<!--
metadata:
  title: "LinkedIn headline strategy"
  platform: "linkedin"
  objective: "Strict formulas and constraints for writing highly discoverable, keyword-rich LinkedIn headlines."
  status: "draft"
  last_updated: "2026-04-24"
  tags: ["linkedin", "headline", "seo", "keywords"]
  agent_priority: "high"
-->

# LinkedIn headline strategy

> This file defines headline formulas that work for human readers, LinkedIn search, and plain-text matching systems without relying on novelty titles.

---

## 1. Overview

The headline is one of the strongest positioning fields on the profile and the element that travels with the name across comments, search results, and feed interactions. It should instantly communicate role, specialty, and value.

## 2. Headline formulas

**Rule:** Use the Role + Stack + Impact formula. Do not use the default headline generated by LinkedIn (e.g., "Software Engineer at Tech Corp"). For technical roles, construct the headline using this exact structure: `[Target Role] | [Top 2-3 Tech Stacks] | [Impact/Results/USP]`.

**Rule:** Avoid corporate buzzwords and fluff. Never use words like "Passionate," "Guru," "Ninja," "Results-driven," or "Innovative." These waste space and do little to improve searchability. LinkedIn's own people-search guidance recommends standard job titles.

**Rule:** Separate elements with clean delimiters. Use the pipe (`|`) or a bullet (`•`) to separate the distinct semantic blocks within the headline. This aids both human readability and machine parsing.

## 3. Examples

Good example:
```text
<!-- CORRECT: Follows the exact formula with specific keywords -->
Senior Backend Engineer | Go, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL | Architecting low-latency distributed systems
```

Good example:
```text
<!-- CORRECT: Clear role, specific stack, and quantified impact -->
Data Scientist | PyTorch & LLMs | Reducing customer churn by 20% through predictive modeling
```

Bad example:
```text
<!-- WRONG: Generic title and wasted characters on fluff -->
Passionate Software Developer at XYZ Corp | Tech Enthusiast | I love building scalable applications!
```

## 4. Anti-Patterns

### The unemployed seeker tag

**What it looks like:** `Actively looking for new opportunities` or `Unemployed Software Engineer`. **Why it fails:** Recruiters search for role names and specialties, not for the phrase "looking for opportunities." It uses the most valuable text in the profile without clarifying fit. **What to do instead:** Use the "Open to Work" setting in the background and write a strong, role-focused headline using the standard formula.

---

*Next step: Expand your narrative in the [About section](./about-section.md).*
