If you’re a professional looking for a new job, a gig, a client, or what have you – a key part of being discovered by your ideal LinkedIn profile visitor is your headline. And if you’re a queer professional, you’re probably looking for the best LinkedIn profile tips for LGBT+ professionals on top of that!
As a digital marketer, I prioritize SEO (Search Engine Optimization) best practices so that your profile can be maximized for discoverability – ergo, recruiters or leads finding your profile, yay! I also prioritize good compelling storytelling practices to improve engagement from audiences. After all, you want your profile to be compelling enough to attract interviews and leads to reach out to you, right?
And as a human – an bisexual person of color – I prioritize psychological safety above all else. I actually minimize my LinkedIn and social media exposure as much as I can, because I know of its dangers from addiction to exposure to bad faith parties. I offer the same advice to my clients. It might seem counterintuitive, but it works for me and has gotten me this far.
Finding the balance between these two approaches is something I struggle with every day as much as I’m sure you do! But let’s do with the tools that we have: the tips I have to write a great LinkedIn profile, starting with the headline.
Using keywords to your advantage to write a solid LinkedIn headline
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile starts with your headline; it’s practically the first thing that the LinkedIn search engine will prioritize and crawl.
When recruiters are searching for candidates, you want your headline to have the exact keywords that these recruiters are searching for.
In general, you should keep several things in mind when writing your headline.
Firstly, you have about 220 characters to work with in the LinkedIn headline. As a marketer, I feel compelled to tell you to use all of it. Why? Because of SEO, of course! Search engine optimization is what tells LinkedIn’s search engine to put your profile in a recruiter’s search results page.
So, if you want a project manager role, then put “project manager” in your profile. Not only this, but have the jobs you’ve been applying for typically mention specific software? Then put this in your profile too. Are you a project manager in a particular industry – fashion, fintech, etc.? Mention that as well.
Depending on the goal of your profile, you can use different resources to find the right keywords and write the most optimized headline possible.
LinkedIn headline tips for job-seekers
If you’re a job seeker, your best resource is the job listings that you’ve been applying to. Don’t just read job listings and apply with your personalized resume – read the job listings, find commonly-used keywords, and put them in your LinkedIn profile. See a keyword that’s consistently used across all job listings you apply to? Put this in your LinkedIn headline.
After all, recruiters use AI-powered software that focus on specific keywords related to that role. Why shouldn’t you use those keywords to your advantage, too?
You may think that the headline is exclusively meant for your current exact title, but that’s not necessarily true. If you want to be a project manager, but have only worked as an administrative assistant, you can still absolutely put “Aspiring Project Manager with Administrative Assistant Background” in your profile headline, for example, to make sure you get that main keyword – project manager – in there!
LinkedIn headline for freelancers, entrepreneurs, personal brands, & business owners
When you’re a business owner or personal brand, the approach to finding keywords may not be as straight forward.
Since you’re not scouring through job listings, you can use other resources to find relevant keywords related to your skillset.
I suggest using Google Trends to find whether people are looking for “graphic designer” versus “branding and design expert”. It’s not a one-to-one solution, but the marketing logic says that if people are searching more for something on Google, they’re probably showing out in the same ratio of numbers on the LinkedIn search engine.
Also consider conducting competitive research on the platform. What are other freelancers, personal brands, and business owners using their LinkedIn profile? See what approaches you can learn from them, and test them out on your own profile.
LinkedIn headline tips for LGBTQ+ and DEI professionals
Many of my clients serve as DEI consultants, embracing their roles with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color, they navigate their professional and personal lives with a desire for openness and safety. A common question I get asked is how open they should be on LinkedIn, often phrased as, “Should I include a DEI statement or my desire for trans freedom in my LinkedIn headline?”
As a digital marketer, I don’t dictate whether you should broadcast your deepest desires for radical freedom of the most oppressed on LinkedIn – admittedly, the most capitalist social media platform out there.
But, as a queer professional, I advocate for prioritizing your safety above everything. As a marketer and a human being, I can offer insights into the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
Advantages of including your identities and beliefs in your headline
- Attracting like-minded connections: By being open about your identity and beliefs, you draw in people and organizations who share your values. This can lead to meaningful connections, and you might find employers or clients who not only resonate with your profile but also prioritize your safety and well-being.
- Creating a personal safe haven: LinkedIn can be a source of anxiety for many. By tailoring your space to reflect your identity and values, you create a safer and more personal environment. This approach can alleviate the pressure to conform to perceived norms, allowing you to express yourself authentically.
Disadvantages of being open about your identity and beliefs
- Risk of receiving negative feedback: While being open can be empowering, it also exposes you to potential backlash. Don’t hesitate to step away from the platform if the interaction becomes overwhelming.
- Possibility of limiting professional opportunities: Different industries and regions vary in their openness and acceptance of diverse identities. Being open about your identity and political beliefs could potentially narrow your professional opportunities in certain sectors.
At the end of the day, the choice is deeply personal and should be made considering your comfort level, professional context, and personal safety.
Work with Rocio, a LinkedIn personal branding expert for LGBTQ+ professionals & POC
Want to brainstorm together the best LinkedIn headline? I can offer you a free 30-minute consultation. Let’s discuss your career goals and your worries. By the end of it, you can try out one solid headline to put on your profile, with all things safety and SEO best practices in mind.
Book a free consultation with me here.
