LinkedIn Headline Formula That Actually Gets Coaches Clients
Your LinkedIn headline shows up everywhere. Comments, DMs, search results, connection requests. Yet most coaches waste it on job titles nobody cares about.
"Life Coach | Transforming Lives" doesn't tell me what you actually do. It's branding fluff that gets scrolled past.
Good headlines work like good marketing. They're specific about who you help and what result you deliver. When someone reads your headline, they should know if you're for them.
What Makes a LinkedIn Headline Work for Coaches?
A LinkedIn headline that converts follows a simple 3-part formula: Who you help + How you help + Result.
This isn't about creativity or standing out through cleverness. It's about clarity. When prospects see your headline in their feed or search results, they need to understand what you do in 3 seconds.
The best coach headlines sound like solutions to specific problems, not generic inspiration.
The 3-Part LinkedIn Headline Formula
Part 1: Who You Help (Your Audience)
Be specific about your ideal client. "Entrepreneurs" is too broad. "Female founders scaling from 6 to 7 figures" tells me exactly who you work with.
Bad: "Working with leaders"
Good: "Burnt-out executives in tech"
Part 2: How You Help (Your Method)
What's your approach? Coaching is too vague. Do you help through 1:1 sessions? Group programs? Specific frameworks?
Bad: "Life coaching"
Good: "Strategic planning and accountability"
Part 3: Result (What They Get)
What outcome do clients achieve? Be concrete. "Better life" means nothing. "Reduce overwhelm and work 20% fewer hours" is measurable.
Bad: "Live your best life"
Good: "Build systems that scale without burnout"
5 LinkedIn Headlines That Work for Coaches
Here are real examples using the formula:
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"Helping female founders scale from 6 to 7 figures | Strategic planning + accountability | Without burning out"
- Who: Female founders scaling
- How: Strategic planning + accountability
- Result: Scale without burnout
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"Supporting burnt-out executives in tech | Leadership coaching | Reduce overwhelm, work 20% fewer hours"
- Who: Burnt-out tech executives
- How: Leadership coaching
- Result: Less overwhelm, fewer hours
-
"Partnering with service-based business owners | Operations strategy | Streamline processes, increase profit margins"
- Who: Service-based business owners
- How: Operations strategy
- Result: Streamlined processes, higher profits
-
"Working with career-transition professionals | 1:1 coaching + job search strategy | Land dream roles in 90 days"
- Who: Career-transition professionals
- How: 1:1 coaching + strategy
- Result: Dream role in 90 days
-
"Coaching new managers in startups | Leadership development programs | Build confident teams, reduce turnover"
- Who: New startup managers
- How: Leadership development
- Result: Confident teams, less turnover
5 Bad Coach Headlines (And Why They Don't Work)
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"Life Coach | Transforming Lives"
Problem: Too vague. Whose lives? How do you transform them? What's the result? -
"Certified Professional Coach | Helping People Reach Their Potential"
Problem: Certification doesn't matter to prospects. "Reach potential" isn't a specific outcome. -
"Mindset Coach ✨ Empowering You to Live Your Best Life"
Problem: "Best life" means different things to everyone. No clear audience or method. -
"Executive Coach | Leadership Excellence | Let's Connect!"
Problem: "Excellence" is buzzword fluff. The CTA belongs in posts, not headlines. -
"Coach • Speaker • Author | Inspiring Transformation"
Problem: Lists roles instead of results. Prospects care about outcomes, not your resume.
Common LinkedIn Headline Mistakes Coaches Make
Mistake 1: Leading with credentials
Your ICF certification matters to you, not your prospects. Lead with value, not qualifications.
Mistake 2: Trying to help everyone
"Coaching individuals and teams for success" is so broad it's meaningless. Narrow your focus to expand your impact.
Mistake 3: Using buzzwords without substance
"Transformation," "empowerment," "excellence." These words are empty without context. What specific transformation?
Mistake 4: Including emojis for "personality"
One or two emojis can work, but your headline shouldn't look like a teenager's Instagram bio.
Mistake 5: Forgetting your audience reads it in context
Your headline appears next to hundreds of others. Make yours the one that stops the scroll.
How to Test Your LinkedIn Headline
Before you publish, ask yourself:
- If someone searched for my service, would this headline match their intent?
- Does my ideal client immediately recognise themselves in the "who you help" section?
- Is the result specific enough that someone could measure it?
- Would I click on this if I saw it in my feed?
Your headline isn't set in stone. Test different versions every few weeks and see which generates more profile views and connection requests.
Beyond the Headline Formula
Your headline is just the beginning. Once you've got people's attention, you need content that builds trust. Content that demonstrates expertise and converts browsers into buyers.
The best LinkedIn profiles work as complete systems. Headline, about section, content, and engagement strategy all working together. If you're ready to build your complete LinkedIn personal branding strategy, start with the headline but don't stop there.
Ready to Rewrite Your LinkedIn Headline?
Use this formula to test your current headline against the three-part structure. Most coaches immediately see why their current headline isn't working once they apply this framework.
Your headline is your first impression and your last chance to grab attention. Make it count.
Join The Trusted Voice community where coaches share what's working (and what isn't) with their LinkedIn strategy.
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