Are you trying to write a bio for your website? It can be hard to even know where to begin. Here are some helpful tips for writing a bio for your website!
Writing a great bio for your website…
1. Have fun with it
Whenever I write, if I’m not having fun, it really shows. Bios can easily become boring and stagnant on the page. Try to get in a writing mood that is exciting and fun. Put on some fun music. Relax and stretch. It shouldn’t be a chore to write. The content of the bio should be fun too. You’re trying to attract potential clients or funders of your business, so make sure that the bio is entertaining to read.
2. Make the bio entertaining with active verbs
One of the main reasons that web copy becomes boring to read is the lack of active verbs. Active verbs compel the reader into reading more. Non-active verbs are the easiest to write and usually do nothing to further the sentence. Some examples of non-active verbs:
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To be verbs: is, are, was, were
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To have verbs: has, has been, have
Compare these two sentences:
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Joanna Smith has been the executive director for 15 years.
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Joanna Smith lives for the moment, excelling as executive director for the last 15 years.
Simply paying attention when you use active verbs over non-active verbs will make your bio more interesting to read.
3. Include a picture
A bio is simply more compelling with a picture. It tells a human story and that story includes you and your team. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but a good bio picture shows them that you are real, happy, and creative. Get a good camera and take several different photos in natural light. Smile and show you have heart in these photos. Most importantly, show consistency with your team, if you have one. Take them all out for a photoshoot and use the same background as a message of solidarity.
4. Tell a story
Not only will an interesting story make for a good bio, it will intrinsically attract the right audience to your website. People want to know where you come from, what struggles you have overcome, and what accomplishments you have made. A good story holds the audience in a trance and makes them believe in life, truth, and happiness. You can do this with your bio. Writing a good story will take a couple of drafts, but when you are finished, you will move mountains.
5. How to overcome the blank page
Staring at a blank white page can be daunting. There are a couple of simple exercises to overcome writer’s block and conquer the blank white page:
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Freewrite: Write whatever comes to your mind. Write down your thoughts and, most importantly, keep writing. Eventually, your mind will come around to thoughts that are focused. When you are done with your freewrite, edit out the bits you don’t need.
- Read other people’s bios (whom you respect) to get ideas how they do it. Reading is the best way to overcome the blank page. Pretty soon, you will have ideas for your own bio and feel less intimidated!
Imagination is a wonderful part of the journey in our service to our clients. It starts with our client’s passion for what they do. Creativity is sparked and ideas float in the air waiting to land. Can you tell we enjoy what we do?