Professional bios – How to write them successfully

A professional bio is the most important piece of copy you’ll ever write.

First impressions count, and a bio introduces who you are as a professional.

Though bios are normally used on professional platforms, you can also send them to journalists when pitching stories.

An online bio needs to showcase any professional or even personal achievements and reflects your career history.

All in all, bios are an essential tool to exhibit your achievements, skills, experience and qualifications.

As you grow and change, so should your professional bio. When you’ve completed it, most likely it will need to be updated in a few months or maybe in a year.

So, it’s important to keep your bio up to date with all the latest information about your professional movements.

Have different versions of your bio

When you start writing your bio, keep in mind that you might need to create multiple versions to reach different audiences.

For instance, not all people need the same information. So, produce multiple versions that are tailored to each audience.

Length and language also need to be considered for each version as a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work across platforms.

Where should you use a professional bio?

There are many places you can post a professional bio. These include:

The “About Us” or “Meet our team” section on your company’s website.
Your LinkedIn Summary
“About” page on YouTube
Twitter
The author by-line on your blog or website

Bios can also be found in printed form like magazines, brochures, newsletters or conference programs.

How you write or produce your bio really depends on which platform you intend to use.

For instance, if you’re wanting people to look at your video skills, you could create a video instead of a written bio, outlining your achievements in a more creative way.

So, before you start creating your bio, figure out who your target audience is – you don’t want to write a formal bio for a blog that has a young readership.

Remember the reason why people would need to read your bio and how that information about you will shape their opinion of you.

Establish your personal brand

Some people find it very difficult to promote themselves, as they don’t know what their personal brand is.

As a start, the team at Adoni Media recommends writing something which accurately portrays who you are, while remaining in active tense and with a personable tone to attract readers.

Your bio should also be written in third person. For example, “Claire has shown great communication skills for almost a decade”.

Talking about your achievements isn’t necessarily considered bragging. It offers vital information and gives credibility to your skills.

How to write a bio

Bios should always include: