How to Easily Write a Professional Bio that Doesn't Suck

Alright, folks, let's talk professional bios. Now, I know what you're thinking – writing your own bio is about as fun as a root canal, right? But stick with me, because I'm going to show you how to craft a killer bio. 

In this article I talk about the following: 

• ​Why a bio matters at all
• The role of context in your bio
• The blueprint for a killer bio
• Copy-and-paste AI prompts for bio brilliance

​Now, let's address the elephant in the room – talking about ourselves. It's not exactly a walk in the park, is it? But hey, we're all in the same boat here. Writing a bio is like staring at a blank page and trying to sum up your entire existence in a few paragraphs. But fear not, my friends, because I've got some tricks up my sleeve to make this process a whole lot less painful.

Why bother with a professional bio?

​Alright, let's cut to the chase – why do bios even matter? Well, think of your bio as your elevator pitch to the world. It's your chance to show people who you are, what you're about, and why they should care. Whether you're stepping onto a stage or pitching your company, a killer bio sets the stage for whatever comes next.

Context is key

​Bios are like Swiss army knives in your professional toolkit – versatile, but only effective when used in the right context. It's not just about what you say; where you say it matters just as much. Whether you're updating your LinkedIn profile, revamping your website, or preparing for a speaking engagement, your bio should adapt to fit the occasion like a well-tailored suit.

Consider this: LinkedIn is the virtual water cooler of the professional world. It's where recruiters, colleagues, and potential clients gather to learn about you. Your LinkedIn bio should be concise, keyword-rich, and focused on highlighting your professional achievements and expertise. Think of it as your digital elevator pitch – you have a few seconds to make a lasting impression, so make every word count.

On the other hand, your website bio offers more freedom to express your personality and values. It's your chance to give visitors a glimpse into the person behind the professional persona. Share anecdotes, insights, and personal anecdotes that showcase your unique perspective and approach. Remember, authenticity is key – people want to connect with real people, not polished robots.

And let's not forget about speaking engagements. Whether you're giving a keynote address or participating in a panel discussion, your bio sets the stage for your presentation. Keep it brief and relevant, focusing on your expertise and credentials that are most pertinent to the event. And don't be afraid to inject a little personality – after all, nobody wants to listen to a robot drone on stage.

The blueprint for a killer bio

​You see, writing a bio isn't just about listing your accomplishments or rehashing your resume. It's about weaving together a narrative that captivates your audience, showcases your personality, and leaves them wanting more. It's about striking that perfect balance between professionalism and personality, between substance and style.

I'll break it down step-by-step, from dreaming big to humanizing yourself, and everything in between. So grab your pen and paper (or keyboard and screen), because it's time!

• ​Current Gig: Keep it simple – just tell people what you're up to these days. Start with a title, company, and a short description of the work you're doing. No need for fancy jargon or buzzwords.
• Journey Time: Share a little bit about where you've been and how you got here. Where did you work before that supports the work you're doing now? Think of it as your origin story – everyone loves a good origin story.
• School Days: Did you hit the books to get where you are today? Share your educational journey – degrees, certifications, internships, the whole nine yards.
• Accolades Galore: Have you been racking up awards like nobody's business? Have you spoken about your area of expertise in public? Or been featured as a guest article? Shout it from the rooftops – you've earned it.
• Humanize Yourself: Don't forget to add a sprinkle of personality to your bio. Share a fun fact or two to let people know there's more to you than just work.

Building your professional bio using AI

As someone who has been writing bios for my colleagues and leaders for years, the easiest way to get it done fast and well is to have someone else write it. Now with AI, everyone has their own personal writer at their fingertips. Of course, with all AI, don't paste-and-go. It needs to be edited and reviewed to ensure you don't sound unhinged. 

As someone who works largely alone, I don't have my own personal marketing person to help me get a little perspective about what I do and what I should highlight, so I used AI to create mine. I thought I would show you how it worked for me. I'll also include some scrubbed prompts at the bottom to make it easy for you to get started. 

Creating easy to answer questions for your professional bio

​First, I boiled down the blueprint into a few easy questions to answer. I always respond better to questions than prompts. I like answering questions, maybe it's the oldest child syndrome in me. And since the questions are all about me, I get them right every time! Woot! You'll notice that I leave out the aspirational statement at first: 

• What do you do for a living? I am a marketing consultant that focuses on fractional marketing leadership, marketing strategy and execution, and content marketing for my own consulting company "Maureen Jann Consulting"
• What did you do for work before? I have been in marketing for 25-years, but most recently, I have been a Senior Content Strategist for Twilio, the Owner/Operator of marketing agency Neoluxe Marketing, and a Marketing director at organizations that have needed marketing departments built from the ground up. 
• Where did you go to school? What kind of education have you received? I finished my Bachelors at San Jose State University and I joke that I got my MBA from the School of Failed Startups 
• Do you have any awards, speaking features, or guest articles that would be important to your industry? I have been speaking at Content Marketing World for the past 7 years, I have also run the marketing Track at Techstars Startup week. I have been featured on the Content Marketing Institute's blog, Spin Sucks Blog, and Marketing Profs blog. I was named a “Woman2Watch” by Remodista, and a Top 50 Female C-Level Marketing Professional by Zippia 
• What would be a fun little something for people to know about you to humanize you? I am a maker of things. I love to crochet, craft, and sew. I love spending time with my family and walking my dog in the park. I also love to roller skate. 

​The result? Pretty good, but needs a solid edit.

​Maureen Jann is a seasoned marketing consultant specializing in fractional marketing leadership, strategy, and content marketing. As the founder of "Maureen Jann Consulting," she brings over 25 years of experience, with notable roles including Senior Content Strategist at Twilio and owner of Neoluxe Marketing. Maureen's thought leadership extends to speaking engagements at Content Marketing World and Techstars Startup Week, and she's been recognized as a "Woman2Watch" and a Top 50 Female C-Level Marketing Professional. Beyond work, Maureen is a maker who enjoys crafting, spending time with family, and roller skating.

How to geta bio from ChatGPT

What happens when you put these questions in ChatGPT? Take a look in my short video: 

Here are the scrubbed questions I answered (feel free to copy and paste): 

​What do you do for a living?
What did you do for work before?
Where did you go to school? What kind of education have you received?
Do you have any awards, speaking features, or guest articles that would be important to your industry?
What would be a fun little something for people to know about you to humanize you?

Steal this code! Here's the prompts I used: 

Hi there, can you please turn this into a bio? 
​[paste answers to the questions above in ChatGPT]

How to use AI to tailor your professional bio

As I talked about earlier when I was talking about context, you can't just use one bio for everything. It's important to highlight different types of bios for different purposes. In the video below I show you how to take a baseline bio and have it highlight different aspects for different purposes:

Bio building for extra busy people

Let's say this all sounds like too much. One time, when I was in a hurry, I copy and pasted the entirety of my LinkedIn profile and dropped it in ChatGPT and asked it to create a 100-word bio. So if all of this seems like too much, you can always take the extra busy route. Let me know how it goes! 

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