The "BIO" or "Profile"

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One of the first and one of the most important promotional tools in your Business LifeStyle is the “profile”, or “personal biography”. You’ll be amazed with the real results a well worded and credible biography can generate for you. And a well structured biography or profile can enable a genuine connection between you and your audience too.

There are some things about you that it’s very important that every prospective client knows. And when you start to prepare your own bio; and write about “YOU”, you’ll discover that you have many life skills and experiences that are valid and relevant to your audience. Perhaps your passions and purpose will even

 inspire your audience.

Here is a list of things you might consider including in your biography:

·    Your DPP (Desire, Passion & Purpose) and what you love doing.

·    Specifically what you bring to your audience, and everything unique about you (your “Quirks”).

·    All your relevant successes (career, awards, businesses, exhibitions, designs, relationship).

·    All your relevant adventures (e.g. travel to around the world, etc).

·    All the relevant challenges that you’ve overcome, and all your relevant life and work experiences

·    All your relevant training (design courses, diplomas, qualifications, degrees or certificates that are

   relevant or show your accomplishments. And don’t discount and ignore on-the-job training, work

   experience training, etc either).

·    Membership of any relevant associations (Chambers of Commerce, Networking groups, etc).

·    Positions on industry committees, etc.

·    Charity groups that you support.

Remember... Keep it simple. Two or three paragraphs should be more than sufficient. Please don’t write

anything that doesn’t give you credibility. Writing something that appeals to your audience and that you have the right product or services that suit their wants and needs.

Because you’re keeping is short every word needs to be relevant, interesting and engaging. Two or three powerful lines are much better than a full page of waffle.

As a creative person you want your bio to be fun and inspirational.

If your background and training are closely aligned to your business you can bring up how it was a natural progression. If they are completely at odds with your business you can point out why you have made such a switch and that you are now doing what you love by following your passion.

Try this exercise:

·    List the ‘Top Ten’ reasons someone should buy or hire you.  What are your strengths?

·    List everything relevant that you can think of that you’ve done in your life.

·    Eliminate anything that doesn’t add to your credibility.

·    Write a half page biography:

o    Then edit it down to two or three paragraphs that really describe you well.

·    Search the internet and print off three profiles that sound interesting and attractive to you.

o    Without copying, use these to inspire ideas and refine your own bio.

·    Have family members read it and give you feedback.

·    Run your bio past at least three friends and your Business Lifestyle coach.

o    Use their feedback and suggestions to even further refine and improve.

·    Post your bio on your websites and your blogs

·    Save it (ideally PDF) and use it regularly for promoting you and your business.

Once you have the bio that you’re happy with, share it with everyone you know; especially your current and past clients... Ask them for feedback about your products & services and what you’ve written about

yourself.

Ask them to be honest with you... If they don’t agree with what you’ve written isn’t it better to know? And if they do agree... Why not as them to share your bio with their networks?