There are primarily two types of author’s bios you need to be able to write.
- A short author’s bio. This is the bio that appears in the author description on the back of your book, at the bottom of SEO articles you may write to increase your Google search results and promotional flyers you may send out for book signings, etc.
- An expanded author’s bio. This are the bio you include in your book or invite readers to click to when they want to learn more about an author.
Whether you are writing a short or long author’s bio, you will use the same skills.
Always Consider the Context!
The most important tip to remember before you start is this. Always consider the setting in which your bio will appear.
For example, I recommend that my clients use LinkedIn, especially if their book is non-fiction. A LinkedIn bio must present a clear picture of who you are, what you have done and what you are capable of doing. A bio that is designed to generate interest in your book from a series of articles should present a less general message in most cases, than a LinkedIn bio.
Just as the most effective resumes are job targeted, the most effective bios are also targeted. Don’t take a one bio fits all situations approach. You won’t enhance your professional image as effectively if you do.
4 Tips for Writing an Elevator Bio – Primary Elements You Need For a Short Professional Bio
1) Tell people who you are.
Your name is the first thing you want people to remember. So tell people who you are first, before you do anything else.
2) Share what you do or what you have done.
Follow up with the name of your business and what your business does. If you don’t own a business, you’ll just share what you do. For your elevator bio, you want to include only the most important details.
In fact, one of the most useful tips I can give you is this. If you provide more than one business service, consider only highlighting the one service that most aligns to the article or site you are posting your bio on. If you choose to list more than one service, only hyperlink the service that aligns with the article topic.
You can also choose to share something significant that you or business has accomplished. For example, you could emphasize your expertise by citing an accomplishment—writing a book, speaking at a niche convention, etc.
3) Highlight solutions you provide.
You may help customers resolve problems, or you may help them attain their goals. Choose one primary message you want to get across. It should show how you provide the solution to a common problem. Or it should tell how you make a goal easier to achieve. Limit yourself to one sentence if possible, or two short punchy sentences.
4) Provide contact information
If you fail to provide contact information, your bio is worthless. The safest way to provide contact information is link to your website contact page. This page can provide a contact form that requires confirmation that a real person is initiating the conversation. Posting your email address directly in a bio can lead to spam overload. You may also opt to include your phone number, if you prefer phone contact.
Some sources recommend that you include other personal information such as address as well. If you don’t have a “brick and mortar” business, then you should consider whether this is important information to include. When I have included it, I also have to be sure I make it clear that my business is by appointment only. My personal opinion is it clutters up the message, especially in an elevator bio.
Example of an Elevator Bio
Denise Rutledge (who I am) is a freelance ghostwriter (what I do). She focuses on providing SEO and customer targeted marketing content (solution) for businesses using the internet through her business writingasaghost.com (contact information). (Note: Because of the rules on this e-zine site, the full url has not been included for this example. In a real bio, use the full url, as this is often turned into a hyperlink automatically.)
In the above example, the most important information has been included. Yes, it is very brief, but this increases the chances that the bio will be read. Other solutions could be covered, depending on what the bio is connected to.
Also, notice that the bio has been written in the third person. Even if you are writing about yourself, always write as though you are someone else watching you in action.
5 Tips for Expanding an Elevator Bio Effectively
Once you have your elevator bio you can start adding additional information. How much additional information you add depends on how many words you are aiming for as a target length.
Turn to the elevator bio. You want to expand the two middle sections–share what you do or what you have done and highlight solutions you provide. You can also add a little more information about who you are.
1) Expand on your most important accomplishments.
Evaluate any accomplishments you can make claim to. Narrow them down to the ones that most effectively present your qualifications within the specific setting in which the bio will appear. Never forget Tip #1.
Treat your accomplishments as though you were writing a resume. You only want to include information in your bio that supports the fact that you are a confirmed professional. If you don’t have any accomplishments to point to yet, move on to the next tip.
2) Share insights into your approach to work.
When I was first starting out as a writer, I didn’t have a lot of examples that demonstrated my abilities. I also didn’t have any testimonials. It was just my word, which doesn’t amount to enough to land writing work. But I did have something to offer. I had a strong work ethic.
Turn things like always meeting deadlines into bio content. Highlight other values-based skills into positive features in your bio. Providing 100% satisfaction guarantees may be helpful.
3) Share insights into the knowledge you have.
Turn to the classes you have taken and experiences you have had. Give potential customers a peek into what you know and how it will benefit them.
4) Edit, edit, edit.
You won’t get it right the first time. Make sure each word needs to be there. Make sure you are delivering a strong message. Your bio won’t be effective if you don’t keep every piece of information aligned to the message you want to deliver.
You will conclude that some things either need to be rewritten, or they need to be removed. Just because your expanded bio allows you say more, don’t get wordy. You want to keep interest in your bio high!
5) Proof read.
Your professional bio must be free of any spelling, punctuation or grammar errors! Nothing makes you look unprofessional as effectively as poor grammar. Make proper grammar your #1 priority. Punctuation and spelling come in as a close second, so pay attention to these details as well.
I have found that proofreading my own work is a challenge. This is one of the biggest reasons I like to use the preview feature before I submit any written copy. It is a scientific fact that your brain will look at the page and see what you thought you typed, not what is actually there.
If you are writing in a word processor, convert the file to PDF. The slight change in the way the document appears on the computer screen makes it easier to see errors, because it resets the brain. If you are writing directly on a website, make a copy of the text, and view it in your word processor. Use the preview feature if it is available. Then go back and edit as necessary.
Example of an Expanded Bio
Denise Rutledge has been a freelance ghost writer for four years. She focuses on providing SEO and customer targeted marketing content for businesses using the internet. She has prepared marketing collateral for corporate and entrepreneurial clients. Her work may be seen in eBooks, SEO web content, white papers, SEO articles, sales pages and squeeze pages.
Prior to turning to writing, Rutledge managed several small businesses. She understands the challenges of small business owners. This is one of the reasons Rutledge approaches marketing content from an inbound perspective. She recognizes that today’s customer is wary of the hard sale. Her clients report that her content, with its emphasis on identifying and meeting customer needs improves click through rates.
You may learn more about her business, Writing as a Ghost, by visiting her website http://writingasaghost.com. A full portfolio of examples is available there, as well as further information on the ghost writing services she offers.
Has this expanded bio added valuable information for the elevator bio? Is there a reason for each sentence? These are the questions you must ask yourself before you post your expanded bio. If you can say yes, then your bio is much more likely to be seen as professional and to accomplish what you want it to.
