Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most-read lines on your entire profile. It appears in search results, connection requests, and every comment you leave. Yet most professionals either leave the default job title there, or stuff it with random buzzwords. This free tool scores your headline across five key criteria and gives you concrete suggestions, plus rewrite templates, to help you stand out.
Enter your LinkedIn headline below, add up to 3 target keywords, and click Analyse Headline to get an instant score with actionable feedback.
💡 How to Improve Your Headline
✍️ Headline Rewrite Ideas
Click Use this to apply a template, then tweak it with your own details.
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- Paste your current headline into the text box. If you haven’t written one yet, type a draft: even a rough one.
- Add up to 3 target keywords (optional). These are the terms recruiters or prospects type into LinkedIn search: for example “SEO consultant”, “email marketing manager”, or “paid social specialist”.
- Click “Analyse Headline.” The tool scores your headline out of 100 across five criteria: length, keyword presence, value proposition, specificity, and call-to-action.
- Read the feedback for each criterion. Each section tells you exactly what’s working and what to fix.
- Try a rewrite template. Click “Use this” on any suggested headline, customise it with your own details, and run the analysis again.
- Copy your final headline with the Copy button and paste it into your LinkedIn profile.
What Makes a Great LinkedIn Headline?
Your headline is one of the fields LinkedIn search matches against, and it’s the first thing people read after your name. It has to work for search and persuade in a very small space. Here’s what separates a strong headline from a weak one:
- Optimal length (60–120 characters): Long enough to be descriptive and keyword-rich, short enough to display fully on mobile without truncation.
- Keywords near the start: the start of your headline is what shows in search results, comments and on mobile, so put the words people search for first.
- A clear value proposition: Instead of “Digital Marketing Manager at Acme”, try “Helping SaaS companies grow organic traffic with SEO & content.” The second version tells prospects exactly what they’d get by hiring you.
- Numbers and specificity: “Generated £2M in pipeline via paid social” is infinitely more credible than “experienced paid social specialist.” Even ballpark figures help.
- A hook or call-to-action: Ending with “Let’s connect”, “DM me”, or “Open to freelance” signals intent and reduces friction for the reader.
- Separator characters (|, •): These improve scannability and let you pack multiple roles or skills into one line without it reading as a run-on sentence.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a LinkedIn headline be?
LinkedIn allows up to 220 characters in your headline. However, LinkedIn truncates displayed headlines at around 120 characters in search results and at around 60–80 characters on mobile connection cards. For maximum visibility, keep your most important keywords and value proposition in the first 100 characters.
Should I use my job title in my headline?
Your job title can be part of your headline, but it shouldn’t be the whole thing. “Marketing Manager” tells people your role but gives no reason to click your profile. A better format is: [Role] + [Specialty] + [Outcome you deliver] + [CTA]. For example: “Marketing Manager | SEO & Paid Social | Helping B2B SaaS reach page 1 | Let’s connect.”
Does my LinkedIn headline affect search rankings?
Yes. The headline is one of the profile fields LinkedIn search matches against, along with your job titles, skills and About section. If recruiters search for “content marketing manager”, having that phrase in your headline helps. LinkedIn doesn’t publish how much weight each field carries.
How often should I update my LinkedIn headline?
Whenever your role, focus, or target audience changes. Many professionals also update their headline when actively job hunting (to signal availability) or when pivoting to a new niche. Running your updated headline through this tool each time takes under a minute and ensures you stay optimised.
What’s the best LinkedIn headline for someone who is job hunting?
If you’re actively looking for a new role, include the title you’re targeting (not just your current one), your key skills, and a signal of availability like “Open to new opportunities” or “Available immediately.” For example: “Senior Content Strategist | SEO & Editorial | Open to new roles | London/Remote.” This ensures you appear in recruiter searches for the role you want, not just the one you have.
Is this LinkedIn headline tool free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up required. All analysis runs in your browser, your headline is never sent to any server.
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