Vessy's tips: how to craft your short bio

Hey,

Do you believe in serendipity? 

I do. And I'm happy to share some of my serendipitous stories with you next time we bump into each other. Moving to Dublin is one of those stories. There are three main characters in that specific story. David Scanlon, Connor Murphy, and last but not least Eva Longoria.   

But let's talk about your short bio.

A short bio works for you only when it helps the like-minded recognize that you are someone they want to know, remember you, and get in touch with you.

For 3 years I've been meeting friends and strangers to help them (re)create their short bios and these are the 3 ingredients a short bio needs to opt you in for serendipity: 

#1 Make it personal 

What you do for a living does help people understand how you could work together. 

For example, mine says "I build communities". 

But why should they bother meeting exactly me? I bet there's dozens of people who do something like me. 

The only thing that makes all the difference is -- your values, your approach, your believes -- this is why business relationships last when they are personal.

For example: to make my bio more personal, I added to it "serendipity evangelist" because serendipity is a big theme for me both personally and professionally. If you wonder why, just ask me next time you see me! 

#2 Make it sticky 

Sticky as in witty, unique, and memorable. 

Here's a few questions that should help you discover something "sticky" about you: 

- How do others refer to you when they introduce you?  

For example: People used to call me "the short girl with short bio" and eventually I put it in my short bio. 

- Do you have a habit that sets you apart from most people? 

For example: Filipe used to wake up at 4am (he still does and established #21earlydays), so he added it in his short bio. 

Another example: my recent thing is to wear a bowtie on Mondays to advocate for gender neutrality, so I added to my bio "#genderneutrality advocate thru bowties" 

#3 Make it a conversation starter 

Now that your bio helps people feel like they know you a bit and remember you, make it easy for them to approach you. 

Most people are afraid of rejection. 

So it's perfect when you have something in your bio that they can ask you about and it's an important topic for you so you are extremely likely to reply to them. 

For example: I bet people have asked Filipe how or why he started waking up at 4am. It is a great story. And the beginning of #21earlydays. 

Another example: I have not one, but 3 hooks in my short bio - can you find them? 

I build communities | marketing lead @health_xl | serendipity evangelist @shortbio | #genderneutrality advocate thru bowties

The hooks are: 1) serendipity 2) gender neutrality 3) bowties. 

Even if people don't care about any of those three, they can still approach me with a very broad, safe question like why do you advocate for gender neutrality? or why bowties? or what's serendipity really, isn't it "pure luck"? 

In short -- 

When you craft your bio, remember that it should make people curious to know you, remember you, and easily get in touch with you.

Hope that was helpful. 

What's next? 

Feel free to post your short bio draft below - happy to take a look at it. 

Or if you're in Dublin, request a 30min session with me. 

What's in it for me? I do it for a shot of espresso and a pinch of serendipity.

Cheers, 

Vessy