How to Differentiate Yourself Using Only Your LinkedIn Title
By Ilise Benun

Have you ever looked at your LinkedIn profile from the perspective of your ideal prospect or client?

If your headline is one word, “Copywriter” or two words, “Freelance Copywriter,” then I suspect you haven’t.

You see, when a marketer does a search on LinkedIn — remember, LinkedIn is essentially a search engine for professionals, or “Google for business” — what comes back is a long, long, long list of search results. For each result, all they see is:

• A name
• A picture (I hope yours is professional)
• A title (sometimes known as a “headline”)

That’s all they have to make their first decision, which is to click or not to click. That’s the only way for the marketer — your ideal client — to view an actual profile.

Now, imagine how frustrating it is for that marketer, with an urgent need to find the perfect fit for a project that is ready to go, when they are forced to sift through a list of literally thousands of copywriters — many only listing the title of “Copywriter” — to find the one who is going to be not only right for the project, but also reliable, affordable, and willing to meet the tight deadline.

How would they know which one to click on? How do they decide to click on yours?

Now, don’t you want to make it easier for your ideal clients to find and choose you?

Of course you do. So, here are 17 ways to differentiate yourself on LinkedIn, simply by improving the “title” of your profile, where you only have 120 characters (not words) so you better make them count!

1. Include your niche in your title, like this one: B2B Copywriter for Health & Wellness
2. Include more than one niche in your title, like this one: Storytelling Copywriter for B2B Companies and Marketing Agencies
3. Include your niches AND your services in your title, like this one: International Copywriter for Wine & Travel Business — Web writing, email, video script, E-newsletter
4. Say who you help and how, like this one: I help Health and Wellness brands convert their email subscribers into repeat customers thru email marketing
5. Include your location in your title, like this one: Atlanta Freelance Writer | Content Marketing Specialist | Journalist | Storyteller
6. Include your history or long experience in your title, like this one: Architecture/Engineering/Construction Content Writer/Editor/Copywriter, 20+ Years in the Industry
7. Make your title your elevator pitch, like this one: Helping business professionals tell their stories and make money with their expertise and knowledge
8. Write your title in the first person, like this one: I can help you write things right. Health and wellness info for your senior or your pet are my passions.
9. Add a call-to-action to your title, like this one: Take a Step to Improve Your Online Presence with Persuasive Copywriting — call me now and I’ll answer.
10. If you had a career in your niche, say so loud and clear in your title, like this one: Direct Response Health Copywriter | Medical Doctor
11. Add the jargon of your industry to your title, like this one: Attention Retirement Plan TPAs/Advisors. Are you struggling to get new clients? I’m a marketing writer who speaks ERISA.
12. If you’ve been the ideal client of your ideal client, say so in your title, like this one: Industrial manufacturing & safety copywriter. More effective copy because I know your ideal customer. How? I've been one
13. Emphasize results in your title, like this one: I help service providers create content that generates consistent, quality leads & sales.
14. Add a question to your title, like this one: Do you want a creative voice? How about genuine copy to make the mundane readable? Look no further.
15. Show that you understand your ideal client’s customer’s needs in your title, like this one: Your customers need information. You need a B2C Real Estate Content Copywriter who knows investing & real estate. That’s me!
16. Be direct and simple, like this one: Copywriter | Education — Let a veteran teacher help you reach your clients in the education sector
17. Let your personality shine through in your title, like this one: If Your Customers Love EVERYTHING Equine, I Got Your Back. I Write Kick-Ass Copy That Compels & Converts. 30+ Years in The Equine Industry

You can also use emojis and add your contact info (phone number or email address — why not?) to your title. That will really stand out and maybe even get them to reach out, because you’re making it so easy.

And always remember that your LinkedIn profile itself is an example of your copywriting — and that includes your title or “headline.”

Just because you only have 120 characters to work with doesn’t mean you can’t make them 120 persuasive or compelling or engaging characters. In fact, if you can do that, it won’t matter if you have just a few (or even no) samples.

I’ll wrap up with one of my favorites that goes even further by using a niche-related metaphor: Your Company's Voice in The Wilderness. Professional Content and Copy for the Outdoor Recreation Industry.

LinkedIn is a great tool for all careers in writing. For more information on how to write a professional LinkedIn profile, check out our free Inside AWAI webinar here.

Do you have any questions about using LinkedIn for your writing business? Please share with us in the comments so we can help.