I always recommend quality over quantity. Focus on conveying your value add succinctly in a way that shows who you are and what you bring to the table.  Example: “HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR – HR Transformation | Global Talent Management | Organizational Development | Employee Engagement | HRIS Implementation.” Just 144 characters, but every one speaks to the target audience, and it’s easy to digest.

I recommend a blend of keywords, desired job titles, and achievements in the Headline. “VP of IT. Digital Transformation, Cost Savings, Efficiency, & Automation Raising User Satisfaction 29% & Streamlining Production in Fortune 100 Manufacturing. AI, RPA, Global Service Desk, & Infrastructure Advances” gives employers a picture of your skills, target career level, and wins as a leader.

I recommend using the 220 characters for a combination of your most important keywords for SEO and a tagline that sells your strengths. Keywords may include your job title(s), abbreviation(s) of your job title, industry, and sought-after skills. A tagline is an opportunity to convey your unique selling proposition — what you offer a company that others don’t. Make those characters count!

Impactful keywords! A big mistake people make is listing their current/previous title and company. A recruiter wants to see skills. With the small amount of time they may have to scan a profile, leverage this space to emphasize your skills, filling up as much of the 220 character limit. Example: Innovative Organizational Strategy Development – Trusted Advisor – Focused on Progressive Success

Gather several postings for the specific jobs you will be seeking. Make notes of the industry terminology that is being used across those ads and be sure to include those keywords in your headline. Without being splashy, consider adding in eye-catching special characters or symbols, where appropriate. It never hurts to highlight impressive accomplishments, such as “#1 Ranking in Regional Sales.”