Your Bio Sucks (& How to Fix It!)

CONTRIBUTED BY MELISSA BARKER, FOUNDER & CEO, WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS INC.

Writing about ourselves is hard! Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve fallen victim to some of these most common mistakes. Instead, time block 1 hour on your calendar, grab a latte, and use our top tips below on how to transform your bio from ineffective and boring to memorable and share-worthy.

(PS — Don’t forget to update ALL of your online channels with your new shiny bio — including your WE Inc. Member Profile 😉 Email team@womenentrepreneursin.com to update!)

Most Common Mistakes & What to Do Instead

BEGINNING

❌ Don’t start with 🥱😴

“Company Name is…”

-OR-

“Your Name is…”

✅ Do create an intriguing opener that creates interest from the very start

“Featured in… “ “Obsessed with… “ “On a mission to…” “Convinced that…” “With over a decade of….” “As seen in…”

MIDDLE

❌ Don’t be generic

“We’ve launched hundreds of websites.”

✅ Do be specific

“The Show & Tell Co. has helped local tech startups raise over $5M+ in venture capital.”

❌ Don’t use common business cliches 🙄

“We think outside of the box to create a win-win situation for our clients.”

✅ Do communicate your unique value proposition

“We translate complex technical solutions into visual and engaging stories your customers can relate to.”

❌ Don’t use broad-sweeping claims

“We can transform your business.”

✅ Do give specific examples of what your company does

“We partner with companies who want to raise money, engage new audiences, and boost credibility in their industry.”

❌ Don’t make it all about you

“Our websites are beautifully designed and mobile-optimized.”

✅ Do speak to how you can solve your reader's problem

“Our digital solutions not only engage customers and increase sales but relieve operational burdens through automation.”

❌ Don’t switch between 3rd and 1st person 😲

“Melissa Barker is the Founder and CEO of The Show and Tell Co. We create pitch decks, websites, and sales materials for tech companies.”

✅ Do have 2 versions of your bio for the appropriate context

1st Person:

Use first-person when writing your bio on your own channels, such as your website, your LinkedIn profile, Instagram, Facebook, etc.

People want to do business with people they like and trust. A bio written in the first person is friendlier and more personable.

3rd Person:

Use third-person when providing your bio to an outside entity you don’t “own” - for example, a conference, podcast, or press release.

END

❌ Don’t include extraneous information that doesn’t add to the credibility in your industry/niche 🙄

“Melissa lives in Charleston, SC with her husband, 3 kids, and golden doodle.”

✅ Do end with a call to action

“View examples of how we’ve partnered with some of the most innovative companies of the decade at showandtellco.com”

OTHER NICE-TO-HAVES

✅ Do include 3rd party validation

“Named one of the fastest-growing companies by Startup magazine…”

✅ Do include a relevant 3rd party quote

“Collaborating with Melissa and her team was one of the best investments we’ve made this year.”

✅ Do make it personal

“We believe small businesses deserve great marketing.”

✅ Do include a personal quote

“‘When you can’t find the right words, we can,’” says Melissa.

❌ DON’T DO

“Melissa Barker is the Founder and CEO of The Show and Tell Co. Her background is in marketing for Fortune 5 companies in Atlanta, GA. We create pitch decks, websites, and sales materials for tech companies. Melissa and her team are experts in marketing strategy, graphic design, and copywriting who have launched hundreds of websites since their inception in 2015. Contact us for how we can help transform your business through better online marketing. Melissa is a graduate of the University of Georgia, who lives in Charleston with her husband, 3 children, and dog, Miss Georgia.”

✅ DO

“After working with some of the most valuable companies in the world, including The Coca-Cola Company, The Olympics, and McDonald’s, Melissa Barker founded The Show and Tell Co., a Charleston-based content company that has helped clients raise over 5M in venture capital. Her unique ability to bring complex solutions to life in an easy-to-understand and visual way has created a waitlist-only opportunity for companies looking to raise money, engage new audiences, and boost creditably in their industry. “When you can’t find the right words, we can,” says Melissa, who leads the strategy and creative direction for each project. View her work @ showandtellco.com”