Your bio is boring. Let’s fix that before someone sees it.
Stop writing your bio like its 2019
Well hello! How was your summer?
I hope you had lots of delicious food and read a zillion books and got time to relax.
I’m zooming back in with a new feature that I’m calling, the Wednesday Win. I know, it’s such a unique and catchy name! 😂 But it does what it says on the tin, and every Wednesday I’m going to give you a short actionable tip or success story.
So here is the first one and it’s all about the Instagram Bio, because I’ve seen so many times that on some accounts, it’s not the content that’s necessarily the problem. Sometimes its the messaging, and if that doesn’t hit when someone lands on your account, then they won’t stick around.
Here’s how to stop that.
The New Rules for Instagram Bios in 2025
1. The Magic Lives in the Name Field (Not Just the Bio)
Instagram’s name field (that line under your handle) is now searchable, and arguably more important than your bio itself. I see so many accounts not using this! So don’t be one of them:
Include key words like “Romance Author” or “Memoir Coach” to boost discovery.
Format example: “Zoe Lea | Author + Social Media Coach”
2. Tell Them in a Beat: Who. You. Are. What. You. Do.
Visitors decide in seconds to follow, or keep scrolling. Your bio must instantly answer:
Who you are
What you offer
Why they should care
What to do next
3. But make it about them, not you…
Most people are selfish. We just want to know what’s in it for us, so make your bio speak to that.
What’s in it for them? Why should they hit follow?
If you’ve changed your name field so it tells them what to do, that doesn’t need repeating. Make your bio about THEM.
Here’s a quick before and after, see if you can spot the difference I’m talking about.
BEFORE
✍️ Thriller Author
📖 Book 3 out now!
🎧 Tea drinker & dog mum
💌 Join my newsletter for updates
AFTER
Crime junkies, thriller chasers and armchair detectives, I got you. Want a free short story to keep you up tonight? Get it here 👇
Try it today and share your before and after in the comments, or if you’re stuck let me know and I’ll give you Instagram bio a glow for you!
This is really helpful, I had no idea this was a thing. Thank you!
Hi Zoe! loved this short-n-sweet post. I recently bought into a IG-growth course to learn more and honestly I'm still as lost as before I started because their advice is so generic. One struggle is definitely my bio - I'm at the point where I'm overthinking it and changing my mind constantly and honestly, most generic advice out there say "make people care" but I found its not as black/white when it comes to writer/author profile. I tried to think long and hard about why do I follow authors myself, and I found it is because I'm obsessed with their work (even though their IG profile could use TLC) or because they feel aspirational (similar to influencer in some ways?). What do you think? the small example before/after you shared is honestly framed perfectly btw. If you want to take a look at my IG bio, this is where I'm at "Literary writer for Vogue & elsewhere. Read essays, poems, novel updates on Substack" but the more I look at it, the more I think: so? what should I care? - I don't know, what do you think?