How to Write a LinkedIn Profile That Gets You Noticed in 2026

Your LinkedIn Headline: The Most Important Line

Your headline — the text below your name — is the most important line on your profile. It appears in search results, connection requests, messages, and comments. By default it shows your current job title, but you should customise it to be more descriptive and keyword-rich.

The best headlines follow a formula: What you do + who you help or your specialism + a key skill or credential. For example: 'Senior Software Engineer | Fintech & Payments | React, Node.js | Open to Opportunities'. Or: 'Marketing Manager | B2B SaaS | Driving Growth Through Content & SEO'.

Include keywords that recruiters in your field search for — they directly influence whether your profile appears in recruiter searches.

• Include keywords recruiters search for in your field — not just your job title
• Mention your specialism, industry, or niche
• Add 'Open to Work' (visible to recruiters only via the setting) if actively searching
• Keep it under 220 characters — front-load the most important words

Profile Photo and Banner Image

Professional photos increase LinkedIn profile views by 14 times. You do not need a professional photographer — a clear, well-lit headshot against a plain background works perfectly. Ensure your face takes up 60 to 70% of the frame, dress appropriately for your industry, and use a recent photo.

Your banner image (the background behind your profile photo) is prime visual real estate that most people leave blank. Use it to reinforce your professional brand: a relevant industry image, a simple design with your specialism or tagline, or something that reflects your work.

• Use a recent, clear headshot — not a cropped group photo or a holiday selfie
• Ensure your face takes up 60 to 70% of the frame
• Use your banner to communicate your specialism or professional values
• Avoid logos or text-heavy banners — keep it clean and professional

The About Section: Tell Your Story

Your About section is the equivalent of your CV personal statement — but with more space and a more personal tone. Unlike your CV, LinkedIn should be written in first person ('I') with a conversational but professional voice.

Follow this framework:

1. Hook: Open with a statement that makes people want to keep reading. What drives you? What is your professional mission? 2. Experience summary: A narrative of your career so far — not a list of roles, but the story of your progression and expertise. 3. Key achievements: Two or three specific, measurable accomplishments. 4. What you are looking for: A clear call to action — whether that is 'open to senior PM roles' or 'happy to connect with fellow marketers'.

Include relevant keywords throughout for search visibility, but write for humans first.

• Write in first person — it feels more personal and authentic on LinkedIn
• Open with a hook that makes people want to keep reading
• Include keywords relevant to your target roles naturally throughout
• End with a clear call to action: 'Feel free to connect' or 'Message me about...'

Experience Section: More Than a CV Copy

Your LinkedIn experience section should not be a copy-paste of your CV. LinkedIn gives you more space to expand, allows media attachments (presentations, portfolio pieces, articles), and is read in a different context. For each role, include 3 to 5 bullet points covering your responsibilities and, more importantly, your achievements with numbers.

LinkedIn also allows you to add media to each role — use this to demonstrate your work visually. A marketing manager might attach a campaign case study. A developer might link to a live project. A designer might embed their portfolio. This visual evidence makes your experience tangible in a way that bullet points alone cannot.

Skills, Endorsements, and Recommendations

LinkedIn allows you to list up to 100 skills, and these directly affect how you appear in recruiter searches. Profiles with skill endorsements receive 17 times more recruiter views. Add your most important skills first (they are pinned to the top of your profile), and seek endorsements from colleagues.

Recommendations are even more powerful than endorsements. A genuine recommendation from a manager, client, or senior colleague is social proof that no bullet point can match. Aim for at least three recommendations. The best approach is reciprocal: write a recommendation for someone first, and they are likely to return the favour.

• Add your top skills and proactively ask colleagues to endorse them
• Request recommendations from managers, clients, or mentors — aim for at least 3
• Keep your skills section aligned with the keywords in your target role descriptions
• Write recommendations for others first — it often triggers reciprocal recommendations

Stay Active: Content and Engagement

LinkedIn is not just a static profile — it is a content platform. Recruiters and hiring managers increasingly look at candidates' activity and engagement. You do not need to post every day, but consistent activity keeps you visible in your network's feed and signals to recruiters that you are engaged in your field.

Effective content for job seekers includes: sharing industry articles with your own commentary, writing about lessons learned or professional reflections, celebrating certifications or course completions, and engaging thoughtfully with posts from companies you want to work for. Even commenting on others' posts with genuine insights increases your visibility significantly.

• Aim for 2 to 3 posts or comments per week to stay visible in feeds
• Share industry articles with a brief personal take — do not just repost
• Engage with content from companies you are interested in working for
• Celebrate professional milestones: courses completed, certifications earned, projects delivered