# How to write a personal brand bio, with templates

> Your bio is the sentence people read before they decide whether to follow you, hire you or book you. It’s short, so every word has to work. Here’s a formula that fits every app, templates for each length, and examples you can adapt in five minutes.

Source: https://bounley.com/guides/personal-brand-bio · Updated 2026-10-28 · By Doug McGuire, founder of bounley

**Short answer:** Use this formula: who you are, who you help or what you make, and one line of proof, ending with where to go next. Write a long version for your website and LinkedIn, a 150-character version for Instagram and an 80-character version for TikTok, all saying the same thing. Put one link in every bio: your own website, which Bounley, the platform built for personal brands, builds from your accounts in about two minutes.

## The formula

**[Who you are] + [who you help or what you make] + [one line of proof] + [where to go].**

“Food photographer helping restaurants sell more with their menus. 60+ cafés shot. Book below ↓” (Every example on this page is made up.)

If you already have a personal brand statement, your bio is that statement made shorter. [How to write a personal brand statement](https://bounley.com/guides/personal-brand-statement).

## One bio, four lengths

| Where | Length | What to include |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TikTok | About 80 characters | What you post and for whom |
| Instagram, X, Threads | About 150 to 160 characters | Who you help, proof, and a call to action |
| LinkedIn headline | Up to about 220 characters | Who you help and how |
| Website and LinkedIn About | A few short paragraphs | Your story, your work, your proof and how to reach you |

## Templates to copy

- “[Role] for [who]. [Proof]. [Call to action] ↓”

- “I help [who] [get what]. [Number] [results]. [Where to go].”

- “[What you make] every [day/week]. [Topic] for [who].”

- “[Role] in [city]. [Specialty]. Booking [month/season].”

- “[Job] by day, [passion] by night. Sharing [topic].”

## Examples by field

| Who | Short bio |
| --- | --- |
| Creator | Streetwear on a budget. New fits every Friday. Collabs: hello@ ↓ |
| Musician | Singer-songwriter. New single “Neon Hearts” out now. Tour dates ↓ |
| Streamer | Variety streamer. Live Mon, Wed, Fri at 7pm. Everything ↓ |
| Coach | Strength coach for busy people. 3 days a week, real results. Free consult ↓ |
| Freelancer | Brand designer for coffee shops. 60+ cafés. Portfolio ↓ |
| Real estate agent | Helping Austin families buy and sell since 2014. Free home valuation ↓ |
| Job seeker | Data analyst. SQL, Python and dashboards that get used. Open to roles ↓ |
| Photographer | Portrait and wedding photographer. Booking 2027 dates ↓ |

The pictures on [link in bio examples](https://bounley.com/link-in-bio/examples) show bios like these on real Bounley sites.

## The long version (your website)

1. **Open with what you do and for whom,** in one sentence.

2. **Tell the short story:** how you got here, in two or three sentences.

3. **Show proof:** clients, results, numbers, press.

4. **Add something human:** where you’re based, what you care about.

5. **End with the next step:** book, email, subscribe.

Write it in first person on your own site and LinkedIn; third person is for press kits and speaker introductions.

## Mistakes to avoid

- **Lists of labels:** “Creator | Dreamer | Coffee lover | Dog mom” says nothing about what you do.

- **Vague words:** “passionate”, “guru”, “ninja”. Say what you actually do.

- **Different bios everywhere.** People who look you up should find the same person.

- **No link, or five links.** One link to your own site is clearest.

## Where Bounley fits

Your Bounley site starts with your bio from your accounts, and you can change it any time; your business card and email signature use the same words. Put bounley.me/yourname, or your own domain with Premium, as the link in every bio. [Claim your name](https://bounley.com/auth).

## Questions

### Should I use emojis in my bio?

One or two that help scanning are fine (an arrow toward your link, a pin for your city). Rows of emojis make it harder to read.

### First person or third person?

First person on your own channels; third person in press kits and when someone introduces you.

### How often should I update my bio?

Whenever what you offer changes, and check it every few months. Update every app at once.

### Should my bio include keywords?

Yes, naturally: the words people would search for, like “food photographer in Austin”, help apps and search engines show you to the right people.

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Bounley is the platform built for personal brands: your own domain, a professional email at it and your website, set up in one place. Claim your name at https://bounley.com/ (free while in beta).