How to Write a LinkedIn About Section

Your LinkedIn About section is the most valuable piece of real estate on your entire profile, yet most people treat it like an afterthought. It's often a dusty, third-person bio copied from a company website or a bland list of skills. This is a massive missed opportunity. A well-crafted About section is your chance to tell your professional story, connect with your audience, and turn passive profile viewers into active connections. This guide will walk you through exactly how to write a compelling LinkedIn summary, step-by-step, that gets you noticed.

Why Your LinkedIn About Section Isn't Just a Digital Resume

Before we get into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” Shifting your mindset about this section is the first step. It's not just a summary of your work history, it's your personal landing page, your elevator pitch, and your digital handshake all rolled into one. Here’s what a great About section truly does:

• It tells your story. Your resume lists what you've done. Your About section explains why you do it, how you do it, and the impact you have. It adds context and personality to the job titles and bullet points. It’s the difference between saying "I was a marketer" and "I help brands find their voice in a noisy world."
• It functions as a powerful search tool. LinkedIn is a search engine. Recruiters, clients, and collaborators are actively searching for people with your exact skills every single day. The About section is a prime spot for the keywords they're using, making you more discoverable to the right audience.
• It builds trust and connection. People do business with people they know, like, and trust. A generic bio feels impersonal. A story that reveals your passion, your unique approach, or even a small personal detail makes you more relatable and trustworthy.
• It pre-qualifies your audience. By being clear about who you help and what problems you solve, you attract the right people and gently repel those who aren't a good fit. This saves you (and them) a lot of time.

In short, ignoring your About section is like walking into a networking event and standing silently in the corner. You're there, but you're not making any new connections or creating any opportunities.

The 15-Minute Prep: What to Do Before You Start Writing

Resist the urge to just open a blank document and start typing. A little prep work upfront makes the entire writing process faster, easier, and much more effective. Spend about 15 minutes thinking through these three areas.

1. Define Your Goal

What is the single most important action you want someone to take after reading your profile summary? The answer to this question will shape your entire section, especially your final call to action. Get specific.

• Are you looking for a new full-time role? Your goal might be to get a recruiter to reach out.
• Are you a freelancer or consultant? Your goal is likely to get a potential client to book a discovery call or visit your portfolio.
• Are you a founder? Maybe you want investors to connect or potential hires to check out your careers page.
• Are you trying to establish yourself as a thought leader? You might want people to follow you or subscribe to your newsletter.

Don't try to be everything to everyone. Pick one primary goal to focus on.

2. Identify Your Audience

Who is your primary goal aimed at? Your tone, language, and the problems you highlight will be different depending on who you're speaking to. For instance:

• Recruiters &, Hiring Managers: They care about skills, accomplishments, and how your experience aligns with their job description. They scan for keywords and quantifiable results.
• Potential Clients: They care about how you can solve their pain points. They're looking for proof that you understand their industry and can deliver value.
• Industry Peers: They're interested in your unique perspective, your process, and common ground. You can use industry-specific jargon more freely here.

Imagine you're having a coffee conversation with one person from your target audience. You wouldn't use the same exact pitch for a CTO as you would for a marketing intern. Write for that one specific person.

3. Brainstorm Your Keywords

Now, think like a search engine. What terms would your target audience type into the LinkedIn search bar to find someone like you? List 5-10 core skills and professional identifiers. Don’t just list generic terms like "marketing", get more specific.

Example keywords for a content marketer:

• Content Marketing Strategy
• B2B SaaS Content
• SEO Copywriting
• Demand Generation
• Brand Storytelling
• Lead Nurturing
• Content Calendar Management

These are the terms you'll want to naturally weave into your About section to improve your visibility in searches.

Building Your About Section, Line by Line

Okay, with your prep work done, it's time to write. Don’t worry about creating a prose masterpiece. Follow this simple, four-part structure to get 90% of the way there.

Part 1: The Hook (Your First Two Lines)

On LinkedIn, only the first three lines of your About section (roughly 300 characters) are visible before a user has to click "...see more." This is your headline. If it’s boring, no one will read the rest. Your only job in these first few sentences is to make them want to click that button.

The best way to do this is with a powerful "I statement" that directly addresses your audience's needs.

Formula: I help [Your Audience] do/achieve [Their Desired Outcome] by [Your Unique Value].

Good Examples:

For a freelance copywriter:

“I help forward-thinking e-commerce brands turn casual browsers into loyal customers through personality-driven email marketing and website copy. If your copy sounds just like everyone else's, we should talk.”

For a project manager:

"I lead remote teams in delivering complex software projects on time and on budget. I believe clear communication is the antidote to chaos, bridging the gap between developers, designers, and stakeholders."

An Example to Avoid:

“Accomplished and results-oriented professional with 10+ years of experience in various roles. Skilled at multitasking and working in a fast-paced environment. Seeking to leverage my expertise in a challenging new opportunity.”

This is filled with clichés, tells the reader nothing specific, and is focused on what you want, not what you can do for them. Make your hook all about your audience.

Part 2: The Core Story (The Middle Paragraphs)

Once you've hooked them, this is your chance to elaborate. This section should cover who you are, what you stand for, and back it up with a bit of proof. Think of it as a mini-story about your professional self.

Here’s a simple flow:

1. Expand on what you do. Add more detail to your hook. What are the specific services you provide or the core responsibilities you own? This is a great place to naturally use a few of your brainstormed keywords.
2. Detail your "how" or "why." What’s your unique approach or philosophy? What makes you different from others who have a similar title? Do you have a specific process? A core belief that guides your work? This adds depth and shows your personality.
3. Provide some proof. This is where you add credibility. Mention a key achievement, a powerful statistic, a client you've worked with (if you can), or a project you're proud of. Numbers are your friend here. For example, "managed a $500k ad budget" is stronger than "managed an ad budget."

Relatable Example (for a Social Media Manager):

"My focus extends beyond likes and shares, I build thriving communities around brands. I handle everything from strategy and content creation to community engagement and analytics reporting, working primarily with wellness and lifestyle brands looking to build a genuine connection with their audience.

I believe the best social media is built on two-way conversations, not one-way broadcasting. That's why my process always starts with listening to a community's needs before crafting content calendars.

Last year, I'm proud to have helped one client grow their Instagram following organically by 300% and increase their website referral traffic from social by 80% through this community-first approach."

Part 3: Show Some Personality (The Human Element)

Most people skip this step, but it's one of the easiest ways to stand out. You’re more than just a job title. Adding a brief, friendly sentence or two about your interests humanizes you and makes you more memorable.

Keep it professional but personal. You could mention a relevant passion, a side project, or something you love to do outside of work that shares a glimpse of who you are.

Examples:

"When I'm not designing user interfaces, you can find me hiking the nearest mountain trail or trying to perfect my sourdough recipe."

"My passion for clear, concise communication started back in my college debate team days, and it's something I still bring to every project I take on."

Part 4: The Call to Action (The Grand Finale)

Finally, end with a clear and direct Call to Action (CTA) that aligns with the goal you defined in your prep work. Don’t make people guess what they should do next. Tell them!

Be inviting and make it easy.

CTA Examples:

• "I'm currently accepting new freelance projects. If you're looking for a copywriter who understands the tech space, send me a message! Let’s chat."
• "I love connecting with other product managers. Feel free to send me a connection request or find me on X @yourhandle."
• "Want to see my process in action? You can view my complete portfolio here: [yourportfolio.com]"
• "If you'd like to discuss a potential project, you can reach me directly at [name@email.com]."

Quick Wins: Formatting &, Style Tips to Make Your Profile Pop

Great content can fall flat if it's presented in a giant, intimidating block of text. Use these formatting tips to make your About section scannable and easy to read.

• Use White Space: Break up your text into short, 2-3 sentence paragraphs. This is the single most effective way to make your summary readable on both desktop and mobile.
• Write in the First Person: Stick to "I" and "my." It sounds more authentic, direct, and conversational than writing about yourself in the third person, which can come off as stuffy and corporate.
• Use Emojis Strategically: Emojis can add personality and break up text, making it feel more approachable. A few well-placed emojis (like ✅, 🚀, 💡, 👉) can be great. Just don’t overdo it. Match the emoji use to your industry's standards.
• Add Bullet Points: If you're listing skills, specialties, or services, use bullet points. They are much easier for a reader to scan and digest than a comma-separated list in a long sentence.

Final Thoughts

Your LinkedIn About section is a living document, not something you write once and forget. Think of it as your dynamic, professional story - a tool that does the work of introducing you, building trust, and creating opportunities, even when you're offline. By following a simple structure of a strong hook, a compelling story, a touch of personality, and a clear call to action, you can transform it from a blank space into your most powerful networking asset.

Writing a great LinkedIn profile is the first big step, and consistently sharing valuable content that reinforces your expertise is the next. We know from our own experience how challenging it is to juggle content creation across multiple platforms, especially when you have a business to run. We built Postbase to solve that exact problem. Our visual content calendar and simple scheduling tools help you plan and publish your content across LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and more, all from a single, clean dashboard, so you can focus on building your brand without fighting your software.