How to Bold Text in a LinkedIn Summary

Making your LinkedIn summary stand out is easier than you think, and bolding text is a simple way to grab a recruiter’s or potential client's attention. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add bold formatting to your LinkedIn summary. We'll also cover smart strategies for using it effectively without looking unprofessional or spammy.

Why Bother Bolding Text on Your LinkedIn Profile?

Your LinkedIn summary, now called the "About" section, is your one shot to tell your professional story in your own words. But let's be honest - most people don't read every single word. They skim. They scan for keywords, impressive achievements, and reasons to keep reading (or to click away). Bolding helps you work with that natural behavior instead of against it.

Here are the three big reasons to add a little formatting to your text:

• It improves scannability. When a hiring manager lands on your profile, their eyes will naturally be drawn to whatever stands out. Bold text acts like a visual signpost, pointing them directly to your most compelling qualifications, achievements, or skills.
• It emphasizes what matters most. Did you increase revenue by 200%? Manage a team of 15? Are you certified in a high-demand software? Put that in bold. You're essentially curating the reader's experience, making sure they don't miss the parts you really want them to see.
• It breaks up walls of text. A large, dense paragraph is intimidating to read. Strategically using bold text, bullet points, and other formatting creates visual variety, making your summary feel more organized and approachable. A reader is far more likely to engage with a well-structured summary than a huge block of unbroken text.

How to Bold Text in Your LinkedIn Summary: A Step-by-Step Guide

LinkedIn’s editor doesn’t offer a built-in formatting toolbar like a word processor. You won't find a little "B" button to click. To get around this, you’ll need to use a Unicode text converter. It sounds technical, but it’s incredibly simple. Unicode is a standardized system that allows computers and phones to represent text from all over the world. Many text-formatting websites use Unicode to generate plain text characters that look bolded, italicized, or otherwise stylized.

Here’s exactly how to do it:

1. Step 1: Write Your Summary First
2. Before you get into formatting, write or update your entire LinkedIn "About" section in a separate document (like Google Docs or a simple text editor). Focus on the content, highlighting your key responsibilities and achievements with quantifiable results, and your unique professional value. Once it's ready, decide which specific words or short phrases you want to emphasize.
3. Step 2: Find a Unicode Text Converter
4. Open a new browser tab and search for a "Unicode text converter" or "bold text generator." There are dozens of free options available. YayText and LingoJam are two popular and reliable choices that are very easy to use.
5. Step 3: Generate Your Formatted Text
6. Type or paste the word or phrase you want to format into the text box on the converter website. The tool will instantly generate several stylized versions of your text. You'll see options for different bold styles (like serif and sans-serif), italics, and other fonts.
7. For LinkedIn, it’s best to stick with a clean, simple bold font (usually labeled as sans-serif). Avoid anything overly decorative, as it can be difficult to read and look unprofessional.
8. Step 4: Copy the Formatted Text
9. Find the bold style you like and click the "Copy" button next to it. The specially formatted text is now on your clipboard.
10. Step 5: Paste it Into Your LinkedIn Summary
11. Go back to your LinkedIn profile. Click the pencil icon in your "About" section to open the editor. Find the spot where you want the bolded text and simply paste it in (Ctrl+V on a PC or Cmd+V on a Mac). You should see the text appear bolded right in the editor. Repeat the process for any other phrases you want to bold, hit "Save," and you're done!

A Quick Word on Accessibility and SEO

This is important: because you’re using special Unicode characters and not true HTML bold tags, some screen reading software used by people with visual impairments might not interpret the text correctly. It may read the letters one by one, pronounce them strangely, or skip them altogether.

For this reason, be mindful of what you bold. Avoid bolding mission-critical keywords that are essential for someone to understand your role. Instead, use bold for emphasis on things that are visually helpful but not strictly necessary for comprehension. For example, using bold to highlight a number in a result (like "25% growth") is generally fine because the number and concept are still intelligible if the bolding is missed.

Beyond Bolding: Other Ways to Format Your Summary

Bold text is just one tool in your formatting toolkit. You can use the same Unicode converters to generate other styles that help organize your summary and add visual interest.

• Italics: Great for adding emphasis to a single word, quoting a recommendation, or highlighting a project name. Italics can feel a bit softer than bold, perfect for adding a touch of personality.
• Bullet Points &, Lists: Break down your skills, accomplishments, or areas of expertise using bullet points. LinkedIn’s editor struggles with pasting in traditional circular bullets, so opt for simple symbols like asterisks (*), dashes (-), or directional symbols (►, ✓, ➤) from your keyboard library or a symbol website.
• Emojis &, Special Characters: A few well-placed emojis can add personality and serve as visual anchors. A phone emoji (📞) next to your contact info, a checkmark (✅) for completed projects, or a pin emoji (📍) for your location can make sense. Just don't overdo it - keep it professional and relevant to your industry.

Best Practices: How to Use Formatting Like a Pro

The biggest risk with text formatting is using too much of it. A summary overloaded with bold text, emojis, and symbols looks chaotic and detracts from your message. Follow these guiding principles to create engaging posts.

1. Less is Always More

Think of bold text like a highlighter pen. If you highlight everything, nothing actually stands out. Limit yourself to bolding just a few key phrases or stats per paragraph. The goal is to draw the eye, not shout at the reader. A good rule of thumb is to bold no more than 1-3 short phrases in your entire summary.

2. Be Strategic, Not Random

Don't bold words just for the sake of it. Think about your goals. What are the key takeaways you want someone to remember after spending 30 seconds on your profile?

Consider bolding:

• Measurable Achievements: "Increased leads by 300% in six months."
• Core Skills or Specializations: "My expertise is in B2B SaaS Content Marketing and organic growth."
• Key Job Titles or Industries: "Experienced Senior Product Manager with a decade in the fintech space."
• A Call to Action (CTA): "Feel free to message me here or reach out at youremail@example.com."

3. Check It on Mobile

More than half of LinkedIn users access the platform on their phones. What looks good on your big desktop monitor might look compressed or awkward on a small screen. After you’ve saved your changes, immediately pull up your profile on your phone to make sure the formatting looks clean, readable, and professional.

4. Stay Consistent With Your Brand

Is your personal brand and industry formal and traditional, or modern and creative? An accountant might use subtle bolding for a key certification, while a social media marketer might feel more comfortable using bold text alongside a few relevant emojis. The formatting you choose should always align with the professional image you want to project.

Examples: Formatting in Action

Let's look at how this plays out with a couple of before-and-after examples.

Example 1: The Project Manager

Before:

As a certified PMP with over eight years of experience in the tech industry, I excel at leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time and under budget. I have managed projects with budgets up to $2 million and have a track record of improving process efficiency. At my last company, I led the technical team on a flagship product launch that came in three weeks ahead of schedule, setting a new company benchmark.

After:

Certified PMP with 8+ years of experience leading complex, cross-functional projects in the tech industry.

I thrive on turning chaos into clarity and guiding teams to deliver exceptional results. My expertise lies in:

• ► Driving projects from conception to launch
• ► Managing budgets and resources (up to $2M per project)
• ► Agile &, Scrum Methodologies

Most recently, I spearheaded a flagship product launch that was delivered 3 weeks ahead of schedule, a new record for the company. Looking for new opportunities to solve challenging problems.

Example 2: The Freelance Writer

Before:

I'm a freelance writer who helps sustainable B2C brands grow their online presence with engaging, SEO-optimized blog content. I create articles that not only rank on Google but also build trust with readers. My services include long-form content writing, newsletter creation, and content strategy audits. I love helping brands connect with their ideal audience. If you're a mission-driven brand looking for a content partner, let's connect!

After:

I help sustainable &, ethical B2C brands grow an audience with SEO content that actually connects.

Tired of generic blog posts that don't drive results? I write clear, compelling, and human-first content that builds trust with your readers while ranking on search engines. Zero fluff, just value.

🌿 Services Include:

• SEO Blog Content &, Strategy
• Email Newsletter Writing
• Case Studies &, Customer Stories

Let's grow your brand, the right way. Let's talk ➞ hello@name.com

This version has much more personality. The bolding immediately identifies the writer's niche. The emoji provides a subtle visual cue that aligns with their brand, and the bolded call-to-action makes it easy for a potential client to take the next step.

Final Thoughts

Using bold and other text formatting in your LinkedIn summary helps you highlight your most important skills and achievements, guiding a reader's eye to what matters most. By following a strategic, "less is more" approach, you can create a profile that is both professional and incredibly scannable.

Once your LinkedIn profile is polished, keeping your content consistent and engaging is the next step to building your brand. We found it a challenge to juggle everything, which is why having a central hub for all our social media became a necessity. Using Postbase allows us to plan and schedule all our content - from LinkedIn articles to video posts across other platforms - from a single, clean calendar. It’s been a game-changer for keeping our workflow smooth and our brand message consistent.