How to Create A Powerful Social Media Bio

Do you want to improve your social media connections? Then you need a powerful social media bio! Your bio is an expression of your story. It's a culmination of your education, skills, specific strengths and career highlights. It's promotional but not spammy. Boastful but not braggy and tells an open, honest and straightforward story about you and your business.

Below are six ways you can create a powerful social media bio for any social network!

1. Share your story

There is magic in a well-told story. It can captivate your audience, draw on emotion or act as a connector. A great story is the hook that instantly grabs the attention of any reader.

Imagine this...

How might a well-told story humanize your business or brand? How could it create a relatable, conversational situation? And how could that conversation translate into better opportunities, deeper relationships and more meaningful client interactions? Recent research shows that stories create a major shift within the brain. Readers who were only partially attentive suddenly become terribly interested. This is due to the ability stories have to stimulate a specific part of the brain. They also have a special way of connecting business to consumer. Uri Hasson from Princeton explains how,

When we tell stories to others that have really helped us shape our thinking and way of life, we can have the same effect on them too. The brains of the person telling a story and listening to it can synchronize.

This makes storytelling an incredibly powerful business tool.By sharing your story, you make a deeper connection with your reader. In fact, you can actually make them feel as if they were there, involved in your experience.

Begin to build your story by answering a few questions:

• What problems have you solved for past clients?
• What was the success story(s) you can share?
• How can you relate that story to a prospective client?

2. Know your audience

Have you identified your target market? If not, you're more than likely speaking to the masses. Whether your target market is an individual or a business, it's important to understand what they're looking for and why they're interested in connecting with you.

Remember: a vague message will fall on deaf ears. However, a message within a well-crafted bio that's written with your ideal client in mind will always hit the mark.

Determining Your Target Market

It's important that you:

• Be crystal clear in your description of each market you serve.
• Be specific in the value you offer and the problems you solve.
• Get inside the head of your consumer and know how they'll interact with your business.
• Understand where they're spending their time and how to best position your skills given the social network.

3. Fine-tune your message

Now that you have a better understanding of who your target market is and where they're spending their time, you're ready to fine-tune your message. Below is a quick checklist to help you get started.

Tips to Fine-Tune Your Message

• Each social network is designed to reach a unique market. Keep this in mind as your craft your social media bios. While LinkedIn might have a more professional focus, Twitter needs to stay short and punchy.
• You only have so much time to capture the attention of your audience. Keep the most important details close to the top of your Google+, Facebook and LinkedIn bios.
• Determine what your fans, followers and potential clients like, want and need. Speak directly to those needs by providing detailed case studies and examples of your work.
• Know how you solve their problems and what you can offer that makes their situation better, easier or more affordable.
• Remove any industry-speak or jargon and speak the language of your target market.
• Update your skills, talents and strengths as they pertain to your industry and local market.
• Include keywords that will be used by your target market. What are they typing in search when looking for your services?

Remember: The details in your bio aren't just designed to relate a static message. Your bio should be relatable, credible, succinct and fluid.

4. Be unique

Your bio is an opportunity to translate years of experience into a vibrant social media profile. To make meaningful connections, you must authentically represent your talents, skills and abilities. The key is to remain true to who you are and shine a light on what makes you a one-of-a-kind brand.

HOW TO CREATE A MEMORABLE BIO:

• Share your business story in a real and authentic way, allowing prospective clients an intimate look into who you are.
• Answer the "What's in it For Me" question immediately.
• Create consistency from one social profile to the next.
• Create a bio that speaks directly to your fans and followers and then properly position it for each social network.
• Be transparent in your intentions. Honesty creates trust and trust is at the foundation of any business relationship.

5. Add your personality

No one is all work and no play. Well, they might be, but it certainly doesn't make for an interesting bio or conversation. People want to get to know the real you. The you outside of your business that enjoys reading or playing tennis. Whatever it is, share it.

Share your favorite anecdote or quote, and as we discussed above, tell a story that sheds light on the "why" behind your business. I call these fun little tidbits "coffee table conversations."They are the connectors that allow people to instantly identify with who you are, creating commonality and shared interests. For example, I share my love of coffee and dogs in my Twitter bio. It allows fellow coffee and pet lovers access to conversations that matter to me.

Social Media, Digital Marketing Strategist, Author, Blogger, Keynote Speaker, Co-Founder @Imagine_WOW | Coffee addict, sunshine lover & nuts about my 2 pups!

Below are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Ideas to Add Personality to Your Social Media Bio

• Add your hobbies (arts and crafts, beekeeping, painting).
• Share a funny story.
• Give insight into your childhood.
• Talk about where you grew up.
• Share your favorite restaurant or food.
• Use a word that is synonymous with you and explain why you favor using it.

6. Be brief

In our hectic online world, many times, less is more. In fact, with an average attention span of 8 seconds, you only have a matter of moments to capture your reader's attention. If you find that your bio for any social network is becoming lengthy, edit it ruthlessly.

What do I mean by this? Cut to the chase. Take me as an example. I'm a meat and potatoes kind of gal. I want to know who you are and cut through the fluff. Granted, a certain amount of fluff is important but not always the most effective way to start out a bio.

How to Write a Short Bio

• List your top three strengths
• List your top three skills
• List your top three target markets
• List your top three favorite pastimes or passions

Now pretend this is an interview and you have to weave those details into a short narrative about who you are. Start with your name, add in what you do, be specific about who you serve and then fill in with a little color commentary on what you love to do in your spare time. Write it down and remember to keep your tone lively and upbeat. Voila! You've created a short, informative and unique bio.