many characters can a LinkedIn headline be in 2025?
LinkedIn caps headlines at 220 characters. Aim for 90‑140 so key phrases show on mobile before the "...more" cutoff.
Can I use emojis in my headline?
Test both versions. Emojis can improve scan‑ability for consumer-facing roles; in B2B niches they may reduce credibility.
Next Steps
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Spin up fresh headline ideas with the LinkedIn Headline Generator - free for 40 ideas.
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Apply the winner to your profile, then run through our profile checklist.
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Track profile views inside LinkedIn analytics and tweak every two weeks.
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Want headlines that match upcoming posts? Explore Content Themes.
Copy a formula, test it, and let recruiters and prospects come to you.
