As an online language teacher, your bio is one of the most important bits of copy you’ll write. And you’re probably doing it wrong.
Presumptuous? Maybe, but I see it all the time.
Incredibly talented teachers with fascinating stories reduce themselves to a boring list of qualifications that sound almost identical to the hundreds of other people offering similar services at similar prices.
Don’t get me wrong, your teaching background and expertise is important for building trust with potential students. But more important are all the little things that make you you.
Your personality is what makes you stand out from all the other teachers who have a CELTA, a DELTA, and X years of experience.
It’s what makes you relatable to potential students, and it’s what helps them get to know, like and trust you. And when they know, like and trust you, they’re more likely to choose you.
If your bio doesn’t tick all those boxes just yet, you’re reading the right article.
Here’s how to write an online teacher bio that works for any marketing platform.
1. Make your bio about your reader
It sounds counterintuitive, but stick with me. While it’s true potential students are reading your bio to learn about you, they’re doing it for selfish reasons. They want to figure out if you are the kind of teacher they want to learn with.
And believe it or not, they aren’t basing their decision on how many years of experience or qualifications you have. They care about what you can do for them.
So, instead of listing your professional achievements, your bio should centre around what makes you the perfect teacher for your students.
Think: what do you do differently? What will they get from learning with you? What special skills do you have that they will benefit from?
2. Subtly mention your qualifications
People buy based on emotion and justify with logic. That’s why good copy first highlights the benefits the customer will get from a product or service (more time, freedom, happiness, confidence) before introducing the features it includes.
This isn’t only more engaging but also more effective. It catches attention and creates a connection with the reader, which encourages them to read on.
Although your bio isn’t a piece of sales copy per se, the same principle applies.
Potential students will be much more likely to click on and read your profile if it starts with words that grab their attention. So, instead of leading with your credentials, try including them later on in your bio. That way, students will be more likely to care that you’ve got a ton of experience because they’re now super interested in learning with you.
Here’s a little structure you can follow based on the proven copywriting formula: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action (AIDA). For example:
Attention: Write an opening line that’s relevant and unique.
E.g. Think of me like your real-life Duolingo Owl. I’m here to guide you through the ups and downs of learning Dutch and encourage you to keep showing up.
Interest: Pique their interest by sharing more information.
E.g. When we study together, my goal is to make you feel supported, excited and motivated in every single lesson.
Desire: Highlight your expertise in a subtle, natural way.
E.g. We’ll focus on topics that matter to you, so you have the language you need to feel real-world ready in just a matter of weeks. Just like the 234 students I’ve taught before.
Action: Tell them clearly what steps to take next.
E.g. Click the button below to book a free consultation and learn more about how I can help you explore the Netherlands through its language.
3. Give a glimpse into your world
There are hundreds of thousands of teachers with similar qualifications to you. But there’s only one you.
So, as well as proving you know your stuff, you also want to infuse your bio with your personality. That’s a big part of how you’ll show you’re unique.
Effective copy creates an emotional connection with your reader through the page. You want them to feel a certain way while reading your words – just like if they were meeting you in-person for the first time.
That might sound super complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. As well as sharing your professional background, sprinkle in a few references to your hobbies and interests. This helps the reader build a picture of what you’re like both as a teacher and a person. For example:
Caffeine addict who can’t start the day without at least 3 cups of coffee
I’m a language nerd with a dictionary collection to rival Waterstones
When I’m not teaching, you’ll find me elbow deep in soil, tending to my home-grown tomatoes
4. Write in your own style
There’s a common misconception in the teaching world that being professional means using formal language. It doesn’t.
Stuffy corporate copy might have worked in the past. But consumers now see straight through brands that hide behind inaccessible language. People want to buy from businesses they can relate to and trust. And this is especially important for language students who are often nervous about speaking or making mistakes in front of an expert.
So, as well as referencing your hobbies and interests in your bio, you can (and should) use your words to help your readers feel a certain way – whether it’s safe, comfortable, entertained or excited.
BUT HOW? I hear you ask. Start by thinking about two things:
- How you want your personality to come across to your readers
- How you want your readers to feel when they read your bio
Then, translate this list of adjectives into grammar and words that will help you achieve your goal. But that’s a topic for another article. For now, my tip: type these words into ChatGPT and ask it to tell you how to highlight these personality traits in writing.
Where should you share your online teacher bio?
The short answer is anywhere you’re actively marketing your services.
Your bio is one of the most read parts of your profiles, so it’s super important to include one everywhere. You’ll likely need to adapt what you write to suit different platforms. Here’s a quick reminder of their requirements and what to keep in mind when writing.
Language teaching platforms
Marketplaces like iTalki and Preply are awesome for getting started as a freelance language teacher. But oh my are they competitive.
There are quite literally thousands of teachers marketing on these platforms. And your bio is the ONLY way you can stand out. So you want to get it right.
The good news is that although there are tons of teachers listed, very few have cracked the awesome bio code. So, follow the tips above, and you should be able to write an introduction that helps you stand out.
If you’re marketing your teaching business on Instagram, it’s worth spending some time on writing a good bio. It might seem small and insignificant, but it’s the first thing people see when they land on your page and decide if they want to stick around.
So, your introduction needs to clearly state who you are, what you do and why your ideal students should care. And it needs to do so in less than 150 characters. No pressure… right!?
Whether you’re marketing your services on LinkedIn or not, update your bio to reflect the fact you’re freelancing or running a business.
Despite what LinkedIn might lead you to believe, you don’t have to write a stuffy bio to sound *professional*. Use the techniques we looked at above to inject personality into your page. This way, you can stand out from the robot-like copy that dominates the platform.
Your sales pages
If you’re promoting your own courses on dedicated sales pages, you’ll need to include a bio. This bio is usually shorter and more focused than the others we’ve listed here because it introduces you in the context of your offer. Not your entire business.
For example, if you’re selling an English for travel course, speak about what led you to create that specifically. Was it your own personal experience? A love for travel? A gap in the market? This helps build a story around the course and highlight why you’re the best teacher for the job.
Your own website
If you have a website (which totally isn’t necessary, btw), your about page is the perfect place to share the long version of your story.
This should relate to your business as a whole, giving potential students the full (relevant) picture of what led you to where you are now. But again, that doesn’t mean they need every last detail on your background. Choose the information most relevant to your students and what they want to learn about you.
What do you need to create an online teacher bio?
No matter which platform you’re writing for, you’ll need the following things to write a bio to sells yourself as an online language teacher:
- A high-quality headshot: Ideally one that fits the tone of your bio – for example, a stony-faced image of you dressed in a suit will clash with a conversational, approachable tone.
- A headline to introduce you: Your opening line should include an attention-grabbing statement rather than a list of your qualifications
- A few paragraphs about you: While your headshot is important, the words are what really matter. This section is what will truly sell you as the right teacher for the reader. Yes, I’m biassed, but I’m also right.
- A link to learn more/sign up: This will depend on the platform, but if it’s not on a specialised teaching site, include a link somewhere that potential students can follow to get in touch and learn more
- Past student reviews: Nothing says you know what you’re doing better than testimonials. Include comments or results from people you’ve worked with in the past to show just how awesome you are
Ready to write an online teacher bio that sells?
It might not be the easiest thing in the world to write, but I hope this post has given you some inspiration on how to write an effective bio.
Remember: you don’t have to embody a stuffy cardboard persona to be seen as credible or professional. The more relatable you are to your audience, the more you’ll sell.
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October 30, 2023
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