Writing a Personal Biography
The more involved you become with various groups and projects, the more you need a
professional bio. They are massively useful in a variety of settings – for example:
1. if someone needs to post a description about you on a website,
2. in a newsletter or
3. in an article.
Since people who don’t know you may only ever see your bio, you need to make it count.
The following tips will help teach you how to write a professional bio on yourself:
1. Make three versions: short, medium and long. Most of the time, someone else will
dictate the length of your bio. They will likely tell you how many words you can use to
ensure that yours is the same length as other bios. Because of this, one bio will not do. You
need three bios:
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
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One sentence bio
100 word bio
250 word bio
Each bio has its place. You will save you time and energy when the time comes time to post
it, and establish consistency between every professional bio about you that is published.
2. Introduce yourself as if you’re meeting a stranger. Lead in with your name. People need
to know who you are before they hear what you’re all about.
3. Immediately state what you do. If you are “Portrait Photographer,” don’t wait until the
last moment to say it. Your most important details should go in the first sentence.
*** Remember: people on the web rarely read more than the first and last sentence.
4. Touch upon your most important accomplishments. Don’t list them, and make sure
they fit. A bio is not a resume; it is simply a quick summary of who you are. If you have
space, mention them. If not, ignore them.
5. Include your contact information. You should have a line in your bio that makes it easy
for people to contact you. Stick to the norm and put your contact info in the last sentence.
6. Talk in the third person. Since your bio is something other people use to describe you,
make it sound like someone else is talking about you. Good: “John Doe is a portrait
photographer with six years of hands-on experience working with clients… etc.” Bad: “I am
a portrait photographer… etc.”
7. Get feedback from a friend. A great way to test your bio is to have someone else read it.
Ask for their feedback. Does it accurately state who you are and what you do? If after reading
your bio they still don’t understand what value you provide, revise it until they do.
8. Keep it up to date. You’re constantly moving forward in your career, and your bio should
reflect that. Never send out your bio if it still says you work for a former employer.
Write a brief biography to introduce yourself, highlight achievements, list credentials
and any notable projects with which you are involved. Bios should be short and
concise, listing only relevant information. Avoid listing personal statistics, such as
family and hobbies; instead angle the bio to the intended audience, whether for a
personal website or a professional networking website.
VALUABLE TIPS
- Introduce Yourself
Begin the bio by introducing yourself, and always write in the third person. For example, write "Jane Smith is a
freelance writer" rather than "I am a freelance writer." State what year your relevant work experience began, such as "has
been writing professionally since 1999" or "worked as a consultant since 2001," and list any areas of specialized expertise.
- Education and Credentials
List your education after the introduction sentence, including the name of any degrees you have earned and the
institution you attended. Include any other relevant experience, such as additional certifications earned as well as the
names of any professional organizations that count you as a member.
- Notable Achievements
State any notable achievements or awards earned. Keep the information relevant to the intended audience of the bio.
Authors can briefly list the names of any publishing houses or magazine titles where their work has been published. Business
professionals can highlight awards or other recognition achieved in their careers.
- Closing Statement
Conclude the bio by briefly stating any current or upcoming projects, such as a new book coming out. The last sentence
should state where you reside, such as "Jane Smith lives in Orlando, Florida." Adjust the bio as necessary when your
education, expertise or achievements change to reflect the most current information.