Most people open your LinkedIn profile and make a decision in seconds.
Do you look credible? Do you get what they need? Or are you just another generic profile?
The place where that decision happens is the About section.
It’s where attention either turns into trust or disappears.
The challenge? In 2025, character limits and attention span of 8.25 seconds shape how much of your story actually gets seen.
This guide breaks down those limits and shows you how to use them to build an About section that converts.
Why not just max out?
Because LinkedIn truncates text. On desktop, readers see only the first ~300 characters before “See more.” On mobile, even less.
So your first 3–4 lines must act as a hook.
Example 1 Weak (Overstuffed):
“I am a dynamic, enthusiastic, passionate leader with a proven track record of delivering cross-functional business value across multiple verticals and stakeholders in the ever-evolving corporate ecosystem…”
Example 2 Strong (Optimized):
“Most B2B founders burn 10+ hours weekly chasing cold leads. I help them flip that wasted time into warm LinkedIn conversations that actually convert.”
Same length. Different impact.
Posts = dynamic trust-building.
About section = static proof.
A great loop looks like this:
Mini Framework:
Think of the headline as your billboard on the LinkedIn highway.
It shows up in:
Most people waste it with titles:
“Consultant | Coach | Author”
That communicates nothing.
Formula for a high-performing headline:
[Audience] + [Outcome] + [Proof]
Example:
Helping B2B SaaS founders 5× LinkedIn visibility | Driving outbound pipeline with OutX.ai | 24× ROI
That’s clarity, niche focus, and measurable authority.
This is where micro-copy drives big outcomes.
Bad Connection Note:
“We are a global award-winning AI provider serving multiple verticals. Would like to connect.”
Reads like spam.
Better Connection Note (under 300 chars):
“Loved your post on scaling SDR teams. Curious have you tried automating LinkedIn engagement? I’ve seen it save 10+ hours a week.”
Personal. Human. Specific.
Why care? Because LinkedIn is about consistency.
If your About section looks optimized but your headline truncates or your skills are vague, the credibility breaks.
Don’t max out the 2,600.
Aim for 1,800–2,200 characters.
This gives you room for:
Think of it like a sales page: hook attention, build trust, direct action.
LinkedIn = search + relevance.
Your About section is your SEO copy.
Keyword Placement Grid:
Examples:
Bad: stuffing “LinkedIn growth” 12 times.
Good: repeating it naturally 2–3× across sections.
Use the 3-part winning structure:
Hook (Problem + Promise):
“Most founders post daily but still get ignored. I help them turn likes into leads without burning hours.”
Proof (Bullets or tight sentences):
CTA (Direct + Simple):
“DM me the word growth for a quick walkthrough.”
Engagement is visual. People don’t read walls of text.
Do:
Don’t:
Example Boring block:
“I am an experienced sales leader with a proven track record in helping companies….”
Example Engaging flow:
“I help B2B sales teams:
⚡ Save 10+ hours weekly
📈 2× response rates
🎯 Win deals without spamming”
Emojis = emphasis, not decoration.
One emoji = one character.
Good:
⚡ Save time
📈 Grow visibility
🎯 Close pipeline faster
Bad:
🔥🚀💯🙌✨🔥🔥🚀🚀
Use bullets to make proof digestible.
Never bury your CTA.
Your last two lines should always point to the next step.
CTA Options:
Mini Formula: Action word + trigger word + channel.
LinkedIn profiles rank on Google.
Checklist:
Search engines love clarity. Humans do too.
LinkedIn is not a CV database.
Nobody wants to read 20 years of job history crammed into 2,600 characters.
The goal is positioning, not chronology.
If someone wants your résumé, they’ll ask.
Your About section should answer one thing: Why should I trust you now?
The worst mistake? Making it all about you.
“I am passionate about cross-functional collaboration and skilled in stakeholder management.”
That’s noise. Readers are asking: What can you do for me?
Flip the script:
“I help founders win back 10+ hours weekly by automating repetitive LinkedIn tasks.”
Now it’s reader-focused.
LinkedIn truncates after a few lines.
If your first sentence is flat, the rest will never be seen.
Bad hook:
“I am an experienced professional with a proven track record…”
Strong hook:
“Most founders are losing opportunities on LinkedIn without even realizing it.”
Too many emojis = clown show.
Too much jargon = snoozefest.
Good = 1 emoji per idea.
Good = plain English, clear proof.
2,600 max. Best range: 1,800–2,200.
Yes. Each emoji = one character.
Yes, but they’re not clickable. Use short branded URLs:
outx.ai/social-listening-linkedin
Yes. 300–350 words. Enough for context, short enough for scanning.
Always first person.
Third person sounds corporate and distant.
Every 6–12 months, or when your positioning changes. LinkedIn rewards freshness.
Yes. LinkedIn search is keyword-driven. Without them, you won’t rank in recruiter or buyer searches.
Use inspiration, but don’t copy. Authenticity wins. Readers can smell templates.