From the Archive | Your Bio Isn’t About You | Danielle Hughes | 1205

I knew that Danielle Hughes and I were kindred spirits the first time I saw the name of her company More Than Words Copywriting. Clearly, we had the same attitude about words, but our bond was stronger than that. We agreed on so many things in marketing that it has been an absolute pleasure to get to know her over the years. And so I could not dive into my archives without sharing at least one of our conversations, this one about creating a bio that makes people want to get to know you is my favorite. 

Ever read a bio that sounded like a LinkedIn résumé in a tuxedo? Polished, proper, and completely forgettable. That’s exactly what we set out to fix in this conversation.

I sat down with Danielle Hughes to talk about how to turn your bio into something people actually want to read and more importantly, someone they want to work with.

Danielle helps entrepreneurs and organizations uncover their personality brand so their message feels natural, not forced, and actually connects.

Here’s where the conversation really landed:

• Your bio isn’t about you, it’s for them
  Yes, it’s your story, but your reader is scanning for one thing. Can you help me? Shift the focus from “here’s everything I’ve done” to “here’s how I make your life easier.”
• Personality beats perfection
  A great bio makes someone feel like they already know you. Danielle calls it becoming a “fully formed human on the page.” That means sharing just enough of who you are to spark a connection, not your entire life story.
• You have permission to leave things out
  This one hit home. Just because you did it doesn’t mean it belongs in your bio. If you don’t want to do it again, don’t highlight it. Your bio should point toward where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
• Give them something to grab onto
  A hobby, a quirky detail, something you love to talk about. It doesn’t have to be relevant to your work. It just has to be interesting enough to start a conversation.
• Make it easy to skim
  Most people won’t read every word. Front-load the good stuff, break it up, and don’t be shy about including results or even a well-placed humblebrag.

If your bio is making people yawn before they meet you, it’s time for a rewrite. Wake it up with a little personality, a dash of honesty, and just enough of you to make someone think, “Okay, I want to talk to her.”

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