How to Write a Great TikTok Bio
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Writing a bio for any social media profile can be challenging. How do you express the essence of who you are and what you want to be known for when you have a limited character count and need to match the vibe of the social platform? It’s tricky, and even more so with TikTok! A TikTok bio is a whole different beast than an Instagram bio. I love sharing my knowledge about all things TikTok, so today I’m sharing everything you need to know about writing a great TikTok bio.
TikTok Bio Basics
→ On TikTok, you only get 80 characters to write your bio, compared with 150 on Instagram. That means you have to keep it concise!
→ Your bio can stretch across 5 lines. Every line break counts as one character and emojis count as two characters.
→ Adding a link to your bio seems pretty essential, right? Unfortunately, you can only include a link in your TikTok bio if you have over 1,000 followers or are using a business account. Even when you do have the ability to add a link, it’s just one link, like the old days of Instagram before they rolled out their new capability of adding up to 5 links in your profile.
→ You can link another social media account in your TikTok profile, but only one, so choose carefully. TikTok allows you to link to either Instagram or YouTube. Not both, and definitely not Facebook or X/Twitter.
The Vibes of a TikTok Bio
The look and feel of a TikTok bio is very different from an Instagram bio. Instagram bios often have a more millennial feel, very earnest, with other accounts tagged like your employer, spouse, Bookstagram, dog, etc., and emojis peppered in throughout. TikTok bios are often more casual and funny. You might read a TikTok bio and not fully understand what you’d be getting if you followed this creator, but hey, you liked their video and their bio made you laugh, so you clicked follow. Think: fewer emojis and earnesty, more cleverness and snark.
TikTok Bio Examples
Use humor.
All three of these accounts use their own unique sense of humor right in their bio. Duolingo’s “just an owl tryna vibe” clues you in that their content won’t be straightforward, educational content about learning a new language. Celestial Seasonings didn’t go a snarky route per say, but it’s a cute, unexpected line that humanizes the brand. Trashy Qweenz, a viral baker with a great sense of humor, references “being thick n juicy” in addition to being an expert in cakes, which helps people get to know his brand of humor.
Keep it simple.
A super simple bio can be extremely effective! Here, Matty Mattheson simply calls himself a “Canadian legend” and Tony Hawk refers to himself as “rider of skateboards, character of videogames.” In both cases, they’re famous enough to have zingy one-liner bios and not need to explain themselves, but they’re also both on brand, simple, and funny. The BookTokker above has an amazing tagline that will either resonate with viewers or turn them off, helping him gain followers who will connect with his content.
Instagrammy vibes can still work! Just add some unexpected flair.
Yes, the vibes are different for an Instagram versus a TikTok bio, but an adapted version of your Instagram bio can be an effective place to start. Under the Desk news incorporates the #NewsTok hashtag, their email address, and promotion for their podcast, as you would on Instagram. Koy Sun shares a succinct tagline about what you’ll find on his account and incorporates his location and emojis. Designer Jef Caine uses the Instagram approach of showing all your multi-hyphenate qualities, but throws in some TikTok casualness and humor by making sure to emphasize his existential dread.
Tips for Writing Your Own Great TikTok Bio
Keep it short.
You have very little space and people have short attention spans, especially on TikTok when there’s endless engaging content to scroll. Concise is the name of the game. Below, viral musician duo Flyanaboss keeps it real (and concise) with a short and snappy bio, AD of Love is Blind fame simply declares her arrival, and indie movie theatre sticks to the highlights: indie movies and magical popcorn.
Don’t be afraid to get weird.
Now is the time to incorporate your personality and your own bizarre sense of humor! It’s memorable and will help you stand out from the crowd. TikTok is a place for creativity and releasing your unhinged, un-curated self, so go for it!
Here, we see three examples of weird, somewhat self-deprecating humor that many find relatable and entertainng. Peach PRC, a talented musician, simplifies herself to just a “lesbian singer” in a funny, self-aware way. The iconic viral sound creators Shmoyoho educate folks on how to pronounce their name while also making fun of how they may or may not have created that viral sound you’ve heard. Lastly, an animator proudly declares she’s in her “flop era,” something you’d almost never see on Instagram.
Incorporate keywords.
Similar to on Instagram, try to incorporate some keywords based on the type of content you share. That way, if someone is searching for the kind of content you create, you’ll come right up! This is harder if you don’t have a niche, but definitely try this tactic if you’re focused on a specific topic. Wig brand Lusta Hair makes sure to mention “human hair toppers and wigs” so they can be found by anyone searching for those terms. Kimberly Anne, a content creator, highlights all of her niches right in her bio, so folks looking for midsize fashion, PCOS experiences, or hosting & DIY tips know they’ll find them here. And Brandee Lake emphasizes that she’s traveling on the TikTok-famous Ultimate World Cruise so viewers who are seeking that content will find her page.
Include a call to action.
Depending on the goals of your TikTok account, you’ll want to include a call to action, especially if you have a link in your bio. For example, if you’re a recipe creator, you can say “find my latest recipes here” with a pointing finger emoji to prompt people to click through to your website. Below, one musician promotes his email newsletter while another encourages fans to pre-save his new song, while CareNatal promotes a free resource you can access by clicking through on the link in their bio.
Good luck and happy TikTokking! I can’t wait to read your great bios and check out your video content.
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