Thread by @LNivisonSmith

I've visited the profiles of all my 9000+ followers and learned one important thing

No one teaches academics how to write a Twitter bio

5 simple ways to improve your bio so your first impression counts 👀

🧵

@AcademicChatter @OpenAcademics

1. Don't write a CV

Many bios are lists of academic positions and acronyms

Its not a great way to get a 'feel' for who you are

Your profile should say
▫️ Who you are
▫️ What you do
▫️ How to engage with you

It should introduce you like a handshake, not a CV.

2. Tag your organisation

You're at CSU? Which one?
Colorado State Uni 🇱🇷
Central South Uni China 🇨🇳
Charles Sturt Uni Australia 🇦🇺

Most of us use our institute's acronym but few of us know all 25000+ universities worldwide. Tag your organisation so we know exactly where you are

3. Let them know why you are here

You never know who will read your Twitter bio. Don't waste the attention.

Writing a book? 📕 Tell them!
Looking for a job? 👋Tell them!
Learning a new skill? 🛠 Tell them!
Making a community? 🫂 Tell them!

Help people join your journey

4. Buy words with pictures

I whole-heartly recommend emojis (hear me out 🙏)

▫️they save space (think flags vs country names)
▫️they add interest (think pops of colour among monotone words)
▫️they increase accessibility to non-native speakers

5. Maximise other profile space

Twitter banners take up more space than bios. But they are often underutilised

Use your banner to showcase your work, your personality, your blog - anything hard to summarise in 160 characters

Avoid an empty blue space at all costs

TL/DR

Improving your academic Twitter bio

1. Don't write a CV
2. Tag your organisation
3. Let them know why you are here
4. Buy words with pictures
5. Maximise other profile spaces

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