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How to Write a Bio in 2021 (Examples Included)

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What’s the easiest way to explain your personality to a stranger you’re not face-to-face with?

You’re right.

It’s a bio.

Through your bio, readers get a glimpse of you—who you are, a little history about you, what drives you, your values, your goals, and so on.

And from there, they decide what to do next.

The question is, do you use the same bio on your social media account page, website, book jacket, and what have you, or are there different types?

And how do you write a good one?

Read on to learn the types of short bios, how to write a biography, and some tips for writing a short bio.

Types of Short Bios

Below are the different types of short bios:

1. Social Media Bio

A social media bio is where people, organizations, and influencers share essential information about themselves to enable you to learn a bit about them.

They may explain the nature of their business, what they sell, and their contact information.

It’s your social media bio people check out when they find a brand they’re seeking.

It’s also what compels them to learn more or move on to another provider.

Social media marketing campaigns aim to drive engagement and send leads to a website or product page, and a good social media bio can put you ahead in the game.

2. Professional Bio

Professional bios are all about first impressions.

And these still count today, in fact, more than ever.

However, they look very different from your traditional bio.

They’re short blurbs that get your name, accomplishments, and employment history in front of your readers.

Unlike a resume, which only contains details of your profession and education, a professional bio digs deeper.

It can include details like your values and beliefs, which give more insight into you and distinguish you from others in your industry.

3. About Me Page

The About Me page is a web page on an individual or organization’s website containing general information.

It’s typically a description of an individual or a company’s history related to the website and mission or purpose.

It’s a vital webpage on your blog that’s frequently visited.

If you get it right, it can enable you to build a strong brand and establish yourself as an expert in your industry.

To get your about page right, it should be simple and straightforward and not overwhelm people with information but communicate only key things.

It’s also vital that you make it user-friendly. 

How to Write a Bio

There’s a lot to consider when writing a bio.

Figuring out what to write and how to optimize the words to ensure it isn’t too lengthy is no simple task. 

To make it easier, follow the template below to learn how to write a good bio.

1. Begin with an Initial Introduction

Don’t just jump straight into what you’ve accomplished and what you hope to achieve in the future in your first sentence. 

Your introduction is critical.

It’s what captures your reader’s attention and persuades them to continue reading your bio.

Always begin with your name in full, and preferably in the third person.

You can include your job title, current position, and experience.

Also, outline your accomplishments and most obvious skills

Ensure you avoid fluff and get straight to the point to avoid making the introduction too lengthy.

2. Go Into Detail About What Motivates You

Once you briefly introduce yourself, the next step is to explain what motivates you in doing your work. 

This portion of the bio is important to your audience.

Regardless of your career, there’s a definitive answer as to why you chose it.

Never leave out what motivates you to do what you do.

3. Describe Your Accomplishments

The next step is to describe your accomplishments. 

Your accomplishments portray why you’re the right choice.

Outlining your professional accomplishments makes the reader aware of what you have to offer and your past successes.

However, while mentioning your accomplishments, avoid sounding braggy.

Try your best to portray your accomplishments humbly and confidently. 

Remember, the reader is considering whether you’re qualified, and your accomplishments will be used to measure your qualification.

Also, remember not to state all your achievements in case you’re asked for an interview.

Display your most impressive accomplishments.

Some most relevant accomplishments to include in a bio are:

  • Awards you’ve received in your field
  • Certificates 
  • Previous promotions

If you’re marketing yourself to customers, try your best to promote your personal brand in a way that reaches your target audience.

4. Include Your Contact Information

The primary purpose of a bio is to make the reader reach out to you.

Therefore, if you fail to leave your contact information, your bio has no meaning. 

At the end of the bio, make sure to provide a way through which the reader can contact you.

It’s best to include the following:

  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Networking profile
  • Website

Tips for Writing a Short Bio

Below are some tips to keep in mind when writing your bio:

1. The Length 

While writing your bio, you should be mindful of the length.

Your bio shouldn’t be too long or too short. 

It’s easy to go overboard while trying to include everything in the bio.

What most people don’t know is that a bio is limited.

It should consist of short paragraphs and not blocks of text.

Remember, your bio’s goal is to intrigue your reader and prompt them to seek more information about you.

Its purpose isn’t to provide every detail about you. 

Therefore a good bio is short and to the point.

Linking to things like your portfolio will help with the length of your bio. 

Instead of including excess details, you can refer the reader to your portfolio for a more detailed view of you.

Place your links in anchor text that describes where they lead upon clicking them.

However, if you don’t have a portfolio or personal website, you can link to your social media.

If it’s a professional bio, it’s best to insert a link to a social media platform such as LinkedIn that also provides your skills, background, and contact information.

If you’re creating your bio for marketing reasons, it’s best to insert links leading to your professional website.

3. Be Real

Your personal bio should be a unique and truthful representation of your traits, skills, qualifications, and personality. 

Stretching the truth isn’t going to get you anywhere.

It will lessen the chances of accomplishing your goal.

If a reader feels you are deceitful, they might not read through the whole thing.

Therefore, it’s best to be genuine. 

4. Proofread Your Bio

This may seem obvious, but I can’t stress enough about proofreading your bio. 

Ever been enthusiastic about a bio only to find the feeling is short-lived because you soon run into careless grammatical errors that indicate that somebody never bothered to read through their bio?

Well, don’t allow yourself to be that person. 

Although occasionally the reader may ignore it, in most cases, they won’t.

Don’t let small, simple mistakes rob you of potential clients.

5. Try Writing in Third Person

Writing in the third person is something most people struggle to do.

However, it has its benefits. 

You could introduce yourself in the first person, but writing your full name in the third person sounds more natural. 

If your article includes your full name, it clarifies to the search engine that the content is mainly about you. 

However, be careful not to overuse your name or mention it in unnatural situations.

Overusing your name will cause the search engine to think of your bio as poorly written or suspicious, leading to a low SEO ranking.

Write a Stunning Bio

Now you understand more about how to write a bio and the different types of short bios.

Go ahead and shine on your social media page, website, or book cover.

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