Your social media bio is often the second or third thing people see (right after your content and profile photo).

It tells them who you are and what you do, but it goes deeper than that. In a lot of ways, it's like a post hook or sales page headline.

If it catches interest, people will consider staying on your page, following, clicking your website link, etc. If it doesn't, they'll probably leave.

So how can you make it as good as possible?

I have 8 elements of great bios below + a bonus tip for LinkedIn users only.

I thought about making this a Copyblogger Academy exclusive, but here it is for free.

Quick Note

You don't need all these elements in one bio. In fact, you probably shouldn't. That's because it'll feel like you're stuffing your bio with too much information. When you give people too many ideas, the impact of each of them tends to go down. It's best to have one big idea with a few supporting elements.

Now let's get started...

1. Clarity

Goal #1 of any kind of copywriting is being clear. If people can't understand you, then you lose instantly. So, use simple words, use short sentences, and don't try to be too clever about it.

You'd be surprised by how many people I see on social media whose bio doesn't say what they do or does so in an unclear, roundabout way. Your first job is to communicate your value clearly.

Example that does this well:

2. Prospect Appeal

Who is your ideal customer? If you don't sell anything, who is your ideal follower? What do they want? Answer those questions, then write a bio that promises readers what they want most.

Though there's a lot more to good copywriting than just promising benefits, you should still figure out what your audience wants and promise to deliver it. You'll get a lot more followers and clicks like that.

Example that does this well:

3. Specificity

If you work with a specific audience, consider calling them out. For example, rather than writing "fitness trainer", you might write "fitness trainer for the elderly". This persuades people in that specific audience.

Don't try to force this, though. There should be a reason why you're getting specific. If there isn't, you might get worse results by pretending like your brand is more specific than it actually is.

Example that does this well:

4. Proof

Saying that you do something is okay. Saying that you're good at is a bit better. Proving that you're good at it is best. Talking about benefits isn't enough. People need to believe that you can deliver them.

If you have proof of expertise and results, put it into your bio. That can be how much revenue you've driven, how many people you've helped, a credential you have, or anything else that makes you more trustworthy.

Example that does this well:

5. An Offer (Or Two)

There's some debate about how many offers you should put in a bio. Some say just one so you don't confuse people. Others say that giving a couple of options is a good thing if you write good copy for them.

Either way, you want to mention something, whether that's a product, a service, or a newsletter. Right now, I mention two on LinkedIn. I generally tell people to focus on only one near the beginning of their build, then to consider adding another later in the process.

Example that does this well:

6. Call To Action

Some people will get curious and act on their own, but many won't unless you give them a little push. Consider ending your bio with a call to action that tells them exactly what you want them to do.

Ask people to follow, join your newsletter, join your community, buy your product, or anything else. Ideally, you should make it sound beneficial to your reader rather than making the CTA all about whatever you're asking for.

Example that does this well:

7. Personality/Uniqueness

Sometimes, it makes sense to add some personality or write in a unique way. Bios are often too small to properly convey these, but if you execute properly, you might be able to do it.

A quick pop culture reference or joke can do the job. Dakota shows sarcasm and self-awareness below. Using unique wording or writing style can do the trick. Just don't try to be so clever that you sacrifice clarity.

Example that does this well:

8. Branded Term

If you want to get more advanced, create a branded term. This helps differentiate your brand and build interest in your unique philosophy. It's not easy, but some of the best creators do this.

Below, you'll see an example from George Ten. He differentiates from the market by talking about copythinking. While everyone else talks copywriting, he goes in a slightly different direction, and it gets results.

Example that does this well:

Bonus LinkedIn Tip

Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn shows a small piece of your bio when you post or comment. That means more people will click on your profile and on that "Visit my website" button (if you use it) if the first 8 or so words are appealing.

If you have a premium account, you may also be able to use a custom button that shows underneath your name when you post and comment. If you have that capability, write your first few bio words with this in mind.

Example that does this well:

Final Social Media Bio Thoughts

Your profile is like a second website.

The bio is like the headline of that site.

Make sure you put some serious thought into it and include a few of the elements I wrote about above.

That'll get you more followers, clicks, customers, clients, jobs, and anything else you want out of social media.

As someone who has earned $1,000,000+ on social media, I can tell you that it's worth the time and effort.