How To Write A Short Bio: The Essential Tips

When introducing yourself to potential employers, clients, or contacts, you should include a brief bio. You can make positive impressions with your short bio that will contribute to your professional development and success. It is important to know the essential tips on how to write a short bio, what to include, and what a successful short bio looks like if you are interested in learning how to write effective short bios.

A short bio is essentially choosing three words to describe yourself. This question has been asked to most of us, and many of us have stumbled through it awkwardly. It can be difficult to come up with a personal description. When it comes to updating our LinkedIn profiles, blogging on Medium, or creating our own business websites, it’s essential. Our goal in this post is to walk you through the steps of writing a bio, step by step. For your inspiration, we’ve also provided a useful template for you to follow. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to write a bio using these resources.

Here are the essential tips you need and the perfect structure you can follow on how to write the perfect short bio. Each of the tips below can help you can get started on your personal and professional short bio right away. 

What exactly is a short bio anyway? 

It is important to understand what a bio is and why you need one before you begin writing one. 

Historically, personal biographies have spanned entire novels, like Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom or Michelle Obama’s Becoming. An online bio, however, is a short paragraph that introduces you. Bios are typically placed on the About Us page of professional websites, as well as on social media pages and other networking sites.

Bios can highlight personal interests, professional achievements, or a mixture of both, depending on your audience and goals. A bio might include the following elements.

Workplace or job title

Degrees from universities and other qualifications

Residence or hometown

Aims for personal or professional development

Statement of mission and values

Competencies and expertise

Hobbies and interests

Writing a bio is an opportunity to tell people a little bit about yourself. The purpose of this is to attract people to your personal website or blog or to highlight your achievements for job interviews.

How To Write A Short Bio: Key Points

Start by introducing yourself.

Your bio should begin with your first and last names. This should be the first two words of the paragraph if you’re writing in the third person. By doing this, your audience will be able to identify and remember your name easily.

Introduce your brand.

Consider whether you want your bio to represent you personally or professionally. Your bio should include your brand name if you have a personal brand or business. If the name seems redundant or simple, don’t be afraid to change it. If you’d like to associate your professional accomplishments with the name of another company or brand, feel free to mention it.

Talk about your current professional activity. 

The next step is to describe your current position briefly. It can be similar to your resume description, regardless of whether you are the founder of a company, a highly skilled specialist, or a beginner. It is important to explain your primary responsibilities on your website to help visitors get a sense of who you are and what you do.

Talk about your achievements. 

Explain what your job entails and highlight milestones that make you stand out. It is still important to discuss how you’ve contributed to your professional role and how you bring new ideas and approaches to your role, regardless of whether you have won an award or been recognized externally.

Talk about what drives and motivates you. 

In addition to describing what you do and how you contribute to your role, you will also need to explain why you do it. When considering how to write a bio, this is an important element to keep in mind. 

Be mindful of your work’s values and passions, as well as your professional philosophy. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Do you have a driving force behind what you do?

Alternatively, you can think of this part of your bio as a mission statement. Maybe your mission is to serve others, contribute to society, learn new skills or grow your expertise. Your audience will gain a deeper understanding of what truly matters to you by expanding upon these ideas.

Talk about what interests you personally. 

In the best short bios, you will not only discuss your professional experience but also what you enjoy doing outside of work. Transitioning into a more informal discussion of who you are outside of work is a great way to end your bio. Your audience will be able to relate to you more easily when you present yourself as a well-rounded individual.

How To Write A Short Bio: The Ultimate Template 

Now you know the essential content a short bio must include, here’s how to put it all together. This brief template will show you exactly how to write the perfect short bio for your website or portfolio. 

Line 1: [Name] is a [job title] who [job description].

Example: Robin Gillham is a Content Writer who writes engaging and informative content for a number of high-level clients.

Line 2: [Name] believes that [why you do the work you do].

Example: Robin believes that quality written content has to be fundamentally informative but also concise. 

Line 3: [Name/pronoun] has [mention your achievements].

Example: In addition to writing engaging content, Robin has also worked with colleagues to generate new and exciting article ideas.

Line 4: [Name/pronoun] is a [mention any relevant awards, training, or honors].

Example: Robin has successfully produced viral content articles that have reached audiences in the thousands. 

Line 5: [Name/pronoun] holds a [insert degree] in [field of study] from [university].

Example: Robin holds an MA from the University of Central London.

The Essential Tips To Remember When Writing A Short Bio

Keep It Short

You should be able to explain yourself sufficiently in your bio, but at the same time, please keep it short and to the point. Generally, it is a good rule of thumb to keep every element of your bio to about 1-2 sentences, including your job description, mission statement, and hobbies. In this way, you’ll be able to craft a short paragraph that keeps your reader’s attention without rambling.

Think About Who You Are Writing For 

It is important to consider your audience and personal goals when choosing the voice and tone for your biography. You’ll want to use a serious, professional tone if you’re looking for a job and writing primarily for recruiters. Conversely, if you’re writing an Instagram bio, use more casual, conversational language that reflects your personality.

Be Funny

In addition, consider using humor when it is appropriate. Your audience will feel more connected to your brand if you have a distinct brand identity, which is especially useful if you founded your own business or created your own website.

Include Your Personal Website 

You should always include a link to your website in your bio when writing for a platform other than your own website, whether it’s a social media page or another company page. As a result, you will be able to promote your website and highlight your professionalism and authority at the same time.

Be Flexible

Depending on the platform, you may need to adjust the length and style of your biography. Your website’s landing page might have a longer bio, and your LinkedIn profile might have a shorter one. When writing a bio, use the same basic principles but scale down the most important points.