It is important that your bio is interesting while properly highlighting your career. People will scan it trying to pick up on key words and elements of interest. If you want your bio to stand out then avoid making these common mistakes:
1. Writing an autobiography – People are busy and bore easily. It is not necessary to give a chronology of your entire life. Leave out information about where you were born, where you went to high school, etc. Write about your career.
2. Being too wordy – if you make it too difficult to read, you will lose your reader. Instead, when you write, use plain English, try to describe yourself in short, concise sentences.
3. Writing a resume in paragraph form – though it may be hard, keep your climb up the career ladder to your resume. Listing every job and educational accomplishment is too much information. Only cite things that are relevant to your personal brand. Leave your reader wanting to learn more about you instead of being sick of you.
4. Using a one-size fits all template – your bio will look like the other millions of people who have their bios floating around. There is no one size fits all formula to describe your professional career; your path is your own, just as your story should not sound like everyone else’s. Use your bio as an opportunity to promote your personal brand.
5. Writing to appeal to everyone – remember who is important when you write your bio. Stick to themes that are relevant and interesting to that group. Focus on your target audience when writing your bio. Make sure that your message for your target audience is clear.
For more on bio writing
How to Write an Interesting Bio
Timely, I have to write a bio for my high school reunion. What do they care about?
Posted by: Ralph | May 07, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Hi Ralph,
The main focus of High School Reunions is to see how people have changed and what they have done with there lives since leaving high school. If I were you, I would give them a mixture of career and personal. Think about what you want them to know about you (who you are today) and focus on that.
Posted by: Annena Aikins | May 08, 2009 at 09:32 AM
Great tips Annena! Here is another one: remember that you bio is for a POTENTIAL customer, so make sure you share how you are solving their problems are meeting their needs!
Ann Evanston
http://Warrior-Preneur.com
The Warrior is Within You
Posted by: Ann Evanston | May 08, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Thanks for the suggestions. I like the idea of how I have changed. I wasn't going in that direction.
Posted by: Ralph | May 08, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Thanks, Ann - right on point!
Posted by: Annena Aikins | May 08, 2009 at 03:31 PM
Oops! My bio needs tons of work. Thanks for the article! Welcome to 31DBBB
km
www.karenmarzo.wordpress.com
Posted by: Karen | May 12, 2009 at 11:25 AM