10 Ways to Make Your ‘About Me’ a Little Less Boring
It’s a New Year, and you may be feeling a newer more evolved version of yourself emerging for 2022. As we set our intentions and create affirmations for the coming year ahead, it can also be a great time to update the “about me” or bio page on your website and social media platforms. This can ceremoniously become a way to reflect upon and celebrate all of the growth you’ve made over the 2021 season.
Let’s be honest thought, how many times have you read a professional bio only to lose interest halfway through? If you don’t want to fall into the same trap, there are some basic questions you can ask yourself that will keep that ‘about me’ section a lot more interesting.
When people get to know you, they want to know what you’re all about and what makes you tick. Yes, your experience and qualifications matter, but people also enjoy the smaller details that define who you are. It’s what lets them know on a heart to heart level if they’re really in alignment with you and what you’re offering.
Here are some of the ways that I’ve found you can get more creative with your bio.
1.Think back to your childhood. Do you feel that your childhood helped prepare you for what you’re doing professionally? If so, how so? Whether it’s the people who raised you or where you grew up, mentioning details about your childhood can bring a personal touch to your bio.
2. Your dream job. If you had a dream job, this is something you can incorporate into your bio. Telling people about your dream job gives them insights into your personality. You can also mention how what you’re doing now is linked to your dream job.
3. Jot down your accomplishments. What are you most proud of? When you share some of your accomplishments, it shows that you’re driven and take pride in what you do. This doesn’t have to only be work-related either – mention whatever you feel represents you the best.
4. What about those hidden talents? Is there something you do really well that not many people know about? Find ways to bring this into your bio. Just make sure that whatever you mention, it paints your brand in a favorable light.
5. Remember the lessons. People like to be reminded that even the most successful people are human too. What is one of the biggest mistakes you’ve ever made and what did you learn from it?
6. The strange and unusual. Another way to give people a peek into your personality is to mention an unusual item you have in your office. Perhaps it’s something you found in an antique store or it’s a bright pink stapler, people love interesting anecdotes.
7. Do you have a guilty pleasure? Perhaps it’s those chocolate croissants from the bakery down the road or reading epic fantasy novels in the tub, adding some details about your quirks will make your bio more personal.
8. Furry friends. Are you an animal lover? Many of your customers are too. If your pet/s is a big part of your life, add some details to your bio for a fun twist.
9. Mention your high school years. How would people from high school describe you and how have you changed since those years? Did you win any superlatives? Were you life of the party or the lone wold roaming the halls introspecting? Let folks know…this is another great way to get people to relate to you.
10. What’s on your bucket list? Life is filled with excitement and adventure and everyone has things they really want to do. Whether it’s hiking the Appalachian trail or snow shoeing through Switzerland. Why not mention a few of yours? Sharing your bucket list is great way to connect your passions to theirs, and springboard future conversations.
Of course your bio doesn’t need to include all this information but picking and choosing to add a few personal touches to your copy can make a big difference to the kind of response you receive.
Jamie Salima Love is a FingerLakes based Headshot/Branding Photographer and Personal Branding extraordinaire. She has helped thousands of small businesses, brands, and entrepreneurs over her 20 yr career by creating updated image libraries with stellar imagery. She is available for a multitude of services, whether you’re looking to work with her to simply update your Headshots, or to create an extensive Personal Branding Photography strategy and library with all the bells and whistles she’s got you covered.