How to turn heads on LinkedIn as a content writer
What’s the “About” section on LinkedIn all about anyway? Many professionals don’t take it seriously enough, but it can serve as a key differentiator from your competition if you do it right. It’s a small but powerful piece of your profile that could turn the heads of potential clients or employers.
Let’s talk about it.
Before we get into it, I have a free gift for you. If you are just beginning your writing career or at a loss for what to include in your writing portfolio, my guide to building a portfolio with little or no professional writing experience is exactly what you need. You’ll have a portfolio you can feel great about without even needing to be hired in order to have samples of your work! Check it out:
There are plenty of ways to stand out—including a bangin’ “About” section.
But after all that you include in your LinkedIn profile, what more could you possibly offer here? I’ll show you how you can make the “About” section the delicious icing on your LinkedIn cake.
Make it different
You don’t want to make it sound like everyone else who is trying to land the same jobs as you. You also don’t want to just summarize your job experience because everyone can read that within your profile anyway. To really stand out, you’ll have to think outside the box a little bit. Think about the moment you knew you wanted to be a writer and tell that story. Or the first time your work was published. Or the first time you learned about professional writing jobs. Pick a specific story and tell that story and lead into what makes you tick. Really hook people in.
Talk about your purpose
Expand on why you are a writer (like, why do you want to write other than wanting to make money?). Do you want to help small business owners grow their business with your writing skills? Do you want to educate others? Do you want to inspire others? Dig deep, find your purpose for why you write, and share that.
End with a call to action
What better way to end your “About” section than with a call to action? Show off your copywriting skills and end with an action they can take to contact you. Be bold!
Make it short and sweet
This section shouldn’t be super long, but just long enough to give your profile viewer a sharp look into what makes you, you. Make sure you’re choosing your words carefully and edit out the extra fluff words. Be concise.
There are a bunch of ways you could approach writing your “About” section, but I truly believe these are some strong elements to include in it.
A closer look
To give you an example, below is my LinkedIn “About” section as of September 2021. Keep in mind that I don’t have a call to action at the end since I am not actively searching for new opportunities. Check it out:
I’ve been a writer all my life and I don’t have any plans to stop.
I practice writing and marketing for my day job and outside of my day job because I truly can’t get enough of it. From writing my own books and managing my blog, to collaborating with colleagues about our social media content, I purposefully surround myself with writing and marketing all day, every day. Most importantly, I seek to inspire and to pass on the skills and knowledge I have learned to others through my writing.
This stuff isn’t easy, though. Trends are constantly changing, algorithms can haunt us, and the perfect headline can’t write itself. Despite all of this, I love it. The constant challenge keeps me on the edge of my seat and a campaign’s strong performance makes my day.
I’m always ready for a challenge.
Use this section to your advantage and really wow your profile visitors. Show off your personality, your passions, your purpose, and how you’re not just like everyone else.
And most importantly, keep writing.
Don’t forget my free gift to you!
