Resource 16 Questions to Help You Write Your Bio - Virtual Assistant Forums

Your Virtual Wizard · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009

Hello,

I found a good blog about writing the bio page that I thought I'd share.

"Are you trying to write your own bio? Then you’ve probably discovered how hard it is to give your bio a personal touch—without sounding like a personals ad—while still making prospects feel like they’re in good, competent, professional hands."

Here's a copy paste of "16 Questions to Help You Write Your Bio" below. The rest of the post is here with additional tips.

How did you arrive at running this business? What path brought you here?
What are you known for professionally? What do you have a knack for?
What’s the one problem you are best at solving for your clients? What do your ideal clients say about you?
Who have you worked with in the past? And what have you done for them?
What are you most passionate about professionally? What most excites you about your work & the contribution you can make?
What are you passionate about personally? What do you really enjoy? What can’t you stop talking about?
Where can we find you when you’re not working? What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend or a Sunday afternoon?
How long have you been doing what you do?
Where did you grow up and why aren’t you there now?
Any volunteer activities you’re crazy about?
Any nonprofits you love, & why?
Any awards or medals, or even medallions? Personal okay, too.
What would be impossible for you to give up?
Why would someone not want to work with you?
How do you want to be remembered?
Anything else you’d like to tell people about yourself?
You can use this bio for your LinkedIn profile, for your website’s About page, or for a speaker bio.

Something to think about...

Janine

RebeccaT · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

great post......thanks for the tips...this is something I can use with clients when I am helping them with restructuring their bios.

Thanks Janine!!

VirtuallyAssist · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Thanks for sharing this great advice. I have had a problem with what to put on my own bio - now I have something to base it on.

Your Virtual Wizard · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

What I liked about the questions asked were that they focused more on the least obvious aspects of a bio that I would not have ordinarily have thought to use.

Writing about a passion, a non-profit one might be involved with or problems one might have solved in the past make for much better content than, "My name is Janine and I am the blah, blah, blah".

Please post examples here of your bio. I'd love to see what others put together based on the questions.

Thank you!

Janine

ValentineVA · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Janine,
This is wonderful! I love you for posting this. You don't know how many times in the past week I have written and re-written my about page for my website. This is a great outline to follow. Thanks for posting!!

Stephanie

Bernice · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Janine,

I took a look at some of these and came up with this.

9. Where did you grow up and why aren’t you there now?

I grew up in a small town but was seduced by the big city lights as a teen. I still return to my roots at least once a year and stay in touch with family and friends, but the big city and its vast opportunities are where I love to live and work.

Cheers!!

Admin_Moore_Business_Solutions · #7 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009

Hi Janine,

Thanks, this is a great resource. I know when I sit down to write about myself I come up with a blank. Now it's like having a road map.

areyes · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009

Thanks, I was having some trouble writing my bio, this is a great resource.

virtual writing · #9 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009

Really cool and helpful list, Janine. Thanks for posting - I'm sure this will be a big help to many.

anirusso · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009

Janine, this is an awesome list! Thank you so much for posting it. I've been procrastinating on my bio because I just couldn't get inspired. This will definitely help break the writer's block.

datandesign · #11 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009

Awesome information. My clients usually have the toughest time writting their bio and this guideline will be a great help!

joywilder · #12 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009

Janine,

This is such a helpful list! Today I'm writing my "about me" page + this will come in handy

rcleland · #13 (**permalink**) 11-28-2009

this is fantastic! Thank you for sharing...it couldnt have come at a better time

joeju · #14 (**permalink**) 01-23-2010

Thanks Janine, you're a life saver! I needed ideas to write a bio of myself.

executive_assist · #15 (**permalink**) 01-23-2010

:grouphu g: and all that stuff. I am HORRIBLE when it comes to talking about myself. I am much more comfortable when tooting someone else's horn than I am my own. And I love to talk about what I can do to assist someone, but talking about myself is something I almost never do. If I do it's usually I'm married to the most wonderful man ever and have 3 beautiful children, blah, blah, blah. I kept starting it, but then I thought do they really WANT to know about me? BORING, but there you have it. Now I can incorporate an about me page on my website, so thanks!