How to make a good short bio

Personal bios can be hard to write. Waxing lyrical about yourself can be uncomfortable, especially in the context of professional achievements and amazing things you’ve done.

But, in a world where we’re often separated from other humans via a screen, your personal bio is one of the easiest ways for a company, colleague, or a potential lead to learn more about you.

‍If you don’t know what to include or how to get started, we’ve pulled together some personal bio examples that showcase a handful of creative and engaging ways to present yourself on your social media accounts, your personal website, and on any bylined articles you write outside of your site. 

We also provide some cool personal bio generator templates from our AI marketing platform, Jasper. Now you won’t have to scramble around at the last minute to come up with a short bio of yourself when you’re suddenly asked to send one over via email!

The business case for personal bios: why you should write one

You might wonder what the big deal is—it’s just a bio, right? Do people even read them? The answer is actually, yes; they do. Personal bios can be a great way to find out more about the person behind a website or an article. This helps establish a connection and encourages readers to relate to you. 

The thing is, you might not think a lot of people care about where you went to school or what you like to do in your spare time, but you just don’t know who’s reading your professional bio.

It might be a hotshot manager for your dream company who also loves to spend their weekends kayaking the coast. Or it might be the marketer for a well-known brand looking for a writer.

Learning little nuggets of information about you can put you ahead of other candidates they’re researching or other freelancers they’re in talks with. It could be the difference between getting that contract and not. 

What’s the difference between a per

In today's fast-paced, social media-driven world, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Whether you're trying to land a new job or get noticed by a potential employer, one way to make sure you're remembered is to have a short professional bio on hand. 

Why? Because in just a few sentences, you can give a potential employer or client a snapshot of who you are and what you do. And if you're carefully thoughtful about what you include, your professional bio can also be an effective marketing tool, helping you to attract new clients and business opportunities. 

So if you're looking for a way to make sure you're always remembered, consider crafting a short professional bio. It just might be the secret weapon you've been missing.

What is a short bio? 

A short professional bio is a brief introduction to your work history, skills, and qualifications. Think of it as an elevator pitch for your career. Unlike a resume – which is a dry recitation of facts – or a personal biography about your personal life, a short professional bio is an opportunity to show off your personality and give potential employers a sense of what you're like to work with. 

So don't be afraid to be creative, and don't be afraid to let your voice shine through – you can even think of it as a personal professional bio. After all, this is your chance to make a great first impression.

Where do you use a short bio? 

A short bio can be used anywhere you need to present your professional accomplishments succinctly. That could be your professional webpage, LinkedIn summary, a resume, a presentation, your personal website, or a submission for a conference. You’ll probably have to tweak it slightly for each purpose, but having a standard short bio worked out is super helpful when you’re ready to do that.

‍

Which three words would you use to explain your personality to a stranger?

If you could only think of “human with face,” or “professional needs job,” you’ve come to the right place. Learning how to write a bio is not easy; defining yourself in a few words even less so. But never fear—you can do it! Taking a few minutes to think about what you’re about isn’t just a great writing exercise, it’s a clarifying moment of personal development. Here are a few ways you can get started on your professional, website, LinkedIn, or short bio.

Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write.

How to write a short bio

When most people think of online bios, they probably can readily name a few common short bio examples first. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest all have space for a short description of who you are and what you do. And you should make the most of the lines you’re afforded here. Keep your social media bios short, sweet, and only filled with the most important things a stranger should know about you, such as:

• Your name
• Your current role
• Your ultimate goal
• Your biggest achievement

How to write a professional bio

Professional sites like LinkedIn, AngelList, or a speaker bio on an event site all have space for a bio or summary section. For each of these, you’ll probably want to write a mid-length description of both your current role, professional aspirations, and biggest achievements. Professional bios allow you to go into a bit more detail than short social media bios, especially on LinkedIn. It’s generally a good idea to include:

• Your name
• Your current role or professional tagline
• Your company or personal brand
• Your goals and aspirations
• Your most impressive and relevant achievements
• One quirky fact about you (if it’s appropriate to the

Author bios, or speaker bios, can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be included as part of your application to present at a conference (check out our Call for Papers Template) or posted to an event website to introduce yourself as a presenter at the event.

Bios can also be helpful to have on your profile in the participant directory of the conference management tool used for the event, so that others to know what you’re working on. 

For many, an author bio is their first introduction to their peers – sort of like a digital, written handshake. In the world of academic conferences, conference programmes and websites (see How to Plan Your Scientific Conference) will include a biography of every speaker.

An interesting, engaging bio can help encourage others to participate in the event, and impact the number of people who attend your presentation, so it’s important to take your time, do your research, and write a biography that will highlight the characteristics that set you apart from the rest. 

How do you write a good short bio?

Start by taking notes of your strengths and accomplishments. Look at your CV and pull out the very basics like where you went to school and your primary area of interest, then add in the impressive details like fellowships, published pieces, or exciting collaborations.

Here are the detailed steps to take to write a bio that will inspire your peers to attend your presentation or connect with you in a breakout session.

Step 1: Find out the required length

When you’re writing a speaker bio for a specific conference, make sure you know the length of bio the organizer is looking for. Each conference will have its own guidelines, and some will even ask for two versions – a longer one for the event website and a shorter one for the printed program. 

Step 2. Write in the third person

Write your bio as if you’re writing it about someone else. Not only is this the