11 Highly Effective LinkedIn Summary Templates for Sales Reps

The summary is one of the most important parts of your LinkedIn profile. It’s the optimal place to showcase your passion, enthusiasm, and most importantly, your track record of results. However, many reps leave their summaries blank for a very simple reason: They don’t know what to write.

If you’ve got writer’s block, don’t worry. These LinkedIn summary templates will help you flesh out your profile in no time. Next thing you know, the number of opportunities in your pipeline will be soaring. For more tips and tricks on writing a strong summary for your LinkedIn profile, watch the video below.

LinkedIn Summary Examples for Reps

1. The “I Feel Your Pain” Summary

The most successful representatives know that sales isn’t about them — it’s about the prospect. When it comes to your summary, this principle is especially relevant. Remember, people aren’t reading your profile to learn about what a great person you are. They’re reading it to learn whether you can help them.

With that in mind, lay out the high-level problem your buyers face. Then, establish your credibility by describing who you’ve helped in the past. Finally, give a hypothetical description of what life would be like with your product. (Hint: Better.)

Here's the template:

[One- to two-sentence description of common prospect problem.]

But what if [key result of using your product]? In the past X years, I’ve helped Y [vertical/sector] businesses [accomplish X results] by [short description of product features]. [One- to two-sentence description of results.]

[Call to action.]

Here’s an example:

Looking at your site’s cart abandonment rate is probably pretty discouraging — after all, most retailers lose 70% of their customers right before the purchase.

But what if your percentage of abandoned carts was halved? In the past four years, I’ve helped dozens of online retailers capture these “lost” customers with targeted emails, personalized content, and more. Abandonment rates drop by 35% on average.

To learn how your business can stop losing sales at the final mile, please send me a message at johndoe@gmail.com or give me a call at 904-867-5309.

Why We Like It:

• It focuses on the prospect and how the rep can help them.
• It targets the prospect’s specific need.
• The rep ends with a specific call-to-action.

2. Your Friendly Neighbor Summary

Another way to build rapport is by using language that is familiar and friendly. This can create the sense that your audience belongs on your LinkedIn profile and reduces any intimidation they may feel about contacting you.

Hey there!

I'm [Name], and I [short summary of what you do].

[One- to two-sentence witty description on who you help and why.] So feel free to reach out to me if that sounds like you.

I also [personal detail], so if you want to chat about that, too, I'm all ears!

[Call to action.]

Here's an example:

Why We Like It:

• It’s short and straightforward.
• It explains her skills in her current job.
• She adds personal details and ends it with a call to action.

3. The Topical Expert Summary

One way to gain your audience's trust so that they want to do business with you is to get them to see you as an authority. In other words, you should instill in them the sense that you know what you're talking about. Here's a template that can help with that:

Did you know [Fact or statistic relating to the audience's pain]? [One- to two-sentence summary on why that's significant.]

[One- to four-sentence elevator pitch.]

[Call to action.]

Here's an example:

Did you know 69% of consumers will first try to resolve an issue on their own, yet less than one-third of companies offer self-service options? You have to wonder, then, about the other two-thirds: What amount of customer service resources are spent on issues the customer could've resolved without help?

I work with companies to identify these gaps in customer experience that are costing them money.

If you're working on improving the efficiency of your customer service department, click here to book a free 30-minute discovery call with me.

Why We Like It:

• The summary uses data and has an authoritative tone.
• It explains the rep’s skills in their current job.

4. The Story Summary

To grab your prospect’s attention (and more importantly, keep it), tell a story. Stories are not only engaging and memorable, but research also proves they are even capable of planting ideas, thoughts, and emotions in your audience’s mind.

Of course, not just any random tale will do. To demonstrate the value of your product and give you some credibility, weave a customer success story into your summary. If the featured customer matches your ideal buyer persona, even better.

Company X had a problem. [One- to two-sentence description of business challenge.] I worked with Company X to develop the answer: [One-sentence description of the package/product you sold them]. After that, Company X saw [one-sentence description of results].

Helping companies like X accomplish [company mission statement] is extremely rewarding — and I’m always looking for more opportunities to do so.

[Call to action.]

Here’s an example:

Graylin had a problem. Although the agency received hundreds of applications for every position they posted, less than 4% of those applicants were actually qualified. Without good talent, Graylin knew they’d have trouble winning new clients and keeping current ones. By revamping the firm’s employer image and recruiting strategy, I helped them boost the quality of their recruiting pool by 30% in eight weeks.

Helping businesses like Graylin engage and win top talent is extremely rewarding — and I’m always looking for more opportunities to do so.

If you’re interested in learning how a new recruiting strategy can benefit your business, please send me a message at janedoe@gmail.com or give me a call at 904-867-5309.

Why We Like It:

• It tells a compelling story that’s relatable to the target customer.
• It explains how the rep helped a previous customer grow.
• There’s a call-to-action at the end.

5. The Personal Motivations Summary

To create immediate rapport with your prospects, show them what makes you tick. Your openness will make you more trustworthy — not to mention, more likeable. However, you don’t want your summary to scream “me, me, me,” so tie it back into the product by describing why you love your job.

This summary style works best for fairly creative or informal industries, like tech, design, fashion, hospitality, and so on.

Here's a template:

[Three- to four-sentence illustrative anecdote.] As you can tell, I’m a pretty [adjective] person. This quality is constantly coming into play when I’m working with companies in [industry/sector] to [main purpose].

For example, [One- to two-sentence description of customer success story].

[Call to action.]

Here’s an example:

Why We Like It:

• It expresses personal motivation.
• It summarizes the previous position and how it helped him get into his current job.
• The summary includes a touch of personality and a quote for extra flair.
• There’s a call-to-action at the end.

6. The Personal Mission Summary

Similar to the personal motivations summary, this one relies on what drives you, with the goal of showing them who you are and what makes you tick. However, instead of personal attributes, you would start with the bigger picture: your mission, your vision, why you do what you do. This is particularly helpful to provide context to your motivations, especially if you have a varied background where your role didn't matter as much as the initiatives you supported.

My mission is to [One- to four-sentence explanation of your mission and why it brings you fulfillment.]

[Explain how your most recent role or roles connects to your mission.]

[Call to action.]

Here's an example:

Why We Like It:

• It explains her current position and how long she has been working in her current field.
• It alludes to the skills that make her valuable in her current role.
• She ends the summary with a personal touch.

7. The 360-Degree View

A common format for essay-writing, project management, and LinkedIn summaries is the 5Ws and an H: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How.

It's popular because it gives a 360-degree view of any topic you choose to write about. While the When and Where may not be pertinent to your LinkedIn summary, the others can help you create an easy-to-understand structure for your audience to understand:

WHO I AM:

[One to two sentence introduction.]

WHAT I DO:

[Briefly explain your role.]

WHY I DO IT:

[Explain your mission or personal motivation. You could also talk about outcomes/metrics here.]

HOW:

[Outline your methods or skills for performing the work.]

The neat thing about this format is that you can experiment with the order of the headings or even add new sections such as "WHO WE HELP:" or "RESULTS:" to provide even more context, like this example does:

Why We Like It:

• It explains the who, what, why, and how of their current role.
• Their personal motivation is evident.
• It remains simple and concise while still answering the four questions; who, what, why, and how.

8. The Factual Summary

Are your prospective buyers in a traditional sector, such as medicine, banking, academia, government, or law? If so, a clear, concise, factual summary is your best bet. Prospects will be used to formal, conservative language — so a creative or offbeat summary might suggest you’re not familiar with their industry and its norms.

It should not be only straightforward, your summary should also be concise and precise. Prospects in these industries will lose interest if your call to action is buried at the bottom.

As a [job title] specializing in [A, B, and C], I help [vertical/sector] companies [achieve main goal].

Over the past X years, I’ve worked with Y organizations, including [D, F, G].

If you’re looking to [business driver] in order to [accomplish desirable results], please call me at [phone number] or email me at [email address].

Here’s an example:

As a pharmaceutical sales professional specializing in Cardiology, Nephrology, and Endocrinology, I help hospitals, clinics, and independent medical facilities find the most effective medical and pharmaceutical treatment options.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many of the best hospitals in the country, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and Mayo Clinic.

If you’d like to discover new treatment options so you can deliver even better patient care, please call me at 904-867-5309 or email me atjanedoe@gmail.com.

Why We Like It:

• The summary shows awareness of its target audience’s preferences by remaining factual and formal.
• The rep explains how they solve problems for people in the field.
• It includes a clear and concise call to action.

9. The Informational Summary

Want to start educating your prospect on the benefits of your product/service from the moment they click your profile? Try this approach.

To keep this summary from appearing too sales-forward, weave in your story, motivations, and wins as you tout your product/service. This highlights your accomplishments and humanizes your summary while positioning your company as a strong ally.

Here’s the template:

[One to two-sentence description of why you got into sales and why your current company is a great fit].

Through my work with [company], I’ve seen clients and companies:

1. [Benefit of your product/service]
2. [Benefit of your product/service]
3. [Benefit of your product/service]

One of my favorite testimonials to what [company] has done for a client comes from our friends at [insert client name]. They say, “[insert one- to two-sentence client testimonial].”

[Call to action.]

Here’s an example:

I got into sales because I love building strong partnerships and helping people succeed. From starting my own tutoring service in college to explaining the benefits of CMD Reporting to marketers today, helping people achieve better results is a passion of mine.

Through my work with CMD, I’ve seen clients and companies:

1. Decrease monthly marketing spend by 15%
2. Increase leads by 25%
3. Increase annual revenue by up to 35%

One of my favorite testimonials to what CMD Reporting has done for a client comes from our friends at Global Solutions Marketing. They say, “CMD helped us double our quarterly quality lead count and exceed our revenue goals every month since implementation of the reporting software.”

Want to learn more about how you can bring these results to your company? Please send me a message at johndoe@gmail.com or give me a call at 904-867-5309.

Why We Like It:

• The summary includes a personal element while still summarizing what the rep does.
• It lists accomplishments without coming off as sales-y.
• It explains how the services they provide benefit the client in the long run.

10. The Accomplishment Summary

Do you have a proven track record of success? Your LinkedIn summary can be a great place to share what you’ve accomplished. Recount a time you blew quota out of the water or negotiated a sale that helped your customer save time and money in the long run. Specify your successes and share your quantifiable wins along with how they helped your customer.

Sharing your accomplishments in an honest, straightforward way signals to the reader that you’re skilled at what you do, and that by working with you, they’re in good hands.

Here’s the template:

[One or two-sentence anecdote about your role].

Over the past X years, I’ve helped clients from Y [vertical/sector] businesses develop and implement processes that [accomplished X results] and saved [X amount of money] from their bottom line.

[Call to action.]

Example:

Why We Like It:

• It’s short and to the point.
• It explains why they like to do what they do and their experience in the role.
• They were specific about how they achieved their goals and the outcomes behind them.

11. The Keyword Summary

Leverage the benefits of search engine optimization (SEO) by including keywords your prospects are likely to be searching for in your summary. When you optimize your LinkedIn profile, use industry words your prospects are using in your search. That way, your profile is more likely to come up in search queries, potentially putting you in front of a wider audience of viable prospects.

For sales professionals, you may want to consider adding some terms your prospects use to your summary such as:

• Better performance
• Customer service
• Productivity
• Drive sales
• Growth
• Process improvement

While writing your summary, describe the key skills you possess that potential customers might be looking for. Just be sure not to let keywords overpower your voice. You still want your summary to sound natural and conversational.

Here’s the template:

[One or two sentences introducing who you are and what you do to the reader]. My ability to [demonstrated skill] and build genuine relationships lead to greater customer satisfaction and increased revenue for my clients.

In addition to this experience, my key skills include:

• [Search term]
• [Search term]
• [Search term]

[Call to action.]

Example:

Why We Like It:

• She uses keywords her prospects might be looking for.
• She introduces her employer and uses a slogan to pull people in.
• She explains her history while remaining concise and straightforward.

You may have noticed that these LinkedIn summaries have similar endings. In the next section, we'll talk about why.

Use clear, simple, and imperative language such as:

• Email me at...
• Message me for...
• Call [Phone Number] to...

This imperative language should also be paired with a benefit-driven statement that provides more context on what will happen if they take that action:

• ... to see how you can [benefit] by [metric]
• ... to book a 30-minute chat about
• ... for more information on our free program

A good sales profile summary will go a long way.

As we discussed in the post, there are many ways to go about creating your LinkedIn summary that can be tailored to you and your qualifications. After you’ve chosen your template and filled in the details, remember to always end your summary with a call to action that uses clear and simple language. Once you have completed all the steps, you’ll be well on your way to a more effective profile.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.