Writing about yourself is one of those things that should be pretty straightforward, but it still trips up many people.
If you have trouble writing about yourself, here’s a short exercise to get you moving:
Make 5 quick lists:
- Your proudest achievements (in anything)
- Everywhere you’ve worked
- Major lessons you’ve learned
- Your technical skills
- Goals you’d like to accomplish
Here’s an example table:
Once you’ve got some strong points on paper, you’ll see natural threads that can be built into stories about yourself.
When you’re ready to write your “about” piece, use these two questions to make it relevant to specific readers and action-based:
- Who’s reading?
- What’s the goal?
LinkedIn Bio
Who’s reading it? Recruiters, potential clients, peers in your network
Goal: Get hired.
How: On LinkedIn, you’ve got to stand out from the crowd. The way to do that is to position yourself clearly, specifically, and with a ton of value.
Try and communicate what you do, how you do it, who you do it for, and how you’re unique, as concisely as possible.
This is where you should brag about yourself, but do it clearly – mention impressive results and drop some names (if you can).
Examples:
About Page
Who’s reading it? Visitors to your website
Goal? Get to know you, connect with your story, and then take a specific action.
How? (We actually have an article that’s totally dedicated to how to create an amazing About Page)
Cover Letter
Who’s reading it? Hiring managers
Goal? Give you a call on the phone to hire you.
How? Be concise and tell them exactly why you’re a good fit and how you plan to provide value.
Examples:
Cold Email
Who’s reading it? Potential clients, leads, connections
Goal? Follow your CTA
How? Cold emails are all about being clear, concise, and transparent. You only have a few seconds to deliver a message that’s worth replying to, so you’ve got to be direct and hit on something the person cares about.
Make it relevant and personal. We all receive dozens (sometimes hundreds) of emails per day, and people’s BS meters have never been stronger. You’ve got to cut through the noise and connect with something genuinely valuable.
Examples:
I’m a copywriter specializing in the construction industry. I recently moved out here to Colorado Springs, and I’m looking to connect with local builders and construction business owners.
I’d love to learn more about your business and the lay of the land out here. I can also tell you a little more about how I work and the client results I drove back in NY.
If you’re up for a quick call, here’s a link to my scheduler: _____
Best,
[NAME]
I came across your post on Reddit, and I understand your launch didn’t go as well as you’d hoped.
I run a video marketing agency, and I think I could help with your next launch. We’ve done a few successful Kickstarter projects that match up closely with your app.
If you’re interested, reply to this email and let me know. I can send you some more detailed info about those Kickstarter campaigns and some of the numbers from recent launches we’ve helped out with.
Hope to hear back from you!
[NAME]
I’ve been reading your books and articles for almost 10 years. I’m a big fan – I even started a Meetup group out here in Albuquerque a few years ago based on your first book on workshopping.
I’m reaching out because I’d like to know if you’d consider doing a live event in ABQ. You’ve been to Arizona, Texas, and Colorado, but you’ve got a great New Mexico crowd who want to see you!
If you’re interested, please let me know. I also run an events agency, and I’d love to help you set this up (or recommend people).
All the best,
[NAME]
I’m a regular diner at your restaurant and recently noticed a wave of negative reviews hit your social media page.
If you’d like help putting a system in place to handle that sort of feedback…..that’s actually what I do professionally. I help local businesses get ahead of the negative comments.
A single bad review can have a huge impact on your business, so I’d like to show you how I automate customer service and solve issues before they hit your public image.
Let me know if you’re interested!
Regards,
[NAME]
College Admissions / Personal Statements
Who’s reading it? Admissions departments
Goal? Get accepted
How? Most personal statements are incredibly boring and read like a CV. You can make yours stand out by telling a focused story that highlights your best qualities.
Stories about personal transformations and challenges you overcame are particularly memorable and relatively easy to write. Just introduce the problem, how you got past it, and why it matters.
Examples:
