Professional Headlines

As many professionals explore freelancing for the first time, crafting an outstanding Upwork profile is crucial to stand out from your competitors. Thankfully, with just a few words in your Upwork headline, you can win the attention of potential clients and get them to view your profile.

If you’re looking to create the perfect professional headline for your Upwork profile, read through the helpful tips in this article and check out the example headlines below.

What’s a professional headline?

A professional headline is precisely what it sounds like; a quick and to-the-point headline for your freelancing profile. A compelling headline should use a few attention-grabbing words to describe a freelancer’s experience. In addition, showcasing the skills you offer in your headline helps demonstrate your value and makes prospective clients want to learn more.

If you’ve ever seen a successful professional’s LinkedIn headline or a job applicant on Indeed, you have an idea of how a freelancer’s Upwork headline should look as well. On Upwork, freelancers are listed with their headlines in a field directly beneath their name. As a result, these headlines are among the first things clients see, helping them assess which freelancers may be a good fit for a project.

Why professional freelancer headlines are important

Hiring managers are known for skimming through applications and often don’t spend more than 30 seconds looking at each candidate’s resume. Recruiters and clients on job boards tend to spend even less time than hiring managers reviewing each applicant, as a potential client can receive dozens of qualified applicants when hiring a freelancer for a project. Unfortunately, this leaves little room for clients to read the entire profile of every candidate. The solution to this problem is to create an eye-catching and professional headline for your Upwork profile that makes you stand out from the rest.

When it comes to crafting a great Upwork headline, what should freelancers include?

A great freelancing headline is more than a job title—it’s a glimpse into your qualifications and experience. Creating a professional headline isn’t simply about stating your role. Instead, it’s about cleverly weaving your capabilities into your headline to position yourself as the solution to a prospective client’s problems.

Try adding additional pieces of information to your headline, such as:

• years of experience
• industry certifications
• languages, programs, or tools you use
• degrees
• a specific niche or industry focus
• proven results

We’ve included several headline examples for different freelancing niches in the section below.

50+ Professional headlines examples for freelancers

Check out the examples below for inspiration when crafting your Upwork headline. But don’t just copy one of these—a bit of originality can be crucial in differentiating yourself from other freelancers.

Data entry professional headlines

Data entry specialists must accurately input various data types into spreadsheets, technical documents, and more. Therefore, freelancers in this field must be precise and demonstrate impeccable attention to detail. Compelling data entry headline examples include:

• Administrative Data Entry Specialist
• Business Virtual Data Assistant | Microsoft Office Veteran
• Data Entry, 7 Years of Bookkeeping Experience

Accountant headlines

Accountants are essential in helping businesses track expenses and meet financial goals. However, great accountants may be hard to find locally, which is why organizations may turn to Upwork. Understandably, clients seek headlines that show accountability, like the following:

• Certified Public Accountant, 10+ Years of Managerial Accounting
• Tax Advisor, CPA & MBA
• Small Business Accountant, CPA

Freelance writer headlines

Freelance writers fulfill the never-ending demand for fresh and unique content. Niches include copywriting, blog writing, technical writing, and more. Freelance writer headlines need to convey specialized writing talent, like these:

• Content Writer, Masters’s Degree in English
• Sales Copywriter – Helping You Convert
• Technical Writer | Accurate & Well-Researched Writing

Freelance editor headlines

Editors do more than catch mistakes. A freelance editor must tweak written content to match specific goals and provide suggestions to clients. Professional freelance editor headlines display a commitment to style, like these:

• Experienced Editor | 5 Years at [Established Publisher]
• Copy Editor for Sales & Marketing
• Expert Copy Editor – Writing Style Strategist

Sales professional headlines

Sales freelancers help businesses increase revenue through strategy development, lead generation, and distributing marketing materials. Focuses include B2B copywriting, team building, cold calling, and more. Because “sales” is a broad term, freelancers should clarify their specialty. The perfect sales headline convinces clients that you deliver real results and may resemble:

• Sales Professional – $20 Million Generated
• B2B Sales Specialist
• SaaS Sales Strategy Expert

Logo designers headlines

Logos are vital pieces of successful brands that represent a company or other trademark. Logo designers have expertise in imaging software to streamline the design process. Like high-quality logos, these professional logo designer headlines are especially memorable:

• Professional Logo Design Expert
• Logo Design and Branding Specialist
• Logo Design – 12 Years Graphic Design Exp

Web designer headlines

In 2022, people get most of their information online. As a result, businesses must have modern-looking websites to remain relevant, and many turn to talented web designers on Upwork. Clients seek freelancers who can satisfy particular design requests, making these example headlines effective choices:

• WordPress and Wix Designer / HTML Certified
• Web Design Expert – 200+ Websites Designed
• Visual Web Designer for Blogs

Web developer headlines

Web designers make pages that stand out and astonish users. Web developers code the backend of the pages to help them load quickly and meet any web application needs. Clients seek freelancers in this field who understand web coding languages and can handle the technical elements of their blogs and website. Web developer headlines that can set you up for success include:

• HTML/CSS Expert / Computer Science Degree
• Web Dev Veteran | 15+ Years Experience
• Full Stack Web Developer

SEO professional headlines

SEO (Search engine optimization) specialists improve website visibility in Google and other search engines. Clients seek SEO freelancers who can increase the number of organic visitors to their blog or business website. These examples highlight an SEO freelancer’s expertise:

• Local SEO Specialist / Get Found on Google
• SEO Expert – 9-Year Proven Track Record
• Technical SEO Specialist | SEO Audits

SEM professional headlines

SEM (Search engine marketing) professionals intelligently use paid online ads to increase user interaction with a brand or business. SEM freelancers also call themselves digital marketers. Headlines for SEM and digital marketing freelancers should accentuate results:

• Digital Marketing Expert – E-commerce
• PPC Specialist – Google Ads Expert
• SEM Professional / PPC / Display / Video Ads

Email marketer headlines

Businesses can increase sales by sending their customers marketing email messages, so it makes sense that email marketers are in high demand. Freelancers in this area must drive sales by creating email copy that stands out from inbox spam. Email marketing headlines, like email subject lines, must be attention-grabbing:

• Email Marketing Strategist – High Open Rates
• B2B Email Copywriting and Branding
• Email Marketer For B2C Ecommerce Companies

Growth marketer headlines

As the name implies, growth marketers specialize in growing e-commerce sales or company revenue. They may also incorporate SEO and social media strategies to increase site traffic or YouTube views. Effective headlines for growth marketers include:

• Successful Entrepreneur and Growth Strategist
• Growth Marketer for Tech Start-Up Businesses
• E-Commerce Growth Specialist

WordPress developer headlines

A WordPress developer is a specialized web developer that focuses on the most popular website-building platform, WordPress. While WordPress is designed for easy management, many website owners don’t have the time or skills to keep their websites up to date. For WordPress developers, clients seek headlines like:

• WordPress Plugin Management / Secure Websites
• WordPress Developer | 4 Years of WordPress Experience
• WordPress Dev – Custom WP Plugin Developer

UX designer headlines

User experience (UX) designers ensure that websites are pleasant and easy to navigate. They leverage their HTML knowledge to assist clients in designing sites. UX designers measure success by increased website sales, conversions, and visitor dwell times. UX designer headlines should resemble:

• Senior UX/UI Designer
• UX Design Professional – Beautiful User Experiences
• Web User Experience Expert – 10 Years

iOS developer headlines

More than 1 billion active devices run iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system. iOS developers understand this platform, creating apps that iPhone and iPad users can buy and download. Headlines should mention the freelancer’s experience in delivering polished apps, such as:

• Senior iOS Mobile App Developer
• Former Apple Engineer / iOS Expert
• iOS Software Dev Engineer

Social media professional headlines

Social media is a key component of current marketing strategies. Modern businesses need social-media-savvy freelancers to create engaging posts and manage interactions with potential customers on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat, and other social platforms.

Noteworthy social media specialist headlines include:

• LinkedIn Advertising Strategist
• Social Media Specialist / Engagement Expert
• Social Media Account Manager – Facebook, Insta, TikTok

Graphic designer headlines

Businesses across almost every industry rely on the works of graphic designers to present their brands in a visually appealing way. As a result, freelancers in this field should demonstrate creativity through a visual portfolio. Top graphic designers can stand out with headlines like:

• Graphic Design Professional / Adobe Certified
• Graphic Designer – Illustrator, Photoshop, & InDesign
• Graphic Artist and Digital Illustrator

How to write the best professional headline

The best professional headlines grab their target clients and make them say, “this is the one.” Few recruiters will read your profile unless your headline convinces them to do so.

1. Keep it short and simple

An outstanding headline gets your point across in a few words. Clients don’t have to guess what you do, giving you an advantage over freelancers with more convoluted headlines. Clients have countless choices, meaning even a few extra seconds of reading time is too long. When you think “short and simple,” think of headlines like:

• Website Dev Specialist
• Digital Marketing for Startups
• Certified Public Accountant

2. Optimize headline with keywords

Specific keywords paint you as an industry insider—use these! Utilizing the right keywords for people in your industry speaks directly to client needs by assuring them that you’re knowledgeable and can help them reach their goals.

A recruiter may look for keyword terms like the ones in these headlines:

• B2B Copywriting and Email Marketing
• SaaS Technical Support Specialist
• WordPress Plugin Dev

3. Use capitalization

Capitalization gives each element of your headline more weight and authority. Even for roles in which grammar isn’t the focal point, people view it as a sign of competence and attention to detail. Capitalize your headline as if it were the book title of your experience. Give each word the respect it deserves.

For example, this:

• Graphic Designer | Bachelor of Art & Design

Looks more appealing and hirable than:

• Graphic designer | bachelor of art and design

4. Don’t exaggerate your credentials

Honesty and accuracy are crucial to long-term success on Upwork. By being transparent about your capabilities, you create clear expectations with clients. Unfortunately, some profiles may exaggerate a freelancer’s credentials, which can make them unable to meet a client’s expectations. While terms like “world-class” and “best (insert title) on Upwork” sound good, unfounded claims can lead to distrust and disappointment. Instead, let your Job Success Score and Upwork badges be the support for your abilities.

Headlines should highlight accomplishments while being realistic and truthful. For example, headlines like:

• iOS Developer / 5 Years of Experience
• Graphic Designer – Adobe Certified

Are more grounded and believable than:

• SEO King and World Class Blogger

5. Consider adding years of experience

As you browse the talent section on Upwork, you’ll notice that many well-paid freelancers specify how many years they’ve worked in their field in their Upwork headline. More years in an industry point to higher efficiency and added expertise. Clients often seek experienced freelancers because they expect seasoned talent to have the skills to succeed on their projects. Therefore, including this information in your headline makes you a more desirable hire. However, you don’t need to include this element if you’re new to the field; instead, focus on other traits that can help you stand out.

If you decide to include years of experience, your headline may look like this:

• Software Engineer | 7 Years Java Experience
• Virtual Assistant – 12 Years Supporting Success

6. Do not include words like Jedi, ninja, or rockstar in your headline

Many freelancers stray from standard terms like “expert” and “specialist” to avoid sounding generic. However, being straightforward and using these terms to describe your skill level is what most recruiters and clients prefer.

Titles like “Jedi,” “ninja,” and “rockstar” are cliché and overused. Consequently, these words don’t emphasize professionalism or creativity. Instead, consider adding more meaningful information to distinguish yourself, like certifications, degrees, or data-driven results.

Good examples could include:

• Python Programmer – Master’s in Computer Science
• B2B Content Writer | 20,000+ Ebook Downloads

Take your Upwork profile to the next level

Economists project the freelance marketplace to continue to grow over the next decade. So if you’re looking to build a freelancing career on Upwork, it’s vital to stand out from your competition. Showcasing your skills while being truthful about what you can do will go a long way in building long-lasting relationships with potential clients.

Through professional and well-written headlines, freelancers can promote their skills and demonstrate what they can bring to prospective clients. In addition, a compelling headline may convince potential clients to view other parts of your profile, like your work experience and past projects.

Remember, your freelancing headline is the first thing people see. A professional profile picture and catchy introduction to your summary certainly help, but a successful professional headline will leap from the page. Consider following some of the tips from this article and craft your unique and professional headline to make your Upwork profile irresistible.