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Elna Cain

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The Author Bio Blueprint That Will Snag Clients

by Elna Cain | updated Mar 4, 2021 | 36 Comments | shares

You slave away at writing the perfect guest post for a very popular website.

You can’t believe they accepted your pitch, but you push your excitement aside and get busy writing.

When the last sentence is done, you press save and take a deep breath, thinking you are all done – but you’re not.

Guest posting is a great way to market yourself as a freelance writer. You get to write in your niche and build up your portfolio with relevant work you want to continue doing.

But, how do you maximize your chance of getting a lot of people, specifically potential clients, to view your guest posts? It isn’t enough to share it across social media or even write on your blog telling your audience you have  new guest post.

No, the best way to attract potential clients is with your author bio.

The author bio.

The last piece of your perfect guest post is an author bio that will wow prospects and spur them to contact you.

How do you write an author bio that entices clients? Many freelance writers don’t give their byline much thought – you make sure to mention your name, services and website and you’re good to go.

Well, if you’re new to freelance writing and you want to use your byline as a marketing tool for more business, there are certain elements that it needs to have in order to generate that outcome.

I call this my author bio blueprint and I’m going to share it with you.

The Author Bio

One of the reasons I even guest post is to show off that one piece of hot real estate – my author bio. It’s a chance to broadcast my name and my services out to hundreds, if not thousands of people online.

Some writers never give away their writing for free. But, what they often forget is it pays to write for free.

How can giving away your work pay off with your author bio?

  • Your content will reach a bigger and wider audience than your little ol’ blog will
  • You will hone your writing skills by writing in what you excel at (i.e. your niche topics)
  • Your guest posts will help you build your portfolio if you don’t have any client work yet. Often, guest posts are more versatile than some of your client work.
  • Your writing will be seen by potential clients interested in hiring a freelance writer
  • You can even land a freelance writing job by guest posting!

Your byline is also a great way to expand your brand messaging. Your personal brand as a freelance writer is what sets you apart from other freelance writers. What is it about YOU, that is different from all the other freelance writers online?

And in order for your author bio to be a part of your personal brand, it has to be memorable.

There are 6 parts to my author bio blueprint. Now, you don’t need all six parts to snag a client, but it sure helps in making a darn good bio.

And before we get into the nitty gritty of this post, if you don’t have time to read it, I’ve streamlined the info all in my YouTube video! I would love it if you checked it out and to make sure to subscribe to my channel!

Learn about creating an author bio in my video

1. Your Author Bio Needs to Be Specific

All too often I will come across a guest post from another writer and after reading their author bio, have no clue if they are even a freelance writer or if they are looking for freelance writing work.

In order to get the most out of your bio, it needs to be specific. I mean you’re sending out your hard earned work in hopes of getting social shares, Likes and writing work. Why not make sure it’s attributed with all the right information?

So, what specific information does your author bio need to convey?

  • That you’re a freelance writer for hire (or freelance blogger, copywriter etc…)
  • That you have specializations (blog posts, articles, site content etc…)
  • That you are knowledgeable in the following niches (digital marketing, health, parenting etc…)

 2. Your Author Bio Links to Your Website

What good is a author bio if it doesn’t link back to your website or Hire Me page? The sole purpose is to bring new readers and prospective clients back to your site so make sure you make it easy for them by providing a link.

What if you don’t have a writer website? While it is important to have a website for your budding freelance writing career, you could get away with your social media profiles.

Now, if you’re business isn’t on social media, you shouldn’t be guest posting! Before you start to pitch your ideas to guest blogs, build your writer website and fill out some social media profiles for your business.

This will help you get established as a freelance writer and make you more credible once you begin to guest post.

3. Your Author Bio Highlights Your Wins

Not all author bios will have this element, but it can help you distinguish yourself from other freelance writers.

Here are some examples of author bios that show credible and noteworthy accomplishments:

Francesca Nicasio has been freelancing for the past five years and has helped numerous B2B companies with their content needs. Her work has appeared on sites such as MarketingProfs, VentureBeat, Lifehack, Under30CEO, and BusinessNewsDaily, more. She also helps aspiring freelance writers break into the business at BeaFreelanceWriter.com. Download her free eBook, How to Land a Client in 10 Days.

Pinar Tarhan’s been working as a freelance writer and blogger for over five years. She is a firm believer in big dreams and realizing them. Her work has been published in Women On Writing, Be a Freelance Blogger, Make a Living Writing and Brazen Careerist among others. You can share her passion on her blog, Addicted to Writing, and catch her @zoeyclark on Twitter.

4. Your Author Bio Provides Incentives

Besides linking to your website, it’s a good idea to link to products you have that would benefit a reader or potential client.

While an author byline can attract future clients, it will also attract new readers. They will be more willing to become a regular reader if there is a free incentive.

For my author bio I try to include a link to my free email course, Get Paid to Write Online.

The point is to get readers or potential clients back to your website to linger and get to know you better.

5. Your Author Bio is Unique to the Guest Post Site

If you’re new to freelance writing, you may think you only have to write one author bio for all your guest posts.

I was under the same impression when I first started guest posting. It wasn’t until I saw other popular freelance writers’ author bios on different sites that I realized theirs were tailored and mine wasn’t.

From that point on, I started to tailor my author bio in order to highlight my expertise in what I was guest posting on.

So, let’s take a look at some of my author bios and see how they evolved over time:

A Parenting Guest Post (emphasis on parenting)

Elna Cain is a former Special Education Assistant who now spends her days running after her twin toddlers, all the while pursuing a freelance writing career. When she isn’t writing you can find her using the best naturalistic and holistic approaches to keeping her family healthy. You can find out more about Elna over on her blog at Innovative Ink.

A Lifestyle Guest Post (emphasis on healthier lifestyle)

Elna Cain (@ecainwrites) is a freelance writer for hire who lives in Canada with her husband and twin children. As a writer, she is passionate about providing natural living advice in order to help others find alternative ways towards a healthier lifestyle. You can find more about Elna at Innovative Ink.

A Freelance Writing Guest Post (emphasis on my credibility as a freelance writer)

Elna Cain has been a freelance writer since 2014. Although she’s fairly new, her effective marketing strategies and her publications in Social Media Today, Brazen Careerist and Psych Central have helped her quickly land clients. She also offers marketing, blogging and freelance writing tips to novice freelance writers at Innovative Ink. Be sure to check out her free email course, Get Paid to Write Online and connect with her on Twitter.

A Business Website Guest Post (emphasis on my expertise in business writing)

Elna Cain (@ecainwrites) is a freelance writer for hire with specialization in digital marketing, branding and general marketing tips. She works closely with B2B and B2C companies providing useful and engaging content that converts viewers into customers. When she isn’t writing, you can find her at playgroups with her twin toddlers dishing out the latest parent fail. Contact Elna or visit her website at Innovative Ink for more information on her services and to view her portfolio. http://innovativeink.ca

How did I tailor my author bios? I made sure to mention my expertise that was related to my guest post.

Over time, I changed my specialties to include not only what I’m guest posting about, but what kind of writing work I want.

Currently my author byline might include: digital marketing, social media, and health.

6. Your Author Bio Has Personality

A great way to make your author bio pop is to include a personable tidbit. Whether it’s you’re a young journalist or you’re a mother of twins, injecting a bit of personality can help you land a client.

Not every author bio I have mentions that I’m a mother of twins. It depends on the website and if it truly is relevant to helping me land a gig.

There are other freelance writers, though, that do a great job at showing who they are. Let’s take a look at some:

Henneke Duistermaat is an irreverent copywriter and marketer. She’s on a mission to stamp out gobbledygook and to make boring business blogs sparkle. Get her free 16-Part Snackable Writing Course for Busy People and learn how to enchant your readers and win more business.

Marianne Griebler is a marketing communications consultant who lives with her family in Chicago. She also writes about the workplace, parenting, senior care and health issues. In her free time she’s a certified volunteer arborist, an avid theater goer and a literacy volunteer. Please visit her website at mariannegriebler.com and follow her on Twitter at @magriebler.

Sue Anne Dunlevie, owner of Successful Blogging has been passionate about business since she was 12 and started her own toddler day care group at her swim club. Now her unique talent lies in helping women business owners make more money by blogging.

Depending on the nature of your guest post, you can be as liberal as you want with showing your personality.

For me, it’s having a nice balance between showing prospective clients I mean business, but that I’m also a mom trying to take care of my little monkeys!

Are You Ready Create an Author Bio?

There you have it! My awesome blueprint for the best author bio. As I mentioned before, you don’t have to use every element at one time. I certainly don’t – I just found using a few at a time makes for an easy to read bio.

I’m probably sure you’re wondering if my bios have snagged clients? They have! I had two clients that I know for a fact came to me from my author bio on my guest posts.

So, tell me, are you happy with your author bio or do you think you need a new blueprint? Let me know in the comments!

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About The Author

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Hi I'm Elna and I'm a freelance writer and mom blogger. I help people just like you become a profitable freelance writer. Within 6 months of starting my freelance writing business from scratch I was able to earn a full-time living as a part-time freelance writer while taking care of my twin toddlers. Check out my free email course Get Paid to Write Online and learn the steps you need to take to be a freelance writer.

Reader Interactions

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Comments

  1. Maria

    October 31, 2020 at 3:34 pm

    Hi Elna,
    This is a great post. Thank you for sharing this information, but I still have a question. What should I put in my bio, if I don’t have any experience?
    Thanks

    Reply to Maria
    • Elna Cain

      November 2, 2020 at 10:15 am

      Hi Maria,

      For your author bio, state that you are a writer for X and list the niche or type of client. Example might be: I’m a freelance writer for hire in homesteading and gardening. I work closely with X and here you list the clients you WANT to work with. Then link to your portfolio or website or some place where your writing is on so prospects can read your writing. Finally, link to a contact form or email address.

      Reply to Elna
  2. Jahangir Alam

    May 18, 2020 at 1:39 am

    Hi Elna,
    I have read a couple of posts from you that is very inspiring for me. Anxiety seized me as a beginner on how to make an author bioβ€”the reason why I frantically look for a clue for my site through web. I think your idea is lucrative and grabbing for me. Hope you will present a better plan writer who is a novice like me.

    Reply to Jahangir
  3. Nisar khatib

    September 18, 2019 at 5:11 pm

    Elna your content is absorbing and i appreciate you took time to send me these content.
    I am retired engineering professional and i intend to dive in blogging to write technical .Now you have shared how to google the niche which i shall definitely do
    I have a website with my name on wordpress,org, and my first travel blog was published,
    i am still in phase of searching proper objective before i scribble any meaning ful content.
    i am glad your tutoring may give some guidance and direction.for getting paid on my content.

    Reply to Nisar
  4. Melody

    February 28, 2019 at 8:13 pm

    This is so true, Elna! I found I needed to put a little more thought into my author bio and your article was so helpful!

    Reply to Melody
    • Elna Cain

      February 28, 2019 at 9:55 pm

      Hi Melody!

      So happy you found this helpful! Yes, your Author bio is super important to helping you find more clients and gigs!

      Reply to Elna
  5. Amy

    January 2, 2019 at 12:32 pm

    Greetings Elna….inspiring, helpful, uber pleseant vibe….I am grateful for your expertise and tools.

    Reply to Amy
    • Elna Cain

      January 2, 2019 at 2:25 pm

      Hi Amy!

      Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed my post on creating an author bio πŸ™‚

      Reply to Elna
  6. Anna

    June 7, 2018 at 8:15 am

    Hi Elna,

    I have discovered your blog when I decided to start my own freelancing career and I find it very helpful. It covers all relevant topics and provides plenty of useful links.

    Question relating to this post – if I write a guest post, do I submit my author bio with it? Or is it something the blog should ask me for?

    Thank you,

    Anna

    Reply to Anna
    • Elna Cain

      June 8, 2018 at 2:24 pm

      Hi Anna,

      Thanks so much! You can send your author bio if you want! I usually do!

      Reply to Elna
      • Anna

        June 10, 2018 at 12:28 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply to Anna
  7. Mayank Bhandare

    March 26, 2018 at 12:48 pm

    Wonderful Elna! This was really something which I yearned for. A lucid explaination is something which sets you apart I guess. Thanks a lot. I am on my way in developing my first bio!

    Reply to Mayank
  8. Katy Foster

    July 11, 2017 at 7:57 am

    Elna, you’re a great inspiration to me, and a blessing to my morning! I’m also a stay-at-home mom with little extra time.
    I think there’s something different about your posts compared to a few others that I read — you genuinely desire to help and serve others and not just yourself. I’m sold. Take me under your wing! πŸ˜‰

    Reply to Katy
  9. Lisa Fourman

    June 1, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    Thank you for this post, Elna! I really needed it since I’ve been feeling like something is missing from my guest post author bio.

    Reply to Lisa
  10. Diran

    April 24, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    Hi Elna,
    I’m a regular visitor to blog. I’m glad I found this post. It’s well written.

    Thanks.

    Reply to Diran
  11. Alicia Rades

    June 2, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    Great article, Elna! I write a similar piece on Be a Freelance Writer a while back, and I mentioned all of this, so seeing as this advice is coming from multiple places, I’d say it’s pretty important for freelancers to consider.

    Reply to Alicia
    • Elna Cain

      June 2, 2015 at 9:55 pm

      Hi Alicia!
      Loved your post on Be a Freelance Writer. You provided great tips and it helped me with writing my own author bio. Glad you approve!
      Elna

      Reply to Elna
  12. Rohi

    April 14, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    Hi Elna,
    Thanks for this super-useful post. Writing an author bio is incredibly challenging and so far mine sound stilted – I will use your tips and continue to plug away.
    Cheers.

    Reply to Rohi
    • Elna Cain

      April 15, 2015 at 11:32 am

      Hi Rohi,

      That’s great to know you enjoyed my post and found it useful! I get all giggly knowing I’ve helped other people.

      Your author bio is a tough one to write. You want to sound like an authority but you don’t want to toot your own horn too much! You’ll also don’t want to be too personable and sound like a hobby writer!

      Glad you stopped by!
      Elna

      Reply to Elna
  13. Sabita

    March 31, 2015 at 8:46 am

    That’s a great post, Elna.

    I tweaked my author bio several times but kept it more generic. I find practical takeaways here.

    Thanks.

    Reply to Sabita
    • Elna Cain

      March 31, 2015 at 9:03 am

      Hey Sabita,

      Glad to know you are changing up your author bio and seeing what is working. This is something all freelance writers should do if they want to contain their profession.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Elna

      Reply to Elna
  14. Kelly

    March 30, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Such good tips, Elna. People tend to overlook the importance of those bios!

    Reply to Kelly
    • Elna Cain

      April 12, 2015 at 8:59 pm

      Hey Kelly,

      Thanks. Glad you liked my post about creating your author bio on guest posts. They are important as they can bring new readers back to your blog and hopefully new clients.

      Elna

      Reply to Elna
  15. Sara

    March 28, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    I never thought about writing a different bio for each blog or post, but that’s a wonderful idea. Thank you!

    Reply to Sara
    • Elna Cain

      March 28, 2015 at 8:20 pm

      Hi Sara,
      Thanks! Yeah, I think it’s a good idea to change up your author bio depending on the site it’s on. Since I’m a freelance writer with expertise in several niches, I always want to highlight the niche I’m guest posting on in my author bio. It only makes sense.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Elna

      Reply to Elna
  16. Kara

    March 27, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    Wonderful advice, Elna! Thank you. I’m not doing guest posting just yet, but a lot of this is also great advice as it relates to ‘about me’ pages on a blog.

    Reply to Kara
    • Elna Cain

      March 27, 2015 at 7:32 pm

      Hi Kara,

      Yes, an author bio is similar to your about page, for sure. I actually have a post about your About Page, coming up in April, so be on the lookout for that!

      It’s great that you were able to take my advice and relate it to your situation. Thanks for taking the time to reading it and commenting on it!

      Elna

      Reply to Elna
  17. Crystal Bissonnette

    March 27, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    These are great tips Elna! I am glad you touched on the bio being different pending on who you are writing for. I have a general one saved and I once wrote for someone and changed it a bit and wondered about that. I am doing a guest piece for another blog in April and started working on it the other day! This came at the perfect time!

    Reply to Crystal
    • Elna Cain

      March 27, 2015 at 4:54 pm

      I’m happy that my post came at the right time! Thanks for your compliment. I think it’s a good thing to put a little effort into your author bio. It can be a great magnet for clients and for traffic, especially if your guest post reflects your expertise in your niche.

      I’m not guest posting as frequently as I should be, but, then again, I have a full schedule of paid writing to do! I am, however, a regular contributor for FreelancerFAQ’s and Tweak Your Biz.

      Thanks for stopping by Crystal!

      Elna

      Reply to Elna
  18. Fiona Sanguinetti

    March 25, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    This is so timely. I’ve been struggling to put the finishing touches on my short bio, which is sadly taking me longer than the actual blog post.
    Thanks for another great post, Elna.

    Reply to Fiona
    • Elna Cain

      March 25, 2015 at 6:29 pm

      Glad it came in handy for you! I just headed over to your blog and followed you on Pinterest. Writing an effective author bio can be tricky since it’s only two or three sentences (for most bios); you have to put in a lot of detail without making it sound awkward.

      For me, I have a hard time putting some personality into my bio without sounding amateurish. I think I’ve found a nice balance when I mention my twins and, “dishing out the latest parent fail.” So far, it seems to be attracting the right kind of clients!

      Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.

      Elna

      Reply to Elna
      • Fiona Sanguinetti

        March 26, 2015 at 1:23 am

        Thanks for the advice. I have twins as well, so am all too familiar with parent fails πŸ™‚

        Reply to Fiona
  19. Brita Long

    March 23, 2015 at 9:42 am

    This is great advice! I’ve started writing a few different bios to have on hand, depending on the needs of the website where I publish. It’s a challenge at first, but the more bios I write, the easier they become.

    Reply to Brita
    • Elna Cain

      March 23, 2015 at 9:59 am

      Hi Brita!

      Thanks for your comment! I’m glad my post is helpful for other writers and bloggers! Many writers aren’t sure what to put in their author bios, so I though I’d write a post about what elements I use when writing my post.

      It’s true, the more bios you write, the easier they become!

      Elna

      Reply to Elna
  20. Kyle W. Weckerly

    March 23, 2015 at 6:01 am

    Elna,
    Great post! I’d asked myself the same question the other day when finishing up a guest post.
    Thanks for the advice!

    Reply to Kyle
    • Elna Cain

      March 23, 2015 at 8:48 am

      Thanks Kyle! I’m glad you found this post insightful and useful. Your author bio is important, but it is a work in progress. I find that I change up my author bio depending on the guest posting site and I try to make it better each time.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Elna

      Reply to Elna

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Hi, I'm Elna, a freelance writer and blogger. I help people just like you become a profitable freelance writer. Within 6 months of starting my freelance writing business from scratch I was able to earn a full-time living as a part-time freelance writer while taking care of my twin toddlers. →

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