How to write a professional bio: what to include, how long it should be, and sample bios to adapt

The short answer

A professional bio is a short summary of who you are, what you do and what you have achieved, usually written in the third person and kept in three lengths. Our free professional bio template uses about 25 to 35 words, 50 to 100 and 200 to 300. A bio is you describing yourself, so a labelled feature from founder and executive PR gives readers something independent to check.

What to include, and how long it should be

The Boise State University Writing Center describes three formats: long, short and two-line. Pratt Institute says a bio opens with your name, title and organisation, then adds your career, your focus and what you hope to achieve. Butler University suggests a short version of 100 words and a medium one of 200 to 250.

Boise State adds three habits worth copying:

• Use the active voice: "Harriet published three reports", not "reports were written by Harriet".
• Show rather than tell: describe what you did, not how skilled you are.
• End with a next step, such as a link to book you or to your website.

Sample bios to adapt

These are templates for an imaginary person, not a real one or a client. Replace each bracket with your own fact.

One line, third person

"[Name] is the founder of [Company], which helps [kind of customer] [do what]. Before that, [Name] spent [number] years at [employer], leading [what]."

Short, third person

"[Name] is the founder and [title] of [Company], a [city] [type of business] that helps [kind of customer] [do what]. Since [year], the company has [one number: customers, projects or revenue]. Before founding it, [Name] spent [number] years at [employer], where [one specific result]. [Name] writes about [topic] and has spoken at [event]. To book a talk, visit [website]."

Short, first person

"I run [Company], where we help [kind of customer] [do what]. Since [year] we have [one number]. Before that I spent [number] years at [employer], leading [what]. I write about [topic]. If you are [kind of reader], send me a message or visit [website]."

Longer, 200 to 300 words

Use three paragraphs: your work now and what it has achieved, how you got there, and something beyond work. The first paragraph can double as your short bio. Each opens with a fact a reader could check.

First person or third person?

Pratt says bios are written in the third person because the text is then easy to reuse in publications, conference listings and event promotions. Butler agrees and says to alternate your full name and "she" or "he". Champlain College's writing center notes that bios are traditionally written this way.

LinkedIn is the exception. LinkedIn's talent blog says the About section holds 2,600 characters at most and recommends the first person, with the first words doing the work. LinkedIn Help says to express your mission, motivation and skills, ideally in one or two paragraphs. Keep one version of the facts, so a mismatch never appears between sites.

Who writes it

How the options compare:

Write the bio first with the free template, then contact us if you want a feature for it to link to.