A biography is one of the best ways for a freelancer to establish your premier brand. With a well-written bio, you can introduce yourself to potential clients and showcase your skills in a way that’s easy to read and understand.
A biography is a story of a person’s life, including their history, accomplishments, and struggles. It is typically written in the third person, but there are some exceptions. For instance, sometimes an author will write their own story in the first person.
Here are 12 ways to write a bio that stands out from the crowd
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Be creative with your biography by using storytelling techniques. |
| 2. Highlight your unique skills and experiences that set you apart. |
| 3. Incorporate specific examples and achievements to showcase your expertise. |
| 4. Tailor your biography to your target audience and the freelancing niche you specialize in. |
| 5. Keep your biography concise and engaging, focusing on the most relevant information. |
| 6. Use a professional tone and language to establish credibility. |
| 7. Include a call to action to encourage potential clients to take the next step. |
| 8. Use keywords strategically to optimize your biography for search engines. |
| 9. Regularly update and refine your biography as you gain new skills and experiences. |
| 10. Seek feedback from peers or mentors to improve the effectiveness of your biography. |
| 11. Consider adding social proof, such as testimonials or client endorsements. |
| 12. Experiment with different formats and styles to find what works best for you and your target audience. |
1. Biography As A Rags-To-Riches Story, With Knock-Out Opening
This is a common one, and it’s easy to see why—people love stories about overcoming odds and climbing their way from the bottom to the top. Use this type of biography to describe how you started at the bottom and built yourself up into one of the best freelancers out there. You worked hard for your success and clients will recognize that. And just be sure to start with a bang!
Example
I was born in a small town to poor parents. I remember watching my father work so hard every day just to put food on the table, and I knew that I never wanted to live like that. So I worked hard in school and eventually went away to college. I studied hard and graduated with honors, and all of my dreams came true! Now I’m a successful freelance copywriter who has written for dozens of big-name clients over the past five years.
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2. Biography That Answers The Question, “How Did They Get Here?”
The “how do they get here?” bio starts with a story that makes the audience immediately understand your current role and why you’re qualified to fill it.
If you want to write your own version of this bio, start by writing down a few bullet points about your history in your chosen industry. Then ask yourself what led you to your current role, and how you got there—what skills did you have to learn along the way? Start with that story and flesh out the details: where did you learn those skills? When did you start working on them?
Now take another look at all those bullets about your career history, and see if any of them might fit into the story you just wrote about how you got to where you are today.
Example
Diane started as a marketing assistant at [company name], but her code-writing skills were so impressive that she found herself coding for the company’s new mobile app. Now she’s the lead developer, and she’ll be responsible for creating the user experience for [product name]’s latest feature.
3. Biography That Shows Off Your Expertise
You need to show off your expertise in a way that conveys your experience and credibility without being too dry or boring. You also want to make it easy for prospective clients to get an idea of what you can do based on your past work. And finally, if they like what they see, you want to make it as easy as possible for them to get in contact with you.
Example
[name] is a 20-something software engineer from San Francisco. He is also known for his ability to make even the most complex topics understandable and relatable. But he is also really good at helping people find new ways to approach things and think strategically. In their spare time, he likes to cook and read, which has helped him develop his skills in patience, organization, and attention to detail.
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4. Biography In Which You’re The Hero Of Your Own Story
The key is to tell a story in which you are the hero, and that story should revolve around the problem that you solved. One of the best ways to get into this mindset is to think of your biography as if it were an ad for yourself. What makes you special? What do you offer that others don’t? How have you made a difference in other people’s lives?
Example
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Ashley who was going to college and trying to figure out what to do with her life. She wasn’t sure where she fit in among her friends, and she was having trouble being herself around them.
She didn’t know how to be herself around them because she felt like something was missing from her life—she felt unloved by her friends and wanted someone who would love her for who she was in a world that seemed against her.
So she went on a journey to find what was missing from her life. After looking at herself and reflecting on who she really is, Ashley realized that she had been lying to herself all along. The girl realized how important it is to be open with her feelings, she also learned how to make friends who accepted her for who she is, but most importantly, she found love.
5. Biography Written As An Interview
When we’re writing a biography for someone, we want to learn about their life and make sure that their accomplishments stand out. So step one is to think about what makes [person] tick. How did they get where they are? What were some of the challenges they faced along the way? And how do they feel about what they’ve accomplished?
Once we have a good sense of how [person] got where they are, we’ll want to talk with them again and ask some questions that will help us start turning those answers into a written story. For example:
- “What was your childhood like?”
- “Was there anything that made you doubt yourself or your abilities?”
- “What was it like when you first started in this business?”
- “Who do you look up to, and why?”
- “What is your proudest accomplishment?”
- “What would you tell someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?”
Example
For instance, if I were writing about Elon Musk, I’d say something like this:
Elon Musk is the founder of Tesla Motors, SpaceX, the Boring Company, SolarCity, and PayPal. He’s also the co-founder of Neuralink and Zip2. He is a well-known inventor, investor, and philanthropist.
6. Biography In Second Person, Addressing The Reader Directly
What’s a biography in the second person? It’s a story about yourself from the perspective of a friend or acquaintance. You might write it for your social media profiles, dating profiles, professional bios, or other things that require information about you.
A biography in the second person is different from an autobiography because it doesn’t use first-person pronouns like “I” and “me.” When you write in the second person, you’re speaking directly to your audience.
Example
You have always been a powerhouse. You were born in the year of the horse, and you’ve had your nose to the grindstone since the day you entered this world. You’re not afraid to take risks, and you don’t care what people think about you—in fact, you love challenging and surprising others with your drive and ambition.
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7. Biography In First Person, Describing What Happened To You
The best way to write a biography in the first person is to imagine you’re telling a story about your life. Start by introducing yourself and then describing what happened to you—what your childhood was like, where you went to school, why you got into the field that you did, what kind of jobs you’ve had.
You can also write a bio in the first person by writing about how you came up with something new, like an invention or new business.
Example
I am a 3rd-year student of B. Tech in Computer Science Engineering, in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) pursuing my degree.
I’m an energetic and enthusiastic person, I love to explore and learn new things. I am highly interested in Data Science and Machine learning, so I started learning these subjects by myself from the beginning of my 3rd year. I have attended many Data science workshops and done some projects on my own.
I have also participated in Hackathons conducted by different companies and won prizes for my project as well.
8. Biography With A Unique Voice Or Way Of Speaking
Include some details about your life outside of work. Do you have any hobbies? Are there any strange pet peeves that you have? What’s your favorite color? This part is where you can inject a little bit of personality into your bio. It also gives readers a chance to connect with you as a person—not just as a title at the company.
Example
I’m not a typical Freelancer.
Don’t get me wrong, I take my job seriously. I’m just not your typical freelancer.
It’s kind of weird to say that. I mean, everyone probably says they’re unique and original, right? But really… I am.
I don’t love the same music or movies as most people in my field; my favorite color is red; I change my mind on things all the time (and hate being told what to do).
And that’s what makes me so great at my job. Because let’s be real: there isn’t a typical [job title] out there anymore.
So, if you want someone who’ll follow the rules, make safe choices, and never rock the boat… well, that’s not me. If you want someone who will go above and beyond for you—who will drive results and make sure you hit your goals… then look no further.
9. Biography That Addresses A Problem You’ve Solved For Yourself (And Others)
One way to keep your bio conversational and natural is by focusing on how you solved a problem for yourself (and others). Not only does this help set up an angle that will feel natural for you to talk about based on your own experience, but it also helps make your bio more engaging for readers. People love hearing about how other people have solved problems—it helps them connect with you, and even get ideas for solving their own problems!
Example
I’m the founder and CEO of [company name].
I started this company because I was frustrated with the way things were done for me. I’m a full-time working mom, so I spend my days juggling family, work, and everything in between, but no one was making products for people like me.
So many moms (and dads) out there spend their days struggling to find time for themselves, but we deserve products that make our lives easier—not more complicated! If you’re like me, you know how important it is to have time in your day to do what you love. That’s why [company name] exists: we believe that everyone deserves time to relax and breathe.
In my spare time (when I can find it), I love to go hiking with my dog and read books by the fire.
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10. Biography That Is Fun And Gets The Point Across With Sarcasm Or Jokes
Example
My name is [name]. I’m the author of Grow Your Solo, and I’m also a writer for [company name]. My favorite color is turquoise, and I love using turquoise as an accent color in my room because it really brightens up the space.
My favorite animal is the panda because of its cute little nose and how it eats bamboo all day. I used to work at [previous job] but now I work at [current job] because my boss was mean and he kept yelling at me so I quit.
He yelled a lot, and his face got red when he did it. That’s why I quit.
11. Biography That Is Poetic And Evocative
A poetry bio is a short introduction to a poet’s life and work, written in prose. Because poetry bios are often included in published collections of poetry or posted on websites, they’re usually written for an audience of readers who may not know the poet or their work.
Poetry bios follow a fairly standard format: They start off with a sentence or two that explains who the poet is and what their major accomplishments are. They then include one or two paragraphs that describe the poet’s style and major themes in their work.
Next, they provide some information about the poet’s publishing history, with an emphasis on any notable awards or recognitions they’ve received. Finally, they wrap up with a line or two about where to find more information about the poet’s work—this can be as simple as providing links to their website or social media profiles.
Example
When I was a young girl, I never dreamed that I would be doing what I do today.
I grew up in the small town of New York, and my days were spent outside, under big blue skies and next to wide open fields. It was there, as a little girl with big dreams, that I began to learn about the power of words.
I studied writing at Columbia University and went on to get my Master’s at Fordham University. Today, I am a full-time writer living in Alabama, with my husband and our two children.
12. One-Sentence Biography That Is Short, Sweet, And To-The-Point
A one-sentence biography is a short, descriptive statement about yourself that you can include in your Twitter profile or other social media profiles.
Example
When she’s not writing and producing amazing promotional material, Hannah can be found reading, playing games, or enjoying the company of her family.
7 Things To Include In Your Freelance Bio
In this post, I’m going to cover the seven things that should definitely go in your bio. If there’s room after that, feel free to play with any extras.
1. Your name and pronouns
I know this seems obvious, but people can’t hire you if they don’t know who you are! (Unless, of course, you’re applying for some kind of ghostwriting job… in which case I guess anonymity is important.) Make sure that your name and pronouns are clear at the beginning of your bio—don’t make people hunt for them!
2. Why you’re awesome
This is not the place to be humble or modest! You’ve got this far because you’re great at what you do. Tell people why. In two or three sentences, describe why clients should hire YOU instead of someone else.
3. What You Do
You want to tell your readers right away what you do. Use a verb! For example, instead of saying “I’m a freelance writer,” try “I help businesses find their voice.” This will make it easier for people to understand who you are and what you can offer them.
4. Your Experience
If you have a lot of experience in the field, this is where you should share it. If not, don’t worry about it! You don’t have to have a ton of experience to have something valuable to offer potential clients.
5. Your Education
If your education is relevant to the jobs you’re applying for, list it here! For example, if your Masters in English Literature makes you uniquely qualified for writing jobs that require an expert understanding of language or grammar, go ahead and include it here—but only if that’s something that would appeal to the average client in your industry. Otherwise, leave it out.
6. Location
This is important because it helps you connect with clients who are in your area.
Some people don’t like sharing their location, which is fine—you don’t have to share your city or even state if you don’t want to. But if you’re open to working with local clients, include that information! It’s easy for them to look up where you live based on where you went to school or the company you used to work for (and people do this all the time).
7. Links to work samples
The primary reason people come to your freelance bio is to see samples of your work. Make sure the first thing they see is links to those samples. You can put these links at the top in a list or in a large, prominent box with a title like “Featured Work” or “Recent Projects.”
Why Do You Need A Biography As A Freelancer?
1. You want to gain clients’ trust
They have never worked with you before and if they’re going to hire you, they need to know you’re not just some random stranger. Putting a brief biography on your website is a great way for them to get to know your background before they pick up the phone or send an email.
2. You want to prove you’re an expert
What better way to prove that than to tell them about your past experience and accomplishments? People are much more likely to spend money if they know that the person behind the services is an expert—and what better way to convince them than by writing it all down?
3. You want to build a personal brand
You want people who visit your site or work with you in any way at all to associate you with professionalism, expertise, and integrity—and one of the best ways to do that is by putting your name out there consistently through your website’s content.
4. You want to show you’re a human being, not a robot
It’s important for people to be able to tell that the person behind Freelance Writer is a real human being with a personality, not just some robot plugging in copy from one place to another. After all, if they’re going to be doing business with you, they want to know who they’re dealing with!
5. You want to set yourself apart from the crowd
Not just as a writer, but as an individual. If someone’s looking at multiple websites and yours has something that lets them see who you are and what makes you special, there’s more of a chance they’ll choose you over others.
6. You can use your biography on your website
This is particularly useful if you’re building a personal brand or are self-employed and looking for freelance work. No matter what kind of freelancer you are, adding a biography to your website will give potential clients a better sense of who they might be working with, which means they’ll be more likely to hire you.
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Writing A Biography Is Harder Than It Might Seem
A biography is supposed to tell the story of a person’s life, so you need to pick and choose how much detail to give based on how the facts fit into the story you are telling about that person.
You also have to decide what sources to trust, and learn how to be extremely credible, especially since your subject is most likely deceased. To do this you will have to find as much information as possible from different sources, and try to reconcile any differences in these accounts.
It’s also difficult to convey the tone that would be appropriate for your subject and their story; some stories are more lighthearted while others are tragic or controversial. It will take some creative writing skills to convey the right tone without completely changing the facts of a person’s life.
Additionally, you will have to determine how much of your own voice should come through in a biography. You want people to remember that you wrote it, but at the same time you don’t want them distracted by your opinions or style of writing.
Final Thoughts
As a freelancer, it is inevitable that you will have to draft a freelance biography. What’s more, given your profession and the services that you provide, it’ll be necessary to make sure that your biographical information is not just detailed but also offers all of the info that potential clients/clients would want or need. If you really want to stand out from the crowd, there are 13 unique ways of writing a biography for freelancing.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore for further guidance on writing freelance biographies:
Freelance Bio Examples: How to Write an Eye-Catching Bio: Discover practical tips and real-life examples to create an engaging and attention-grabbing freelance biography.
Freelance Bio Examples: Profile Description: Learn how to craft a compelling profile description that showcases your skills, expertise, and unique selling points as a freelancer.
Freelance Bio Examples: Dive into a collection of freelance bio examples to inspire your own writing and gain insights into effective self-presentation.
People Also Ask
What should I include in my bio?
The best bios are short and sweet—something between 1-3 sentences should be enough. Try to convey who you are, what you do, and why it’s worth reading about.
How can I make sure my bio isn’t just a list of facts about me?
A good way to ensure your bio isn’t just a list of facts is to start with a strong lead. For example: “I’m a freelance writer.” That’s boring—it doesn’t give the reader any reason to keep reading! What if instead, you started with: “I’m a freelance writer who specializes in creating content for companies.” Now the reader knows what makes you special, and has an incentive to keep reading.
What’s the deal with bios?
Bios are a ton of fun to write! They’re also hella useful. They make you look more legit, and they help people learn more about you. Plus, they can be a great way to figure out what’s working in your business and what isn’t.
Who needs one?
Everyone who sells things online is a good candidate for a bio. If you have any kind of internet presence, like a website or social media pages, you could probably benefit from having a bio or two floating around on the internet that let people know a bit about who you are and what you do.
How long should a bio be?
Not too long—under 500 words is best. You want to get across just enough information to make someone interested in you/your business, but not so much that they get tired of reading before they’re done with it.
Do I have to talk about myself in my bio?
Nope! You can write your bio in the first person (I did this) or third person (he did that). Just remember that if you write in the third person, it’s best to avoid pronouns like we & I
What should I write about?
Where did you grow up? Where have you traveled? What are your hobbies? What is your favorite color? There’s no wrong answer here! Just tell us what makes you…you!
How can I learn how to write effectively?
It’s important to practice writing for yourself, as described above, but it’s also important that you read as much as possible. Reading other writers’ work will help expose you to different styles and perspectives, which will help inform your own work.
What is a biography, and why do I need one?
A biography is a short statement that talks about your career and your work. It’s almost like a resume, but it’s usually used in situations where you want to give someone an overview of your work without going into too much detail. For example, press materials often include biographies as part of their press kits.
How do I write a good biography?
First of all, don’t panic! Writing about yourself is hard for everyone. The best thing to do is to make sure you know exactly what the person who’s asking for the biography needs from it. Once you have this information, start writing! There’s no need to be super formal or overly serious—just focus on talking about yourself and your work in a way that shows how great you are at what you do.
Is it a good idea to include personal photos in your bio?
It depends on the type of work you do. If you’re a photographer, graphic designer, or someone working in the arts, including some photos of your work can be a great addition. For other types of work, like writing or marketing, adding personal photos can feel a little too personal. We’d recommend against it—unless you have one that really captures the essence of your brand!
How long should my bio be?
It’s hard to say exactly how long your bio should be. For most people, we’d recommend that it be around two paragraphs long—but if you want to make it longer because you feel like you haven’t fully captured your story yet, go for it!
Does my bio need to sound formal?
Not necessarily. In fact, we think that being conversational and friendly can often help make people feel more comfortable with hiring you. Don’t forget to end with a professional call-to-action that encourages people to reach out!
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.