11 tips for creating a compelling profile
A profile on Culture in Kent is a great way to get you and your organisation in front of people who are actually looking. People who have searched for you or what you do. People who could be your next customer or collaborator.
People are looking for you so it’s important you don’t shy away! Be open and engaging. Give them a reason to take that next step.
How do you do that? By creating a profile that tells your story in an engaging way.
Many people find writing about themselves and their work difficult, some hate even the idea of it. Never fear, we’re here to help. Follow these tips and you’ll find that telling your story becomes a pleasure rather than a chore.
11 tips to create a profile that works
- Write for the reader. Start by thinking about who you are writing for. Who is your ideal “client”. What do they want to know about you and your work – put yourself in the shoes of that reader. Make some notes and make sure that what you write gives them what they are looking for. It’s not just about what you do; it’s about what you do for them.
- Be super clear about what you do so people understand straight away what that is.
- Use tags wisely. A tag is a search word or phrase that you would like your profile to be found for. You can choose the tags you want from the profile creation system. Think about what people may type in the search box if they were looking for you. If you are a musician tags might include music, musician, composer, song writer, piano, pianist etc.
- Get an outside perspective. If you struggle to describe your work, ask friends, colleagues or clients to describe what you do and how you do it. This can help you be more dispassionate and can often be a great source of quotes that can be used in the profile directly.
- Try to create a strong first sentence that will grab the reader and make them want to continue reading.
- Be succinct. Your profile is not your autobiography. Stick to key themes, media, approach and philosophy.
- Make it personal. People buy from and work with other people. Write a profile that presents you as a human being. Describe your motivations and aims. Why you do what you do is also important. Don’t underestimate the power of your story. The narrative behind your work is crucial in making emotional connections with your audiences.
- Keep it simple. Write clearly in short sentences. Avoid jargon.
- A picture paints a thousand words. Pick images that reflect your personal brand. Use good quality images.
- Test and test again. Once you have drafted your profile show it to other people and get their feedback. Are you giving the messages that you think you are?
- Keep it fresh. Everyone changes over time. Diary periodic reviews of your profile to update it and keep it fresh and current.
Follow these 10 tips and you should be able to create a profile that represents you compellingly.
One last bonus tip – don’t stress about it! It doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s better to get a profile up and refine it over time than trying to draft the perfect profile straight away, before loading it onto Culture in Kent.
Good luck and happy writing!
