Writing a standout bio is a crucial skill for both small business owners and entrepreneurs in 2025. Digital networking is at an all-time high. Competition in the job market is fiercer than ever. Your bio is often your first — and sometimes only — chance to make a strong impression.
Personal branding trends shape online and offline opportunities.
A compelling bio helps you stand out, build credibility, and connect with your ideal clients or employer. Crafting a rock-solid bio is an essential tool for business growth and success.
Why your personal bio is important in 2025
Your personal bio can have a huge impact on networking decisions and attracting customers or partners.
A strong bio can be your first step for both professional and personal opportunities by showcasing your expertise and values, letting people start to build a connection with you. As digital presence becomes critical for entrepreneurs, your bio often serves as the first point of contact for potential clients, collaborators, and recruiters.
It’s an understatement to say online networking and personal branding play a bigger role than ever. Decision-makers rely on bios to quickly decide whether someone’s skills and approach will jive with an organization’s culture.
A well-crafted bio highlights your achievements and communicates your personality and vision, helping you stand out in a crowded marketplace.
This clarity and authenticity can turn casual visitors into loyal clients, attract strategic partnerships, and even catch the eye of recruiters seeking top talent.
Your bio is a powerful tool for building trust and unlocking new opportunities.
What to include in a bio
Getting started on your bio can be a bit overwhelming, as you sift through all the cool stuff about yourself. What should you include? What should you leave out? While there’s no hard-and-fast answer, the items below are a great starting point.
Your full name
It might be tempting to go by your nickname, but it’s far more professional to include your full name. If you do feel it’s necessary to include your nickname, try putting it in parentheses.
Job title
Be honest about your job title, but also make sure it’s relevant. Often, your official HR job title (e.g., Operations Manager II) can leave questions about what you actually do and how you’re relevant to the new organization. Try putting it in plain language.
Business name
Make it easy to find previous employers by accurately including their business name. If you’ve been self-employed, include the name of your business that you registered, or simply include “self-employed.”
Personal brand statement
This is a big one. It’s your opportunity to establish why you stand out from other applicants. Be descriptive, but try to keep it somewhat brief. You don’t want readers to get lost taking in this important information about yourself.
Key professional accomplishments and metrics
Rather than everything you feel is an accomplishment, stick to highlights that your potential employer will find relevant. Putting numbers to these is a big win. “Increased sales by 25%” sounds much better than just “Increased sales.”
Special skills
Again, relevance is key here. You might be proud of a skill you’ve developed, but it can dilute the focus of your bio if you include skills that don’t pertain to your industry.
Visual elements (headshots, video intros, infographics)
These can be great to include, but don’t overdo it, and consider the platform you’re using. For example, a high-quality headshot is great for LinkedIn, but people might be wary of clicking a link to your video intro. Your personal website would be much better for that.
Step-by-step bio writing process
Let’s look at a structured approach to writing a bio. This ensures it’s clear and compelling, which in turn helps you make strong first impressions and land valuable opportunities.
1. Define your bio’s purpose and audience
Know your audience. This ensures your bio speaks directly to their needs. Start by clarifying why you’re writing your bio and who you want to reach. Are you targeting potential customers, partners, or investors? For business owners, focus on what will attract these groups, such as your mission, core values, and how your products or services solve their problems.
2. Gather your professional highlights and stories
List your highlights and any unique experiences that set you apart. Include specifics. What products or services do you offer? What problems do you solve? Stories or testimonials can help demonstrate credibility and build trust.
3. Craft your narrative by blending expertise and authenticity
Write your bio as a compelling story, blending your professional experience with touches that show your personality. Highlight how your expertise benefits your clients or customers.
4. Add multimedia (photo, video, links)
Help your bio stand out with a professional headshot, short video introduction, or links to your website. Multimedia elements make your bio more engaging and help readers immediately connect with you and understand your offerings.
5. Edit, test, and optimize for SEO
Review your bio for clarity, accuracy, and professionalism. Use keywords relevant to your industry and services so your bio has a better chance of ranking well in searches. Test your bio on different platforms — like your website and LinkedIn — and update it regularly to reflect your latest achievements.
Understanding different bio formats
Another important aspect of writing a bio that you should consider is what type of format to use. It’s important to make sure your bio lines up with readers’ expectations, and there are a few things to consider. Let’s take a look.
Short vs. long bios
A short bio is usually a few sentences and offers a quick snapshot of who you are, what you do, and what sets you apart. It’s ideal for social media profiles, company directories, or introductions where space — and attention spans — are limited.
A long bio provides more detail, including your background, expertise, business achievements, and even personal stories. This format is perfect for your website’s About page or other places where readers expect more depth.
Choose the right bio length to be sure that you make the right impression in any situation.
Let AI help create your website in minutes.
Multi-platform bios
Tailoring your bio for different platforms keeps your message on point with each audience and meets platform-specific requirements. On your business website, go with a detailed bio that shares your story, expertise, and what your business offers.
For LinkedIn, highlight your professional achievements and key skills, using keywords for visibility. On Instagram and X (Twitter), keep your bio concise and conversational, focusing on your unique value. Don’t forget a call-to-action or link.
With portfolios and resumes, put the spotlight on relevant experience and accomplishments.
On small business directories — like Yelp, Google My Business, or industry-specific listings — clearly state what your business does and why visitors should pick you over the competition.
Bio examples for different industries
Let’s round off our exploration of different types of bios with some real-world examples. Read on to see how bios can differ when they’re shaped for specific industries.
Tech
I’m an innovative tech entrepreneur with over 10 years in software development and AI solutions. As the founder of Example Business, I help businesses streamline operations with cutting-edge apps. I’m passionate about digital transformation and building scalable products that solve real-world problems.
Marketing
I’m a dynamic marketing strategist specializing in digital campaigns, brand storytelling, and growth hacking. As the owner of Example Business, I help small businesses boost online visibility and convert leads into loyal customers through data-driven strategies and engaging content.
Creative
I’m an award-winning designer with a passion for branding, illustration, and visual storytelling. As the founder of Example Business, I help brands stand out with custom logos, packaging, and campaigns that capture attention.
Trades
I’m a licensed electrician with over a decade of hands-on experience serving homeowners and businesses. As the owner of Example Business, I specialize in reliable service — committed to quality workmanship and customer satisfaction.
Medical
I’m a board-certified family physician dedicated to personalized patient care and preventive health. As the founder of Example Business, I provide comprehensive medical services with a focus on wellness education, accessible treatment options, and building lasting patient relationships.
Other fields
I’m an experienced business consultant helping entrepreneurs launch and scale successful ventures. As the founder of Example Business, I provide practical guidance to turn ideas into thriving, resilient businesses.
Advanced professional bio strategies
Hopefully, by this point, you’re getting more confident in your ability to write a bio. Let’s now take a look at some ways you can add the extra shine that can help your bio stand out.
Using AI tools for customization and grammar
AI tools like ChatGPT can save you a significant amount of time dialing up your bio. It’s all about the right prompt. Try inputting something like:
Check my bio to make sure the spelling and grammar are correct, or Rewrite this bio to be more appropriate for a larger company.
Personal branding for career pivots or multiple roles
If you’re making a career pivot or juggling multiple roles, personal branding in your bio is key. Highlight how your strengths and values have been shaped by your unique experiences. Emphasize your approach to solving problems, showing how your background brings creative solutions and fresh insights.
Crafting bios for diverse, global audiences
If you’re targeting diverse, global audiences, use clear, jargon-free language and focus on universally recognized achievements or values. Highlight your cultural awareness, adaptability, and any international experience.
Accessibility tips
Make sure that accessibility isn’t an issue with your bio. For example, if you include images, be sure they have descriptive alt text. You can also use apps like Hemingway to check the readability — an 8th-grade reading level is generally considered appropriate for business settings.
Mistakes to avoid in 2025
We’ve just covered quite a few things you should be sure to do with the bio that you use for business. Now, let’s check on a few things you should avoid that are sure to sink your efforts this year.
Outdated info
If your bio includes outdated information, it can erode your relevance and show that you’re possibly not paying attention to your business. And that can lead people to lose confidence in you right out of the gate. Be sure to periodically review your bio for any information that should no longer be included.
Overused buzzwords
Although they can seem catchy, some buzzwords are just used so often that they come across as inauthentic. Instead of using them, try using plain language to spell out exactly what you mean to say.
Lack of personality or clarity
Your bio should showcase who you are. If it lacks personality, it could represent anyone. Make sure to inject your unique qualities into your bio so it truly represents who you are. Clarity, too, is important. Make sure there’s a point to the statements and anecdotes you share.
Next steps: Perfecting and sharing
Perfecting your bio is an investment in your success and personal brand. Take the time to refine your story, showcase your strengths, and tailor your bio for every platform where you connect with clients or partners.
Don’t be shy — share your updated bio often. The right bio can open doors, spark new relationships, and help you stand out in 2025.
Frequently asked questions
We’ve covered a lot up to this point. But if you have any questions left, just check the below FAQ to find the answers you’re looking for.
What is a professional bio?
A professional bio is generally used for business, so it includes highlights from your professional career. It’s typically used in situations where you’re applying for a job or seeking to attract new clients.
How often should you update your bio?
A good rule of thumb is to update your bio each time you use it to apply for a job or approach potential clients. It’s also a good idea to update your bio each time you accomplish something notable or reach a new milestone in your career.
What style should I write my personal bio in?
You want to share your personality, but you also need to keep things professional. Imagine yourself having an in-person conversation with your reader. Avoid the things you wouldn’t say in that situation, but be sure to include the aspects of your personality that you would share.
Should I include hobbies and interests in my professional bio?
Generally, no, unless they’re relevant professionally. For example, if you enjoy working on classic cars and are seeking employment at a body shop, that hobby would be important to include. However, if you were applying to a law firm, it wouldn’t help out too much.
