Key Takeaways (TLDR)
Topic: The three essential elements to include in your business bio and three things you can safely stop stressing about, plus a simple step-by-step process for creating multiple versions you’ll actually use.
What you’ll learn: Most people either avoid writing their bio entirely or agonize over it for far too long. This post cuts through both extremes by identifying exactly what your bio needs (your name and professional title, who you help and what you offer, and a personal touch) and what it doesn’t need (every credential you’ve ever earned, your entire life story, or perfection). It also walks through a practical setup process for creating three versions of your bio in first and third person, short and long, so you always have the right version ready for the right situation.
Who this is for: Entrepreneurs, coaches, service providers, podcast guests, speakers, and small business owners who know their bio is outdated, overwhelming, or just not working and want a clear, low-stress framework for writing one that actually sounds like them.
Written by: Emily Aborn, Small Business Copywriter and Host of the Small Business Casual Podcast, based in NH.
Does rewriting your bio feel a tad overwhelming?
Ready to revamp but not sure where to start?
You’re not alone.
Writing a bio is a topic I get asked about A LOT with my clients, and is one of the “refresh” services I offer.
I hear things like: “Oh, my gosh mine’s so bad…”
“I need to work on my bio…”
“My bio is entirely outdated and irrelevant at this point…”
In this episode and article, we’re putting aside the STRESS of writing a bio and making it EASY with three essentials to build into your bio, and three things you can safely stop worrying about altogether.
B-I-O: Three little letters that feel enormous at times!
Your bio might be short, but that doesn’t make it easy to write.
A bio is a quick summary of who you are and what you do. It’s often read before your interview when guesting on a podcast or by the emcee introducing you to speak at an event. Your bio might be featured somewhere on your website, on LinkedIn, and even make its appearance in a stand-alone social media post #FridayIntroductions.
What’s the big deal about writing a bio? Why is everyone so concerned about and why do people struggle with writing them?
Why do they stress us out in the first place? And do they matter as much as we think they do?
I think there are several reasons people get a little squirrely when it comes to writing their bios.
Four Reasons People Struggle to Write a Bio:
- They think EVERYONE is listening/reading it. Every. Last. Word. So, naturally, they want it to be perfect and just right.
- They want (and try) to say it ALL. They jam-pack their bios with every aspect of our story, expertise, training, offerings, etc.
- Many of us don’t feel comfortable talking “about” ourselves. You may feel like it’s bragging, or weird. You may feel like the spotlight is on us.
- They don’t want to get too personal or share too much about themselves.
The list goes on… and often, because we don’t know where to start, we don’t start at all.
- The bio you wrote for LinkedIn goes stale.
- The bio the host reads before you start our podcast interview makes you cringe.
- The About Page on your website is suddenly-not-so-suddenly, “So ten years ago.”
Does your bio even matter?
Yes! Your bio is a powerful tool for creating a bridge and making a connection. It gives you credibility and expertise, and tells a little about your story as well as who you work with and how you help.
AND…
I wish people wouldn’t stress about writing their bios as much, or put all this undue pressure on it.
Your bio is a living, breathing thing, it’s meant to evolve with you over time. You can have multiple versions and iterations, you can experiment with it, tailor it for specific situations. It’s not set in stone.
You can also turn down the stress knob a notch or too because not everyone is reading it, hearing it, or breaking down every last word.
I’m not saying this to dissuade you from the importance of writing a bio, I’m saying this to encourage you to create various places and versions of your bio. Sometimes people fast-forward it in a podcast interview or breeze by it on LinkedIn. So we want to find multiple places to use it and multiple ways to say it.
Let's Do This!
To make this easier, I’m going to give you some examples as well as breaking down the 3 essentials (and 3 nonessentials) for writing your bio.
GETTING STARTED:
Step One) I recommend setting aside a designated Google Doc (or however you like to organize your files) to writing your bio. You’ll use this for different variations, ideas, listing out extra skills and niches as you go, etc. It’s meant to be a living, breathing document for your workshopping.
Step Two) I recommend THREE versions of your bio. You can go ahead and create titles in your Google Doc right now:
- First Person Short Version (100-115 words max) “Hi! I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Content Copywriter, Podcaster…”
- Use for your own content, networking introductions, etc.
- Third Person Short Version (100-115 words max) “Emily Aborn is a Content Copywriter and Podcaster who…”
- Use for guest speaking/podcasting, anywhere you’re sending a bio to someone else
- First Person Long Version (up to 300 words)
- Use on LinkedIn, as a social post, in various places on your website, etc.
This doesn’t need to be a fancy document!
Give yourself plenty of space to try different variations.
Examples of Short Versions
Third Person:
Emily Aborn is a Small Business Copywriter, Speaker, and Podcast Host. She’s been an entrepreneur for over a decade, with experience running brick-and-mortar and online businesses. She’s collaborated with 1,000’s of individuals in over 122 industries as a copywriter. She brings their personality, creativity, and message to life as she guides them to build community and relationship-based businesses. For fun, she enjoys word games, reading, listening to podcasts, and hiking.
First Person:
Hi! I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter who works with relationship-based, small businesses to amplify their website and marketing messaging to grow their impact and build community. I love taking your mission, vision, ideas, and personality and weaving it together to create compelling copy that connects with the clients you LOVE working with!
I’m the host of Small Business Casual, and a speaker on marketing-related topics for organizations and groups.
I live in the backwoods of New Hampshire with my husband, Jason. I like hiking, reading, all the nerdy word games I can get my hands on and… writing. Yes, even in my free time!
Essential #1) Name and Professional Title
Nonessential: Putting your name and professional title FIRST.
You can start with, “Hi! I’m Emily Aborn I’m a Content Copywriter and Podcast Host of the Content with Character podcast…”
There’s nothing wrong with that at all. Most people do it.
Or…. you can have some fun with it and start a little different…
A question, an opportunity to connect with them.
For example: It’s not easy to to write about yourself in a way that expresses who you are, how you help, and all you’ve done to get to where you are, is it? Even as a copywriter who makes a living out of writing, I sometimes find myself staring down the blinking cursor of doom when trying to sum up the entirety of what makes me ME in a single paragraph… I help small businesses owners take this task off their plate entirely by writing them a bio that sets them apart from the noise of their industry.
TIP: Spare us overused words that have lost their meaning, vagueries, jargon, and complex language. Don’t give them a word salad. Be clear and succinct.
Essential #2) Who You Help and What You Offer
Nonessential: Your entire life’s story and every last credential you’ve ever earned.
Your bio can be a great credibility tool and show your expertise. You also want to make sure you’re speaking specifically to who you help, as simply as possible. The more specific, the better!
This is the time to highlight any niche, relevant experience, education, and professional background that sets you apart WITHOUT overdoing it.
Example:
Emily’s been an entrepreneur for over a decade with experience running brick-and-mortar and online businesses. She’s collaborated with 1,000’s of individuals in over 100 industries as a copywriter and marketer. She brings the personality and impact of small businesses to life through website copy and marketing materials as she guides them to build community and relationship-based businesses.
Especially when writing a short version of your bio, it isn’t the place to share it ALL. You simply don’t have time and you don’t want to lose them in the ME ME ME award show.
TIP: I recommend you start listing skills, expertise, and education right on the document you created so you can use it as it applies to various places.
Throughout the entire process: Keep it focused on THEM – how does it benefit them? Why does this matter to them?
Use your bio to create a connection!
Essential #3) A Personal Touch 👌🏻
Nonessential: Getting TOO silly or trying to be overly witty! You also don’t need to tell them every personal detail or hobby 🙂
Adding a personal touch humanizes you, helps others relate to you, and brings in approachability and warmth. You’d be surprised at how many people hear a random little factoid in my bio that reach out to me and say, “Oh, my gosh, I do that too!”
Personalizing can also show your WHY and other pieces of your life that fuel the passion behind the work you do.
Ready to give these ideas a whirl?
Whether short, long, spoken, written, third person, or first, don’t sweat this! Focus your bio on being dynamic, conversational, and engaging.
Know it’s a living, breathing, work and you can tailor it for various uses. Keep the focus on who you love working with and how it benefits them and infuse YOUR personality into it!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Emily’s Bio Builder Service (I’ll do it for you)
Andréa Jones Mindful Marketing Podcast
2023 Content with Character Episodes:
How to Write About Yourself
Is it About You? The About Page Debate
How to Talk About Yourself (podcast guesting, speaking engagements, networking, and more!)
FAQ: Writing a Bio
What are the three essential elements of a good business bio?
- The first is your name and professional title, though you don’t have to lead with it. Starting with a question or a relatable observation before introducing yourself can actually be more engaging than the standard “Hi, I’m so-and-so” opener.
- The second is who you help and what you offer, stated as specifically and simply as possible. The more clearly someone can see themselves in your bio, the better it works.
- The third is a personal touch, something small and human that makes you relatable and approachable. A hobby, a fun fact, a glimpse into your daily life. You’d be surprised how often a random detail in a bio is the thing that makes someone reach out.
How many versions of my bio should I have?
At minimum, three:
- A short first-person version of around 100 to 115 words for networking introductions and your own content
- A short third-person version of the same length for podcast guest appearances and speaking engagements where someone else will be reading it aloud
- A longer first-person version of up to 300 words for LinkedIn, your website, and social media posts.
Keeping all three in a single Google Doc makes it easy to update them consistently and have the right version ready when you need it quickly.
Does my bio really matter that much?
Yes, but probably not in the way you’re stressing about it. Your bio matters because it creates a bridge between you and the person reading or hearing it. It gives you credibility, communicates who you help, and makes you human and approachable in a few short sentences. What it doesn’t need to do is capture every single thing about you perfectly. Not everyone reads every word of a bio. Some people skim it, some fast-forward through it on a podcast. The goal is to have something clear, current, and genuinely reflective of who you are, not something flawless.
What should I leave out of my bio?
Your entire professional history, every credential you’ve ever earned, and anything that makes it feel like an awards ceremony where you’re the only honoree. Jargon, vague buzzwords, and overly complex language also belong on the cutting room floor. A bio that tries to say everything ends up saying nothing memorable. Keep the focus on who you help and why that matters to them. Save the full backstory for your about page or a longer form piece of content.
How do I make my bio sound like me instead of a corporate press release?
Write it the way you actually talk. Read it out loud and notice where it sounds stiff or formal in a way you’d never be in a real conversation. Swap corporate language for plain English. Add something personal that reflects your actual personality. Use the word “I” and speak directly rather than hiding behind passive phrasing. Your bio should feel like a warm handshake, not a résumé. If someone reads it and thinks “that sounds exactly like her,” you’ve done it right.
