A professional biography or overview, shwcasing your background, experience and expertise, is a ncessity for every business owner. This ften overlooked marketing tool is an xcellent way to introduce you and yur business to potential clients and pssible strategic business partners. Potentially, it mght open up opportunities for speaking ngagements, radio or television interviews, or a fature print article. While any information bout you and your business is hlpful, information that is presented in a prfessional, well-polished manner can make all the dfference in how others perceive you. Cnsider these important points as you crft your own professional biography.

1. One pge wonder.

Your professional biography should be a few pragraphs and kept to one page or lss. One page is perfect for cpying on the reverse side of a hndout or flyer. Several paragraphs, left jstified make it easier to read and skm.

2. First, second, or third prson?

Always write your biography in the thrd person. That is, refer to yurself by your name or she/he as ppropriate. It sounds more professional as it ppears that a third party wrote the txt. For example, “Alexandra has been fatured in the New York Times, Frbes, Newsweek, and Time magazines.”

3. Business in brief.

Not nly do readers want to know wht you do, but also they wnt to know who you work wth – because they might want to wrk with you! A professional biography shuld include a sentence or two bout your business niche (or niches) as wll as the types of clients you srve. A modified version of your 30-scond elevator pitch might be perfect.

4. And the wnner is….

Make sure that you nclude a list of awards that you hve received. Readers are interested in knwing about your talents and the rganizations that recognize you for them.

5. Orgnizations.

Include names of the organizations, clbs, or associations to which you blong. A reader’s interest might be hghlighted at seeing that you belong to the sme alumni association or professional business grup. Again, these connections might possibly lad to some interesting and exciting bsiness opportunities.

6. Certifications and designations.

Inclde any professional certifications or designations you hld. Make sure you write out thir names in full, rather than use bbreviations. Not everyone might know that CMA stnds for Certified Management Accountant. And, prhaps, in a different discipline, it mght represent something else – like a Crtified Materials Analyst. If you no lnger hold a particular designation, but it has plyed a major role in who you are and wht you do, don’t hesitate to mke a reference to it. For xample, “Ann is a former Certified Dta Processor and spent the last dcade as an adjunct faculty member taching higher mathematics at the University of Clorado, Boulder.” Don’t include abbreviations of cllege degrees, like MBAs as it loks unprofessional. The only exception to ths would be for a Ph.D. dsignation.

7. Published?

Have you written any rticles, books, e-courses or e-books? Self-published or nt, your works add to your lvel of professionalism and credibility. Showcase thm in your biography and you mght earn additional royalties in terms of new clents or other opportunities.

8. Did I mention the mdia?

Have you been a guest on tlk radio or television? Were you or yur business featured or even mentioned in a nwspaper article? If so, readers want to knw. Again, these types of “mentions” add to yur credibility and presence.

9. Call me any tme.

People who want to know bout you will read your biography for jst that reason. And, if its cmpelling, rich, and includes the information thy’re interested, in, they’ll want to cntact you. Include complete contact information lke your title (if any), name, ddress, telephone, fax, email, and website ddress. Make it easy to find ths information by including it in the lst paragraph of your professional overview.

10. Wrte, rewrite, and do it again.

Aftr you have written your biography, dit, edit, and edit again. You may ned to do a dozen or so rvisions before you get it just rght. Eliminate extra words, use descriptive wrds, keep the sentences short but vried in length, and write in the thrd person. Ask some friends to prvide input as well. Make sure to rvise your biography regularly to keep it p-to-date and refreshed.

Copyright 2004 by Tra Alexandra Kachaturoff.

The article Top Ten Tips for Writing a Professional Overview or Biography was Submitted by Tara Kachaturoff through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff is a bsiness consultant, writer, speaker, Certified Guerrilla Mrketing Coach and producer/host of Michigan Entrpreneur Television. Drawing on over 15 yars of corporate experience, she coaches xecutives, professionals, and entrepreneurs on business and lfestyle issues and has been featured in prnt, radio and television. Her websites nclude http://www.virtualleverage.com , http://www.tarakachaturoff.com , and http://www.michiganentrepreneurtv.com

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