How to Write a Good Bio: Types, Examples, and Templates

Jun 20, 2024

In the health and wellness world, lots of us have trouble talking about ourselves. Many of us would rather focus on our clients’ stories and wellness journeys. But one key element in gaining your clients’ attention and trust is, in fact, your story, or bio. What is a bio?

Well, “bio” is short for “biography.” In the same way that “bio” is a condensed version of a much longer word, your bio is a condensed version of your personal and professional story — and a powerful, tremendously important tool for your business.

Whether creating a personal, professional, or social media bio, understanding how to write a good bio is crucial for making a first and lasting impression on your audience. A well-crafted bio can create strong connections, help you establish credibility in your field, and, of course, win clients.

But how do you write a bio about yourself? What should a bio include? Should you use the same bio for personal, professional, and social media use?

We’ll walk you through the essential elements of a bio, what to include in a bio, how to structure a bio, and tips for making your bio engaging and memorable. We’ll also explore different types of bios, provide examples and templates, and highlight common mistakes to avoid.

Table of Contents:

Understanding the Purpose of Your Bio
What to Include in a Bio
Tips for Writing an Engaging Bio
Bio Examples
Downloadable Bio Templates
Common Bio Mistakes to Avoid

Understanding the Purpose of Your Bio

What does “bio” bring to mind? The simple definition is that a bio is a short, strategic summary of your background, experience, accomplishments, personal qualities, and other highlights from your professional or personal journey.

It’s the most direct form of “getting to know you” — a brief and thoughtful introduction to who you are and what you do to help others quickly understand your point of view, expertise, and value proposition. Bios are most often used in professional settings (LinkedIn, resumes), personal platforms (websites, landing pages, blogs), and social media (Instagram, Twitter).

Often, bios for the same person or business will vary slightly across platforms, depending on the expectations of the platform and its audience.

For instance, a professional bio on LinkedIn should focus on your work experience, skills, and industry knowledge. In contrast, a personal bio on your website or blog can delve into your passions, values, and unique story.

However, there is always room in a professional bio for personal details, and vice versa. This is especially true for solopreneurs and small business owners, given that personal and professional journeys often share many of the same roads.

The more you pay attention to bio best practices and where and how bios appear in the wild, the better your understanding of how you want to position yourself and your business. As you begin to think about the possibilities of your own bio, be sure to:

Identify your target audience and primary platform: How might it change for different audiences and platforms?
Tailor your content to the specific context and purpose of your bio: What are you trying to communicate to your audience? What do you want your bio to do?
Highlight your unique value proposition: What sets you apart from others in your field? What story can only you tell?

What to Include in a Bio

So, what do you put in a bio? Which elements are universal, and which pieces are platform- or audience-specific?

Most importantly, what TYPE of bio are you trying to write? Whether you’re writing a personal bio, professional bio, or social media bio, each has a unique purpose and should be crafted accordingly (while always making room for you to be you).

In this section, we’ll introduce you to the essential elements of each of these types of bios.

Elements of a Personal Bio

A personal bio is an introduction to who you are as an individual by highlighting your personality, values, and personal experiences. Most often, personal bios are used on personal websites and blogs and tend to have a more casual, friendly, and engaging tone (especially compared to professional bios) — as if you’re speaking directly to a potential friend.

When writing a personal bio, consider including the following elements:

Your name and a brief introduction to your personal background
Your passions, hobbies, and personal interests
Significant life experiences or achievements that have shaped you
Your personal values and beliefs
A glimpse into your personality and what makes you unique

Elements of a Professional Bio

Professional bios often focus on career accomplishments, skills, and expertise in business or employment settings. You’ll usually find these on company websites, LinkedIn profiles, or speaker/presenter introductions.

Professional bios generally have a more formal, serious, and polished tone than personal bios — as if you’re speaking to a potential client, business partner, or employer.

When crafting a professional bio, include the following elements:

Your full name and current job title or professional role
A summary of your work experience and critical accomplishments
Your educational background and relevant certifications
Your skills and areas of expertise
Notable awards, publications, or industry recognitions

Elements of a Social Media Bio

True to its medium, a social media bio is a brief snapshot of who you are and what you do (usually within a limited character count). You’ll find these types of bios on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Social media bios often have a mix of professional and personal elements, with a tone that reflects your brand or personality as quickly and authentically as possible. Compelling social media bios often reflect the voice and tone of the content most often posted by a user or business.

When crafting a social media bio, consider including the following elements:

Your name or handle
Your primary occupation or role
A brief mention of your interests or passions
Relevant hashtags or links to your website or other social media profiles
Emojis or symbols to add personality and visual interest

How to Put Your Bio Together

Now that you know the elements, it’s time to consider how you’d like to combine them.

Bio Perspective

First, decide whether to write from a first-person or third-person perspective. First-person (using “I” and “me”) is usually more personal and engaging, making it a good choice for personal bios or social media profiles.

Third-person (using “he/she” and “his/her” and “they/their”) can create a more professional and objective tone, making it better suited for business or academic contexts. Consistency is key, so choose one perspective and stick with it for the whole bio. You can always change it later.

Bio Length

Another important factor is length. The ideal length of your bio will depend on the platform and purpose.

For personal or professional websites, a 100-200 word bio usually gives you just enough room to provide the important details without overwhelming readers.
Professional bios vary the most in length, ranging from a short paragraph for entry-level positions to several paragraphs for those with extensive experience or diverse roles.
Social media bios, on the other hand, should be much shorter, typically 1-2 sentences (or 150-300 characters).

Bio Structure

When it comes to structuring your bio, clear organization and logical flow are essential.

For personal or professional bios, we recommend starting with a strong opening line that immediately captures the reader’s attention and highlights your most significant accomplishment or unique value proposition.

Then, provide some context about your background or experience. Next, share a bit about your current role, responsibilities, and any notable achievements. Finally, conclude with a forward-looking statement of your inspirations, goals, aspirations, or how you aim to make an impact in your field.

Regardless of the type of bio you’re crafting, here are a few simple tips to make your bio easy to read and visually appealing:

Keep your paragraphs short (approx. 2-4 sentences) and focused
Use bullet points to highlight key accomplishments or details
Emphasize important information with bold, italics, or underlining (thoughtfully)

Tips for Writing an Engaging Bio

Now that you know the key elements and structure of a bio, it’s time to make it engaging and memorable. A well-written bio should inform your audience, capture their attention, and leave a lasting impression.

But remember, you don’t have to be a professional writer to achieve this. Authenticity and attention to detail will ensure your bio resonates with greater power than one written simply “by the book.” Now is the time to stand out! Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling bio:

Showcase your personality: Infuse your bio with some humor, wit, insight, or personal anecdotes to make it more relatable and engaging. Share your unique perspectives and experiences to help your audience connect with you on a deeper level.
Highlight your achievements: Instead of simply listing your accomplishments, provide context — like how you achieved them and what that meant to you — and share the impact of your work. Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise and value.
Tell a story: Take your audience on a journey. Have fun with it! Start with a hook that grabs their attention, and then weave in your background, experiences, and achievements in a logical and captivating way.
Link to your work: Include links to your website, portfolio, social media profiles, blog, or any other relevant online presence. This makes it easy for your audience to dig deeper to learn more about you and your work (and can help drive traffic across your online platforms).
Use keywords strategically: Incorporate relevant keywords and phrases that describe your expertise and help your bio show up in search results. This can help more people discover you!
Keep it concise and scannable: While it’s important to provide detail — and it may be tempting to include LOTS of details — avoid overwhelming your audience with too much information. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and clear formatting to make your bio easy to read and digest.

Bio Examples (and Bio Templates)

To help illustrate the principles and tips we’ve discussed throughout this article, we’ve created a fictional yoga instructor named Brynn, who represents a composite of the wide range of OfferingTree clients we’ve enjoyed working with.

By presenting three approaches to Brynn’s bio — personal, professional, and social media — we’ll show you how the key elements and best practices covered above can be brought to life.

As you read through each bio example, pay attention to how they showcase Brynn’s unique personality, background, and expertise while tailoring the content and tone to the specific purpose and platform.

You’ll notice how the personal bio focuses on Brynn’s journey and passions, the professional bio emphasizes her qualifications and experience, and the social media bio uses a more concise and engaging format to capture attention and encourage interaction.

To further assist you in crafting your own compelling bios, we’ve also included downloadable bio templates at the end of this section. These templates provide:

A simple, structured framework for organizing your information.
Telling your story.
Ensuring that you include all the essential elements for each type of bio.

Personal Bio Example

Yoga By Brynn website; “About Me” page

Greetings, friends! I’m Brynn, a passionate yoga teacher dedicated to helping others find balance and inner peace. My journey began over a decade ago when I discovered the transformative power of yoga during a challenging time in my life. Through consistent practice and deep self-exploration, I experienced profound personal growth and healing, which ignited my desire to share the benefits of yoga with others.

My teaching style is warm, encouraging, and inclusive, making my classes accessible to students of all levels. I believe that yoga is for everyone, and I strive to create a safe and nurturing environment where students can explore their practice, connect with their breath, and cultivate mindfulness both on and off the mat.

When I’m not teaching, you can find me hiking in nature, trying out new vegan recipes, or curled up with a good book and a cup of herbal tea. I’m always eager to connect with like-minded individuals who share my passion for yoga and personal growth. If you’d like to learn more about my classes or just chat about our shared interests, feel free to reach out to me at [insert contact information or link to website].

This personal bio applies the following tips and techniques:

Written in first person to create a more personal and engaging tone
Showcases Brynn’s personality, passion, and unique approach to teaching yoga
Highlights her personal journey and the transformative power of yoga in her life
Emphasizes her inclusive teaching style and the welcoming environment she creates for students
Includes personal interests and hobbies to make her more relatable and approachable
Encourages readers to connect with her by providing contact information or a link to her website
Uses a warm and friendly tone to reflect her personality and teaching style
Keeps the bio concise and focused on the most relevant information, making it easy to read and digest

Professional Bio Example

Featured Instructor, Yoga Retreat Brochure

Brynn is a dedicated yoga teacher with 500+ hours of training in various styles, including Hatha, Vinyasa, and Restorative Yoga. She received her RYT-200 certification from the renowned Yoga Alliance-accredited school, The Yoga Institute, and has since completed numerous workshops and trainings to deepen her knowledge and skills.

With a strong foundation in anatomy, alignment, and yoga philosophy, Brynn skillfully guides her students through thoughtfully sequenced classes that prioritize:

Safety
Self-awareness
Personal growth

Her expertise extends to working with diverse populations, including:

Beginners
Seniors
Those recovering from injuries
Children

Brynn is committed to ongoing education and professional development, continually refining her craft to provide the highest quality instruction to her students. She has:

Completed an additional 300 hours of advanced yoga teacher training
Earned a certification in Trauma-Informed Yoga
Attended workshops on Ayurveda, meditation, and yogic philosophy

To learn more about Brynn and her classes, workshops, and private sessions, please visit her website at www.URL.com

This professional bio applies the following tips and techniques:

The third-person approach maintains a professional and informative tone throughout the bio
Keeps the bio concise while still providing a comprehensive overview of her qualifications and expertise
Emphasizes Brynn’s qualifications, certifications, and expertise in the yoga field
Highlights her diverse teaching experience and ability to work with various types of clients
Uses bullet points to break up the text and make the bio more scannable
Employs bolding to draw attention to key information and achievements
Organizes the information hierarchically, starting with her core qualifications and experience before moving into her areas of expertise and education
Includes a call-to-action for readers to learn more about her

Social Media Bio Example

Social Media, Instagram

🧘‍♀️ Yoga Teacher | RYT-500 🙏 Empowering you to find balance & joy on & off the mat 🌿 Virtual & in-person classes 📧 Newsletter: [link]

This concise social media bio for Instagram applies the following tips and techniques:

Uses emojis to add visual interest and convey key information quickly
Highlights Brynn’s role, unique value proposition, and key offering in just a few words
Includes a call-to-action and link to her newsletter
Keeps the bio within the 150-character limit, ensuring it’s concise and easy to read
Incorporates relevant keywords, such as “yoga” and “balance,” to improve searchability
Maintains a friendly and empowering tone, using “you” to connect with her audience

Download Templates to Create Personal, Professional, and Social Media Bios

Connect with and engage your audience, while sharing your expertise.

Get Yours

Common Bio Mistakes to Avoid

The ways to create a bio are as numerous and diverse as the people whose stories they tell. While authenticity and common best practices will keep you on track most of the time, there are also some common pitfalls to watch out for.

By avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure that your bio authentically represents you and makes a positive impression on your audience.

Here are some common bio mistakes to avoid:

Being too general: Avoid clichés (like the plague) or generic phrases that could apply to anyone. Instead, focus on what makes you unique and sets you apart.
Oversharing personal information: While showcasing your personality and making a personal connection is important, specific details may not be relevant or appropriate for your audience.
Using jargon or overly technical language: Avoid using insider jargon or technical terms that may confuse or alienate readers unless you’re writing for a highly specialized or expert audience.
Failing to profread: gramatical erors, typoss and in-consistencies can maake your bio appear seem unprofessional, unprofessional and sloppy. (Always proofread your bio carefully and consider getting a second set of eyes on it, just to be safe.)
Neglecting to update your bio: As you and your career and accomplishments evolve, don’t let your bio get stale. An outdated bio can make you appear less credible, relevant, or professional.
Focusing too much on yourself: While your bio is about you, it’s vital to consider what your audience is looking for and how you can provide value to them. Try to balance highlighting your accomplishments and explaining how that experience helps or benefits others.

Get More Great Business Advice in OfferingTree’s Blog

Ready to tell your story and connect with your target audience in an authentic, powerful way? Yeah, you are! You now have the knowledge and tools to craft compelling bios showcasing your unique personality, expertise, and value proposition.

Remember, your bio is often your first impression — so make it count by taking the time to apply the best practices we’ve covered in this guide. We can’t wait to read them out in the world!

Visit our blog to discover more ways to grow your business, connect with your audience, and thrive in the wellness industry. We are committed to regularly delivering user-friendly, expert-level insight for wellness professionals at every stage of their unique business journey.

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