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10 Things to Include in Your Bio

by | Oct 31, 2014 | Writing

How to Write an Online Bio for Your Website

you won't look like this in your bio

This is the second in a series of biography-writing articles that started with How to Write Your Own Bio. At Ray Access, we’ve heard from owners, entrepreneurs and principles that writing a bio is one of the most difficult assignments. It doesn’t have to be.

We’re not sure if it’s about modesty or fear that you’ll come off looking like a doofus to your peers, but let us assure you there is no cause for concern. If you follow the tips that professionals use when crafting personal biographies, you’ll look just fine to everyone…from your competition to your mother.

A Selfie in Print

A bio is just a way to let people know a little bit more about you. Get out of the way and pretend that you’re writing about your best friend. A bio is a selfie in print — and just as you wouldn’t post a picture of yourself with bed-hair, you want the most flattering light to shine through your words. At the same time, get real, it will make the process that much easier.

Include these 10 things in your bio and you’ll pretty much have it covered:

  1. Context
    One of the first tenets of journalism is for the writer to answer the question, “Why should I care?” Readers need to know why your bio is pertinent to them and why they should take the time to get to know you. If you’re selling real estate, for example, you need to let readers know that you grew up in a home full of Realtors. If you run an ad agency, let them know you’ve got awards and book deals to justify your expertise.
     
  2. Accomplishments
    A bio is a little like a resumé in that you want readers to know about your wins. They need to know the name of the awards you’ve won, the degrees you’ve earned and the praise you’ve received from the business community, in the press, from your peers and your customers.
     
  3. History
    A little bit about your background provides the human touch to your bio. After all, business is not just about business, it’s about people. Readers want to know where you grew up and how your upbringing affected your life choices. A little history humanizes your bio and lets people identify with you.
     
  4. Challenges
    The obstacles you’ve overcome and the challenges you’ve faced in your career can make for some of the most interesting aspects of a bio. By sharing a little about how you’ve become successful, your bio can provide inspiration, provoke empathy and show readers another side of the polished professional they’ve come to know.
     

    5. put your best face forward in a bio

  5. Volunteering
    While you’ll certainly include your current title and what you do for your company, your community service also is relevant because it too shows your human side and gives readers a glimpse into your private life and your passions. When your volunteer activities are within your own industry, that’s even better, because it shows you support your industry in every aspect of your life. Volunteering also shows that you’re not just a taker.
     
  6. Professional Affiliations
    Whether you are just a member of an industry group or hold a seat on a board, include your professional affiliations in your bio to show that you are wedded to your work and fully committed to your industry.
     
  7. Hobbies
    Include hobbies and outside interests because they often reflect your personality. If you’re into sports, for example, readers glimpse your energy and vitality. Music and the arts target your creativity. If you’re an animal lover, you’re letting people know that you have a soft side. This also is the place to talk about the time you spend with your family and mention that you have two kids or are newly married. Writing something about your personal life also illustrates that you’re well-rounded.
     
  8. Anecdotes
    Stories that provide a glimpse into your personal journey are welcome additions to a bio and make the read more interesting. People want to know how you accidentally stumbled on a buyer for a truckload of wood you were hauling and ended running a multimillion dollar woodworking shop. People are entertained reading about when you interviewed people on your summer vacations as a kid and ended up as an award-winning journalist. The anecdotal stories that formed a basis for your success also make for good pass-around stories.
     
  9. Plans
    People reading your bio also like to know what’s next. What are your plans for the future? Where do you hope to bring your business in the next five or ten years? How do you hope to make a difference in your community, in your industry or for your employees?
     
  10. Purpose
    Finally, round out the context of your bio, your career and your life, by touching on why you do what you do. This provides readers a reason to hire you or use your company. Purpose is something that people can relate to and that help people understand what drives you and what makes you tick.

Ray Access can write your bio for you if you find it too difficult. You may be surprised what can come out in a 15-minute interview over the phone that makes it into print. And don’t forget that the writers and editors at Ray Access offer other business services.

Finally, don’t forget to update your bio every once in a while, both to keep your website fresh and to alert your potential clients of your latest achievements!

Ray Access is a content marketing firm that delivers targeted words to empower your business. Contact us about your specific project to receive a quote or discuss your needs. We write website copy, blog posts, e-newsletters and more. Everything we do is thoroughly researched, professionally edited and guaranteed original.

How to Write Your Own Bio

by | Oct 12, 2014 | Writing

No One Is Better Qualified Than You to Write It

can you capture yourself in a bio?

It’s easy to let a professional writer like Linda or Mark interview you so we can write your bio. It’s a valid way to fill in the “About” page on your website. But if you want to write your own bio, you need to keep a few things in mind.

A professional bio is not a resume. It serves a different purpose. For example, you can use your bio for the following:

  • For posting on your LinkedIn profile
  • For self-promotion in a brochure
  • For speaking engagements
  • For networking
  • For a book cover or guest blog
  • For media outlets at the end of a press release
  • For board applications
  • And yes, for job hunting

Do It Yourself

While you certainly can hire a professional writer, we’d like to share a few tips so that you can write your bio yourself. Remember that your bio is you on paper. It should present your achievements in the best possible light and help you open doors.

Write your bio in plain language that not only is easy to read, but also sounds like you. If you’re not in academia, for example, don’t make it sound like a droll professor wrote it. If you’re a musician, don’t make it sound like an accountant — although an accountant may want to spiff up his bio with a few musical references.

6 Tips for Tight Bio Writing

  1. Write in the third person
    Your professional bio should sound as if someone else is writing about you, even if you are the author. Introduce yourself right at the beginning with an opening line that spells it out: “Mark Bloom is a man of few words, few spoken words that is, because he’s a professional writer and words are his medium.”
     
  2. Use a conversational tone
    Even though your bio should sound professional, use a conversational tone. Readers should get the feeling that you’re talking to them. Read your writing out loud to check your tone. Refrain from slang and industry jargon unless your bio will be read only by your peers.
     
  3. Rely on a backwards timeline
    Don’t rewrite your bio every time one is needed, so start with your current job or position and your most recent achievements. While you want to include historical information, such as your education and previous accomplishments, write in much the same order as you would a resume.
     

    4. Include your family in your bio.

  4. Get personal
    A professional bio should show off your personality. If you have a great sense of humor, for example, add a joke or pun to highlight your bent. If you’re an earth mother, use new age words to describe your characteristics and history. Include information about your hobbies, your place of origin and your family. Either sprinkle these facts throughout the bio or present them in a bullet format at the end.
     
  5. Boost your bio with stats and quotes
    Give your bio a boost with statistics about the number of sales you closed or the time it took to turn a profit in your last venture. Include quotes from important people in your industry or from former clients. (Ask their permission first.) These are items any professional writer would include; when you write your bio, you are the reporter.
     
  6. Prepare a set of bios
    A professional bio should be one page — about 400 to 500 words. This version goes on your website, in your professional portfolio and to other interested parties. We recommend creating a mini-bio and a micro-version to use with guest blogs and social media posts. Think of the little bios as your 30-second elevator pitch. Pull the most interesting and concise information from your original bio to create the mini-versions.

Look at yourself objectively when you write your bio. Make it interesting and compelling — a good read. Write a professional bio that you would want to read. Keep it current and polished. Review your bio every year or two just to make sure it’s still relevant.

For more information on writing your bio, refer to 10 Things to Include in Your Bio. If you just can’t get started, contact Ray Access. We’ll make you look like the star that you are with a professional bio that sings success. Finally, don’t forget to update you bio every once in a while, both to keep your website fresh and to alert your potential clients of your latest achievements!

Ray Access is a content marketing firm that delivers targeted words to empower your business. Contact us about your specific project to receive a quote or discuss your needs. We write website copy, blog posts, e-newsletters and more. Everything we do is thoroughly researched, professionally edited and guaranteed original.