What do you do when you pick up a book? Most probably you turn it over and read the blurb. You want to find out what the book is about and what you can expect from it. Well, your ‘About Me‘ page is to your blog, what a blurb is to a book. Therefore, it’s vital that you get it right, otherwise your blog could be put back on the shelf.
I think the most important thing when writing your page is that your personality shines through. Most bloggers, unlike a traditional business’, haven’t got a physical product to promote; it’s your personally that needs promotion. People read your blog because they buy into you. Sharing a little about yourself and your life, therefore, becomes so important. Don’t forget brands/PRs will look at this page too when they’re searching for bloggers to work with and apart from your home page, it will probably be the most viewed page on your blog.
It can be difficult to write about yourself and About Me pages can seem a little daunting, but I have broken my tips down and hopefully you will have whipped yours into shape in no time.
First things first – It’s not all about you
Seems odd huh? Your About Me page surely is about you? It is, but it’s really important to identify your target audience before you start writing. If you don’t, how do you know who you are writing for? You need to know who your ideal/target reader is, so you can include relevant information and write in an appropriate tone.
If you write a blog to entertain mums who are stuck at home with the kids, but you haven’t identified your audience, your About Me page could be written in a tone which is too formal. This page should reflect what you would tell people about your blog if you met them. If you write a quirky blog, make sure this is reflected; ….you get the picture.
Now you can start talking about YOU!
Who are you?
You need to share basic relevant (although, sometimes not relevant can be funny!) information that gives new potential readers an idea of what you are about and why they should stick around.
How old are you? Do you have kids? A partner? Do you have a job? Blog full-time? Hobbies?
So you might say I’m a 25 year old working mum and wife who blogs under the cover of darkness and loves fairies. Or whatever suits you. They don’t need War and Peace, so be punchy.
Why are you different?
O.k, so this is the bit most of us will struggle with. Blowing our own trumpets, it’s a terribly British thing to do; to hide our lights under a bushel. We need to become more confident in selling ourselves. Believe me, if we don’t someone else sure as hell will be doing just that.
What are you good at? What have you done? Achieved? Why should I stay on your site and read more posts? How can you help me?
What do you do?
Do you love to photograph your pets? Your kids? Do you love walking and sharing your hikes? Do you hope to inspire others from your past experiences? Think of how to put this across in an exciting or creative way.
What do you love?
From the heart, what do you love? Your family? Your camera? Your pet tortoise? What ignites a passion in you? Do you love helping others or sharing your recipes with the world? Then share that with the world in a way that we feel your passion.
What’s the ethos of your blog?
Think about the overarching ethos of your blog. Is it about living a slow life? Or about making busy mum’s lives easier? If you had to sum your blog up in one sentence what would it be about – this might be reflected in your tag line.
What can you give others?
What can you offer? Can you provide the reader with a plentiful supply of inspiration, quick recipe ideas, reliable fashion advice? Or can you make them feel like they’re not alone in their experience of motherhood? What will people gain from reading your blog?
Now create your page
- You need to make sure your voice comes through.
- Use photos. A picture tells a thousand words and people want to see you to be able to connect with you. Make sure the pictures shows you in a good light.
- Graphics can also add a fun aspect and break up text.
- Link your About Me page to your author bio and picture which you should have in your sidebar.
- Make sure your About Me page is clear on your main menu.
Think of your About Me page as the front door to your blog. It needs to be inviting and once your have worked through this post, answering the questions, it will be awesome! You never know it might even have a shiny knocker now!
Here are a couple of great examples of creative About Me pages for inspiration.
- A unique and exceptionally creative page from Ash Ambridge from The Middle Finger Project
- Creative with a fun layout from Danielle la Porte
Has this post given you something to think about? Will you be polishing your front door?
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Comments 41
A great post Abby. I’ve been working on a new about page for ages now.
I’ll definitely be using this to help me.
Happy New Year to You
I love how you compare the about me page to the blurb on a book. It finally makes sense to me what an about page is for. Mine needs some serious work and I will be using your tips, thank you so much 🙂
Debbie
I’m going to use these points and go through mine again. My about me page is one of my most viewed pages so I really need to make sure it is a winner! x
Good tips. I keep thinking I should really consider updating mine, so I will remember this! #thelist
Thank you for sharing this Aby. I do always love your blog tips. I have some blog admin on the cards over the next few weeks and I needed some pointers on my about me page xx #thelist
Love this post but must work on my self confidence because I then think, oh no mine is rubbish! I definitely need to polish my front door, It needs to be more individual and use more images. Thanks Aby x
Great tips as always Aby! You’re right – writing an About Me page can be very daunting…one of the hardest things about blogging is selling ourselves! Thanks as always for hosting #TheList x
This is amazing, thank you. I really want to grow my blog this year as I really want to start earning an income from it and one of the things on my own to-do list is to look at and improve my ‘About Me’ page so this is super useful.
Thanks for this, it’s been on my to do list for a while to revamp my about page. #thelist
A really useful post, Aby. Some great tips – thanks for sharing #TheList
great tips – as always 🙂 x #TheList
These really are awesome tips, thanks lovely! I’ve been having a bash at updating my page but it’s still lacking. I think you’re totally right about it being a balance of Me and You (the reader) and I need to work out that a bit more. Mim x
Awesome tips as always Aby – it can takes ages to get your About Me page just right and I do go back and tweak mine from time to time. #TheList
Brilliant tips, I need to update my about me page so this was perfect. Thanks 🙂
These are good tips. I’ve approached it a different way and have my landing page as the sort of About Me page setting out the purpose, audience and background.
I’m not convinced it’s the best way so happy for some feedback.
#TheList
Brilliant tips as always Aby. I think I am going to have a look at mine and see how I can improve it. Definitely going to be using this post as a check list.xx #TheList
This is a really handy guide, thank you very much for sharing. I think there are a few things I may need to tweak on mine! #thelist
Great post! I’ve been thinking about re-doing mine recently so this is super helpful.
This was a very useful post for me to come across today – i have just made the move to self hosted so am in the process of updating my blog and I definitely want a new about me page. Thanks for the tips! #TheList
This is on my ‘to-do’ list for January!! My ‘about me’ page isn’t really relevant any more — it’s SO outdated!! Thanks pet — this is a great post and one that I really needed to read right now 🙂 Happy, happy new year to you! I hope you have an awesome year — lots of adventure too, with your big move to France xx #TheList
This post came right in time as my about me page could do with a facelift. I’m going to pin to it & refer when I re-write. I think you have so many good points here, as always Aby. Thanks for sharing #TheList x
I am currently having my blog re-designed as the whole thing needs a lot of work. Timely motivation to make a shit hot about me page! Thanks Aby x
Great tips, as always Aby – and hopefully bloggers that don’t have an About Me page now have one, and know how to make it awesome. And those of us that have one remember this and remember to update it 🙂 #Thelist
Some great tips! I just redid mine ready for 2016 🙂 #TheList
Fab tips as always Abby 😀 Thanks for sharing. I think my page could do with an update – it’s been around a year!
I think the last post I read on making your About me page stand out mentioned turning it into a story, which I tried to do. However, I think it rambles a bit too much. Snappy, as you have suggested, might be the better approach. I also need to work on the photos – they could so with a polish! Great tips as always! #thelist x
This is so fab – it’s on my agenda to re-write my about me page. Will be referring back to this when I do 🙂 #TheList
Great tips, and definitely a few I should take note of. I really don’t like my about me page at the moment but it’s so daunting to rewrite. I’ll be back when I pluck up the courage! #thelist
Interesting post and some good points to consider X #TheList
Good tips to bear in mind.
#thelist
I love your blog advice posts so much! Once again you’ve nailed it and given me a lot to think about as was considering some changes to my about me page anyway. Thanks for sharing x #thelist
Great tips – thanks!
#thelist
Really useful post. Pinned for when I get round to doing mine again. Thank you
I’ve just saved this post in my favourites because I really need to write myself a new About Me page. I am SO BAD at writing a specific page about myself so at the moment mine is very bland. Thanks for this! #TheList
I like Danielle LaPorte about page. It is in graphic form. I am a graphic person so I think I will take that forward and see what I can do with my About Me page. I have also just revisited yours and I think it is such a great About Me page. Thank you for sharing this. xx
p.s. Lili & Lou Lou are so cute! <3
Great advice here. I need to update my about me page as soon as possible. I will definitely be taking your tips on board.
Great tips Aby, I will be working through some of your questions x
Re doing my about me page has now been on my list of things to do now for about 3 months. Have pinned this for when I get round to doing it. Thank you x #TheList
Ok Abby, I’m off to give my About Me page a little makeover. Thanks for sharing lots of cool tips. It’s a hard page to write especially when it’s all about celebrating things that make you and your blog you!!!
Great content!! Super simple and easy to follow. I’ll definitely use these tips while writing mine 🙂