How to Add an About Section on LinkedIn

Your LinkedIn “About” section is far more than an online resume summary, it’s your professional story, your digital handshake, and a powerful tool for building your brand. A well-crafted summary can attract recruiters, win clients, and open doors to new opportunities. This guide will walk you through not only how to add or edit your About section but also how to write one that truly captures attention and drives results.

Why Your LinkedIn About Section Is So Important

In a sea of profiles that look the same, the About section is your chance to stand out. It’s one of the first things a visitor looks at, making it prime real estate to make a strong impression. Think of it as your one-shot elevator pitch. It’s where you can inject personality, showcase your unique value, and move beyond the formal bullet points of your work experience.

More importantly, it’s a major factor in LinkedIn’s search algorithm. When a recruiter or potential client searches for keywords related to your skills or industry, the terms you use in your About section help you rank higher in the results. A generic, empty, or keyword-less summary makes you nearly invisible. By optimizing this section, you’re not just telling your story, you’re actively improving your discoverability on the world’s largest professional network.

How to Add or Edit Your LinkedIn About Section: The Quick Steps

Let's get the technical part out of the way first. Adding or updating your About section is straightforward and only takes a minute. Whether you’re creating one from scratch or giving yours a long-overdue refresh, here’s how to do it.

On Desktop:

1. Navigate to your LinkedIn profile by clicking your profile picture or the "Me" icon in the top right corner and selecting "View Profile."
2. If you’ve never written a summary, scroll down to the "About" section area and you should see an option to add one. Alternatively, click the blue "Add profile section" button located just below your headline.
3. From the dropdown menu, select the "Core" section, then click "Add about."
4. If you already have an About section, simply click the pencil icon (✎) in the top-right corner of the About box to edit it.
5. A pop-up window will appear where you can write or paste your text. Remember, you have up to 2,600 characters to work with.
6. Click "Save" when you’re done.

On the Mobile App (iOS &, Android):

1. Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile picture in the top-left corner.
2. Tap "View Profile."
3. Scroll down to the "About" section.
4. Tap the pencil icon (✎) to open the editor. If you don't have one, you might see a prompt to add it, or you can find it under the option to add a new profile section.
5. Write your new summary or edit the existing one in the text field.
6. Tap "Save" in the top-right corner.

That's it! Now for the most important part: what should you actually write?

The Anatomy of a Compelling LinkedIn About Section

An effective About section grabs attention, tells a compelling story, and guides the reader toward an action. Don’t just throw a few sentences together. Instead, follow a proven framework to structure your summary for maximum impact.

1. The Hook: Your First Two Lines

Only the first two or three lines of your About section (around 220 characters on desktop) are visible before a user has to click "See more." This is your headline and needs to make an immediate impact. It should instantly communicate who you are, what you do, and who you help.

Avoid starting with: "I am a results-driven professional with X years of experience..."

Instead, try a formula like:

• I help [Your Target Audience] achieve [Their Goal] by [Your Unique Method].
  Example: "I help B2B SaaS startups cut through the noise and attract qualified leads through data-backed content strategy and organic social media marketing."
• A leading statement about your passion or mission.
  Example: "Most marketing feels like an interruption. I’m on a mission to help brands create content so valuable that people would actually miss it if it were gone."

2. The Middle: Your Story, Skills, and Social Proof

Once you’ve hooked the reader, the middle section is where you elaborate on your value proposition. Use this space to build credibility and connect with your audience on a personal level. Write in the first person ("I," "my") to create a conversational and authentic tone.

What to include in the middle:

• What You Do & How You Do It: Go into a bit more detail about your specialties. Are you a product manager who excels at user journey mapping? A graphic designer with a passion for CPG branding? Be specific.
• Your "Why": Why are you passionate about your work? Sharing a brief origin story or what motivates you can create a powerful human connection that resonates far more than a list of skills.
• Quantifiable Accomplishments: Don't just claim you're good at something - prove it. Weave in concrete metrics and achievements from your career. “Increased organic traffic by 150% in one year” is far more powerful than “skilled in SEO.”
• A Personal Touch: Feel free to end this section with a brief mention of your interests outside of work. Are you an avid hiker, a home barista, or a volunteer at a local animal shelter? This small detail makes you more relatable and memorable.

3. The Closer: Your Call-to-Action (CTA)

Never leave a reader hanging. Your About section should end with a clear and direct call-to-action that tells people what you want them to do next. The CTA you choose depends on your professional goals.

CTA examples:

• For Job Seekers: "Currently exploring new opportunities in UX design. I'm open to connecting with pioneers in the tech and healthcare industries. Feel free to send me a message here on LinkedIn."
• For Freelancers/Consultants: "If you're looking to elevate your brand's video marketing, let's chat. You can schedule a free discovery call here: [Insert Calendly Link] or email me at example@email.com."
• For Networking: "I’m always open to connecting with fellow social media managers and content creators. Drop me a connection request!"

Clearly stating how people can contact you and what you're open to removes guesswork and makes it far more likely that they'll take the next step.

Tips for Making Your About Section Shine

Knowing the structure is one thing, writing with flair is another. Here are a few strategies to level up your summary.

• Write for Your Audience, Not for You: Before you type a single word, ask yourself: "Who am I trying to attract?" A recruiter for a Fortune 500 company cares about different things than a startup founder looking for a freelancer. Tailor your language, tone, and the accomplishments you highlight to resonate with that specific audience.
• Use Keywords Naturally: Integrate relevant keywords throughout your summary to boost your profile in LinkedIn searches. Think about the terms someone would use to find a professional with your skillset (e.g., "content strategy," "community management," "B2B marketing," "SaaS"). Weave them in naturally so it reads like a human wrote it, not a robot stuffed it.
• Break Up the Text: No one wants to read a giant wall of text. Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max), bullet points, and even simple emojis (if it fits your personal brand and industry) to improve readability and guide the reader's eye through the section.
• Show, Don't Tell: Get rid of vague buzzwords like "innovative," "team player," "passionate," or "creative." Instead of saying you're creative, describe a creative project you led. Instead of calling yourself a team player, mention a time you collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve a specific goal.

Examples of Great LinkedIn About Sections

Let's look at a few examples to see these principles in action.

Example 1: The Freelance Social Media Manager

I help mission-driven e-commerce brands build vibrant communities and turn followers into loyal customers. No bots, no generic content - just authentic storytelling that connects. 👇

For too long, small businesses have been told to "post more," leading to content hamster wheels and eventual burnout. I take a different approach. My focus is on creating sustainable content systems that generate real engagement and drive predictable sales, so you can focus on running your business.

Some of my proudest moments include:

• 🚀 Grew a fair-trade coffee brand's Instagram following from 1k to 25k in 8 months, resulting in a 40% increase in online sales.
• 📣 Developed a Reels strategy for a sustainable fashion startup that generated over 500,000 organic views.
• ✍️ Built and managed an ambassador program that drove 20% of monthly revenue.

I'm an expert in Instagram, TikTok, content strategy, and community management. When I'm not creating content, you can find me trying to perfect my pour-over coffee technique.

Sound like a good match? Let's connect. Send me a DM here or email me at [email].

Why it works: It starts with a strong hook, clearly defines the target audience, uses powerful metrics for social proof, lists relevant keywords, and ends with a clear, direct CTA.

Example 2: The Corporate Project Manager

I'm a project manager who thrives on bringing order to chaos and helping cross-functional teams build products people love. My passion lies at the intersection of technology, strategy, and seamless execution.

Over my 8 years at TechSolutions Inc., I've had the privilege of leading projects from initial concept to market launch. I believe the best products are built not by top-down directives but by empowering diverse teams - engineers, designers, marketers, and sales - to do their best work together. My approach is rooted in Agile methodologies, clear communication, and a relentless focus on the end-user.

Key Areas of Expertise:

• Agile & Scrum Project Management
• Stakeholder Communication
• Product Roadmapping & Strategy
• Risk Management
• Team Leadership & Mentorship

I am currently a Senior Project Manager on the innovation team, spearheading the development of our next-gen mobile application. I'm passionate about building the future of enterprise software and always open to connecting with fellow professionals in the field.

Open to networking with other project management and product leaders.

Why it works: This summary is professional, clearly states the individual's role and passion, uses targeted keywords and bullet points for readability, and has a softer, networking-focused CTA that aligns with corporate goals.

Final Thoughts

Your LinkedIn About section is a dynamic, living document that should evolve with your career. By investing a little time into writing a thoughtful, strategic summary using the framework above, you can transform your profile from a passive resume into an active beacon for new opportunities, clients, and connections.

After polishing your profile and attracting that ideal audience, the next step is sharing consistent, high-value content to build your authority. At Postbase, we designed our platform to make this process feel effortless. Our visual content calendar helps you plan ahead, and our reliable scheduling ensures your voice is heard consistently across multiple platforms - including LinkedIn - without adding chaos to your workflow.

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