Professional bios can be a crucial part of your marketing collateral. They play an important role on social media, speaking panels, and in all your marketing and educational materials – establishing your credibility and that of your team.
Bios can be very challenging to write. This is true of writing your own bio, but also in writing bios for everyone on your team. This is a project you might decide to take on if you want to establish a consistent tone and structure for each team member’s bio.
Writing strong professional bios for multiple people is often a matter of asking the right questions and having a structure in mind to keep things consistent. Here is an outline of questions you can ask, in an order that will allow you to structure a strong bio for each person on your team.
Professional Details
Start the bio by introducing the person – state their name, job title, and where they work. Other contextual details, such as insurance specializations and location, may also be important here. These should be up front, so people immediately understand who the person is and what they do.
Job History
Ask the subject where they got their start, and how they built expertise in the areas of insurance they focus on now.
This is where it can help to look at the person’s resume to get a sense of their previous experience. You don’t need to include a long autobiography – but give readers a few sentences to impart the breadth and depth of each team member’s experience.
Larger Purpose or Mission
If you can, tie each subject’s professional history to a larger sense of mission or philosophy. Questions to ask here include:
- Why did you choose to specialize in the area of insurance that you focus on now?
- What motivates you to do this kind of work?
- What parts of it do you find especially meaningful and rewarding?
Achievements
Next, showcase some professional accomplishments that set each person apart.
When your subject has a lot of achievements, it’s helpful to narrow the focus. You can do that by including a few items that are most impressive, most recent, or most relevant to the target audience.
Personal Details
Finally, add a few personal details that will help your audience connect with the team member. Ask what they like to do in their free time, hobbies or causes they’re passionate about, or ask them to share a few fun details about their family.
Writing a bio is never easy, and it can be even more difficult when you’re trying to establish a consistent tone for a team. This general outline should help you craft a structure that will work across all professional bios – ensuring each bio establishes credibility and helps form a personal connection.
For additional information, contact Brad Nevins at brad@directconnectionusa.com or 707.759.5391
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