What to Include (and what to safely stop stressing about) When Writing Your Bio
Does writing your bio feel overwhelming to you? 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 as one of the “refresh” services I offer.
I hear things like: “Oh, my gosh mine is so bad…”
“I need to work on my bio…”
“My bio is so outdated and irrelevant at this point…”
In this episode and article summary, 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. Bio. Three little letters that feel enormous at times!
Your bio is a quick summary of who you are and what you do. It often is 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 it’s 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.
4 I see often are:
- We think EVERYONE is listening/reading it. Every. Last. Word. So we want it to perfect and just right.
- We want to say it ALL. We try to jam pack our bios with every aspect of our story, expertise, training, offerings, etc.
- Many of us don’t feel comfortable talking “about” ourselves. We feel like it’s bragging, or weird. We may feel like the spotlight is on us.
- We don’t want to get too personal or share too much about ourselves.
The list goes on… and more often than not, because we don’t know where to start, we don’t do it at all.
The bio we wrote for LinkedIn goes stale. The bio the host reads before they start our podcast interview makes us cringe, and the one on our website is so ten years ago.
Does a 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 together!
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! And you can give yourself plenty of space to try different variations!
Examples of Short Versions
Third Person 78 Words:
Emily Aborn is a Content 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 100 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 with her husband, Jason, and their dog, Clyde.
First Person 108 Words:
Hi! I’m Emily Aborn, a Content 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 the Content with Character podcast and I speak on marketing-related topics for organizations and groups.
I live in New Hampshire with my husband, Jason, and our dog, Clyde. 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 for $175!)
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!)
