A homeowner needs a fence fixed and gets two offers at the same price. One says, "Fence repair. Ten years of experience. Licensed and insured." The other says, "I can come Saturday morning and have it back up by lunch. I'm Marcus, single dad of three, and I've lived in Plano my whole life." Which one do they call?
Almost everyone picks Marcus. Not because he is a better carpenter. Because he sounds like a person, and the other offer sounds like a sign on a van.
Why one line about your life matters
When someone hires you, they are letting a stranger into their home. Before price, before stars, the question in their head is "who is this?" A line about your life answers it in a way nothing else can. It turns "a fence guy" into Marcus, who has three kids and lives across town and will probably wave if he sees you at the store.
It also gives them something to remember. People forget a business name by dinner. They remember "the dad who coached my son's soccer team" or "the retired teacher who fixed our deck" for years. That is how you become somebody's person, the name they pass on when a neighbor asks.
What to share
You do not need a dramatic story. You need one true thing. Some ideas:
- Where you are from. "Born and raised in Mesquite." Local is the point.
- Why you do this work. "I like leaving a place better than I found it."
- Who taught you. "My grandpa had me holding a level before I could ride a bike."
- Who you do it for. "Single dad of three. I work around school pickup."
- Where you are in life. "Retired after 30 years teaching, and I still like fixing things right the first time." Or: "College student, saving for my first truck."
- What you love about your town. "Best tacos in Garland, and I will tell you where."
Pick the one that feels most like you. Put it on your profile, and say it out loud in your video.
Say it in a hello video
Written down, your story is nice. Said out loud, with your face and your voice, it is how people decide they like you. A hello does not need to be polished. Hold the phone at arm's length somewhere you are comfortable, and answer one or two of these:
- What is your name, and where is home?
- Why do you do this work?
- Who taught you?
- Who do you do it for?
- What do you love about where you live?
- What should a neighbor know before you come over?
End with a thank-you. "Thanks for watching. Hope I get to help you soon." That is the whole video. Under a minute is plenty.
Not ready to show your face yet? That is fine. Start with your work: how to film a job with just your hands and voice.
What to keep private
Your story should make people feel they know you, not tell strangers where to find your family. A few lines to hold:
- No kids' names, schools or faces unless you are truly comfortable with it. "Dad of three" says everything that matters.
- No home address or daily routine. "I live in Plano" is plenty. Your street is not.
- Only what is true. Never borrow a story or stretch one. Neighbors talk, and the truth comes out at the door.
- Who you are, not what you need. "Single dad of three" is a story. "Please hire me, I'm really struggling" is a plea, and it puts the homeowner in an awkward spot. People want to hire someone good, not rescue someone.
Your story and your work go together
A line about your life gets people to like you. A video of a real job gets them to believe you. The best pages have both: a hello that says who you are, and clips that show what you do. More on the work side in how to build trust before you ever knock.
On GigNGo
Your profile has room for a few words about you, and My kit has a place for Your hello. Tap Film my hello and the recorder opens for 60 seconds with story prompts, one at a time. When a neighbor scans your yard sign or card, your hello plays first, titled "A hello from" and your name.
We will not pretend a story guarantees you work. What it does is make sure the first thing a neighbor learns about you is who you are, and not just what you charge.
Frequently asked questions
What should I write in the about me for my small business?
One true line about who you are, in plain words: where you are from, why you do this work, who taught you, or who you do it for. "Single dad of three, born and raised in Plano" does more than a list of services, because it tells a homeowner who is coming to their door.
Is it unprofessional to share personal details with customers?
Not if you keep it to what you are comfortable with and it is true. People hire a person for their home, and a little about your life makes you easier to trust and remember. Leave out your address, your daily routine and your kids’ names or schools.
What should I say in a hello video for my business?
Your name and where home is, why you do this work, and a thank-you. Add who taught you or who you do it for if you like. Under a minute, at arm’s length, somewhere you are comfortable. It does not need to be polished.
Should I mention that I need the work?
Share who you are, not what you need. "College student saving for my first truck" is a story. "Please hire me, I’m struggling" is a plea, and it puts the homeowner in an awkward spot. People want to hire someone good.