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So much of writing online (and becoming a digital writer) is learning how to present
100% clarity to readers. Confusion is the enemy. If a reader is ever confused about
what you are presenting them, their default answer is, “No.” Within a millisecond,
they’ve moved on. They’ve scrolled past you—or swiped back to TikTok, Instagram, or
YouTube.
Which means the way you present yourself in your bio is crucial.
Your Bio Checklist:
Are you saying (very clearly) what you do?
Are you telling the reader what makes you credible?
And are you saying what the reader gets in exchange for following you?
Readers make snap judgements about whether or not you are someone worth reading,
listening to, and following based on your bio. They really don’t care whether you like
cats, or what your favorite show on Netflix is. The only question they’re asking
themselves is, “Am I interested in this type of person?” And the fastest, most effective
way to answer that question for readers is to make it very clear what you write about—
and, even better, what readers can expect to learn or experience in return.
If the reader is interested in that topic, they follow.
If the reader is not interested in that topic, they don’t follow.
This sort of binary decision is what you want.
For example, here’s what a BAD bio looks like:
Writer. Lots of people follow me, and you should too. PS, Leonardo DiCaprio once Liked
one of my tweets and my palms have been sweaty ever since.
This is the epitome of what a “clever” bio looks like—and for some reason, it’s what
every writer aspires to have for themselves. But the truth is, these “clever” bios rarely
work. And when you see someone who has a clever bio and a huge following, what
we’d challenge you to consider is: yes, but how many more people would follow them if
they were clear about a) who they were, b) what makes them credible, and c) what the
reader can expect in exchange for following them. (The other important point here is,
yes, Leonardo DiCaprio probably doesn’t need to say these things in his bio because,
well, the entire world knows who he is and he’s one of the greatest actors of all time.
You are not Leonardo DiCaprio.)
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How To Start Writing Online: The Ship 30 For 30 Ultimate Guide