Perhaps you’re speaking at an event and they need to introduce you. Or maybe you’re posting something about yourself on a social media platform. Or maybe you’ve been featured in the media and they need something to share with the audience. It’s critical to have your professional bio at your fingertips in this day and age. Good news! You’re going to learn how to write a professional bio right now. Writing your bio does not have to be the daunting task that you may think it is. Here’s a simple, 15-step worksheet that I use in my small business marketing workshops to help my clients write their own compelling bio. Give it a whirl and see what you come up with.
Step 1: Define your target audience:
Age range: under 18 18-25 26-34 35-54 55+
Gender: % male _____ % female _____
Education: high school college post-grad
Step 2: Identify where you are most likely to use your bio (list in order of preference)
social media profiles
speaking engagements
media profiles
other _____________________________________________________
Step 3: In 3 sentences or less, explain what you do & what your niche is. Also explain the benefit(s) your ideal customer receives as a result of working with you. (ex. “I am a certified tax planner in the state of California. I specialize in servicing real estate professionals. I take the hassle of taxes so you can focus on selling homes.”):
Step 4: Identify how you’re different from your competition (ex. “I don’t charge you until I produce results.”):
Step 5: List your top three professional accomplishments: (ex. “I am listed in the ‘who’s who’ of financial planners.”)
Step 6: List up to 3 awards, distinctions or certifications you’ve earned: (ex. “I am one of only four master trainers in the United states.”)
Step 7: List up to 3 professional affiliations: (ex. I am a member of The Society of Professional Journalists). Do not use any acronyms.
Step 8: If you’ve been published or been featured as a professional expert in the media, list details here: (ex. “I am a contributing writer in Chicken Soup For The Soul. I am a featured expert on KCBQ.”)
Step 9: If you have a college degree, identify the type of degree and the university name: (ex. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University.)
Step 10: What problems do you solve for your ideal customer? (“I translate technical documents into plain English so that the average person can understand them.”)
Step 11: Identify up to 3 personal facts: (ex. I have three children. I live in San Diego. I love to ski.)
Step 12: Looking at the answers you provided above, what would impress your ideal client the most?
Step 13: Take a shot at writing a bio with three paragraphs. In paragraph 1, state what you do and why you’re different from your competition. In paragraph 2, back up your claims with proof by sharing your accomplishments. In paragraph 3 share personal facts and your contact information.
Step 14: Polish your work. Check for spelling errors. Make sure there are no acronyms or abbreviations being used. Confirm that your biography is engaging & written in the tone your ideal customer will respond to. Insert powerful words that paint pictures.
Step 15. Smile! You survived! Now share this in the right places. You’ll want your bio on all of your social media platforms to be very similar, if not identical. You’ll want people to introduce you the same way they will read about you online and in print. Be consistent and your message will sink in much, much faster! 🙂
Now that you’ve got your BIO knocked out, it’s time to move on to…what? What is your next pressing marketing task? If you’re not sure, that’s ok. The team at SizzleForce Marketing took the time to develop this quiz. It helps you identify the smartest steps you can take right now to get your company to the next level! So don’t hesitate, take our free quiz now!