THE ART OF AUTHENTICITY: HOW TO WRITE A LINKEDIN ABOUT SECTION THAT REFLECTS YOUR UNIQUE VALUE AND VOICE

When it comes to personal branding on LinkedIn, your About section is one of the most important elements of your profile. It’s your chance to showcase your unique value proposition, engage your audience with your story, and stand out from the crowd.

In this post, we’ll explore some tips and strategies for writing a LinkedIn About section that truly reflects who you are and captures the attention of potential clients and connections. Your About Section should inform readers, guide them to take action, and ultimately help profile visitors get to know your unique value.

Tip 1: Identify Your Unique Value Proposition

Your unique value proposition (UVP) is what sets you apart from others in your field. It’s the special sauce that makes you, you. To identify your UVP, you could ask yourself these questions:

• What are your unique strengths and skills? You could highlight your personality type and what makes this useful for your potential clients. A good site I recommend is 16 Personalities where you will find a free personality test to get you thinking about your skills and strengths.
• What makes you different from others in your industry?
• What unique perspective or approach do you bring to your work?
• What problems can you solve for your clients or customers?
• Are you involved in any initiatives that emphasise your values?

Once you’ve identified your UVP, incorporate it into your About section in a way that feels natural and authentic. (You could use snips of reviews and recommendations too, if that’s more comfortable for you.)

Tip 2: Share Your Story

People connect with stories, so don’t be afraid to share yours in your About section. This could include your career journey, your passions and interests, or your personal values and mission. Use your story to engage your audience and give them a sense of who you are as a person, not just a professional.

You could include some brief career history and the reasons for changing, what you have learnt during different roles. Share about your dedication to your industry, and update your About Section regularly with any achievements or milestones. Have a look at this post from Calm which gives lots of different examples so you can spark some ideas or remind you of activities or achievements from your professional journey you can add to your About Section.

To make your story stand out, consider using emojis or icons that reflect your brand and personality. For example, if you’re a travel blogger, you could use a globe emoji ? to represent your love of exploration. Or, if you’re a finance professional, you could use a money bag emoji ?? or a chart emoji ?? to highlight your expertise in financial matters.

Just be sure to use emojis and icons sparingly and professionally, and ensure they align with your overall personal brand!

Tip 3: Optimise with Keywords

To increase the visibility of your LinkedIn profile, incorporate relevant keywords into your About section. Think about the terms and phrases that potential clients or connections might search for when looking for someone with your skills and expertise. Use these keywords in a way that feels natural and adds value for the reader.

Note: Keep in mind that LinkedIn has a character limit of 2,600 for the About section. While this provides ample space to tell your story and showcase your value, it’s important to be concise and make every word count. Prioritise the most important information and use active language to engage your audience.

While it’s important to incorporate relevant keywords into your About section, it’s equally important to use them authentically and avoid “keyword stuffing.” This means using keywords in a way that feels natural and adds value for the reader, rather than simply listing a bunch of keywords in an attempt to game the algorithm. Not only does keyword stuffing go against LinkedIn’s policies, but it can also be off-putting to potential clients and connections (why risk it?!). Instead, focus on providing valuable information and showcasing your unique value in a genuine and engaging way.

the way you present yourself in your About Section and the tone you use matters. If and when you engage more with the reader it will feel easier for them to continue getting to know you/your business, like a continuation of a conversation if you like.

Summary

• Crafting an authentic and engaging LinkedIn About section takes time and thought, but it’s worth the effort. By identifying your unique value proposition, sharing your story, optimizing with keywords, and highlighting your accomplishments, you can create a profile that stands out and attracts the right opportunities.

• Remember to be yourself, use emojis and icons to add personality, and keep the character limit in mind. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to writing a LinkedIn About section that reflects your unique value and voice.

• Note: Don’t forget that the LinkedIn About section has a character limit of 2,600. As you craft your content, prioritise the most important information and use concise, active language to engage your audience.

Take a moment to review your own LinkedIn About section. Does it truly reflect your unique value and voice? If not, what changes can you make to better showcase your personal brand and engage your audience? Let me know any of your findings.

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