Structuring Professional Biographies

Still treating your About section like an afterthought? That might be why no one’s reaching out. Writing it is awkward. You’re supposed to talk about yourself, but not too much. Sound professional, but not stiff. Add personality, but stay on brand. So most people play it safe. They default to a dry bio, full of buzzwords, or something that doesn’t actually say anything. And don't get me started on the ones written in the 3rd person. But your About section isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s positioning. Whether you’re building a business or looking for a job, you’re selling something. And if you’re selling, you need to know two things: Who are you talking to? And what exactly are you offering? It still needs to sound like you, but it also needs to do something. Here’s what actually works: 1. Lead with clarity The first two lines are everything. Don’t waste them being clever. Say what you do and who it’s for, clearly and quickly. 2. Write like a person If it reads like a LinkedIn bio from 2011, it’s not helping you. Write like you’re explaining what you do to a smart friend in a different industry. Cut the jargon. Keep the voice. 3. Add a point of view What do you care about? What do you want to be known for? Even one sentence that shows how you think makes you more memorable. 4. Speak to their pain Whether it’s a hiring manager or a potential client, show them you get it. What problem are they stuck with? What’s broken? What’s keeping them up at night? If you can name their problem better than they can, you’ve already built trust. 5. Explain what you actually do Not your job title, the outcomes. What problems do you solve? What kind of work do you love doing? This is where you connect the dots between their pain and your expertise. 6. Make the next step obvious Looking for work? Say what kind. Freelancing? Mention the types of projects. Even something simple like “open to interesting opportunities” helps. Don’t make people guess. 7. Keep it focused This isn’t your life story. It’s a filter to help the right people get what they need and move one step closer to you. Cut anything that doesn’t serve that. You don’t need it to be perfect. You just need it to sound like you and be useful to the person reading it. That’s what makes it work.

Your “About” section is losing you deals. Most bios look like this: “Experienced finance professional with a demonstrated history of working in the industry…” Translation? You sound like everyone else. Here’s the truth: → People don’t connect to job titles. → They connect to stories. → They trust people they understand. — Here’s the format I use to rewrite bios for clients: 1. What you believe about your industry 2. The specific niche/problem you solve 3. Why you (origin insight or POV) 4. Proof you can back it up 5. What action they should take next (CTA) Not fluff. Positioning. — 🧠 One family office advisor added this line after we reworked her bio: “I help second-gen wealth holders design financial strategies that align with their values, not just their balance sheets.” One sentence. Result? → Podcast feature in a leading wealth management show → Invite to co-author a white paper Why? Because she didn’t just tell people what she does. She told them what she stands for. That’s what sticks. — 👩🏼💻 𝘋𝘔 𝘮𝘦 “𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚” 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵. ♻️ 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 Mariam Gogidze

Most mental health professionals aren’t taught how to write for connection. You’re taught to write for credentials. But your license, degrees, and certifications alone won’t make someone click "Book a session." Because clients don’t buy credentials. They buy trust. They buy relatability. They buy hope. If your LinkedIn profile reads like a résumé... you're losing clients, not gaining them. That’s why your profile shouldn’t just show what you’ve done. It should show them who you help, how, and why it matters. Here’s a simple guide to optimize your LinkedIn profile as a Mental Health Professional: 1. Headline (NOT just your job title) Instead of: Licensed Clinical Social Worker | LCSW Try: I help overwhelmed professionals manage anxiety so they can thrive at work and home. Use this format: I help [audience] with [problem] so [result]. 2. Banner Image This is free real estate. Use it to show: ✅ Your tagline ✅ Your offer ✅ A calming image that reflects your approach Tools like Canva make it easy. 3. About Section This is where the connection happens. Structure it like this: ➝Who you help The problems they face ➝How you help Why it matters (your “why”) What to do next (CTA) ➝Keep it conversational. ➝Write like you speak to a client, not like you're writing a textbook. 4. Featured Section Add: ➝A link to your website or booking calendar ➝A short video introducing yourself ➝A client testimonial (with permission) This section builds instant credibility and trust. 5. Experience Section Don’t just list job titles. Explain: ➝Who you helped ➝What challenges they faced ➝How your approach made a difference Each role should reflect your journey of impact. 6. Skills + Endorsements Don’t leave this blank. Add specific skills like: ➝Trauma-informed therapy ➝Mindfulness-based approaches ➝Nervous system regulation ➝CBT, EMDR, EFT (whatever fits your niche) 7. CTA (Call to Action) End your profile with an invitation. Example: Ready to stop just surviving and start thriving? Let’s talk. Message me or visit my site to book a free consultation. Your profile isn’t just a bio. It’s a bridge. Between your work and the people who need it most. Start there. Then let your content carry the connection forward. P.S) I help Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Professionals build personal brands on LinkedIn that grow their visibility, impact, and credibility. Follow me for more simple strategies to grow without burning out.

People will spend hours a day/week/month posting on LinkedIn... but skip the one thing that could convert views into opportunities: Their profile! Here’s the 5-minute process I just used to overhaul mine 👇 In 8 seconds, your profile should instantly answer: Who do you help? How do you help them? What proof do you have? Visitors should think: “This is for me” or “Nope.” Both are wins. Clarity > cleverness. The Hero Profile Framework: ✅ Banner: Use your brand colors + a clear value prop + a CTA ✅ Headline Format: [Role] helping [Audience] [Achieve Goal] | [Proof or Niche] ✅ About Section: Structure: Hook (who you help + why it matters) Credibility (brief, relevant background) Social proof (awards, results) Call to action (what to do next) ✅ Custom Pronoun: Forget (they/them) and instead use it as a micro-pitch. This shows up on every comment you make on other posts. Make it short and sweet. I changed mine to "CRE Sales and Leasing" Want to try it? 🧠 AI Prompt: “Optimize my LinkedIn profile using the 8-Second Rule and Hero Profile method [copy the text above]. My audience is [target audience], and I help them [outcome]. Here’s my current Headline and About section [paste your current info and include your professional bio and any other relevant company taglines or CTAs]” Tag me if you do it. Happy to cheer you on! Did I miss anything, Yonah Weiss, Nick Stromwall, Amy Sylvis?

As we wrap up 2024, now is the perfect time to refresh one of the most important tools in your professional toolkit: your bio. Your bio is more than a summary of credentials — it’s a reflection of your career story, your achievements, and what sets you apart. Whether you’re pivoting careers, preparing for a promotion, or refining your personal brand, a powerful and authentic bio is essential to making a lasting impression. At Be The Brand, we’ve helped countless leaders and professionals craft bios that resonate, connect, and position them for success. Here are three quick tips to elevate your professional bio today: 1️⃣ Tell Your Story Authentically: Go beyond titles and share what motivates you, your values, and unique experiences. Stories create connections and make your bio memorable. 2️⃣ Highlight Your Impact: Focus on specific, measurable achievements that showcase the value you bring. For example: "Led a team that increased sales by 30%" instead of "Managed a team." 3️⃣ Tailor for Your Audience: Different platforms and opportunities call for slightly different versions of your bio. LinkedIn may highlight career achievements, while a speaker bio might position you as a thought leader. Ready to get started? In this month’s Be The Brand newsletter, we’re sharing more tips and insights to help you write a bio that works as hard as you do. [Read the newsletter and grab our exclusive Bio Writing Template] Your bio isn’t just another piece of your professional toolkit — it’s your opportunity to tell your story and make it count. #PersonalBranding #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #BeTheBrand #LeadershipTips