Why You Should Include a Teacher Bio in Your Course

I have had clients who wish to exclude their name from a course because they feel they are not qualified enough to teach a subject. It could be a lack of a degree or just fear of what their friends will think if they knew they have taken up teaching an online course.

And I understand that completely! We all suffer from imposter syndrome and feel that because we don’t have the necessary qualification, we cannot advise others. This imposter syndrome also leads us to believe that others will peg us as frauds when we try!

If you suffer from imposter syndrome, I have an article on how to deal with that right here. I suggest you give that a read before continuing with this article! I also talk about why having or not having a degree doesn’t matter when teaching an online course.

You might be hesitant, but the truth is, a lot more people will feel compelled to buy a course from you if they know who you are. The bio is written for those considering buying your course and your students. Not your academic peers or your friends.

Providing a bio eases anxiety in your students, and it’s much needed given how anxiety in young adults and adults is on the rise. It’s the most common mental health diagnosis students get, and the Anxiety & Depression Association of America website has a resource list specifically for college students to help them deal with anxiety.

Providing a teacher bio or an “About Me” section on your website lets students know you better. Who are you? Are you an approachable person should they have questions? What is your experience in the field? What is your teaching philosophy? Knowing the answers to these questions can help put their minds at ease and feel better taking up your course.

The internet is so full of information and ideas that it can be anxiety-inducing when people don’t know if the source is reliable. A bio that humanizes a teacher and puts a face to a name increases the learner’s investment in the process, and they’re likely to stick around as well.

All that said, here are a few tips to help you write a killer Teacher Bio that your students will find useful!

Add a picture

A clear picture of you adds professionalism and authenticity to your course. Consider the field you are teaching when you take this picture! If you’re diving into pastry making, a picture of you in a kitchen with an apron works well. If you are teaching a course on writing, a picture of you at your desk with a laptop is appropriate.

And if you’re camera shy, consider using a cartoon of yourself! Caricatures and cartoons show a whimsical side of you that would make you easier to approach.

Share your story

Use this wisely! You don’t need to share personal details like divorces or financial troubles (unless, of course, you are teaching relationship dynamics or personal finance). But it humanizes you when you share details of where you grew up and studied, what your hobbies are, and where you currently live. Let your students know you are a real person with interests!

Explain why you love the topic

Students want to know that they’re learning the subject from someone who actually cares. If you’re teaching business when your passion is film and TV, neither of you is going to enjoy this experience. Enthusiasm is contagious, so tell your students what you are excited to share with them and why you love the subject. If you give them enough valuable information in the course introduction and your website, they won’t worry about whether or not you have a degree.

Avoid red flags

Is this your first time teaching an online course? They don’t need to know that. We’ve already talked about anxiety and how it’s a rising problem. Students will look for excuses not to buy your course, and not having taught before raises a red flag for them.

The idea of a teacher bio is to reassure your students why you’re the right person to teach them the subject and while doing so, tell them a little bit about yourself, so they feel confident.

If you’re thinking of creating a course and need some guidance on structuring and scriptwriting, you can contact me through my website! I offer additional services like branding, animation, voice-over, and promotional content creation.