For many consumers, a brand’s social media platforms are one of the first impressions they get of the business. As a result, it’s important to make sure that everything is in order, with an appropriate image, links to your website, and most importantly, a well-written bio.
If your social media account is the first impression someone will get of your brand, then your bio is the equivalent of a firm handshake. We take a look at how to write the perfect social media bio for each platform.
What is a social media bio?
Your bio, or ‘biography’ to give it it’s full name, is your first chance to lure in potential customers. At the top of your profile, your bio is one of the first things someone will see when visiting your page. If anything in your bio seems ‘off’ you are running the possibility of driving away potential followers, or more importantly potential customers.
Within your bio you need to address a variety of crucial pieces of information including; who you are, what you do, your brand’s personality, how to get in touch, and any other important information about your business. Seems straightforward, right? The only catch is you have a limited number of characters to cover all of that.
To help get you started, we’ve shared some of our top tips for writing a bio for each social media platform.
Writing a bio for Facebook
Facebook’s ‘About’ section provides businesses with the perfect opportunity to grab potential customers’ attention as soon as they visit the page. A well written About section will answer a lot of questions users will have, saving both your brand and customers a lot of time.
Facebook’s About Page is split into three key sections:
- Business Info – This is where you will share your core company information, such as your mission statement and opening date.
- Contact Info – Arguably the most important part of your Facebook Page, this is where you will include the different ways people can get in touch. In this section, you should include your business’ website, phone number, address, email address, and any other key contact details.
- More Info – This is where you can share a bit more detail about your business. The More Info section allows you to write a brief ‘About’ section as well as a ‘Company Overview’ and other important information potential customers should know. It is important to remember that space is limited here – the About section only allows 255 characters, so make them count!
For many, Facebook is the first port of call when researching a business online. If you are missing any of the above information from your About section it’s highly likely that the visitors to your page will go elsewhere.
Writing a bio for Twitter
In comparison to Facebook, your bio on Twitter is much more limited, however, it doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. Ignoring your Twitter bio will more than likely result in missing key opportunities to be discovered through search engines.
Some of the key features that you need to include in your Twitter bio are:
- An introduction to your brand and what you do
- Location
- Key company information (opening hours, slogan, etc)
- Relevant hashtags (especially if you have a hashtag for getting in touch)
- Website link
- Links to other social accounts (if you have space)
If you think Facebook was limited with how much you could include then Twitter will give you a fright. A Twitter bio can be no longer than 160 characters.
Again, it’s crucial to take extra time and effort when writing your Twitter bio as this is the first point of contact for potential new followers.
Writing a bio for Instagram
For many brands, Instagram acts as an alternative storefront for visitors. Therefore, it’s crucial to get as much information across as possible in the 150 characters they give you… I know, it’s even less than Twitter! As a result, you need to get straight to the point, these are some of the key elements to include:
- Who you are and what you do
- Company slogans or USPs
- Relevant hashtags
- CTAs
- Website link
It’s common for brands to focus their Instagram bio on their main call to action. This could be to follow the link to your site, visit your physical store, or to simply follow the account.
Writing a bio for LinkedIn
LinkedIn is often seen as less important for many brands, however, a well put together LinkedIn page shouldn’t be overlooked. If you are one of those who have opted against having a company LinkedIn page, you need to make sure your personal account is up to scratch. Taking the time to build up a personal reputation on LinkedIn and gain a following will ensure that you are portraying your business in the right light.
Unlike the other social media platforms, your LinkedIn profile allows you to go into more detail. On a personal page, the summary section of your profile gives you up to 2,000 words to display your skills, work experience, talents, and ultimately anything worth shouting about. LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to go into detail about yourself and really market your personality, so make the most of it.
Get it right
A social media bio is something that can be difficult to get right, but a well-written bio can be the difference between attracting customers and losing out to competitors. Ultimately, it shows your customers that you have taken the time to fill out your profile and provide that you are taking your social media strategy seriously.
