There are many issues that we see often when we review clients’ offline and online biographies. Some of the worst pitfalls when creating an attorney biography include:
Informal Photos: Avoid using old repurposed photos of your school yearbook photo. And, unless you’re a professional graphic designer, avoid photoshopping yourself into different settings.
Avoid Being Wordy: You don’t need to add everything you have done in your legal career in your online biography. Avoid the fluff and focus on the highlights. The ideal biography length is between 300-500 words.
Big Blocks of Text: Too much text tires online readers, and chances are pretty high your readers will lose attention even before they hit the second paragraph. So, keep paragraphs short with 2-4 sentences to incorporate white space. Make sure you read your bio out loud to identify any drawn-out sentences.
Third-Person Formal: Avoid calling yourself “Ms. or Mr.” in your bio. This can be off-putting for potential clients. Instead, use your full name once at the beginning of your biography and your first name after that. It’s essential to note that there is a ton of debate about whether to write your bio in the third person (he, she, them) or first person (I, me, my). But the answer depends on your personal brand, who your target audience is, and your legal practice area.