Writing an about page can be a real challenge. Like many writers, I hate writing about myself. It just feels awkward.
Fortunately, I’ve collected a few handy tips that make it much easier!
About Page Goal #1: Connect with Your Reader
The About Page is a great place to connect with your reader. As we’ll describe later on, most successful niche blogs focus on writing about a subject and not so much about yourself. On the About Page, you have a golden opportunity to introduce yourself and connect with the reader on a personal level.
Here are three proven ways to connect with your audience. Choose one that fits well with your niche.
Share a tender memory.
This is especially effective if you’re blogging about parenting, pets, bereavement, mental health or other topics that deal with love or loss. The memories don’t have to be sad or particularly emotional. You could tell a funny story about your children or recall the moment you took your first pet home. Choose a story that creates a strong, familiar emotion in your reader.
Bring the reader into your environment.
This is a particularly effective strategy for cooking or crafting blogs, although it can be used by any niche. Use vivid, multi-sensory details to invite your reader into your environment and make them feel at home there.
For example, a cook could describe the bright colors of the produce, the aroma of the seasonings, the lighting and the taste (and texture) of the food to make their kitchen come to life in the mind of the reader. Pair this with a tender memory (see above) of a grandmother teaching you how to cook your first lasagna and you’ll form a vivid and memorable connection with your reader.
If you’re using this technique, incorporate as many senses as possible into your writing. Describe how it looks, sounds, smells, tastes and feels. Don’t shy away from a little embellishment or creative flair.
Solve a problem.
This is less personal and emotional than the other approaches, so it is especially appropriate for business, technology or instructional blogs. In this method, you explain a struggle you had to overcome a problem and share the solution with your readers.
To do this, you have to have a good understanding of your niche and your audience. You have to understand what they are looking for and why they came to your website.
For example, I know the Low Income Relief audience is struggling to pay bills and survive on a small income. On the about page, I explain my own past low income struggle and present my website as a solution for their current struggles.
Post a video.
Connect with your audience face-to-face with a simple introductory video. For SEO purposes, you cannot simply use a video in lieu of text on an about page but you can use it as a fun supplemental.
About Page Goal #2: Establish Your Authority
Why should your reader trust you? With all the “fake news” and useless noise available on the Internet, what makes your website special?
That’s what establishing authority is about. It’s about setting yourself apart from the competition, the fake news and the useless noise. It’s about reassuring your reader that your website can be trusted and that you actually know what you’re talking about.
There are three easy ways to establish your credibility with your readers. Obviously, your personal circumstances will have a big influence over which option you use.
State your credentials.
This is the easiest way to establish credibility. Simply state your professional, academic or volunteer experience with the given subject.
For example, I used my journalism experience to establish credibility on Low Income Relief because it showed that I knew how to research and report on information. On this site, I use my success with Low Income Relief as evidence that I know how to establish a successful blog and earn a livable wage from it.
Emphasize the time you’ve spent learning.
You can still be an authority on the topic when you don’t have any professional or academic experience. Many people who invest years in a hobby, like gardening or nutrition studies, know as much about the topic as those who are professionally or academically trained.
If you’ve spent years (or even just a lot of hours) learning about the subject, you can phrase this in a way that establishes your authority over the subject. For example, “I have been gardening for over 25 years” or “I have spent literally hundreds of hours pouring over nutrition journals.”
Give an example of your proficiency.
Instead of stating facts like degrees or years of experience, illustrate your authority with a story. Tell your reader about a time you solved a problem or demonstrated capability in this niche.
Admit what you don’t know.
It seems counter-intuitive but it works. When you’re new to the field, admit what you don’t know. State something like, “I’ve always been interested in _____ and I’m excited to bring you along on my journey of discovery while I study this subject in greater depth.”
If you use this tactic, be sure to clearly source the material you’re producing on the blog! You will need to be backed up by credible sources while you build your authority on the subject.
If this is the best you can do, don’t stress about it too much. After a few months of blogging, you’ll be able to revise your about page to emphasize the amount of time you’ve spent learning. Within just a few years (as long as you follow my advice), you’ll have established quite a bit of credibility on the subject.
About Page Goal #3: Motivate Your Reader to Action
What will your reader do when they’ve finished the about page? Many readers will close or click away from your page unless you engage them with an effective call to action.
One of the most effective calls to action I’ve found is just a simple link at the end of the article. On Low Income Relief, these links usually include the call to action “Get more FREE stuff in (state)!” with a link to the relevant page.
Although I like to use simple links because they transfer well with theme changes, there are other ways of including a call to action in your about page. We’ll write more about that in our upcoming article on call to action.
Remember it’s about you.
The about page is ultimately about you and/or your business. It’s okay to let a little personality shine through. Take a deep breath and remember, any about page is better than no about page!