Your self-branded biography is essential to building your personal brand. It is a brief outline that provides a potential client or employer and follower’s ideal image of you, determining how you would be seen in professional settings. However, while writing this biography there always seems to be an issue: Is it appropriate to pen your bio in third person or first person?
In this article, we will attempt to resolve the issues of whether it is a good practice to write a self-branded bio in the third person as well as how to avoid misalignment of the bio with your objectives. No matter the field you are in, as an aspiring entrepreneur, freelancer or someone who has an active online presence, it is crucial to know how to introduce yourself in a way that creates a desirable impression.
What is a Self-Branded Bio?
The concern regarding the third person version of a bio is valid to nowhere. What is a self-branded biography? Let us answer this first.
A self-branded bio is a personal summary which focuses on the author, their profession and the area that makes them different from the rest of the professionals in the market. It defines an individual’s professional self and introduces you, for instance, to potential clients, employers, or other collaborators in his or her professional career. Normally, something that encompasses these elements includes, experience, education, skills, accolades and values of a person.
So, The Third-Person Bio: What Does It Mean?
When referring to oneself using the pronouns ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘they’ as opposed to ‘I’ or ‘we’ when writing, such is known to be writing in the third person. For instance, instead of stating, “I am a digital marketing expert”, a person would be expected to state, “John Smith is a digital marketing expert”. This means that the voice creating the text (you) and the recipient/reader of this text are separated by a gap.
However, he drew attention to wide application of the above style in professional bios. Omitting the obvious, might this be the format that you should be considering for your personal brand? Let’s look closer.
Advantages of Crafting a Self-Branded Bio in the Third Person
Professionalism and Objective Distance
While focusing on a more professional demeanor and style, it is possible to use third-person in a biography. This is particularly useful as one would seem neutral and objective if they were to read your biography, as referring to oneself in third person implies that the person has an external view of the events, making his or her achievements and work seem more endorsing than when written by the individual. Examples of bio-facts about a person: “Award-winning graphic designer, Jane Doe provides her services for over ten years…” simply makes one believe even in the most obscure of biographical details and hence would sound more believable than if one wrote their own bio.
Provides Separation of Emotion from The Narrative
In comparison to the first person, a third-person biographical account would elicit some emotional detachment from a given subject matter. This can be effective when one intends to come up with a biography for a formal arrangement or a corporate setting as it is not personal in nature and does not seem like it is marketing oneself.
Applicability to Various Objectives
Third person bios can be easily applied across a variety of professional purposes including but not limited to a resume, LinkedIn, speaker profile, and a website: any scenario where one is likely to employ their biography. Third person is most suitable when one aims to use the bio for different purposes (e.g., guest entries, industry conventions, among others).
Convenient For Others
Whenever a bio is contained on someone’s outside information such as being a guest in an event or a feature in a publication, it is rather easier for them to be written in a third-person format. In such a manner, they do not have to worry about clumsy insertions of that information into the context.
Assumed Detachment
Third-person assignment of any bio allows the person to write it from a detached stance which is quite good. Such particular emphasis allows the reader to engage with the person’s accomplishments, history, and values in a much less biased manner than if they were reading a first-person piece. It is more likely quite a few businesses or readers themselves prefer this sort of tone.
Drawbacks in the Writing of Self-Styled Bios in the Third Person
No Engagement
To the reader, a third-person bio may lack any engagement and still enjoy a fair degree of exposure. In an era, where then is a logical argument for something being poured for a direct connection with an audience then the comfort of writing in the first person is increasingly adopted.
In contrast, “I believe in building long-term relationships with clients…” is more personal and engaging when compared to “John believes in building long-term relationships with his clients.”
Can Feel Arrogant or Overly Formal
A third-person bio is also understated and may be seen with a tinge of arrogance when not done creatively. By constantly speaking about yourself in the third person, it would appear that you are attempting to elevate your status, and this can be awkward for the readers.
Might Not Fit All Platforms
Third-person bio may be appropriate in most formal scenarios, there are some that may not do justice to it, such as social media profiles, personal websites or blogs. With a first-person bio, a more personal interaction with the audience may be established.
Can Be Difficult to Maintain Consistency
If you write in third person in your bio but later in your content or social media write in first person, your audience would be confused. There is need for all components of one’s personal branding to match, therefore writing in the third person can be more challenging in regards to maintaining the tone.
When Should You Use a Third-Person Bio?
Although using a third-person bio can have its drawbacks, there are particular instances when it is best to use:
Public Speaking
When a bio is attached to a conference presentation or a lecture, it is likely to be read or printed. A concise bio using the third-person format is also easier for other people to read.
Corporate or Formal Websites
There are many companies, professional bodies and even some corporate organizations that prefer using a third person bio on team pages or in official publication.
Guest Posts or Contributions
At times, editors of third-party sites, where you are contributing articles or leaving guest posts, may feel that a third-person bio fits with the tone of the website better.
Media Mentions or Features
When a participant is being interviewed through a newspaper, magazine, or podcast, he or she may have their information presented in the third person as it sounds less casual and more professional.
When Should You Use a First-Person Bio?
Although a third-person bio is effective in many situations, there are cases when a first-person bio performs better:
Personal Websites or Blogs
Lastly, if you are writing for your personal site or a (niche) blog, a first-person bio is more inviting, friendly and allows the writer to directly communicate with the intended audience.
Social Media Profiles
Social networking sites such as Instagram or Twitter are said to be less formal, enabling the use of the first person in one’s personal biography.
Personal Branding for Creative Professionals
On the other hand, if one works in the creative industry such as photography, writing, or designing, a short biography in the first person may be the best option since it is likely to appeal to the reader’s personality and connect with them more.
Best Practices for Writing a Self-Branded Bio
Keep It Concise
In most, the word limit for your biography should be 150 to 200 words, that is enough, but if you are writing on an individually-owned site then this can be longer. Give the best rough draft that makes sense and is simple.
Highlight Key Achievements
Keep the information about yourself brief and write about only those activities that are relevant to your work and make you unique in this industry. For example, write about specific accomplishments or certifications and experiences that give authenticity to your expertise.
Maintain Consistency
Decide whether you will write in the third or the first person and ensure that across all platforms the voice or style does not differ from each other.
Add a Personal Touch
When preparing a third-person biography, including sociological details such as one’s values, hobbies or interests as a casual anecdote is recommended to help a reader relate to a third-person biography.
Adapt It to the Audience
Your biography may require minor adjustments, to include works on different social media platforms. For instance, one’s LinkedIn account could be written differently with respect to the bio appearing on his or her blog. There, it is more useful to configure it to the context in which you want to use it.
FAQ: Should I Write My Self-Branded Bio in the Third Person?
1. Can I write my self-branded bio in the first person?
Of course, it is totally fine even to use first-person bio, however this is more appropriate in situations such as in social networks where a personal connection is stronger, or in personal websites and blogs rather than in academic spaces.
2. Do you think writing a bio in the third person sounds more formal?
Some social conformity says yes, however why let arbitrary rules such as these dictate one’s life. Even so, a third-person bio does sound equally formal and authoritative in some professional settings but rather it is dependent on the type of industry and platform.
3. What are some recommended practices one should adhere to while writing a bio?
Some recommended practices include: writing a brief, precise and to the point biography while spelling out the most relevant aspects of the person’s accomplishments, keeping the tone of voice answerable to the person’s presumable audience, and most importantly, writing the biography with respect to the site you are using.
4. Do I have to use a third-person bio for media which will be speaking engagements?
Not really a requirement however a third-person biography is more common in speaking arrangements and media appearances because it is more proper and professional.
The most beneficial viewpoint may be formulated by stressing both disadvantages and advantages of writing your self-branded biography in the third person. You can write your biography in a third-person perspective or in a first-person perspective, but the focal point is assuring the bio supports your personality and speaks to the audience you wish to reach.