Just like with other forms of content marketing, it’s all about the right spin. If you need to write about yourself and don’t know where to start, follow me through these 7 tips that can make a bio bang.
2. Intro
No
ma&er
which
side
of
the
divide
you
fall
on,
chances
are
you’ll
need
to
write
a
bio
at
some
point.
•
In
a
small
business,
you’re
not
just
selling
a
brand,
you’re
selling
yourself!
•
Giving
your
clients
a
face
and
a
name
to
connect
to
the
business
builds
trust.
•
If
you
have
a
blog,
you’ll
need
to
have
a
bio
for
the
bo&om
of
your
posts.
3. Writing a bio is NOT difficult!
A
bio
is
more
than
just
a
list
of
your
accomplishments
–
it’s
not
a
resume
or
a
CV.
To
help
you
write
the
best
bio
possible,
remember
this:
Just
like
your
kindergarten
teacher
said,
YOU
are
unique.
There’s
something
in
everybody
that
makes
them
their
own
special
snowflake;
you
don’t
want
to
be
just
another
CEO,
or
writer,
or
accountant.
You
want
to
be
YOU.
The
good
news?
At
least
you
don’t
have
to
do
any
research
on
the
subject!
4. It’s
not
all
about
work.
A
bio
is
supposed
to
be
a
snippet
of
who
you
are
as
a
person,
and
who
you
are
goes
beyond
your
work.
A
great
way
to
start
with
this
is
to
think
about
polite
cocktail
conversaPon.
The
conversaPon
might
start
with
work,
but
generally
branches
out
into
more
topical
subjects.
You
don’t
want
to
go
on
and
on
about
your
hobbies,
but
a
sentence
or
two
goes
a
long
way.
•
What
do
you
do
on
weekends?
•
Do
you
have
a
family?
•
Where
do
you
live?
•
Do
you
have
any
unusual
hobbies?
5. Keep
it
Uniform
Bios
can
be
wri&en
in
first
person
or
third
person
as
you
like.
Just
remember
to
keep
it
uniform
across
all
bios
featured
on
your
site.
If
you
are
uncomfortable
with
promoPng
yourself,
third-‐person
allows
you
to
put
more
“distance”
between
yourself
and
the
subject
(which
is
you).
First
person
is
more
conversaPonal
and
is
generally
assumed
to
have
been
wri&en
by
the
subject
(again,
you),
so
be
careful
with
the
bragging!
No
ma&er
which
you
choose,
make
sure
that
your
bio
and
your
colleagues’
bios
are
all
wri&en
in
the
same
tense,
otherwise
it
looks
unprofessional.
6. Watch
your
adjecPves
AdjecPves
make
a
difference
in
the
way
your
bio
is
perceived.
Two
bios
with
the
same
content
yet
different
adjecPves
can
be
very
different,
indeed!
Be
parPcularly
careful
with
adjecPves
if
you
are
wriPng
in
first-‐
person,
as
too
many
of
the
bombasPc
variety
can
come
across
as
pig-‐
headed.
No
ma&er
what
tense
you’re
using,
avoid
“the
best”
or
“the
most,”
since
these
are
adjecPves
that
are
impossible
to
quanPfy.
On
the
other
hand,
don’t
avoid
adjecPves
altogether
–
like
with
most
kinds
of
wriPng,
adjecPves
make
sentences
interesPng
to
read.
You
wouldn’t
speak
without
adjecPves;
don’t
write
without
them!
7. Update.
Update.
Update.
Life
changes.
Things
move
around.
People
evolve.
Make
sure
you
take
the
Pme
to
update
your
bio
at
least
once
a
year
for
best
results.
This
is
parPcularly
true
if
you
include
things
like
interview
links
or
references
to
awards
in
your
bio.
Of
course,
if
you
win
a
Nobel
Peace
Prize,
that’s
an
ageless
award,
but
generally
it’s
best
to
keep
menPons
of
awards
on
a
two-‐year
basis
unless
they’re
seminal.
Even
if
you
don’t
include
interviews/awards,
it’s
a
good
idea
to
freshen
things
up
at
least
once
a
year.
Doubtless,
something
has
changed
in
your
life
over
the
span
of
a
year!
8. Use
a
picture.
No,
you
might
not
be
photogenic.
However,
people
do
have
a
trust
reacPon
when
they
can
see
the
face
of
the
business
owner
they’re
working
with.
The
disadvantage
of
online
business
is
that
you
don’t
physically
interact
with
the
client,
and
it’s
enPrely
possible
you’ll
never
stand
face-‐to-‐face.
Trust
factor
goes
up
when
customers
can
see
a
human
face.
It’s
best
if
you
can
get
your
picture
taken
professionally
with
high-‐
quality
equipment.
Consider
going
to
a
studio
or
finding
a
freelance
photographer
for
best
results
–
you
don’t
want
your
professional
bio
to
be
accompanied
by
a
grainy
photo.
9. Get
an
outside
opinion.
Write
your
bio.
Show
it
to
your
friends.
This
might
be
the
most
important
step
of
the
process.
Yes,
it
might
be
awkward
to
admit
to
your
friends
and
family
that
you
sat
around
for
an
hour
and
slaved
over
five
sentences
about
yourself,
but
assuming
that
you
have
friends
and
family
that
know
your
personality
and
accomplishments,
the
advice
they’ll
give
will
be
invaluable.
Your
friends
can
tell
you
whether
you
need
to
tone
it
down,
pump
it
up,
or
add
more
personality.
Don’t
be
shy,
now.
10. Don’t
overthink
it.
A
bonus
Pp:
if
you’re
sidng
around
for
three
hours
sweaPng
blood,
you’re
thinking
about
it
too
hard.
RealisPcally,
a
“long”
bio
shouldn’t
be
over
200
words,
unless
you
have
some
incredibly
compelling
reason
to
write
a
novel.
WriPng
200
words
shouldn’t
take
you
more
than
an
hour
–
it
might
help
to
set
a
Pmer
to
keep
you
on
track.
Of
course,
once
the
Pmer
goes
off,
stop.