How to write a profile

A person, a company, a technology, a trend – people want to learn about these things. You can help them by writing an engaging profile.

To view sample profiles, click here and here.

Sample structure

Here is a basic list of details you can use to write a business biography, the most common type of profile:

  • Basic details like the name, title, city of residence, professional experience and education
  • Specialized knowledge, experience or whatever enables this person to provide superior value to customers or the company
  • Any industry group memberships
  • Published works
  • Calendar of past or future presentations
  • Web links to things such as published works, blogs, videos of past presentations – anything that helps readers grasp who the subject is

Tips

  • The typical corporate biography reads like an inventory list. People prefer to read stories, so where you can do so, engage the reader’s interest: tell your subject’s story. For an example, click here.
  • The inventory style of biography is handy for search engine optimization (SEO), but a well-written story can achieve SEO as well. You may want to consider both types of profiles, the inventory list below the story, to meet both Google’s and the reader’s needs.
  • The question-and-answer format is also popular, and can be as effective as the story.
  • Has the subject been interviewed by a media personality, and was that interview published or broadcast? The transcript may prove useful if it covers all the bases you need the profile to cover.
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Print
Luigi Benetton: A communications professional for more than ten years, Luigi has written for organizations such as Microsoft, MTS Allstream, and the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of Health. He has written white papers, case studies, success stories, executive profiles, reports, Web copy, and a variety of other materials. Also, Luigi has contributed to consumer and trade publications such as The Toronto Star, itbusiness.ca and cbc.ca Luigi focuses on demystifying the technology industry, especially the value it offers. He has also written on topics as diverse as the business of law, fascinating large-scale construction projects and professional squash.

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